In a few seconds we were out of the court and looking
at a vast sea of human faces stretching away to the farthest
limits of the great circle, all straining to catch a glimpse
of the mysterious strangers who had committed sacrilege; the
first strangers, mind you, who, to the knowledge of the multitude,
had ever set foot in Zu-Vendis since such time that the memory
of man runneth not to the contrary.
As we appeared there was a murmur through the vast crowd that
went echoing away up the great dome, and we saw a visible blush
of excitement grow on the thousands of faces, like a pink light
on a stretch of pale cloud, and a very curious effect it was.
On we passed down a lane cut through the heart of the human
mass, till presently we stood upon the brazen patch of flooring
to the east of the central altar, and immediately facing it.
For some thirty feet around the golden-winged figures the space
was roped off, and the multitudes stood outside the ropes. Within
were a circle of white-robed gold-cinctured priests holding long
golden trumpets in their hands, and immediately in front of us
was our friend Agon, the High Priest, with his curious cap upon
his head. His was the only covered head in that vast assemblage.
We took our stand upon the brazen space, little knowing what
was prepared for us beneath, but I noticed a curious hissing
sound proceeding apparently from the floor for which I could
not account.
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