eheads,
every one of you, giving your city to the owls, your bodies to the
jackals, and your souls to Satan----"

Thus far the priests and the spectators had listened to Issachar's
denunciations in bewildered amazement not unmixed with fear. Now with a
roar of wrath they awoke, and suddenly he was dragged from the platform
by a score of hands and struck down with many blows. Indeed, he would
then and there have been torn to pieces had not a guard of soldiers,
knowing that he was Sakon's guest and in the train of the prince Aziel,
snatched him from the maddened multitude, and borne him swiftly to a
place of safety without the enclosure.

While the tumult was at its height, a Phoenician, who had arrived in the
temple breathless with haste, might have been seen to pluck Metem by the
sleeve.

"What is it?" Metem asked of the man, who was his servant.

"This: the lady Baaltis is dead. I watched as you bade me, and, as she
had promised to do, in token of the end, her woman waved a napkin from
the casement of that tower where she lies."

"Do any know of this?"

"None."

"Then say no word of it," and Metem hurried off in search of Aziel.

Presently he found him seeking for Issachar in company with his guards.

"Have no fear, Prince," Metem said, in answer to his eager questions,
"he is safe enough, for the soldiers have borne the fool away. Pardon me
that I should speak thus of a holy man, but he has put all our lives in
danger."

"I do not pardon you," answered Aziel hotly, "and I honour Issachar for
his act and words. Let us begone from this accursed place whither you
entrapped me."

Before Metem could reply a voice cried, "Close the doors of the
sanctuary, so that none can pass in or go out, and let the sacrifice be
offered."

"Listen, Prince," said Metem, "you must stay here till the ceremony is
done."

"Then I tell you, Phoenician," answered Aziel, "that rather than suffer
that luckless child to be butchered before my eyes I will cut my way to
it with my guards, and rescue it alive."

"To leave yourself dead in place of it," answered Metem sarcastically;
"but, see, a woman desires to speak with you," and he pointed to a girl
in the robe of a priestess, whose face was hidden with a veil, and who,
in the tumult and confusion, had worked her way to Aziel.

"Prince," whispered the veiled form, "I am Elissa. For your life's sake
keep still and silent, or you will be stabbed, for your words have been
overhea