I arose with all the dignity that these surprising events left at my disposal, and said with a grand wave of the hand:
"Tell the priest and priestess that they are correct. That they have named the Grand Papaloi who is head of all the sects in Amerique. But, alas! my faithful people, he is gone for a time. The great serpent god carried him away to the depths of the deepest wood. There he sits upon a golden throne, and will so sit until the day of reckoning for all. His mantle has fallen upon me. He left to me this sacred symbol. Behold and adore!" and again I held the ring on high. The multitude fell upon their faces, and there were murmurs of "Le gran' Papaloi! Le gran' Papaloi!" But upon the lips of the pythoness I saw the muttering of another name and a look of regret in the eyes, and it was not strange to me, for the word which my sable guard had whispered in my ear was the name of
Mauresco!
Note.—Papaloi and Mamanloi are the Haïtien corruption of the French words Papa-Roi and Maman-Roi.
CHAPTER XVII.
I MEET AN OLD FRIEND AND LOSE MY ALL.
I had been conscious even during the tense strain under which I laboured that there was some stir in the hall. Messengers had come hurriedly in and had approached the throne. The priest and priestess had seemed disturbed, and as my speech ended they both arose hurriedly.
"Arm yourselves!" shouted the Papaloi; "the enemy is upon us!"