to
cry at first, and after that they will become dumb."

"Otter," whispered Leonard, as they stood in the dark, "did you kill the
Water-Dweller?"

"Yes, yes, Baas," he chuckled in answer. "I caught him with the hook
that I made ready. But he did not die easily, Baas, and if I had not
been able to swim well he would have drowned me."

"I heard something of it from Nam," said Leonard. "You are a wonderful
fellow, Otter."

"Oh, Baas! it was no valour of mine; when I saw his eyes I was horribly
afraid, only I thought how gladly you would have attacked him had you
been there, and what a coward you would hold me, could you have seen
me shivering like a little girl before a big lizard, and these thoughts
gave me courage."

"Oh, that is all very well!" replied Leonard, and suddenly added, "Hush!
be ready!"

As he spoke the door opened, and two great priests came through it, one
of them bearing a candle. He who bore the light turned to shut the door,
for he suspected nothing. Then, at one and the same instant, Leonard,
emerging from the shadow, dealt the first priest a blow upon the head
with his staff, which stunned if it did not kill him, for he fell
like an ox beneath the pole-axe, while Otter, standing where he was,
dexterously cast his hide rope about the throat of the second man, and
drew the noose tight with a jerk that brought him to the earth.

In twenty seconds it was all over. The men, who were the same that had
held Leonard suspended in the oubliette, lay senseless or dead, and
the dwarf and his master were engaged in possessing themselves of their
knives and keys by the light of the candle, which, though it had fallen
to the ground, fortunately remained burning.

"That was well done, Otter," said Leonard, "and I am not ashamed to have
done it, for these devils kicked me when I was bound. Now we are armed,
and have the keys. What next?"

Just then Otter sprang to his feet, crying, "Look out, Baas; here are
more."

Leonard glanced up to see, and behold! the second door in the cell was
opened, and through it came Juanna, Olfan, Nam, Soa, and three other
men.

For a moment there was silence; till one of the captains cried out,
"See! Jal the god has come back, and already he claims his victims!" And
he pointed to the two priests.

Then followed a scene of confusion, for even Olfan and Nam were amazed
at what seemed to them little short of a miracle, while Leonard and
Juanna had eyes for each other only,