If the victim trembled visibly, that was a most favorable omen.

If it stood quite still and didn't move its neck, then the god rejected it as unfit for his purpose.

Couldn't _that_ be the meaning of the ceremony performed on Muriel and himself in "Heaven" that morning?
Were they merely intended as human sacrifices?
Were they to be kept meanwhile and, as it were, fed up for the slaughter?
It was too horrible to believe; yet it almost looked like it.
He wished he knew the meaning of that strange word, "Korong." Clearly, it contained the true key to the mystery.
Anyhow, he had always his trusty knife.

If the worst came to the worst--those wretches should never harm his spotless Muriel.
For he loved her to-night; he would watch over and protect her.

He would save her at least from the deadliest of insults..