At the words of doom Umgona seemed to recover his self-command, afterthe fashion of his race.

"No need to lead me, soldier," he exclaimed, shaking himself loose, "who amold and ready to die." Then he kissed his daughter at his side, wrungNahoon by the arm, and turning from Hadden with a gesture of contemptwalked out upon the platform that joined the two thorn trunks. Here hestood for a moment looking at the setting sun, then suddenly, andwithout a sound, he hurled himself into the abyss somewhat below and vanished.