nd speak it in the ears of men," the priest
answered wondering, for he found it hard to believe in such inspiration,
and indeed would have denied her a hearing had he dared.

So Elissa climbed the platform, and standing upon it still with
outstretched hands and upturned face, she said in a clear voice:--

"The goddess refuses the sacrifice, since she has taken to herself her
for whom it was to have been offered--the Lady Baaltis is dead."

At this tidings a groan went up from the people, partly of grief for
the loss of a spiritual dignitary who was popular, and partly of
disappointment because now the sacrifice could not be offered. For the
Phoenicians loved these horrible spectacles, which were not, however,
commonly celebrated by daylight and in the presence of the people.

"It is a lie," cried a voice, "but now the Lady Baaltis was living."

"Let the gates be opened, and send to see whether or no I lie," said
Elissa, quietly.

Then for a while there was silence while a priest went upon the errand.
At length he was seen returning. Pushing his way through the crowd, he
mounted the platform, and said:--

"The daughter of Sakon speaks truth; alas! the lady Baaltis is dead."

Elissa sighed in relief, for had her tidings proved false she could
scarcely have hoped to escape the fury of the crowd.

"Ay!" she cried, "she is dead, as I told you, and because of your sin,
who would have offered human sacrifice in public, against the custom of
our faith and city and without the command of the goddess."

*****

Then in sullen silence the priests and priestesses reformed their
ranks, and departed from the sanctuary, whence they were followed by the
spectators, the most of them in no good mood, for they had been baulked
of the promised spectacle.

CHAPTER VI

THE HALL OF AUDIENCE

When Elissa reached her chamber after the break up of the procession,
she threw herself upon her couch, and burst into a passion of tears.
Well might she weep, for she had been false to her oath as a priestess,
uttering as a message from the goddess that which she had learnt from
the lips of man. More, she could not rid herself of the remembrance of
the scorn and loathing with which the Prince Aziel had looked upon her,
or of the bitter insult of his words when he called her, "a girl of the
groves, and a murderess of children."

It chanced that, so far as Elissa was concerned, these charges were
utterly untrue. None could throw a slur