The cold, I should almost say naïve, ferocity of the woman redoubled the disgust that the monster inspired in me. Again I remained silent, and she cried aloud:
"Why do you not answer me? You promised me the jewels!"
But seeming to be suddenly struck by a new thought she added with terror:
"I told him all! Suppose he tells it all again to Neroweg! My brother would kill us both, me and Riowag! The thought of the treasure bereft me of my senses!"
And again she started to call, turning her face towards the cavern.
A second old hag, no less hideous than the first, hobbled out holding in her hand the bone of an ox from which hung a partly boiled shred of meat at which she gnawed with her toothless gums.
"Come quick to me," the priestess said to her, "and leave your bone there."
The old hag obeyed unwillingly, grumbling like a dog whose meat is taken away from him. She laid the bone on one of the projecting rocks at the entrance of the grotto, and drew near, wiping her lips.
"Gather some dry, good branches and roots of trees and kindle a fire with them under the brass caldron," the priestess said to the old woman.
The latter returned into the cavern, and brought out all the things that she was ordered. Soon a bright fire burned under the caldron.