of the sanctuary, took his
stand a little to the right of it and addressed us, not in English but
in his own language, pausing at the end of each sentence that I might
translate to Ragnall.

"Lords Macumazana and Igeza, and yellow man who is named
Light-in-Darkness," he said, "we, the head priests of the Child,
speaking on behalf of the White Kendah people with full authority so to
do, have taken counsel together and of the wisdom of the Child as to the
demands which you make of us. Those demands are: First, that after you
have killed Jana and defeated the Black Kendah we should give over to
you the white lady who was born in a far land to fill the office of
Guardian of the Child, as is shown by the mark of the new moon upon
her breast, but who, because for the second time we could not take her,
became the wife of you, the Lord Igeza. Secondly, that we should conduct
you and her safely out of our land to some place whence you can return
to your own country. Both of these things we will do, because we know
from of old that if once Jana is dead we shall have no cause to fear the
Black Kendah any more, since we believe that then they will leave their
home and go elsewhere, and therefore that we shall no longer need an
Oracle to declare to us in what way Heaven will protect us from Jana and
from them. Or if another Oracle should become necessary to us, doubtless
in due season she will be found. Also we admit that we stole away this
lady because we must, although she was the wife of one of you. But if we
swear this, you on your part must also swear that you will stay with us
till the end of the war, making our cause your cause and, if need be,
giving your lives for us in battle. You must swear further that none of
you will attempt to see or to take hence that lady who is named Guardian
of the Child until we hand her over to you unharmed. If you will not
swear these things, then since no blood may be shed in this holy place,
here we will ring you round until you die of hunger and of thirst, or if
you escape from this temple, then we will fall upon you and put you to
death and fight our own battle with Jana as best we may."

"And if we make these promises how are we to know that you will keep
yours?" I interrupted.

"Because the oath that we shall give you will be the oath of the Child
that may not be broken."

"Then give it," I said, for although I did not altogether like the
security, obviously it was the best to be had