snow. Here, upon the
loftiest precipices of the mountain the full light of morning struck
first and struck always, for their pinnacles soared far above the level
of the mist wreaths, and by the quality of that light this people judged
the weather of the new-born day. If the snow was rosy-red, then they
knew that ere long the sun would shine upon them. If, on the other hand,
it gleamed cold and white, or, still worse, grey, it was a sign that the
coming day would be misty in the city and on the plains. Therefore in
this, the hour of the trial of the gods whom they had set up, all that
company watched the mountain peak as they had never watched before, to
see if it should show white or red.

Very gradually the light increased, and it seemed to Otter that the mist
was somewhat thinner than was usual at this hour, though as yet it hung
densely between them and the mountain snows. Now he could trace the
walls of the amphitheatre, now he could see the black shimmer of the
water beneath, and distinguish the glitter of many hundreds of upturned
eyeballs as they glared at him and beyond him. The silence grew more and
more intense, for none spoke or moved: all were waiting to see the dawn
break upon the slope of snow, and wondering--would it be red or white?
Must the gods die or live? So intense and fearful was the hush, unbroken
by a breath of air or the calling of a bird, that Otter could bear it no
longer, but suddenly burst into song.

He had a fine deep voice, and it was a Zulu war-song that he sang, a
triumphant paean of the rush of conquering impis interspersed with the
wails of women and the groans of the dying. Louder and louder he sang,
stamping his naked feet upon the rock, while the people wondered at the
marvel. Surely this was a god, they thought, who chanted thus exultingly
in a strange tongue while men waited to see him cast into the jaws of
the Snake. No mortal about to die so soon and thus terribly could find
the heart to sing, and much less could he sing such a song as that they
heard.

"He is a god," cried a voice far away, and the cry was echoed on every
side till at length, suddenly, men grew silent, and Otter also ceased
from his singing, for he had turned his head and seen. Lo! the veil of
mist that hid the mountain's upper heights grew thin:--it was the moment
of dawn, but would it be a red dawn or a white? As he looked the vapours
disappeared from the peak, though they still lay thick upon the slopes