h has fallen upon
you. The second was the curse of famine, which is falling upon you; and
the third was the curse of war, which is yet to fall on you."

"It is of war that we come to speak," replied the messenger,
diplomatically avoiding the other two topics which perhaps he found it
awkward to discuss.

"That is foolish of you," replied the bland Harut, "seeing that the
other day you matched yourselves against us with but small success. Many
of you were killed but only a very few of us, and the white lord whom
you took captive escaped out of your hands and from the tusks of Jana
who, I think, now lacks an eye. If he is a god, how comes it that he
lacks an eye and could not kill an unarmed white man?"

"Let Jana answer for himself, as he will do ere long, O Harut.
Meanwhile, these are the words of Jana spoken through the mouth of Simba
the King: The Child has destroyed my harvest and therefore I demand this
of the people of the Child--that they give me three-fourths of their
harvest, reaping the same and delivering it on the south bank of the
River Tava. That they give me the two white lords to be sacrificed to
me. That they give the white lady who is Guardian of the Child to be a
wife of Simba the King, and with her a hundred virgins of your people.
That the image of the Child be brought to the god Jana in the presence
of his priests and Simba the King. These are the demands of Jana spoken
through the mouth of Simba the King."

Watching, I saw a thrill of horror shake the forms of Harut and of
all those with him as the full meaning of these, to them, most impious
requests sank into their minds. But he only asked very quietly:

"And if we refuse the demands, what then?"

"Then," shouted the messenger insolently, "then Jana declares war upon
you, the last war of all, war till every one of your men be dead and the
Child you worship is burnt to grey ashes with fire. War till your women
are taken as slaves and the corn which you refuse is stored in our grain
pits and your land is a waste and your name forgotten. Already the hosts
of Jana are gathered and the trumpet of Jana calls them to the fight.
To-morrow or the next day they advance upon you, and ere the moon is
full not one of you will be left to look upon her."

Harut rose, and walking from under the shed, turned his back upon the
envoys and stared at the distant line of great mountains which stood out
far away against the sky. Out of curiosity I followed him a