With a quick movement she broke loose from the women who held her on the outskirts of the crowd. She leaped up the wall of the amphitheatre that wound around a little distance away from the rest, and there she stood poised.
"Truda," cried Beekman, who was placed where he could see her every movement, "what would you do?"
"Stop," cried the girl in the language of the island, as Hano started for her, followed by the others coming up with the staves. "Let no one come near me. Hano and Kobo, stand forth."
Such was her imperious emphasis that her command was at once obeyed. The two addressed separated themselves from the crowd, which halted, but Hano again started for the girl.
"If you come nearer, I shall leap over," she said quickly. "Stand where you are, Hano."
He stopped in the face of this threat and stood as if rooted to the spot.
"Beek-man has broken the taboo," said the girl in the deep silence. "Perhaps you do right to punish him--"
"O Truda," groaned Beekman under his breath, but if the girl heard, she made no sign.
"He came from the deep. You may return him there, but he came alive, and you must return him alive."
"What do you mean?"