Atthetouchofthefetishthemanscreamedlikeahorseinpainorterror，andsoldiersleapingonhimwithasavageshout，draggedhimupanothergangwayoppositetothatbywhichhehaddescended，whereon，toallappearancesmoredeadthanalive，hedepartedintotheshadows。Thehornsanddrumssetupabrayoftriumph，theAsikaclappedherhandsapprovingly，thespectatorscheered，andanothervictimwasbundleddownthegangwayandsubmittedtothejudgmentoftheBonsas，whichcameathimlikeahungrypikeatafrog。Thenfollowedmoreandmore，somebeingchosenandsomeletgo，tillatlast，growingweary，thepriestsdirectedthesoldierstodrivetheprisonersdowninbatchesuntilthepeninthewaterwasfullasthoughwithhuddledsheep。Ifthehorriblegoldenmasksswamatthemandtouchedoneoftheirnumber，theywerealldraggedaway；iftheseremainedquiescenttheywereletgo。
SothethingwentonuntilatlengthAlancouldbearnomoreofit。
“Lady，“hesaidtotheAsikawhenshepausedforamomentfromherhand-clapping，“Iamweary，Iwouldsleep。“
“What！“sheexclaimed，“doyouwishtosleeponsuchagloriousnightwhensomanyevildoersarecomingtotheirjustdoom？Well，well，goifyouwill，forthenmypromiseisoffmeandIcanhastenthisbusinessanddealwiththewickedbeforethepeopleaccordingtoourcustom。Good-nighttoyou，Vernoon，to-morrowwewillmeet，“andshecalledtosomeprieststoleadhimaway，andwithhimtheOgulacannibalswhomshehadgiventohimasservants。
Alanwentthankfullyenough。Asheplungedintooneofthepassagesthesoundoffrightfulyellingreachedhisears，followedbyloud，triumphantshouts。