VII.
THE REVENGE.
Alma came in and hung his sickle on the wall. Although he assumed cheerfulness, his wife, who greeted him brightly over the pile of colored wool with which she was working, knew that he was sorely troubled. The room was airy, but simple, in its appointments. The floor was carpeted with rush mats and bears' skins, while the walls bore trophies of the chase in the form of antlers and deer heads. The supper looked inviting, and Alma came to it with the hunger born of hard labor in the fields.
"I wish you would not work so hard," admonished Zara, laying her work aside. "Amulon exempted you from labor."
Alma laughed shortly. "Small satisfaction that, to rest in the shade while I see my brethren toiling in the hot sun, with hard taskmasters over them. When I refused to be king, I explained that we are all equal in the sight of the Lord. Now that disaster has come upon us, I am no better than they. The drivers will not even allow our people to pray aloud any more."
"Surely Amulon has not forbidden that," gasped Zara, with dilated eyes.
The Lamanites had conquered all the southern provinces of the Nephites. The latter had only saved their lives by paying tribute of one-half their substance to their hard masters. At the time he fled from the armies of King Noah, Alma had traveled with his followers to a land of pure water where they built the beautiful city of Helem.
When Amulon and the gay priests stole the Indian girls and married them, King Laman had been wrathful. He sent out spies, located them where they were living and was getting ready to visit punishment upon them when his daughter Lamona, the wife of Amulon, came and threw herself at her father's feet and pleaded for mercy for the white men. She prevailed and the king of the Lamanites gladly welcomed his big son-in-law into favor. The head priest of King Noah rapidly resumed his old place of king's favorite. He introduced his own liberal schemes with the learning of the Nephites, and King Laman appropriated part of his kingdom for Amulon and his daughter to rule over. It so chanced that this province included the city of Helem.
When Amulon, accompanied by his dusky princess, and flanked by the barbarian armies, marched in, he was much surprised to find that the inhabitants were the followers of Alma. He found them easy prey, for their leader commanded them not to shed blood. The new ruler did not make it any easier for the captives because Alma had been a fellow priest of his who had won his sweetheart.
"Something has got to be done," pronounced Alma, looking across at his wife. "The people must break this yoke of bondage, for they cannot stand it any longer. I want you to unite with me in calling on the Lord for help."
Zara acquiesced, and when she arose a new light shone on her face as she rapidly unfolded to him her plan.
"Why don't you reproach me for having brought you to this?" he asked, drawing her tenderly toward him, for he realized that the task she had set herself was no easy one.
"Nay, I have been happier here helping you than I ever was before, with all my luxury. I never realized what a blessing work is!"
* * * * * * * *
Zara went and presented herself before Amulon. With mingled emotions they looked on one another. Zara noticed that the black-bearded, handsome man was more dominating than ever. The deep-eyed, dusky princess by his side was well suited to such a husband. Lamona, for her part, was curiously interested in her prince's former love. Amulon marked that Zara had retained her beauty, and looked very little older. He wondered what this slip of a woman who had preferred a soft-voiced missionary, could have to ask of him.
"I have a petition to make, my lord," she began, bowing low.
"And that is—"
"That you, your lady, and all your soldiery will dine with us at a banquet that we have prepared. There is much ill-feeling between the people and the soldiers. There has been a brutal quarrel or two, and we would seek to allay the trouble."
Amulon's eyes lighted with pleasure. It was long since he had eaten at a Nephite board, and he would like to sup with Zara. I think I can answer for the men.
They will come, like a horse to water. What say you, my girl? He turned to Lamona.
In thick, musical tones she graciously accepted the invitation.
On the day of the banquet Zara flitted among the wine jars, pouring into them a concoction brewed of the sleeping herb and the juice of the white poppy. Practically all of the Helemite's store would be guzzled down the throats of the thirsty horde in one night. The people of Alma would drink none. That was a part of the game.
That night at the feast, when the atmosphere was redolent with perfume and the air vibrant with music, Amulon cornered Zara and with his compelling gaze fixed on her face demanded that she drink with him the toast, "For old time's sake," while Lamona watched with jealous eyes. Fearful that this virile leader would not drink enough for her purpose, she raised the goblet with quaking hand to her lips. They were almost driven white by a new fear. What if she herself should go to sleep in this dire exigency? Already the drugged soldiers were lying in heaps about the room. Some still kept up the feast, but even these were too far gone to notice that the halls were being strangely emptied of Nephites. Already their flocks and herds were being rapidly driven into the mountains, to be speedily followed by their owners, for the Helemites were abandoning their homes to their conquerors.
Outside in the starlit night, Zara a second time faced the desert. Seated on a horse, like another Mary, she fearfully clasped her little son to her bosom. He was Alma, son of Alma, future high priest of Zarahemla.
THE SACRIFICIAL STONE.
THE GADIANTONS.
"And it came to pass that the Lamanites did hunt the band of robbers of Gadianton; * * insomuch that this band of robbers was utterly destroyed from among the Lamanites."