Directly in the foreground lay the snow-stone. On its centre stood the dog Queen, crouching, waiting, bristling. By her side Harry Wendel crouched on one knee, as if awaiting the signal. Behind him, the Nervina, supporting the awakening Aradna. And in front of all, the powerful bulk of Hobart Fenton, standing squarely at the head of the stair, ready to grapple the first to reach the landing. But most important of all, there stood the doctor himself. He was at the Nervina's side; in his hand, the case of priceless data. He was gazing through the Spot and making a signal of some kind to Watson, whereupon the latter leaped to the edge of the unseen circle. Something had gone wrong. The Spot was not fully open. Nothing but sight could get through. Yet there was no time for anything. Up the stairs came the Bars, leading and being pressed forward by the horde. At their head dashed the Bar Senestro, handsome as Alexander. Hobart stepped forward to meet him, but the doctor stopped him with a word. Only a few seconds elapsed between death and salvation. Again Dr. Holcomb signed to Watson; not a sound came through. Watson hesitated. The dog Queen shot to her feet. Then the Senestro, out-distancing all the rest and dodging Hobart, had leaped upon the dais. Upon the wall across the temple the great Leaf of the Jarados stood out like sinister fire. It pulsed and vibrated--alive. The top petal--the blue one--suddenly broke into a seething wave of flame. Still Watson held back. He could not understand what Holcomb meant. Queen waited only until the Senestro set foot on the dais. She crouched, then leaped. It was done. With a lightning shift of his nimble feet, the high-tempered Bar kicked the shepherd in the side. Caught at full leap, she was knocked completely over and fell upon the snow-stone. It was the Sacrilege! Even the Bars beyond the Senestro stopped in horror. The Four-Footed One--sacred to the Jarados--it was she who had been touched! Had the Senestro undone all on the Spot of Judgment, What would be the end? Fenton acted. He caught the Senestro before he could get his balance and with a mighty heave hurled him over the side of the stair. A second, and it was over. Another second was the last. For the great Leaf of the Jarados had opened. The green and red stood still; but out of the blue came a dazzling light, a powerful beam; so brilliant, it seemed solid. It shot across the whole sweep of the temple and touched the Prophecy. Over the golden scrolls it traced its marvellous colour, until it came to the lines: Beware ye of sacrilege! Lest I take from ye all that I have given ye, and the day be postponed--beware ye of sacrilege! For a moment the strange light stood still, so that the checked millions might read. Then it turned upon the dais.