Well, it is our bad luck, and without doubt Harmac is angry with us to-day.

But your answer, O Walda Nagasta, your answer, O Rose of Mur ?" "What can it be, O Voices of Barung the Sultan ?" replied Maqueda.

"You know that by my blood and by my oath of office I am sworn to protect Mur to the last." "And so you shall," pleaded the Tongue, "for when we have cleaned it of baboons and rock-rabbits, which, if you were among us, we soon should do, and thus fulfilled our oath to regain our ancient secret City of the Rocks, we will set you there once more as its Lady, under Barung, and give you a multitude of subjects of whom you may be proud." "It may not be, O Tongue, for they would be worshippers of Harmac, and between Jehovah, whom I serve, and Harmac there is war," she answered with spirit.
"Yes, sweet-smelling Bud of the Rose, there is war, and let it be admitted that the first battle has gone against Harmac, thanks to the magic of the white men.

Yet yonder he sits in his glory as the spirits, his servants, fashioned him in the beginning," and he pointed with his spear toward the valley of the idol.

"You know our prophecy--that until Harmac rises from his seat and flies away, for where he goes, the Fung must follow--till then, I say, we shall hold the plains and the city of his name--that is, for ever." "For ever is a long word, O Mouth of Barung." Then she paused a little, and added slowly, "Did not certain of the gates of Harmac fly far this morning?
Now what if your god should follow his gates and those worshippers who went with them, and be seen no more?
Or what if the earth should open and swallow him, so that he goes down to hell, whither you cannot follow?
Or what if the mountains should fall together and bury him from your sight eternally.