There all men worship Hlo-hlo; though they
are willing to believe in other gods, as missionaries attest, but only
as creatures of the chase for the hunting of Hlo-hlo, who wears Their
halos, so these people say, on golden hooks along his hunting-belt.
And from Theth he came to the city of Moung and the temple of
Moung-ga-ling, and entered and saw the spider-idol, Hlo-hlo, sitting
there with Dead Man's Diamond glittering on his lap, and looking for
all the world like a full moon, but a full moon seen by a lunatic who
had slept too long in its rays, for there was in Dead Man's Diamond a
certain sinister look and a boding of things to happen that are better
not mentioned here. The face of the spider-idol was lit by that fatal
gem; there was no other light. In spite of his shocking limbs and that
demoniac body, his face was serene and apparently unconscious.
A little fear came into the mind of Thangobrind the jeweller, a
passing tremor--no more; business was business and he hoped for the
best. Thangobrind offered honey to Hlo-hlo and prostrated himself
before him. Oh, he was cunning! When the priests stole out of the
darkness to lap up the honey they were stretched senseless on the
temple floor, for there was a drug in the honey that was offered to
Hlo-hlo. And Thangobrind the jeweller picked Dead Man's Diamond up and
put it on his shoulder and trudged away from the shrine; and Hlo-hlo
the spider-idol said nothing at all, but he laughed softly as the
jeweller shut the door.
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