Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-12-28
THE PEOPLE
OF THE MIST.
By q. RIDER HAGGARD.
Copyright. 1885. by the AuthOr.l
CHAPTER XIII

IN CutlSluEElulC Ss-ltillon vi iLlihu LcOh-
ard bid goOdby to Juanna, promising to
return soon, and went to visit the settle
ment men, whom he had not seen since
the previous evening. He found them in
good case enough, sd far rs their material
comfort was concerned, for lilcy We're well
supplied with food and warmly lodged
so much could not he said, however, for
their mental state, for they were terrified
by the multitude of solemn priests and
warriors who watched them rs cats watch
mice. CruuChing round him dcjectedly.
they implOTCd Leonard not to leave them,
saying that they expected to be murdered
every minute. II, paCiiiCd them as well
as he could and let thea with the assur-
ance that he would return presently, hav-
ing first reminded them that the lives
OF all depended upon the maintenance of
the dclusion as to the divinity of Otter and
the Shcpherdess. The remainder of that
day passed heavily enough
After the first excitement OF their strange
position had gone by n reaction set in, and
everybody was much depressed. As the
hours drew on the mist, which had lifted
little about 10 O'Clock, closed in very
dcnsely. throwing the i'll lighted chamber
where they sat into deep gloom In such
an atmosphere conversation languished-
Indeed ut times it died away altogether,
and the only sound to be heard was that
OF inc IuuuOlOuOuS NOACES va pIASSLH
without the curtains as they muttcred
prayers increasingly. At length Leonard
could bear it no longer, but rose, declar-
ing that he was going ont to see whatever
might he seen. Juanna tried family to
dissuadc him, and Otter wished to come,
too, which was impossible. The end of it
was that he went alone.
First he revisited the settlement men
and tried to cheer them, a process which
-, .,
great gates of the palace yard and looked
through them. The mist had lifted lit
tie and about leo PAGES away he could per
ceive the doors of the temple, on either
side of which rose cyclOpean walls 90 feet
or more in height. Here it was obvious
that preparations for some ceremony were
in progress. and on a large scale, for i'm
mcnsc crowds Of people were gathered
about the doors, through which bodies of
priests and armed soldiers passed COntinu-
ally More he could not learn, for the
gates Of the palace yard were barred and
guarded. and the soldiers would not let
him through. He stood and watched till
sunset, then returned to the others and
told them what he had seen.
Another hour passed, and suddenly the
curtains were drawn aside and a body Of
priests entered, II in number, bearing
large candles OF fat in their hands and
nCltACu GllIEL Mill EEuSLEuNAAk5
themselves before Juanna and Otter, they
remained in silence.
speak on" said Junnna at length.
We como, o mother and o snake, &"
said the priest Nam. to lead you to the
temple that the people may look upon their
gods
lit is we'll Lead on
First thou must be rObCd, mother, -
said Nam. for without the temple none
Il l. Il mi. .I,r-
| priests alone"
Then, rising as lie spoke, he produced n
black dress from grass bag, which was
| carried by an attendant This dress was
VERY curious II fastened in front with
| buttons OF horns and either was or seemed
to be woven in "A single piece from the soft
est hair of black iiCCcCd goats. Moreover,
| it had sleeves just long enough to leave
| the hands OF the wCarCr visible, and be
meath its peaked cap was sort of mask
with three Sits. two for the eyes and ono
for the mouth. .IUanna retired to put on
| this hidCOus garment over her white robe
and presently rc1Ppcared, looking like the
black ghost of n medieval monk. Then
they gave her TWO flowers, red lily and
white. to be held in either hand, and ii
appeared that her equipment was com
plctc. Next they came to Otter and bound
a scarlet fringe of hair about his forehead
|
face at the same time placing in his hand
4 sccptcr OF ivory, apparently of very an
cient workmanship and fashioned in thC
shape of n snake standing ON its tail
All is prepared" said Nam.
Lead on answered Juanna again
but let our servants come with us. botf
those here and those without, save th'
woman only. who stays to make ready fO
our return.
Iaa ,,
nounccd her wish to be left behind wheI
they went 10 the temple. Juanna had con
suited Leonard on the subject, who CAV,
it as his opinion that Soa had good reason
of her own for making this request; ais
he pointed out that in case of disturbanc
she could scarcely help them and Nigh
possibly prove an encumbrance.
They wait" answered Nam. "All i
prepared for them also, and as he spok
a sardonic smile flickccd on his witherc,
countcnance that made Leonard feel YER
uncomfortable What was prepared, h
wondered.
They passed through the curtains int
the courtyard, where soldiers, clad in goat
skin cloaks. waited with two filters. Her
also were the settlement men, armed, bu
in an extremity of fear, for they wer
guarded by about so of the great people
also armed
behind which Leonard formed up his littl
!. band, going in front of it himself, wit
Francisco, both OF them having rifles i
their hands and reyolvers at their girdle:
of which no attempt was made to depriv
them, for none knew their use.
=: Then they started, surrounded by tn
; bare breasted priests, who chanted an
Z waved torches as they walked, and precet
Z ed and followed by the grim files of ia
J | soldiers on whose the fnrohliui
% flashed ominOusly. AS they came the gate
of the palace yard We're opened. The
passed them and across the open space III
- til they reached the doors of the templi
which were thrown wide open before then
Here Otter and Juanna descended frol
the litters, and all the torches We're extiI
. guished, leaving them in darkness. LeoI
ard felt his hand seized and was led alonI
he knew not where, for the misty glool
- was intense. He could scarcely see Il
face even OF the priest who conducted hin
but from the sounds he gathered that a
their party were being guided in n simili
>. fashion. Once or twice also he heard Il
= voice of a settlement man speaking in a
~ cents Of fear or complaint, but such den
IN onstrations We're quickly followed by t
sound of a heavy blow, dealt no doubt
- the priest or soldier in charge of that i
q dividual. Evidently it was expected tn
y all should be silent. Presently Leona
became aware that they had left the OPP
space across which they were walking, 1
the air grew close, and their footsteps RAJ
ga hollow on the rocky floor.
nj II believe that we are in n tunnel
whispered Francisco.
silence, dog Missed "A priest in
ear Silence. This place is holy"
They did not understand tho mcani
of the words at the moment, but tho to
- in which they were spoken made tn
3. purport sufficiently clear. Leonard TO
the hint and at the same time clutch
his rife more tightly He began to