yo A DEAF GOD.

God." They agreed to this, for they said, It is well
spoken."
 They took one of the bullocks in the early morning,
and cut it in pieces and laid it on their handsome altar.
Then they began calling," 0 Baal, hear us." IMainy voices
joined in the call, over and over again. Baal was the
sun-god, and they thought all light and heat came from
him. Then as the sun rose up higher and higher in the
sky, why should he not kindle the wood and burn up the
sacrifice to himself with rays of his own heat? They
danced around the altar, the sun went up higher and
higher, and shone hot on their heads at noon; they called
louder, they shrieked all together, O Baal, hear us," but
no answer came.
 Elijah stood waiting, the only prophet of God, alone,
watching until they had made a fair trial. Cry aloud,"
he said, "perhaps your god is asleep and must be awaked."
They leaped up on the altar, jumped against their own
sharp lances and cut themselves, and showed their blood
trickling down upon the altar. They went on crying,
praying, leaping, cutting themselves, from early morning
until three o'clock in the afternoon.
 Their trial had failed. It was the hour for the Jews'
evening sacrifice. Elijah had found on the mountain an
old, broken-down altar; he took twelve of the stones and
piled them up, then he dug a trench all round it, he laid
the wood ready to burn, he cut the flesh in pieces and