“Curse them all for ten generations!” I exclaimed, then was silent, for what was the use of arguing with such a superstition-ridden set? Superstition is still king of most of the world, though often it calls itself Religion. These Walloos thought themselves very religious indeed. Thus ended that terrible night. CHAPTER XIV. THE END OF HEU-HEU Opposite to the Rock of Offering the canoe came to a standstill quite close to the edge of the rock. I inquired why, and the old Walloo, who sat in the middle of the boat draped in wondrous and imperial garments and a headdress, that, having worked itself to one side in the course of our struggles, made him look as though he were drunk, answered feebly: “Because it is our law, Lord. Our law bids us wait till the sun appears and the glory of Heu-Heu comes forth to take the Holy Bride.” “Well,” I answered, “as the Holy Bride is sitting in this boat with her head upon my knee” (this was true, because Sabeela had insisted upon sticking to me as the only person upon whom she could rely, and so, for the matter of that, had Dramana, for _her_ head was on my other knee), “I should recommend the glory of Heu-Heu, whatever that may be, not to come here to look for her. Unless, indeed, it wants a hole as big as my fist blown through it,” I added with emphasis, tapping my double-barrelled Express which was by my side, safe in its waterproof case. “Yet we must wait, Lord,” answered the Walloo humbly, “for I see that there is still a Holy Bride tied to the post, and until she is loosed our law says that we may not go away.” “Yes,” I exclaimed, “the holiest of all brides, for she is stone dead and all the dead are holy. Well, wait if you like, for I want to see what happens, and I think they can’t get at us here.” So we hung upon our oars, or rather paddles, and waited, till presently the rim of the red sun appeared and revealed the strangest of scenes. The water of the lake, swollen by weeks of continuous rain and the recent tempest, flowing in with a steady rush that somehow reminded me of the ordered advance of an infinite army, through the great gap in the lake wall that was broadening minute by minute beneath its devouring bite—is there anything so mighty as water in the world, I wonder—had now flooded most of the cultivated land to a depth of several feet.