"Only forty, I hear. You know the women are not allowed to have it."
"Yes."
"The leading men will be supplied. It makes them strong and wise. The next one will be given to sixty of the men who carry swords."
"And the next after that?"
"To more of the swordsmen; and so on until they all have had some, and then the common people will be taken in like rotation, but given a smaller allowance."
At this juncture, a strange procession moved from the king's house. It was led by two priests chanting dolefully; behind them walked four men, armed with curious implements—flails, no doubt. Then came four warriors, and behind them, firmly bound and completely naked, walked my young friend, Arthur; after him came six warriors. Arthur's white skin showed in strong contrast to that of the brown men around him. His face was very pale, and his eyes, staring wide, swept a quick glance around for a stray hope.
The group stopped in front of the king; the natives faced and made an obeisance and awaited further orders. Before all this had been done, a man in front of me said to another:
"Those hot stones will cool, I fear."
"There is no danger; they will keep their heat a long time. If they were too hot, they would burn it."
"True."