The dromedary men are here. OOGNO We are lost! AGMAR Be silent! I must think. [_They all sit still. Citizens enter and prostrate themselves. Agmar sits deep in thought._ ILLANAUN (_to Agmar_) Two holy pilgrims have gone to your sacred shrines, wherein you were wont to sit before you left the mountains. (_Agmar says nothing_) They return even now. AGMAR They left us here and went to find the gods? A fish once took a journey into a far country to find the sea. ILLANAUN Most reverend deity, their piety is so great that they have gone to worship even your shrines. AGMAR I know these men that have great piety. Such men have often prayed to me before, but their prayers are not acceptable. They little love the gods; their only care is their piety. I know these pious ones. They will say that the seven gods were still at Marma. They will lie and say that we were still at Marma. So shall they seem more pious to you all, pretending that they alone have seen the gods. Fools shall believe them and share in their damnation. OORANDER (_to Illanaun_) Hush! You anger the gods. ILLANAUN I am not sure whom I anger. OORANDER It may be they are the gods. ILLANAUN Where are these men from Marma? CITIZEN Here are the dromedary men; they are coming now. ILLANAUN (_to Agmar_) The holy pilgrims from your shrine are come to worship you. AGMAR The men are doubters. How the gods hate the word! Doubt ever contaminated virtue. Let them be cast into prison and not besmirch your purity. (_Rising_) Let them not enter here. ILLANAUN But oh, most reverend deity from the Mountain, we also doubt, most reverend deity. AGMAR You have chosen. You have chosen. And yet it is not too late. Repent and cast these men in prison and it may not be too late. _The gods have never wept._ And yet when they think upon damnation and the dooms that are withering a myriad bones, then almost, were they not divine, they could weep. Be quick! Repent of your doubt. [_Enter the Dromedary Men._ ILLANAUN Most reverend deity, it is a mighty doubt. CITIZENS _Nothing has killed him! They are not the gods!_ SLAG (_to Agmar_) You have a plan, my master. You have a plan. AGMAR Not yet, Slag. ILLANAUN (_to Oorander_) These are the men that went to the shrines at Marma. OORANDER (_in a loud, clear voice_) Were the Gods of the Mountain seated still at Marma, or were they not there? [_The beggars get up hurriedly from their thrones._ DROMEDARY MAN They were not there. ILLANAUN They were not there? DROMEDARY MAN Their shrines were empty. OORANDER Behold the Gods of the Mountain! AKMOS They have indeed come from Marma. OORANDER Come. Let us go away to prepare a sacrifice. A mighty sacrifice to atone for our doubting. (_Exeunt_) SLAG My most wise master! AGMAR No, no, Slag. I do not know what has befallen. When I went by Marma only two weeks ago the idols of green jade were still seated there. OOGNO We are saved now. THAHN Ay, we are saved. AGMAR