Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1895-01-01
THE PEOPLE
OF THE MIST.
By H. RIDER HAGGARD.
Copyright, 1873, by the AuthOr.l
rHApTER WI


did not see much there, except tho CXte-
Iiors of the houses built of stone and rooted
with turVes and the cold stare of curioS-
ity with which they were followed by hun
drctls of eyes gave them a sense of unrest
that cfTcctually checked their efforts at
closer examination. Once indeed they
halted in the market place, which was
thronged Instantly all business ceased.
Seller, buyer hcTdsmcn and presiding
priests flockCd around them, staring at
them, half in fer and half in curiosity,
for they had NJ = seen white men before.
This they could not bear, so they returned
to the palace.
OF course Otter and Juanna, being di-
vine, were not allowed to indulge in such
recrcations. They were gods and must
live up to their reputation. For one day
Otter endured it. On the second, in spite
of Leonard S warnings, he sought refuge
in the society of the bride Saga. This was
the beginning of evil, for if no man is n
hero to his valet de Chambre much less
can he remain god for long in the eyes
of n curious woman. Here, as in other
matters, familiarity breeds contempt.
Leonard saw these dangers and spoke
angrily to the dwarf ON the subject. Still
! he could not conceal from himself that,
putting aside the question of his -ennui,
! that made his conduct natural, at any
| rate, in n savage, Offers position was n
| difficult one. So Leonard shrugged his
| shoulders and cOnsolcd himself as best he
! could with the reflection that at least his
! wife would teach the dwarf something of
| the language, which, by the way, he him
' self was practiCing assiduOusly under the
| tuition of Juanua and SOn.
AT noon IN" party adjourned to the tenn
| pie, escorted I1v II bevv of priests and SOL
| dicrs for in Cdiencc TO Juanna's COM
mands the feast was celebrated i'll the day
| time and not ut night. AS before, the vast
| amphithcatcr was crowded with thousands
| of human beings. but there was a differ
CncC in the arrangements
Juanna and Otter had declined to occu-
| Ply their lofty thrones and sat in chairs at
| the feet of the huge and hideous stone
| idol, almost on the edge of the pool, Nam
! standing before them, while Leonard,
| Francisco and the settlement men ranged
themselves on either side. The day was
cold and miserable, and snow fell from
time TO time in large flakes from an ashen
sky.
Presently Nam addressed the multitude.
| People of the Mist, - he cried, you are
| gathered here To celebrate the feast of Jal,
| according to ancient custom, but the gods
| have come back to you, rs you know, and
the gods in their wisdom have changed
the custom. Fifty women were prepared
for the sacrifice This morning they rose
| rejoicing dccming that they were destined
to the god, but now their joy is turned tO
sorrow, for the gods will! not accept them,
! having chosen Il new offering for them
| selves. Let il be brought forward.
At his word lads appeared from behind
the idol, driving before them two lean
| = ~ Of
| Whether ny accident or design. they drove
them SO unskillfully that the animals
Numbered hither and thithcr over the
| rocky platform till they were finally dis
| patched with blows from clubs and axes
| that is, except one he goat, which, cScap-
ing its pursurrS, rushed down the amphi-
| thcatrr and scrambled from scat to seat
among the audience, uttering q succession
of terrifying " haas. " Indeed the scene
was SO comic thai even that sOmbcr and
silent people began 10 laugh, accustomed
as they were on the So occasions TO the
hidcous and impressive ceremonial of the
midnight sacrifice of scores of human be
ings The ancient feast was 1iasco.
This WAS fact which could not be con
ccalod
BE gone, yr People of the Mist, " said
Nam presently. pointing TO the dead ami
mails The sacrifice is sacrificed; the fCs
tival of Jal is done. May the mother plead
with the snake that fruitfufncss may Gles:
the land,
Now. scarcely ten minutes had elapsed
since the beginning of the ceremony
which, in the ordinary course of events
| lasted through the greater part of the
night, for it was the custom TO slaughter
each victim singly and with appropriat,
solCmnities. y murlnur of Misrepresentation
| ov,,.., TrD,,, tbp far puA of tho NH tbCo r.
that swClled gradually 10 n roar. Tho peo
pie had been thankful TO accept Juanna'
message of peace, but brutaliZed as the.
| were by the continual sight of blOodshet
they were not willing TO dispense witt
their CarnivalS of human sacrifice. a RO
man audience gathered to witness n gladia
torial show to find themselves treated in
stead to Il donkey race and a cock figh
could scarcely have shown moro fury.
Bring OUT the women! Let the vic
Tins be offered up to Jal as of old" the
yelled in their rage, and ten minutes o
more elapsed before they could be Quoted
Then Nam addressed them cunningly.
People of the MIST he said, tho god
I have given us a new law of the sacrifice c
oxen and goats in the place of men an
maids, and you yourselves have welcome
that law. No longer shall the blood of vic
tins flow 10 jail beneath the white rays c
the moon while the chant of his servant
goes up to heaven. Nay, hencefOrth thi
holy place must be a shaInbles for tn
kline So be it, my children. In my oil
age I-hear the gods speaking with an a
tered voice, and l obey them. 1t is moth
ing to me, who am about to die, yet tie
f YOU that rather would i myself be strctche
upon the ancient stone than see the wol
. ship of our forefathcrs thus turned into
mOckcry. The sacrifice is sacrificed. No'
may the mother intercedc with the snak
that plenty may bless the land" And h
smiled satirically and turned away.
Those of the audience who wer" Eos
enough to hear his words cried them out I
the ranks behind them, and when ali III
, dcrstood there followed a scene of most il
dcscribable tumult.
Blood. give us blood roared the POI
- ulacc. their fierce faces alight with rag
shall we be Knocked with the sacrifice
goats: Offer up the servants of the fal:
gods Give us blood. Lead forth the vi
= tins!
~ In the midst OF this uproar Juanna, ella
! in her white robes and with the red stoI
bound upon her brow, rose from her Sc;
!, to speak.
"Silence"' cried Nam. Hear the vol,
- of Aca," And by degrees the tumult die
y away, and she spoke.
) do you thus dare to offer outrage
the gods:' she cried. BE warned lest v
bring death and famine upon you al
Men shall &c offered up to us no more.
a have spoken
It For awhile there was silence; then Il
tumult broke out with redOubled violcnc
and a portion of the multitude made
rush round the edge of the pool toward Il
rock platform, which was repealed by Il
soldiers in very half hearted way.
L Now. said Olfan, Il think that the
will do we'll TO be going. And he point'
, to Leonard, Francisco and the setLlemcl
men. Doubtless the gods can defer
themselves. but if the others do not
- this is sure-that presently they will