As for the Queen, she sat immovable, her level brows knit, one bare sandalled foot resting on her tiger’s head. Something told me that the moment had come. I saw Lah raise her hand. On the instant the head of the serpent god fell forward, his chin resting on his breast.
Astolba was standing, helpless as a bird in the snare of the fowler, her feet resting on the centre crimson stone.
A hush fell on the multitude. I saw a wreath of roses flung upon the victim’s head, while at the same time a slender cord, sent swift through the air by an unseen hand, coiled itself about the body of the shuddering girl.
“The great god Hed has chosen!” shrieked the people. “To the pit with the bride! To the pit!”
Then I knew my time had come. No human power could have held me back. I tore the clinging veil and mantle from my limbs. I gave one burly slave a backward blow that sent him reeling upon his fellows; the other I tripped easily with my foot as he started to lay hold upon me. With a quick leap I cleared the amazed circle of the guard. Zobo, back again in life, and warned by the Queen’s cry, sprang to seize me as I fled, but I slipped beneath his outstretched arm.
The multitude seeing my face, which I grant was hardly human in that hour, screamed aloud for very fear. I saw them huddled like sheep together.
A voice cried: “The Magician is upon us!”
I had passed the serpent pit and reached the altar stone. The sacrificial knife, broad-bladed, sharp of edge, lay close to my hand. Another moment and Lestrade was free.
Then together we had reached Astolba. Gaston seized the brazier of live coals that stood before Hed’s image, and flung it full in the face of the first pursuing priest. His cheerful voice rang out. Even in that dread moment I could have sworn that his gaze had rested with instant approval on the shapely ankle of a flying white-robed maiden. He swung the empty brazier with right good-will, and I kept about me a clean circle with my glittering knife.
But already the end was near. Like a cloud of enraged insects the priests swept down upon us, and the reluctant soldiery, fearing they knew not what, came too at Agno’s shrill command. I gave myself three minutes yet of life. My shoulder was bleeding from the stab of a spear, but I felt no pain. With my back to the statue of Hed I fought on blindly.