art and who himself worships you as you deserve. May you be
protected from all the dangers that now surround you, as I think you
will, and may the blessing of Heaven be with you and about you for
many peaceful years, till at length you come to the peace that passeth
understanding! And when from time to time you think of me, may you in
your heart couple my name with certain holy words: 'Greater love hath
no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.' Senora,
pardon me and farewell."

Juanna read this touching and noble-hearted adieu with an ever-growing
wonder, and when she had finished it, put down the book crying aloud,

"Oh! what have I done to deserve such devotion as this?" Then with a
strange and bewildering inconsequence she flung herself into Leonard's
arms, and burying her head upon his breast she began to weep.

When she was somewhat calmer he also read the letter and closed the
book, saying:

"The world is poorer by a perfect gentleman. He was too good for any of
us, Juanna."

"I think so," she answered.

Just then they heard a sound without the door; it opened, and Nam
entered accompanied by Soa.

"Deliverer," said the aged priest, whose countenance and troubled eyes
bore traces of many conflicting emotions, "and you, Shepherdess, I come
to speak with you. As you see, I am alone, except for this woman, but
should you attempt any violence towards her or me, that will be the
signal for your deaths. With much toil and at no little risk to myself
I have spared the life of the Shepherdess, causing the white man, your
companion, to be offered up in her place."

"Has that offering been accomplished?" broke in Leonard, who could not
restrain his anxiety to learn what had happened.

"I will be frank with you, Deliverer," answered the high-priest, when
Juanna had translated his question, "since the truth cannot hurt me, for
now we know too much of one another's secrets to waste time in bandying
lies. I know, for instance, that the Shepherdess and the dwarf are
no gods, but mortal like ourselves; and you know that I have dared to
affront the true gods by changing the victim whom they had chosen. The
sacrifice has been accomplished, but with so many signs and wonders that
I am bewildered; the People of the Mist are bewildered also, so that
none know what to think. The white man, your companion, was hurled
fainting into the waters when the dawn had broken upon the mountain and
was seen to be