The next instant, to the astonishment of all hands, she turned and sprang over the verge of the awful place and went gliding toward the flame and smoke below!
She had cheated the executioners from throwing her into the Devil’s Kingdom by committing the deed herself.
Down—down the horrible descent she glided until the lurid flames hid her from view, and then, with a mighty splash, the beautiful murderess plunged into the rushing stream.
A shudder crept over everyone in the party, and one and all they turned their heads.
For fully a minute a deep silence reigned.
At length it was broken by Queen Olive.
“Come,” said she, in a strange, unnatural tone, “let’s go back.”
Everybody seemed to be willing, so they started at once.
As soon as they arrived at the village, our friends sought the seclusion of their own dwelling to talk over the startling events that had so recently occurred.