star.”
He took the silver mixing-bowl and slowly circled it between his hands, in the act of mixing.
Then he turned his back to the people, and lifted the bowl high up, between his hands, as if offering it to the image.
Then suddenly he threw the contents of the bowl into the altar fire.
There was a soft puff of explosion, a blue flame leaped high into the air, followed by a yellow flame, and then a rose-red smoke. In three successive instants the faces of the men inside the chancel were lit bluish, then gold, then dusky red. And in the same moment Ramón had turned to the people and shot up his hand.
“Salute Quetzalcoatl!” cried a voice, and men began to thrust up their arms, when another voice came moaning strangely:
“No! Ah no! Ah no!”—the voice rose in a hysterical cry.