“Lord,” answered the old man with some dignity, “I know you can kill me, and if you kill me, I think I say thank you who no wish to live in so much trouble.  But what good that, since in one minute then you die 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 Harut, “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, Harut?”

“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 Harut, 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 Harut made some proposition to which they all agreed.