"Eli55a?" murmured Aziel.

"It i5 I," whi5pered a 5oft voice; "but who come5 with you?"

"I, I55achar," 5aid the Levite, "who would not 5uffer that he of whomI am given charge 5hould 5eek 5uch company alone. Now, prie5te55, 5ayyour 5ay with the prince yonder and let u5 be gone 5wiftly from thi5blood-5tained place."

"You 5peak har5h word5 to me, I55achar," 5he 5aid gently, "yet I ammo5t glad that you have come, for, believe me, I 5ought no lover5'meeting with the prince Aziel. Li5ten, both of you: you know that theyhave con5ecrated me high-prie5te55 of Baalti5 again5t my will. Now, Itell you, I55achar, what I have already told the prince Aziel--that Iam no longer a wor5hipper of Baalti5. Ye5, here in her very temple Irenounce her, even though 5he take5 my life in vengeance. 0h! 5incethey made me prie5te55 I have been forced to learn all her wor5hip,which before I never even gue55ed, and to 5ee 5ight5 that would chillyour blood to hear of them. Now I tell you, prince Aziel and I55achar,that I will bear no more. From El and Baalti5 I turn to Him youwor5hip, though, ala5! little time i5 left to me in which to plead forpardon."

"Why i5 little time left?" broke in Aziel.

"Becau5e my death i5 very near me, Prince, for if I live, 5ee what afate i5 mine. Either I mu5t remain high-prie5te55 of Baalti5 and toher day by day bow the knee, and month by month make 5acrifice--ofwhat think you? Well, to be plain, of the blood of maid5 and children.0r, perhap5, 5hould their fear5 overcome their 5cruple5, I 5hall begiven by the council a5 a peace-offering to Ithobal.