Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1895-03-30
THE PEOPLE
OF THE MIST
By H. RIDER HAGGHRD.
copyright, 1898, by the Author.l
CHAPTER XVII.

he had finished, the priest answered with
a cruel smile that he knew nothing of the
matter. Doubtless, he said, 1.-THE gods
had information of the fate of their own
servants. 1t was not for him to seek those
whom the gods had chosen to put away"
Then, turning the subject, he went on to
ask when it would please the mother to
inteTcede with the snake that he might
cause the sun to shine and the corn TO
grew, for the people murmured, fearing a
fmninc in the land.
OF course Juanna was able to give no
satisfactory answer to the priests ques-
ton, and after this the quarters of the set
Element We're changed, and for few days
the survivors slept in safety. On the third
night, however two more of them were
taken in the same mysterious manner, and
one of those who remained swure that,
hearing something stir, he woke and saw
the floor open and vision of great arms
dragging his sleeping companions into a
hole in the floor, which instantly closed
again. Leonard hurried to the spot and
made a thorough examination of thosstone
blocks of the pavement, but could flnd no
crack in them. And yet, if the man had
dreamed, how was the mystery to be ex-
plainedf
After this, with the exception of Otter
who, sure Of the fate that awaited them,
took little heed of how or when it might
fail, none of the party could even sleep be-
cause of their terror of the unseen foe who
struck in silence and in darkness drag
ging the victim to some unknown awful
end. Leonard and Francisco took it in
turns to watch each others slumbers, lay
ing themselves to rest outside the curtain
of Juanna's room. AS for the survivors of
the settlement men, their state can scarce
ly be described. They followed Leonard
about, upbfaiding him bitterly for leading
them into this land of devils and cursing
the hour when they had first seen his face
1t would have been better, they said, that
he should have left them to their fate in
the slave camp rather than have brought
them here to die thus. The Yellow Devil
was at least man, but these people were
sorcerers and evil spirits.
Nor did the horror stop here, for at last
the headman Peter, man whom they all
liked and respected, went mad with fear
and ran to and fro in the palace yard while
the guards and women watched him with
curious eyes as he shrieked out curses upon
Juanna and Leonard. This shocking scene
went on for some hours, for his compan-
ions would not interfere with him, vowing
that he was possessed bya spirit, till Mt
length he put a period to it by suddenly
committing suicide.
In vain did Leonard caution the surviv-
ors to keep their heads and watch at
nights. They flew to the beer, which was
supplied to them in plenty, and drank till
they were insensiblc, And still one by one
they vanished mysteriously till at length
all were gone
Never might Leonard forget his feelings
when one day at dawn, in the fifth week
of their Incarceration, he hurried, as usual,
to the spot where the last two of the I'M
fortunate mon were accustomed to sleep
and found them not. There were their
blankets, there was the place where they
had been, and on it, laid carefully in the
form of St. Andrew cross by some I'M
known hand, were two huge sacriflcial
knives such as the priests wore at their
girdles
Sick and faint with fear, he staggered
back to the throneroom.
"Oh, what is Ii now" said Juanna,
who early as it was, had already risen,
looking at him with terrified eyes and
trembling lips.
Only this, - he answered hoarsely, ''thc
last two have gone, and here is what was
left in the place of them, " And he cast
down the knives onto the pavement.
Then at last Juanna gave way. "Oh,
Leonard, Leonard she said, weeping bit
terly, they were my fathers servants
whom l have known since l was "a child,
and l have brought them to this cracl
end. Cannot you think of any way of get
ting out of this place? If not, | shall die
of fear, ! can sleep no more. / feel that
l am watched at nights, though l cannot
tell by whom. Last night thought that
l heard some one moving near the curtain
where you and Francisco lie, though Soa
declares that it was all fancy"
1t is impossible, said Leonard.
Francisco was watching. All, here he
Comesu'
AS he spoSo Francisco entered the room
with CONSERVATION written on his face.
"Outram,' he gaspcG, ''some one must
have been in the throne chamber where
we slept last night. All the rifles have
gone-ours and those Of the settlement
men also
Great heavens!" said Leonard. But
you were watching"
II suppose that | must have dozed for
few moments answered the priest 1T
is awful, awful, they are gone, and we are
weaponless."
"Oh, can we not escape'" moaned Ju-
anna.
There is no hope of it." answered
Leonard gloomily. I'VE have no friends
here except Olfan, and he has little real
power, for tic priests have tempered with
the captains and the soldiers, who fear
them. How can we get out of this city?
And if we got out, what would become Of
Us, uuarmod and alone? All that we can
Ito is to keep heart and hope for the best
Certainly they are right who declare that
no good comes of seeking after treasure,
though believe that we shall live to win
it yet " he added.
"What, deliverer, - said a satirical voice
behind him, "do you still desire the red
stones, you whose hearts blood shall soon
rcdden n certain Stone yonder? Truly the
greed Of the white man is greatp'
Leonard looked around. 1t was Soa who
spoke, Soa who had been listening to their
talk, and she was glaring at him with an
expression of intense hate in her sullen
eyes. A thought came into his mind.
Was it not possible that this woman had
something to do with their misfortunes:
How came it about that the Others were
taken while she was left?
who gave you leave, Soa, he said,
looking her flxedly in the face, 'to heark-
en- to our words and thrust yourself into
our TALK"
'You have been glad enough of my
counsels hitherto, white man" she an
swcred furiously. who told you the tale
8 /, nd n 1rI. 70 hni Is.
land? Was it l or another"
You, l regret to say, said Leonard
coolly.
YES, white man, 1 led you here that
you might steal the treasure of my people
( like thief. / did it because the Shep-
herdess, my mistress, forced me to the deed,
and in those days her will was my law.
For her and you came here to my death,
and what has been my reward? | am put
away from her; she has no kind word for
me now you are about her always; you
hold her counsel, but to me her mind Is as
a shut door that | can no longer open.
/ Aye, you have poisoned her heart against
me, you and that black swine whom they
call Il god. And because she has learned
to love you, white thief, wanderer without
a kraal, as you are, at your bidding she has
also learned to hate me. Beware, white
man, am of this people, and you know
their temper. 1t is not gentle When they
hate, they find a means to be revenged. y
And she ceased, gasping with rage. In
deed at that moment Soa would have
made no bad model for a statue of one o.
the furies of Greek mythology.
Then Juanna attempted to interfere
but Leonard waved her back.
$50, :" he said, as l thought, you ar,
at the bottom of all this business. Per
haps you will not mind telling us wha