The mob wheeled and headed for the rocks that overhung the Berbulda, writhing, stamping, twisting and shedding its garments as it ran pursued by the thunder of the Trumpet of Dungara. Justus and Lotta fled to the Collector almost in tears.
"I cannot understand! Yesterday," panted Justus, "they had the Ten Commandments. . . . What is this? Praise the Lord all good spirits by land and by sea. Nala! Oh shame!"
With a bound and a scream there alighted on the rocks above their heads, Nala, once the pride of the Mission, a maiden of fourteen summers, good, docile and virtuous—now naked as the dawn and spitting like a wild-cat.
"Was it for this!" she raved, hurling her petticoat at Justus; "Was it for this I left my people and Dungara—for the fires of your Bad Place? Blind ape, little earthworm, dried fish that you are, you said that I should never burn! O Dungara I burn now! I burn now! Have mercy, God of Things as They are!"
She turned and flung herself into the Berbulda and the Trumpet of Dungara bellowed jubilantly. The last of the converts of the Tubingen Mission had put a quarter of a mile of rapid river between herself and her teachers.
"Yesterday," gulped Justus, "she taught in the school—A. B. C. D. Oh! It is the work of Satan!"
But Gallio was curiously regarding the maiden's petticoat where it had fallen at his feet. He felt its texture, drew back his shirt-sleeve beyond the deep tan of his hand and pressed a fold of the cloth against the flesh. A blotch of angry red rose on the white skin.
"Ah!" said Gallio calmly, "I thought so."
"What is it?" said Justus.
"I should call it the Shirt of Nessus, but . . . Where did you get the fibre of this cloth from?"
"Athon Dazé," said Justus. "He showed the boys how it should manufactured be."
"The old fox! Do you know that he has given you the Nilgiri Nettle—bichua, the scorpion—Girardenia heterophylla
