Part 90 (2/2)
”I know,” I said. ”It is strange. He is not like a monster, after all.”
”He is beautiful,” whispered Lois.
I stared at the pale, calm face over which the firelight played. The features seemed almost perfect, scarcely cruel, yet there was in the eyes a haunting beauty that was almost terrible when they became fixed.
To his scarlet moccasins crept the Andastes, one by one, and squatted there in silence.
Then a single warrior entered the ring. He was clad in the ancient arrow-proof armour of the Iroquois, woven of sinew and wood. His face was painted jet black, and he wore black plumes. He mounted the eastern mound, strung his bow, set an arrow to the string, and seated himself.
The red acolytes came forward, and the slim Prophetess bent her head till the long, dark hair uncoiled and fell down, clouding her to the waist in shadow.
”Hereckenes!” cried Amochol in a clear voice; and at the sound of their ancient name the Cat-People began a miauling chant.
”Antauhonorans!” cried Amochol.
Every Seneca took up the chant, and the drums timed it softly and steadily.
”Prophetess!” said Amochol in a ringing voice. ”I have dreamed that the Moon Witch and her grandson Iuskeha shall be clothed. With what, then, shall they be clothed, O Woman of the Night Sky? Explain to my people this dream that I have dreamed.”
The slim, white-cowled figure answered slowly, with bowed head, brooding motionless in the shadow of her hair:
”Two dogs lie yonder for Atensi and her grandson. Let them be painted with the sun and moon. So shall the dream of Amochol come true!”
”Sorceress!” he retorted fiercely. ”Shall I not offer to Atensi and Iuskeha two Hidden Children, that white robes may be made of their unblemished skins to clothe the Sun and Moon?”
”Into the eternal wampum it is woven that the soft, white skins shall clothe their bodies till the husks fall from the silken corn.”
”And then, Witch of the East? Shall I not offer them when the husks are stripped?”
”I see no further than you dream, O Amochol!”
He stretched out his arm toward her, menacingly:
”Yet they shall both be strangled here upon this stone!” he said.
”Look, Witch! Can you not see them lying there together? I have dreamed it.”
She silently pointed at the two dead dogs.
”Look again!” he cried in a loud voice. ”What do you see?”
She made no reply.
”Answer!” he said sharply.
”I have looked. And I see only the eternal wampum lying at my feet--lacking a single belt.”
With a furious gesture the Red Priest turned and stared at the dancing girls who raised their bare arms, crying:
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