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.  Harut 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 Harut, 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.”