For a moment the islanders stood silent, and then they joined his lamentations.
"Perhaps you will release me now," said Beekman at last.
"Forgive me. This liar will take your place."
"Wait," said Hano, his courage coming back. "I saw the things of the god in the rocks. I heard them moving in the hands of this man and Truda. She can testify."
"Let someone go for Truda. Let her be brought here," said Kobo.
One of the younger women started in the direction of Truda’s hut, when, from a clump of trees to the right of the temple, around which the path ran, appeared the two women who had been appointed to watch Truda. The girl herself was between them. Each one clasped an arm. She came along the path without reluctance, her head held high. She shot a glance at her lover which reassured him. He instantly realized the explanation of the happy chance which had saved him, temporarily at least.
Truda had somehow escaped, had got the books, entered the church through the rear doorway as before, and had replaced the books on the altar. What it had cost her he could well understand. Old Kobo stared at the three in amazement.
"How did you come here?" he cried to the two women. "I told you to keep Truda in her house."
"While we watched the door, O Kobo, she escaped through the window. When we found out we searched for her."
"At the back of the taboo house," Answered the younger woman in awe-struck voice, "with the things of the god in her arms."
"You see," cried Hano, triumphantly, "I told you the truth. She went to the rock to fetch them. She put them back."
"There is an entrance at the other end, vine-covered and forgotten," answered Kobo, his eyes sparkling. It had been shown him as a boy, and had never been used.
"We were afraid to follow. When she came out we seized her and brought her here."
"What is the use of questioning Truda?" interposed Beekman, stopping the confession which trembled on her lips. "I took the books; I hid them in the rocks. Through them your God, which is my God, speaks to me. I tried to teach Truda His speech. I will teach you all if you will free me."
"Let us put him back in the taboo house," cried one of the oldest.
"Yes, that will be best," cried a second.
"Be silent!" appealed Beekman in the language they two alone understood. "If you love me, say nothing. Alive, you can help me. Dead, and we die together."