With heads bent, the runners pulled themselves together for a final effort. It was a point of honor to reach the entrance as Kerœcia arrived there. The multitude understood this, and cheered lustily as the men ranged themselves in even rows, four on each side, at the exact instant that Kerœcia reached the threshold. She had time to throw a badge to each one, before they sank into the arms of attendants breathless and completely exhausted.
The “Hymn of Triumph” was caught up by the crowd and carried high above the combined efforts of the musicians, as the populace worked their forefingers over their lips, and followed the melody with all of the lung-power possible.
Kerœcia was attended by Ben Hu Barabe and his bride, Alcyesta, on one side, with Suravia and Mineola on the other, followed by Yermah, attended by Setos and Alcamayn on the right; Rahula and Ildiko on the left.
Arriving at the pavilion, Kerœcia was received by the priesthood of Anokia, who crowned her Queen of the Harvest, by placing a wreath of heads of ripe grain upon her brow. They gave her a cornstalk, also, which supported two ripe ears, the whole gayly decorated with ribbons.
As soon as Kerœcia received this emblem of plenty she waved it high over her head, and the whole multitude uncovered, tossing their round, pointed, conical hats high into the air and shouted: “Ho-ra! Ho-ra! Ho-ra!”
The day was yet young, but the tamanes took advantage of the confusion while seating the procession in the pavilion to unfurl the canopies overhead, and the people made themselves comfortable under thick tapa-cloth awnings.
On the ground directly in front of the pavilion, were squares of black and white marble. Upon these the Monbas priests prepared to play the game of “Stone-Warrior,” a quaint, allegorical Pilgrim’s Progress, typical of the journey of life, one mile-post of which Kerœcia was passing.
Bringing up the rear of the procession were four horsemen dressed in green, with green trappings on their mounts; four tapirs caparisoned in red; four war-chariots in yellow; and twelve foot-soldiers in black.
There were two Priests of the Bow, dressed in white. This company divided—one half taking one end of the board, and the other half, the other end. Six foot-soldiers stood on the black squares, three on each side of the Priests of the Bow.
The two tapirs, horsemen and chariots, lined up evenly on the ground back of the men in black. The object of the game was to cross the board diagonally from end to end—capturing as many men as possible on the way. The first side to place three foot-soldiers in a row was the winner. In no circumstance was a man in black to touch a white square. He must always keep on the black square.