"Look!" she cried. "Look! Why, even _she_ does not believe!" Her voice grew silk of silver--merciless, cruel. "Now am I minded to send another answer to the Silent Ones. Yea! But not by _you_, Lakla; by these"--she pointed to the frog-men, and, swift as light, her hand darted into her bosom, bringing forth the little shining cone of death. But before she could level it the Golden Girl had released that hidden left arm and thrown over her face a fold of the metallic swathings. Swifter than Yolara, she raised the arm that held the vine--and now I knew this was no inert blossoming thing. It was alive! It writhed down her arm, and its five rubescent flower heads thrust out toward the priestess--vibrating, quivering, held in leash only by the light touch of the handmaiden at its very end. From the swelling throat pouch of the monster behind her came a succession of the reverberant boomings. The frogmen wheeled, raised their lances, levelled them at the throng. Around the reaching ruby flowers a faint red mist swiftly grew. The silver cone dropped from Yolara's rigid fingers; her eyes grew stark with horror; all her unearthly loveliness fled from her; she stood pale-lipped. The Handmaiden dropped the protecting veil--and now it was she who laughed. "It would seem, then, Yolara, that there _is_ a thing of the Silent Ones ye fear!" she said. "Well--the kiss of the _Yekta_ I promise you in return for the embrace of your Shining One." She looked at Larry, long, searchingly, and suddenly again with all that effect of sunlight bursting into dark places, her smile shone upon him. She nodded, half gaily; looked down upon me, the little merry light dancing in her eyes; waved her hand to me. She spoke to the giant frog-man. He wheeled behind her as she turned, facing the priestess, club upraised, fangs glistening. His troop moved not a jot, spears held high. Lakla began to pass slowly--almost, I thought, tauntingly--and as she reached the portal Larry leaped from the dais. "_Alanna_!" he cried. "You'll not be leavin' me just when I've found you!" In his excitement he spoke in his own tongue, the velvet brogue appealing. Lakla turned, contemplated O'Keefe, hesitant, unquestionably longingly, irresistibly like a child making up her mind whether she dared or dared not take a delectable something offered her. "I go with you," said O'Keefe, this time in her own speech. "Come on, Doc!" He reached out a hand to me. But now Yolara spoke. Life and beauty had flowed back into her face, and in the purple eyes all her hosts of devils were gathered. "Do you forget what I promised you before Siya and Siyana? And do you think that you can leave me--me--as though I were a _choya_--like _her_." She pointed to Lakla. "Do you--"