When Beroes had crossed his hands on his breast, he whispered, and again subterranean disturbance set in, and they heard as it were a distant uproar, which astonished the assistants.
"Baralanensis, Baldachiensis, Paumachiae," said the seer, aloud, "I summon thee to witness our stipulations and support our wishes."
The sound of trumpets was heard so distinctly that Mefres bowed to the earth, Herhor looked around in astonishment, while Pentuer knelt, fell to trembling, and covered his ears.
The purple curtain at the altar shook, and its folds took such a form as if a man were behind who wished to pass through it.
"Be witnesses," cried the Chaldean, in a changed voice, "ye powers above and ye powers beneath! And cursed be he who observes not this treaty or betrays its secret."
"Cursed!" repeated some voice.
"And destroyed!"
"And destroyed."
"In this visible and in that invisible life. By the ineffable name of Jehovah, at the sound of which the earth trembles, the sea draws back, fire quenches, and the elements of nature become evident."
A real tempest rose in the cave. The sound of trumpets was mingled with voices, as it were, of distant thunders.