“No! No!” she pleaded.
But Sorez had lost sight of her as a personality now; she was nothing but a means to this one end; nothing but an adjunct to this heathen idol. He repeated his command more decisively––more sternly. His words were sharp––cold.
The shadow which had left the shore still came nearer––silently, swiftly.
The girl rested her frightened eyes upon the brilliant jewels set below the ugly, squat brow. They glowed in answer. They sparkled like tiny fires. Her face grew strained––her breathing became more rapid.
“Deeper––deeper!”
The shadow had come very near. Had the girl not been looking so intently into the crystal eyes, she could have seen––could have warned. The moon now showed it to be a canoe and in the canoe a man. The man was very lean and his uncovered head was close shaven. His eyes were very like those in the image.
The girl shuddered.
“Deeper––deeper!” came the relentless command.
Her voice came back muffled––as though from a distance.