Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-01-07

that babel which had reached the ears of Otter as he lGIked under the bank of rock
 "The gods have cen sacrificed unjust iy, ." yelled the people. They are true gods, for, sec, the d.;wm Is redp'
 The situation was curious and most un- expected, but Nam, who had not heen high priest for moro than 50 years for nothing, rose to the occasion.
 This Is a marvel, indoedr' he cried, when silence had at length been restored, for no such thing is told of in our history us that whito dawn upon tho mountain should turn to red. Yet, O People of the Mist, those whom We thought gods have not been offered up wrongfully. Nay, this is the meaning of the sign. Now are tho true gods, Aca and Jal, appeased, because thoso who dared to usurp their power have gone down to doom. Therefore the curse is lifted from the land, and the sunlight has come back to bless us"
 Again, as he finished speaking, the tu. mutt broke out, some crying this thing and some that, but no action was taken, for Nam's excuse was ready and plausible, and the minds of men were confused. So the assembly broke up in disorder. Only the priests and as many more as could ind place, Olfan among them, crowded round the edges of the pool to see what happened in its depths.
 This was what had attracted otter's no. tice, causing him to think no more of the shouting above him than of the humminR Of last years gnats. Suffering his eyes to travel round the eoircumfercuoe of the rocky wall, he saw the mouth of a circular hole, that was situated immediately under the base of the idol and may have measured some feet in diameter. The lower edge of this hole stood about six inches above the level of the pool, and water ran out of 1t in thin stream. Passing down this stream, half swimming and half waddling, appeared that hugo and ungainly reptile which was tho real object of the worship of the People of tho Mist.
 Great as 1t was in length and bulk, the dwarf saw 1t but for few moments, so swift were its movements. Then it van ished into the deep waters, to reappear presently by the side of tho dead priest, who was now beginning to sink. It's hor- rtble head rose upon the waters as on that night whom the woman had boen thrown to 10. It opened its huge jaws, and seizing the body of the man across the middle 1t disappearod beneath the foam. Otter watched the mouth of the hole, and not in vain, for before he could have counted ten che monster was crawling through it, bearing it's prey into the cave. Now once
 
 or rather the crocodile, at close quarters was far more fearful than anything that his imagination had portrayed. Keeping bis placo beneath the ledge. which, except for the coldness of the water, hc found himself able to do with little fatigue or dfnaculty, he searched the wells of the pool, seeking for some possible avenue of escape, for somehow his ardor for personal conflict with this creature had evAporated, but search as he would be could nnd noth- ing. The walls were full 30 feet high and sloped inward, like the sides of an invert- ed funnel, and wherever the exits to the pool might be they were invisible; also not withstanding his strength and skill Otter did not dare to swim into the furious eddy to look for them. One thing he noticed Indeed. Immediately above the entrance to the erocodile's den, and some 20 feet from the level of the water, tive holes were pierced in the rock, six feet or so apart, each measuring about ls inches square, but these holes were not to be reached, and even if reached they were too small to pass, SO Otter thought no more of them.
 Now the cold was beginning to nip him, and he felt that If he staid In the water much longer he would become paralyzed by it, for 1t was fed from the ice and snow above. Therefore it would seem that there was but one thing to do-to face the rep tile in its lair. To thls, then, Otter made up hls mind, albeit with loathiAg and . doubtful heart.
 4 Great strain.
 Kind Lady-HOw came yoa te lcss tne eye.
 Tramp-LookiR for work.