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Therefore I inwardly rejoice to know thou wilt present thyself before the Shrine to-night, if only for the sake of custom ..." "'Only' for the sake of custom!" repeated Sah-luma amusedly "Nay, good Zel, custom should be surely classified as an exceeding powerful god, inasmuch as it rules all things, from the cut of our clothes to the form of our creeds!" "True!" replied Zel imperturbably.
Khosrul was mad!" retorted Sah-luma. "Are not all men thought mad who speak the truth?" queried Theos gently. The priest Zel looked at him with proud and supercilious eyes. "Thou hast strange notions for one still young," he said ... "What art thou? ... a new disciple of the Mystics? ... or a student of the Positive Doctrines?" Theos met his gaze unflinchingly.
The two gunboats, "Bam" and "Boo," had been a source of anxiety to our Captain, ever since they came into our possession, and fears were entertained, should another gale come on, that they might share the fate of the unfortunate "Zel". Their young commanders were ready to go anywhere in them, but it seemed very unlikely, should they make the attempt, that they would ever reach Canton, to which we were soon about to return.
And you, Drydez," said he, turning to the Dutchman, "I shall enter you upon the information docket, as soon as I go down into the city." "Zeu may tu vat zeu plas mit me-te mayor bees my friend, an' he knowz vot me ams. Yuz sees zel no bronty, no zin! Vot yu to mit de fine, ah?" *
Stooping he kissed the King's hand, whereupon at a sign from Zel, one of the priests attired in scarlet unfastened Niphrata's bound hands, and led her, as one leads a blind child, straight up to where Sah-luma and Theos stood, close beside the King, who, together with many others, stared curiously upon her.
"All this is the mere common rhetoric of the Temple Craft" he said indolently.. "Why not, good Zel, give plainer utterance to thine errand? we know each other's follies well enough to spare formalities! Lysia has sent thee hither, . . what then? ... what says the beauteous Virgin to her willing slave?"
"Excellently argued, most politic Zel!" he exclaimed.. "Yet methinks it is easy to worship Self without either consecrated altars or priestly assistance!"
I ask these questions not out of wanton curiosity, but for the sake of instruction!" The haughty Zel turned upon him in severe astonishment. "Sir," he said "Stranger undoubtedly thou art, and so bold a manner of speech most truly savors of the utterly uneducated western barbarian!
I pledge my word for his demurest prudence at the Service to-night I would not have him absent for the world, ... 'twere pity he should miss the splendor of a scene which doubtless hath been admirably contrived, by priestly art and skill, to play upon the passions of the multitude. Tell me, good Zel, what is the name of the self- offered Victim?"
A blue light was next ordered to be lit. No answering signal was to be perceived. The missing boat was the "Zel" under charge of young Harry Oliver. He was a great favourite on board, and many anxious eyes were looking out for him. Another and another gun was fired, and blue lights ever and anon sent their bright glare over the foam-topped waves.
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