servants. What we
have done was in ignorance--"

"Tell him, Inaguy, that I am displeased with him and his people, for
acting as he has done without first consulting me, and that I refuse to
listen to him or communicate with him, save through thee," interrupted
the idol sternly.

At the king's command a crowd of officious guards dashed forward, and
with the hardened copper blades of their spears quickly severed Inaguy's
bonds, whereupon the latter strode forward and, puffed up with pride at
again being made the mouthpiece of a god, stood before the grovelling
figure of Jiravai, haughtily awaiting the moment when it should please
his Majesty to rise and receive Anamac's message. And presently the
king, realising perhaps that his grovelling was not doing any good, rose
to his feet, and the message was duly delivered.

"It is well," returned Jiravai. "It must be as the Great Anamac
pleases. Yet, say to him, good Inaguy, that if I have erred, it was
through ignorance. To-day is his festival, and when the news was
brought to me that two white men had been taken alive in my country, I
rejoiced, and bade them and their followers be brought hither; for I
thought that to sacrifice them upon the altar would be pleasing to him;
while as for you and those with you, it was a great opportunity for--But
it is as our great Lord Anamac pleases. And now, I would fain know what
is his will toward the white men and you, their followers."

Facing round, Inaguy shouted to the idol, repeating the words of the
king's apology. Whereupon the idol graciously replied:

"It is well. I know that the Mangeromas have erred through ignorance,
therefore I forgive them. But it must never be permitted to happen
again, for I do not forgive twice. There must be no more human
sacrifices offered to me; nor must the Mangeromas ever again eat men;
for both are offences in my sight. And touching these white men and
their servants, it is my will that the king and his people shall make
them welcome in Mangeroma, treating them as honoured guests and doing
all things to help them; so shall the Mangeromas derive great profit and
happiness from their visit. I have spoken."

This message Inaguy repeated in the tongue commonly used among the
Mangeromas, shouting it in tones which were distinctly audible all over
the square, and for some distance beyond it.

"It is good," answered the king. "Say to our Lord Anamac that his will
shall be obeyed in all