Dacha looked towards us, hesitating, and I saw that it was time to act. Rising, I called out: “Know, O Dacha, that before one hand is laid upon us I will make you as my companion, Lord-of-the-Fire, made the dog without your doors.” Evidently Dacha believed me, for he grew quite humble. “Have no fear, Lords,” he said. “Are you not our honoured guests and the messengers of a Great One? Go in peace and safety.” Then at his command or sign the brightly burning fire was scattered, so that the cave grew almost dark, especially as some of the lights had gone out. “Follow me swiftly—swiftly,” said Dramana, and taking my hand she led me away through the gloom. Presently we found ourselves in the passage, though for aught I know it was another passage; at any rate, it led to the hall where we had feasted. This was now empty, although in it lights still burned. Crossing it, Dramana conducted us back to the house, where a hasty examination shewed us that our rifles were just as we had left them; nothing had been touched. Here, seeing that we were quite alone, for all had gone to the sacrifice, I spoke to her. “Lady Dramana,” I said, “does my heart tell me truly or do I only dream that you desire to depart from out of the shadow of Heu-Heu?” She glanced about her cautiously, then answered in a low voice: “Lord, there is nothing that I desire so much—unless perchance it be death,” she added with a sigh. “Hearken! Seven years ago I was bound upon the Rock of Offering, where my sister will stand to-morrow, having been chosen by the god and dedicated to him by the mad terror of my people, which means, Lord, that I had been chosen by Dacha and dedicated to Dacha.” “Why, then, do you still live?” I asked, “seeing that she who was chosen last year must be sacrificed this year.” “Lord, am I not the daughter of the Walloo, the ruler of the people of the Mainland, and might not the title to that rule be acquired through me while I breathe? It is not the best of titles, it is true, because I was born of a lesser wife of my father, the Walloo, whereas my sister Sabeela is born of the great wife. Still, at a pinch, it might serve. That is why I still live.” “What then is Dacha’s plan, Lady Dramana?”