"It is as it should be," said the murderer calmly, and softly called a name. Somebody came blundering from the inner room sobbing with chokes and gulps.
"Come," said the man, then: "Is the foreign woman there also? Let her also go with us."
The girl called another in a low voice, and a woman joined them. Olandi was catholic in his tastes and raided indiscriminately.
The first girl shrank back as her husband laid his hand on her arm.
"Where is my lord?" she whimpered.
"I am your lord," said the secret man dryly; "as for the other, he has no need of women, unless there be women in hell, which is very likely."
None attempted to stop the party as it went through the street and back to the canoes, though there were wails and moanings in Olandi's hut and uneasy stirrings in the villages.
Men hailed them sharply as they passed, saying, "Oilo?" which means, "Who walks?" But they made no reply.
Then with the river and safety before them, there arose the village watchman who challenged the party.
He had heard the faint death-cry from Olandi's hut, and advanced his terrible cutting-spear to emphasise his challenge.