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too； all of you； and lady she stop here till Black Kendah king take
her to wife or she too die？〃
〃Let us talk；〃 I broke in； treading warningly upon Ragnall's foot。 〃We
have heard your Oracle and we know that you believe its words。 It is
said that we alone can help you to conquer the Black Kendah。 If you
will not promise what we ask； we will not help you。 We will burn our
powder and melt our lead； so that the guns we have cannot speak with
Jana and with Simba； and after that we will do other things that I
need not tell you。 But if you promise what we ask； then we will fight
for you against Jana and Simba and teach your men to use the fifty
rifles which we have here with us； and by our help you shall conquer。
Do you understand？〃
He nodded and stroking his long beard； asked：
〃What you want us promise； eh？〃
〃We want you to promise that after Jana is dead and the Black Kendah
are driven away； you will give up to us unharmed that lady whom you
have stolen。 Also that you will bring her and us safely out of your
country by the roads you know； and meanwhile that you will let this
lord see his wife。〃
〃Not last； no；〃 replied Har？t； 〃that not possible。 That bring us all
to grave。 Also no good； 'cause her mind empty。 For rest； you come to
other place； sit down and eat while I talk with priests。 Be afraid
nothing； you quite safe。〃
〃Why should we be afraid？ It is you who should be afraid； you who
stole the lady and brought Bena to his death。 Do you not remember the
words of your own Oracle； Har？t？〃
〃Yes； I know words； but how /you/ know them /that/ I not know；〃 he
replied。
Then he issued some orders； as a result of which a guard formed itself
about us and conducted us through the crowd and along the passage to
the second court of the temple； which was now empty。 Here the guard
left us but remained at the mouth of the passage； keeping watch。
Presently women brought us food and drink； of which Hans and I partook
heartily though Ragnall； who was so near to his lost wife and yet so
far away； could eat but little。 Mingled joy because after these months
of arduous search he found her yet alive； and fear lest she should
again be taken from him for ever； deprived him of all appetite。
While we ate； priests to the number of about a dozen； who I suppose
had been summoned by Har？t； were admitted by the guard and； gathering
out of earshot of us between the altar and the sanctuary； entered on
an earnest discussion with him。 Watching their faces I could see that
there was a strong difference of opinion between them； about half
taking one view on the matter of which they disputed； and half
another。 At length Har？t made some proposition to which they all
agreed。 Then the door of the sanctuary was opened with a strange sort
of key which one of the priests produced； showing a dark interior in
which gleamed a white object； I suppose the statue of the Child。 Har？t
and two others entered； the door being closed behind them。 About five
minutes later they appeared again and others； who listened earnestly
and after renewed consultation signified assent by holding up the
right hand。 Now one of the priests walked to where we were and；
bowing； begged us to advance to the altar。 This we did； and were stood
in a line in front of it； Hans being set in the middle place； while
the priests ranged themselves on either side。 Next Har？t； having once
more opened the door of the sanctuary； took his stand a little to the
right of it and addressed us； not in English but in his own language；
pausing at the end of each sentence that I might translate to Ragnall。
〃Lords Macumazana and Igeza； and yellow man who is named Light…in…
Darkness；〃 he said； 〃we； the head priests of the Child； speaking on
behalf of the White Kendah people with full authority so to do； have
taken counsel together and of the wisdom of the Child as to the
demands which you make of us。 Those demands are： First； that after you
have killed Jana and defeated the Black Kendah we should give over to
you the white lady who was born in a far land to fill the office of
Guardian of the Child； as is shown by the mark of the new moon upon
her breast； but who； because for the second time we could not take
her； became the wife of you； the Lord Igeza。 Secondly； that we should
conduct you and her safely out of our land to some place whence you
can return to your own country。 Both of these things we will do；
because we know from of old that if once Jana is dead we shall have no
cause to fear the Black Kendah any more； since we believe that then
they will leave their home and go elsewhere； and therefore that we
shall no longer need an Oracle to declare to us in what way Heaven
will protect us from Jana and from them。 Or if another Oracle should
become necessary to us； doubtless in due season she will be found。
Also we admit that we stole away this lady because we must； although
she was the wife of one of you。 But if we swear this； you on your part
must also swear that you will stay with us till the end of the war；
making our cause your cause and； if need be； giving your lives for us
in battle。 You must swear further that none of you will attempt to see
or to take hence that lady who is named Guardian of the Child until we
hand her over to you unharmed。 If you will not swear these things；
then since no blood may be shed in this holy place； here we will ring
you round until you die of hunger and of thirst； or if you escape from
this temple； then we will fall upon you and put you to death and fight
our own battle with Jana as best we may。〃
〃And if we make these promises how are we to know that you will keep
yours？〃 I interrupted。
〃Because the oath that we shall give you will be the oath of the Child
that may not be broken。〃
〃Then give it；〃 I said； for although I did not altogether like the
security； obviously it was the best to be had。
So very solemnly they laid their right hands upon the altar and 〃in
the presence of the Child and the name of the Child and of all the
White Kendah people；〃 repeated after Har？t a most solemn oath of which
I have already given the substance。 It called down on their heads a
very dreadful doom in this world and the next； should it be broken
either in the spirit or the letter； the said oath； however； to be only
binding if we； on our part； swore to observe their terms and kept our
engagement also in the spirit and the letter。
Then they asked us to fulfil our share of the pact and very
considerately drew out of hearing while we discussed the matter；
Har？t； the only one of them who understood a word of English； retiring
behind the sanctuary。 At first I had difficulties with Ragnall； who
was most unwilling to bind himself in any way。 In the end； on my
pointing out that nothing less than our lives were involved and
probably that of his wife as well； also that no other course was open
to us； he gave way； to my great relief。
Hans annou