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Updated: June 8, 2025
Leonard and Francisco took it in turns to watch each other's slumbers, laying themselves to rest outside the curtain of Juanna's room. As for the survivors of the Settlement men, their state can scarcely be described. They followed Leonard about, upbraiding him bitterly for leading them into this evil land and cursing the hour when first they had seen his face.
Olfan's face fell; then a look of doubt came into it, for Juanna's mode of life, every detail of which was known to him, seemed to contradict her statement. Seeing that he did not believe her, Juanna plunged still deeper into the mire. "He is my husband," she said again.
Then for a while he forgot all about her, since his attention was amply occupied with his own and Juanna's peril.
"Now, Baas," he said, "all is well, for I can begin from the bottom." And, without further words, he let himself down till he hung beside them. "Is the Shepherdess dead, Baas?" he asked, glancing at Juanna's pale face and closed eyes, "or does she only sleep?" "I think that she is in a swoon," answered Leonard; "but for heaven's sake be quick, Otter, for I am being frozen on this ice.
A murmur of disapprobation arose from the far end of the amphitheatre, that swelled gradually to a roar. The people had been thankful to accept Juanna's message of peace, but, brutalised as they were by the continual sight of bloodshed, they were not willing to dispense with their carnivals of human sacrifice.
"No, it is not a poison. What need would there be to poison one who must die at dawn?" Then Leonard did as she told him. Taking a tin pannikin, one of their few possessions, he emptied the sleeping-draught into it and added enough native brandy to colour the water. Next he went into Juanna's room and found her lying fast asleep upon the great bed.
And now came the most difficult and dangerous part of the task, for Leonard, suspended from the shaft of the spear by one hand, must support Juanna's senseless form with the other, while Otter made shift to drag himself to the summit of the ice, holding the hide line in his teeth.
Olfan was about to answer when Soa, fearing lest Juanna's pleading should prevail against his passion, broke in saying, "Be not fooled, King, by a woman's pretty speeches, or by her idle threats that she will kill herself.
Now Otter, hastily undoing the cord from Juanna's waist, made it into a running noose which he threw down to Leonard, who placed it over his shoulders. Having lifted the spear from the cleft in which it stood, he commenced his ascent.
Thenceforward I held my peace, and set myself to watch, and now after much watching alas! I must say it to my shame I have discovered that they are no true gods, but wicked liars who have sought to usurp the places of the gods." He paused, and a roar of rage and astonishment went up from the assembled thousands. "It has come at last," whispered Leonard into Juanna's ear.
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