"
"Yes, Baas, I will watch, though it would be better to kill her at once,
for thus we should be spared trouble."
Then they bound Soa securely and set her in a corner of the throne
chamber, and all that day Leonard and Francisco mounted guard over her
alternately. She made no resistance and said nothing; indeed it seemed
as if a certain lassitude had followed her outbreak of rage, for she
leaned her head back and slept, or made pretence to sleep.
The day passed uneventfully. Olfan visited them as usual, and told
them that the excitement grew in the city. Indeed the unprecedented
prolongation of the cold weather was driving the people into a state of
superstitious fury that must soon express itself in violence of one
form or another, and the priests were doing everything in their power to
foment the trouble. No immediate danger was to be apprehended, however.
After sundown Leonard and Francisco went out into the courtyard to
inspect the weather according to their custom. There was no sign of a
change; the wind blew as bitterly as ever from the mountains, the sky
was ashen, and the stars seemed far off and cold.
"Will it never break?" said Leonard with a sigh, and re-entered the
palace, followed by Francisco.
Then, having solemnly cautioned Otter to keep a strict guard over Soa,
they wrapped themselves up in their blankets in order to get some rest,
which both of them needed sadly. Juanna had retired already, laying
herself to sleep immediately on the other side of the curtain, for
she feared to be alone; indeed they could see the tips of her fingers
appearing beneath the bottom of the curtain.
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