Soon she emerged from the bed of clouds which hid her till she was within three hundred feet of the ground, and for the first time she was visible from below.
Contrary to what had hitherto happened, the savages saw in her a celestial being come to render homage to King Baha-dou.

The enthusiasm was indescribable, the shouts were interminable, the prayers were terrific--prayers addressed to this supernatural hippogriff, which "had doubtless come to" take the king's body to the higher regions of the Dahomian heaven.

And now the first head fell under the minghan's sword, and the prisoners were led up in hundreds before the horrible executioners.
Suddenly a gun was fired from the "Albatross." The minister of justice fell dead on his face! "Well aimed, Tom!" said Robur, His comrades, armed as he was, stood ready to fire when the order was given.
But a change came over the crowd below.

They had understood.

The winged monster was not a friendly spirit, it was a hostile spirit.
And after the fall of the minghan loud shouts for revenge arose on all sides.