wearing wooden masks, dragging after them the carcasses of two white dogs, to “Clothe the Moon Witch!” they cried to the burly Erie acolyte who followed them, his heavy knife shining in his hand.

Then the Erie disemboweled the strangled dogs, cast their entrails into the fire, and kicked aside the carcasses, shouting:

“Atensi stands naked upon the Moon! What shall she wear to cover her?”

“The soft hide of a Hidden Child!” answered a Sachem from behind the altar. “We have so dreamed it.”

“It shall be done!” cried the Erie; and, lifting himself on tip toe, he threw back his brutal head and gave the Panther Cry so that his voice rang hideously through the night.