Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-12-26

Leonard handed over the ruby, rejecting
that he would probably never sec IL again,
since it seemed almost certain that ono Of
the great people would steal IL. How
ever, & the moment he was thinking of
that which was far above rubies-namely,
of what Glance there was of their escap
ing with their lives
So soon as she had possession of tho
stone Juanna ran 20 little ring of bowl
ders that were scattered on the plain
about 80 PAGES from them, followed by
Son. who carried a bundle I'm her hand.
Ten minutes passed, and Soa appeared
from behind the shelter of tho stones and
bcckoned TO them. Advancing in obc-
dience to her summons, they saw curious
sight. Standing In the ring of rocks was
Juanna, but Juanna transformed. She
wore n white robe cut low upon the neck
and shoulders Indeed &c was the same
dress i'm which she had escaped from the
slave camp that Soa had brought with
them in preparation for this moment Of
trial. Nur was this all, for Juanna had
loosened her dark hair, which was Of great
length and unusual beauty, SO that it
hung about her almost TO her knees, and
upon her forehead, cleaning like rcd eye,
was set the great ruby stone, which had
been ingeniously fastened thereto by Soa
in a specially prepared band of linen stiff
ened with leather and pierced in its center
to the size of the stone.
Behold the goddess and do homage"
said Juanna, with mock solemnity, al
though Leonard could see that she was
trembling with excitement.
You look the part well, he answered
shortly. And indeed until that moment
he had never known how beautiful she
was.
Juanna blushed a little at the evident
admiration In his eyes. Then, turning to
the dwarf, she said:
Now, Otter, you must get ready too.
And remember what Soa told you. What
ever you see or hear, you are not to open
your mouth. Walk side by side with me
and do as do, that is ALL"
Otter grunted assent and proceeded Ito
get ready" The process was simple, con-
sisting only In the shedding Of his coat
and trousers-nn old pair of Leonard's,
very much cut down-which left him
naked, except for n mocha that he wore
beneath them in accordance with native
custom.
''What does all this mean. delivereri'
said the head man, Peter, who, like his
companions, was trembling with fear.
lit means that the Shepherdess and
Otter arc personating the gods of this poo
pie, Peter. IL they receive them as gods,
It Is well. II not, we arc doomed. BE
careful, should they be so received, lest
any Of you should bctray the trick. BE
wise and silent, I say, and do what shall
tell you from time TO time II you would
live to look upon the SUM-"
Peter fell back astonished, and Leonard
turned his attention to the approaching
soldiers of the People OF the Mist.
They advanced slowly and In silence,
but their measured tread shook the earth.
At last they halted about $50 yards away,
N rr,tlx f.r 60
the little band among the rocks. So far
as Leonard could see, there was not a man
among them who stood less than O feet
in height, and they were broad in proper
ton, hugely made. In appearance they
were neither handsome nor repulsiye, but
solemn looking, large eyed, thick haired
between black and yellow in hue-and
wearing an expression of dreadful calm,
like the calm of an archaic statue. For
the rest they seemed to be well disciplin-
ell, each company being under the COM
his arms, carried n trumpet fashioned from
a wild BULLS horn.
Tho regiment stood silent, gazing ut
the group of strangers, or rather ut the
powders behind which they were conceal
cd. In the center of their hollow square
was u knot of men, one of them young
and hugo even in comparison with his
companions Ihis man Leohard took TO
IN chici VI Ming bchiHu were oruerhcs
anu CouhSeiors anu before MIN three aged
lIulNiuunis vi a."lcis appearances anu
cFucl cast Vi Sountehahce; lhese men
were naked tn the waist and unarmcd ex-
cept Ior kniie or hahger nAed n. tho gar
die. On their broad brcasts, covering moro
bnoc sn,Ln ,y,s ,ot,ooc,I an xiyId bIno
Ex,iJontIy ,bcy ,xcr,, r,c,,iciro r,on o.
nricsts
VIII, ,ho ...,,,.,. ,..,,
-, - - r-k... ss $40
"a; ..s''- - -. ~.
tIer W his "'''i''''ii's' WI" run 'o 'he co,-
IT, ~ y. nv sI"ie Gnu e." ~ "Iouu.
.n n' i''ls". NE ga sleaf' anu eNer!
Snps"ri nic" np'" HIS "or"' making
81 r. 'u ,, .,,u e., ,u.
s,r;, ~" w, ,n,ra5 r. 49, SUI, -. " IN
,,,a,;ni,,o ,',.',, IL. :, ' ~ 'n aS,at a.,
,ho 80 ~ ,h' -. ~, ' ~, =. -,
~, -" .h ~ ,l...i "au An, W. vi
IN, 80 "''S" "''''hs """' s"o"" ~
uohn
This Is our chance, said Juanna ex-
cltcdiy' IL once they attack us, IL VIII
DC an over y Single Noliey Oh arrows
would Kill every one OF us. Come, Otter.
No, no, said Leonard. II am afraid
Oh your NcnuurinS !oursen among those
saNagcs' Inc danger Is too great
Danger! Can the danger be moro than
it is hcrcF In minute we may all be
dead. Nonsense. will go, L have made
up my mind to II. do not fear for me.
You know that II the worst comes to tho
You are not afraid to come, arc you, OF
terri
NO. Shcphcr,Icss,' said tho dwarf.
Here all roads are alike"
Leonard Thought awhile. Bitterly did
he reproach himself in that no had been
the cause of leading his ward into such n
position. But now Their, was no holm for
it. She must 60. And. after ali. it could
make no difference IL She were Killed or
capturcd five minutes hence or half an