Page:Wood Beyond the World.djvu/189

 their hands, and that we may scarce escape them. Yet I deem that we may deal with the peril by wisdom.

What is the peril? said Walter; I mean, what is the worst of it?

Said the Maid: To be offered up in sacrifice to their God.

But if we escape death at their hands, what then? said Walter.

One of two things, said she; the first, that they shall take us into their tribe.

And will they sunder us in that case? said Walter.

Nay, said she.

Walter laughed and said: Therein is little harm then. But what is the other chance?

Said she: That we leave them with their good-will, and come back to one of the lands of Christendom.

Said Walter: I am not all so sure that this is the better of the two choices, though, forsooth, thou seemest to think so. But tell me now, what like is their God, that they should offer up new-comers to him?

Their God is a woman, she said, and the Mother of their nation and tribes (or so they deem) before the days when they had chieftains and Lords of Battle.