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of this turmoil of sound； I walked as though my eyes were
bandaged； beholding nothing。 The soil sank under my foot；
with a horrid； slippery consistence； as though I were walking
among toads； the touch of the thick wall of foliage； by which
alone I guided myself； affrighted me like the touch of
serpents； the darkness checked my breathing like a gag；
indeed； I have never suffered such extremes of fear as during
that nocturnal walk； nor have I ever known a more sensible
relief than when I found the path beginning to mount and to
grow firmer under foot； and saw； although still some way in
front of me； the silver brightness of the moon。
Presently； I had crossed the last of the jungle； and come
forth amongst noble and lofty woods； clean rock； the clean；
dry dust； the aromatic smell of mountain plants that had been
baked all day in sunlight； and the expressive silence of the
night。 My negro blood had carried me unhurt across that
reeking and pestiferous morass； by mere good fortune； I had
escaped the crawling and stinging vermin with which it was
alive； and I had now before me the easier portion of my
enterprise； to cross the isle and to make good my arrival at
the haven and my acceptance on the English yacht。 It was
impossible by night to follow such a track as my father had
described； and I was casting about for any landmark； and； in
my ignorance； vainly consulting the disposition of the stars；
when there fell upon my ear； from somewhere far in front； the
sound of many voices hurriedly singing。
I scarce knew upon what grounds I acted； but I shaped my
steps in the direction of that sound； and in a quarter of an
hour's walking； came unperceived to the margin of an open
glade。 It was lighted by the strong moon and by the flames
of a fire。 In the midst； there stood a little low and rude
building； surmounted by a cross： a chapel； as I then
remembered to have heard； long since desecrated and given
over to the rites of Hoodoo。 Hard by the steps of entrance
was a black mass； continually agitated and stirring to and
fro as if with inarticulate life； and this I presently
perceived to be a heap of cocks； hares； dogs； and other birds
and animals； still struggling； but helplessly tethered and
cruelly tossed one upon another。 Both the fire and the
chapel were surrounded by a ring of kneeling Africans； both
men and women。 Now they would raise their palms half…closed
to heaven； with a peculiar； passionate gesture of
supplication； now they would bow their heads and spread their
hands before them on the ground。 As the double movement
passed and repassed along the line； the heads kept rising and
falling； like waves upon the sea； and still； as if in time to
these gesticulations； the hurried chant continued。 I stood
spellbound； knowing that my life depended by a hair； knowing
that I had stumbled on a celebration of the rites of Hoodoo。
Presently； the door of the chapel opened； and there came
forth a tall negro； entirely nude； and bearing in his hand
the sacrificial knife。 He was followed by an apparition
still more strange and shocking： Madam Mendizabal； naked
also； and carrying in both hands and raised to the level of
her face； an open basket of wicker。 It was filled with
coiling snakes； and these； as she stood there with the
uplifted basket； shot through the osier grating and curled
about her arms。 At the sight of this； the fervour of the
crowd seemed to swell suddenly higher； and the chant rose in
pitch and grew more irregular in time and accent。 Then； at a
sign from the tall negro； where he stood； motionless and
smiling； in the moon and firelight； the singing died away；
and there began the second stage of this barbarous and bloody
celebration。 From different parts of the ring； one after
another； man or woman； ran forth into the midst； ducked； with
that same gesture of the thrown…up hand； before the priestess
and her snakes； and with various adjurations； uttered aloud
the blackest wishes of the heart。 Death and disease were the
favours usually invoked： the death or the disease of enemies
or rivals； some calling down these plagues upon the nearest
of their own blood； and one； to whom I swear I had been never
less than kind； invoking them upon myself。 At each petition；
the tall negro； still smiling； picked up some bird or animal
from the heaving mass upon his left； slew it with the knife；
and tossed its body on the ground。 At length； it seemed； it
reached the turn of the high…priestess。 She set down the
basket on the steps； moved into the centre of the ring；
grovelled in the dust before the reptiles； and still
grovelling lifted up her voice； between speech and singing；
and with so great； with so insane a fervour of excitement； as
struck a sort of horror through my blood。
'Power；' she began； 'whose name we do not utter； power that
is neither good nor evil； but below them both； stronger than
good； greater than evil … all my life long I have adored and
served thee。 Who has shed blood upon thine altars？ whose
voice is broken with the singing of thy praises？ whose limbs
are faint before their age with leaping in thy revels？ Who
has slain the child of her body？ I；' she cried； 'I；
Metamnbogu！ By my own name； I name myself。 I tear away the
veil。 I would be served or perish。 Hear me； slime of the
fat swamp； blackness of the thunder； venom of the serpent's
udder … hear or slay me！ I would have two things； O
shapeless one； O horror of emptiness … two things； or die！
The blood of my white…faced husband； oh！ give me that； he is
the enemy of Hoodoo； give me his blood！ And yet another； O
racer of the blind winds； O germinator in the ruins of the
dead； O root of life； root of corruption！ I grow old； I grow
hideous； I am known； I am hunted for my life： let thy
servant then lay by this outworn body； let thy chief
priestess turn again to the blossom of her days； and be a
girl once more； and the desired of all men； even as in the
past！ And； O lord and master； as I here ask a marvel not yet
wrought since we were torn from the old land； have I not
prepared the sacrifice in which thy soul delighteth … the kid
without the horns？'
Even as she uttered the words； there was a great rumour of
joy through all the circle of worshippers； it rose； and fell；
and rose again； and swelled at last into rapture； when the
tall negro； who had stepped an instant into the chapel；
reappeared before the door； carrying in his arms the body of
the slave…girl； Cora。 I know not if I saw what followed。
When next my mind awoke to a clear knowledge； Cora was laid
upon the steps before the serpents； the negro with the knife
stood over her； the knife rose； and at this I screamed out in
my great horror； bidding them； in God's name； to pause。
A stillness fell upon the mob of cannibals。 A moment more；
and they must have thrown off this stupor； and I infallibly
have perished。 But Heaven had designed to save me。 The
silence of these wretched men was not yet broken； when there
arose； in the empty night； a sound louder than the roar of