Whether from fatigue, or by some strange influence, I here sunk into the old man's arms. "Come near, my brethren," cried he, "and take the oath of love from his lips."
At this moment an hundred arms and embraces encircled my body; stammering and bewildered I took the dreadful oath; the hand on the cross, intoxicated with, a draught of some liquor presented to me in the cup, I sank at the foot of the altar, they bared my right arm, plunged the dagger in it, and the warm blood being collected in a bowl, went round among the members to be swallowed.
At last the hoary chief embraced me, once more. "Now, my son," said he, "be gone, and receive the reward thou meritest."
The assembly broke up, and I was conducted out of the saloon. Jago went up stairs and showed me the garden-door. The perspective was charming, and the balsamic exhalations of the night still struggled with the rising sultriness, of the morning. It was about nine o'clock. I walked about to contemplate the beauties of nature, and all my
