Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-01-07
THE PEOPLE
 OF THE MIST.
By H. RIDER HAGGARD.
Copyright. 1898, by the Author.l
 CHAPTER XXI

| the woman whom ho wOrshipCd and with 1 whom in some few houls ho expects to l travel 10 that shore of which we know 1 nothing, though day and night we hear l the waves that bear us on'Tard break upon its beach. They talked for long, and ever while they talked Juanna grew gentler and more human, as the barriers of her | pride melted in the fire of her passion and | the shadow of death gathered thicker up- on her and the man she loved. At length | her strength gave way utterly, and she wept upon Leonard's breast like some ] frightened child, and from weeping sank | into deep slumber or swOon, he knew not l which. Then he kissed her upon the fore 1 head, and carrying her to her bed laid her down to rest awhile before she died. re- turning himself to the throneroom. Here he found Francisco and Otter. Look here, baas, >" said the dwarf, pro l ducing from beneath his goatskin cloak an article which he had employed the last hour in constructing. ltwas a fearful and wonderful instrument, made out of the two sacrificial knives that had been left by the priests on the occasion of the ab- straction of the last Of the settlement men. The handles of these knives Otter had lashei together immovably with strips of hide, forming weapon two feet or more
 
 iectcd in opposite directions.
 What is that for, Otter?'' said Leonard l carelessly, for he was thinking of other | things.
 ''ThiS is for the crocodile to eat, haas I had seen his brothers caught like that be- forc in the marshes of the Zambezi," :" TO. piled tho dwarf, with a grin. Doubtless i he thinks to cat me, but have made an- 1 other food ready for elm. An, of one thing am sure-that if he comes out there will Dc a good fight, whoever conguers in the end.''
 Then he proceeded to fix hide rope to the handles of the knives, and having made it fast about his body with a rum ming moose he coiled its length, which may have measured some 50 feet, round and round his middle, artfully concealing its bulk, together with the knives, beneath his cloak and moocha.
 Now I am n man again, baas, " he said grinly. II have done with drink and such fOlliCs which took to in my hours of idlencsS for the time has come to fight. Aye, and l shall win, baas The waters arc my homo, and do not fear crocodiles, however big-nO, not one bit-for, as told you, have killed them before. You will sec, you will sec"
 II am afraid thl l shall do nothing of lhe sort, Otter" answered Leonard sadly, but l wish you luck, my friend. If you get out of this mess, they will think you a god and no mistake, and should you only find the sense to avoid drirE you may rule hero till you die of old age.''
 There would bc no pleasure in that, baas, if you were dead" answered the dwarf, with a h"avy sigh. Alas! my folly has helped to bring you into this trouble, but this 1 swcar-that if I live and my spirit tells me that I shall not die tonight, it will be to avenge you. Fear not, baas. When ain a god again, one by one will kill them all, and when they are dead then l will kill myself and come to look for you.'
 1t is very kind of you, Otter, I am sure, " said Leonard, with something like a laugh, and at that moment the curtains swung aside, and SOa stood before them, accompanied by four armed priests.
 "What the ueuce,' exclaimed Leonard, springing at her as though by instinct
 Peace, GClivcrrr"' she said, holding up her hand and addressing him in the Si- sutu tongue, which, of course, those with her did not understand. Il am guarded, and my death would be quickly followed by your own. Moreover, it would avail you little to kill me, for come to bring you hope for the life of her you love and for your own. Listen. The sun will not shine tomorrow at the dawn. Already the mist gathers thick, and it will hold. Therefore the Shephcrdcss and the dwarf will be hurled from the head of the statue, while you and Baldpate having witnessed their end, will be kept alive till the autumn sacrifice, then to be offered up with the other victims"
 Why do you come to tell us all this, woman, said Leonard, seeing that we knew it already-that is, with the excep- tion of the news of the postponement of our own fate, which I, for one, do not de- sire: What hope is there in this story? If you have nothing better to say, get you gone, traitresS, and let us sec your hateful face no mOrci'
 II have something moro to say, deliv- Crcr. 1 still love the Shepherdess as you love her, and, she added, with emphasis, as Baldpate wonder also loves her. Now, this is my plan: Two must die at dawn, but of those two the Shepherdess need not be one. The morning will be misty, the statue of the god is high, and one or two of the priests alone will see tho victim shrouded in her black robe. What if a substitute can be found, so like to her in shape and height and features that in the twilight and beneath the shadow of the hood none shall know them apartf"
 Leonard started. Who can be found?"
 Slowly Soa raised her thin hand and pointed to Francisco. There stands tho man, 7" she said. Were he wrapped in the cloak of Aca who should know the one from the other? The pool and the snake do not give back that which they have swallowed"
 If Leonard had started before, now he fairly recOiled as the full meaning of this terrible proposition took possession of his mind. He looked at Francisco, who stood by wondering, for the priest did not un- derstand the Sisutu dialect.
 Tell him." she said.
 Wait awhile, he answered hoarsely, ''Supposing that this were carried out, what would happen to the Shepherdessl"
 "She would be concealed in tho dun geOns of the temple in his dress and under his name,' and again she pointed to Francisco, until such time as a chance can be found for her to escape or to return to rule this people unquestioned and with honor. My father alone knows of this plot, and because of his love for me ho suffers mo to try it, desperate as 1t seems; also, for l will tell you all the truth, he is himself in danger, and he believes that by means of the Shepherdess, who, when she reappears, will be held by the people to be immortal, having survived the sacri- nee, ne may save hlS l1e when the day of his own trial comes"
 And do you think" said Leonard, that l will trust her alone to you, wicked and Eorsworn as you are, and to the ten- der mercies of your fatherf No, 1t is bet ter that she should die and have done with her fears and torments." "
 II did not ask you to do so, deliverer, I" answered Soa quietly. You will be taken with her, and if she lives you will live with her. Is that not enoughi These men here come to bear you and Baldpate to the dungeons They will bear you and the Shepherdess, knowing no difference, that is all Now, tell him. Perchance he may not be willing to accept"
 Francisco, come here," said Leonard in a low voice and speaking in Portuguese, and he told him all while Soa watched