Page:Amazing Stories Volume 01 Number 07.djvu/37

If his eyes had glared before, they turned to living flames now. With a majestic stride, he advanced toward Ala; and I thought for a moment that he meant to strike her down with his staff. Edmund pushed her behind him; and I shall never cease to thrill at the recollection that I, with a boldness that surprised and gratified me afterward, sprang instantly to Edmund's side, with Jack—brave old Jack at my elbow.

What we should have done next I do not know for our enemy hesitated,

An Anathema

WHETHER he was cowered by our menacing aspect, or whether he thought it unbecoming his dignity to attack us physically, at any rate, he stopped short. Then, towering to his full height, he made one vast sweep with his arms, and covered us, I suppose, with a withering anathema.

As far as he was concerned, that apparently ended it..

He paid us no more attention after that than if we had been so many sticks, but directed his gaze straight at the sun. I saw its rays sparkle in the corner of his black eyes, which never winked; and I hope I may be forgiven for wishing, as I did, that bis god would strike him blind on the spot !

As I glanced around, I caught side looks from the prostrate worshippers which boded no good.

Suddenly a cold hand seemed to have been planted over the pit of ray stomach, for there, lifting his head above the kneeling crowd and staring at us with a wicked grin, was Ingra! An instant later, and before I could speak to Edmund, he was gone.

This capped the climax of my apprehensions. The mere fact that Ingra dared to show himself here attested the change that had occurred in our situa- tion. After a moment's thought, I determined not to tell Edmund at present what I had seen.

The spectacle of the opening of the dome ended as unexpectedly as it had begun. The rift closed, and then, for a few moments, the contrast between the unclouded brilliance of the sun and the soft glow that succeeded had an effect as if we had been plunged into night.

Finally, objects became clearer, there was a great movement of the closely packed throng, the people rose from their knees, and the black priest had gone as mysteriously as if he had been snatched up into the sky.

CHAPTER XXIII.

The Blow Falls

AFTER the scene that I have tried to describe in the last chapter, events hurried on with a rapid- ity which was not apparent upon their surface.

I believe that Edmund with all his perspicacity, failed to appreciate their meaning. In fact, he was himself responsible for giving them an impetus to- ward the inevitable crisis, which, but for the prema- ture step that he and Ala took, might have been de- layed considerably.

But I shall come to that in a few minutes.

As the excitement of the crowd died down, the people began to move about in groups, communing together about the marvel that they had witnessed.

The unfavorable attitude toward us was spreading among them.

It was plain that it had grown enormously in strength since the scene with the augur, and the impression quickly reached those who had not been near enough to see for themselves.

I could not speak immediately to Edmund, because he was continually in conference with Ala; but get- ting Jack aside, in order not to alarm Henry, who was already in a pitiable state of moral collapse, I opened my mind to him.

"Jack," I said, "Edmund has promised to get away soon."

"Well, that'll be a good thing, I reckon," was the reply.

"What do you think of the sentiment of this crowd?"

"I shouldn't like to trust myself alone in it. But, say ! Didn't we back the old medicine-man down in great shape?"

"I don't think we backed him down at all," I replied. "He has better ways of ruining us than by attacking us with a big stick.

"Humph!" said Jack. "I'd have had the drop on him, if he'd made another move."

"But you are in favor of our getting away at the earliest possible moment?"

"Oh, yes; I think we'd better go. I've had enough of Venns. But I'm not for backing down. If Ed- mund can take Ala along, all right. That's a littie romance that's got to go through."

"We've got the religious sentiments of these peo- ple against us now," I said, "and we can't afford to stay an unnecessary minute."

The Danger Thickens ccnpHEIR religious sentiments be hanged!" ex-

1 claimed Jack, "What's their religion? A set of pagans ! But, by Jove, these girls of Venus are great. I only wish I could have had Edmund's luck."

"He may not be as lucky as he seems," I re- plied. "But, come, Jack, I want you to help me per- suade Edmund to start even sooner than he has promised— in fact, right away."

Jack stared at me a moment.

"See here, Albert," he said. "I'm with you in thinking that the sooner we're off the better, but I'm not for budging a step until Edmund gives the word. He knows his affairs and Ala's.

"When they're ready, off we go, as far as I'm con- cerned. But that girl has got to be left to choose her time; and, if Edmund wants to stay and become King of Venue, I'm not the man to coax him away."

There was no more to be made out of Jack. I thought it would do no good to tell him that Ingra was here, for probably he would be all the more eager to stay and fight it out.

At the first opportunity, however, I brought Ed- mund back to the subject of getting away. He saw what was in my mind before I could speak.

"What does your watch say?" he asked good- naturedly. "Is it day after to-morrow yet?"

"No, of course not; but listen, Edmund. Don't you see how the peril thickens around us? I pro- test that I am no coward; but it would be defying fate to stay here any longer. Can't you persuade Ala to go at once?"

Edmund paused a minute before replying; and