The awe in which Fire-tamer was thus held, and the influence which he had in consequence among the people, excited the jealousy of Koree and other leaders, who saw their own star declining. Several quarrels ensued, and there was a crisis, when a happy solution was reached by making Fire-tamer a sort of high priest, whose business it was to have charge of the wood-eating monster and keep it burning, in return for which distinction he was to abandon his ambition to control the Ammi in other matters. His office was the predecessor of that of the vestal virgins, and his charge—fire—became worshipped as a deity, while he, as keeper of it, became the chief ruler of men in religious matters. While they were discussing these interests, and the reciprocal bounds of church and state were being first laid off, there arose a great commotion among them. “Splash!” “Splash!” “Splash!” Such were the sounds that were now heard a second time; but the terror was greater than before, and such a scene of confusion had never yet been known to men. The fire had melted the ice, which gave way, and men, fire and all went down into the water. One over another they tumbled, and, amid smoking logs and sissing embers, struggled with one another and with the floating ice. The fire was put out, and with it went the prestige of Fire-tamer, at least for awhile. Some thought the wood-eating monster had taken a plunge and was running away with them. They expected to be carried under the ice and into the ground; and they were much relieved when they found that the monster had gone alone and left them behind, and, as they gradually regained the shore, or rather the firm ice, they presented such a mass of shivering and dripping humanity as had not been seen till that day. CHAPTER XXXVII. [Illustration] The first impulse of the Ammi, on recovering their safety and their senses, was to kill Fire-tamer who was thought responsible for the disaster. He was supposed to know the habits of the beast, and was deemed negligent in allowing them to be exposed to such a calamity. Pounder especially favored his death, and proposed to inflict it himself, as he had been twice submerged that day, and was specially out of humor. “I knew,” said Gimbo, “that it would come to this; but you never take the advice of an old man. I don’t walk on four feet for nothing.” What had become of the beast, was the next question. “Shall we go after it?” asked one. Another said: “Let us rather run away from it, and kill Fire-tamer if he brings another.” “It would be a good thing to have,” said Koree, “now that we are so cold and wet.” “As soon as it should dry us,” replied Pounder, “it would plunge us again in the water.” Fire-tamer was puzzled, and it was well that he had nothing to say; for the Ammi were not in a condition to listen to him. He and his beast were alike in disfavor, and so he waited for a cold day for his vindication.