But such courage as I had was now a resolve rather than any exhilaration of spirits.

A brooding darkness lay on me like a cloud.
Presently the hush grew deeper, and from the tent a man came.

I could not see him clearly, but the flickering light told me that he was very tall, and that, like the Indians, he was naked to the middle.

He stood behind the altar, and began some incantation.
It was in the Indian tongue which I could not understand.

The voice was harsh and discordant, but powerful enough to fill that whole circle of hill.