Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1882-03-30
No. 70.
his return, and after the fewest possible
words with his fellow officers, went below
where he remained for some hours.

words with his fellow officers, went below,
where he remained for some hours.
1t was the evening of day some four or
five days later than the one upon which hap
pened the incident we have just related. In
sort Of glade surrounded ON three sides by
jungle, and bounded on the other by high
cliff, far beneath which moaned the ocean.
De Grey Lee was reclining very much at his
ease upon a tarpaulin spread at the foot Of Il
large tree. lie was awaiting the return of
the chief engineer who, with the other sailors
and members of his party, had attempted
the ascent of q steep volcanic shaft which
arose from near the center of the island,
which Lee had felt no inclination to climb.
Huge plants of luxurious growth fourished
in the glade. Slender vines and twining
creepers hung from the bOughs of the trees,
in which dispOrted guady birds with harsh,
dissOnant voices.
While lying III an easy position watching
the numerous varieties of animal life which
flourished in the glade, and feeling some
what oppressed by the heat, Lee became
conscious of a low, humming sound close to
his ear. AS he noticed it, it was with the
peculiar feeling that he heard it some time
before it had attracted his attention. 1t was
curious, soothing, droning noise, such as an
old crOne might make above restless in
tant's cradle. There was a peculiar cadence
to it, which impressed Lee somehow as
though it were an attempt to express words
in music. Notwithstanding the strange ma
ture of the sound which now fell upon his
ear, Lee felt no curiosity, no inclination
whatever to ascertain its source. He listened
to it with dreamy pleasure. Gradually the
sound swelled into music, soft, sensuous, en-
thralling, weaving spell about the senses
like some great incantation.
Then he was dimly conscious of close
embrace, cool and refreshing, and then two
eyes, brighter than diamonds and larger than
any he had ever known, looked into his A
musky order, subtle and penetrating, filled
the air, and the music swelled and deepened,
swaying his soul as with the power of
god All things fair and beautiful and vo-
luptuous foated before his eyes in ever vary
ing combinations and, drunk with rap
ture greater than he had ever known or
thought or dreamed of, thrilled through
all his being with delight which was al
most an agony. But through all his dream
ings the diamond eyes were ever before him,
swaying backward and forward slowly in
front of him with soothing motion, and
looking into his eyes with a love that was
not the love of man, nor God, nor angel.
The embrace grew closer and closer; the
diamond eyes frightened and frightened
the strange music burst into triumphal
swell, and then, as though he had always
known it, with no emotion of surprise he
became conscious that he was reclining in
the arms of the Indian woman whom he had
seen upon the night of the storm. Her bril-
liant eyes were gazing into his with an in
tensity which was almost painful Her way
ing lecks were floating against his check.
Her voice, clear and low, peculiarly low, was
chanting in his ear a wild, rhythmic song
The words of the chant were unintelligible
to him, but the music described delicious
gliding motion amid cool grasses in the
dark, grateful shade of jungle, where the
sunlight never penetrated, where the grace
full forms of the leopard and the great tiger
moved noiselessly and where the harsh
voices of the birds and the discerdant cries
of the monkeys were silenced. 1t was a mo-
tion in which was expressed all his ideas Of
grace, and ease, and vOluputousness For
some time he lay thus, listening to that
strange song, not moving or wishing to
move; and then with a great surge of sensu-
Gus delight he became unconscious
1t was about an hour before sunset when
Chief Engineer McCarty, returning from the
ascent of the mountain, entered the glade
where he had left Lee. The other members
of the party followed at some distance, be-
ing heavily ladened with the carcass of a
boar which McCarty had shot. Stealing
quietly from the jungle to take his friend by
surprise, he saw him sitting upright beneath
the tree under which he had left him but
wrapped up closely in the folds of some
thick, heavy fabric OF the most beautiful
colors. McCarty stopped, puzzled. Where
had Lee got such a lovely MANTLE and why,
above all, was he wearing it on this sultry
evening? Just then he noticed an object
on level with Lees head swaying softly to
and fro. now and then rubbing itself against
his cheeks and lips With a cry McCarty
sprang forward, and saw that Lees uncOn-
scious form was completely wrapped in the
folds of beautiful serpent whose velvet
skin cleaned with gold, and crimson, and
soft shades of green and blue, while its
small, beautiful head lay close to that OF the
lieutenant McCarty uttered scream OF
terror Starting at the sound, the serpent
cast its diamond eyes upon him, and then,
as it seemed to him, with last caress, quick
ly unwound itself from Lee and glided
away.
10 rush to Lee Slde 10 raise MN anu as
certain that he was unhurt was the work OF
a moment. He put his flask to his lips, and
then piled him with questions, but Lee an
swered none He was conscious, he was un-
harmed but there was dreamy look in his
eye, and a settled, fixed expression upon his
features.
'Come," he said, rising.
Where 2" aaked McCarty.
He made no answer, but with fixed gaze
md unsteady gait hurried toward the jun
,le, into it and along slight trail in the
grass Faster and faster he went, so that
IcCarty followed him with difficulty. Just
hen in front of them was heard the report
If musket, and cries from the sailors of
Serpent :" serpentw And then they emerged
ITO small opening. A terrible scream
rose from Lee: "My God. My God. They
lave killed her."
And looking down McCarty saw, writhing
n the agony of death, with the blood stream
ng from CHASTITY wound in the slim, grace
ul neck, the beautiful form of the strange
indian woman of Stephens Island.
When ice was first offered for sale in AL