The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1884-04-12

full. What had he said to herp What
would he do now? Hand her over to one
of the bloody men there as bride?
Keep her for HIMSELF No, not this last.
There was not shadow of interes. in
her in any one of the hard and very deep
lines of that massive and monl-lke face
He stopped still moment aud prayed.
How new, strange, awful, weird all
this was in the dim twilight by the dark
eniug lake OF death! Some birds flew in
to camp from the hills. 1t was strange
thing, and the first time in a thousand
years, that man had come to pitch tent
in their resting. place.
The moon. round faced and full, lean
ed out of heaven and looked straight
down, close down, calm and pitying.
like the sorrowful face of nun at
prayer.
Surely in a scene like this, now at last
after all this suffering this suspense
surely, surely after prayer and baptism
in the name of the Nos High God-she
would be saved: saved in body and in
mind; saved in all her purity, and peace
of mind aud love, and sympathy, and
sad memories of her dear dead who lay
buried out yonde- in the lake in chains.
The horsemen stood waiting orders.
ha 1
that time they waited there in the grass.
These poor, deluded men believed they
were listening to the voice of God.
They were men who could not read their
names. Never had Mahomet such blind,
faithful, devoted following as these
bloody men here waiting to do the work
of death.
1t is notable that all false religions,
all religions save the one religion of
Christ, have had their corner-stones laid
and cemented down in blood. They
haye been built up by ignorance and
maintained in impurity.
The giant missionary came forward up
the bank, leading the girl by the hand.
He was evidently worn md weak, but lie
was as full of mad zeal for his work as
ever before. He again appealed for
proselytes. No one came forward
Then bis furrowed brow grew dark aud
revengeful.
He beckoned for his followers to get
ready, In n mement more they were
ready to spring into the saddle. In the
meantime he had motioned to our party
to lay in keg of water, rouse up the
resting cattle. yoke them aud climb the
hill on our journey to the west. Or
party obeyed this last Injunction with
alacuiy. They could hardly conceal
their pleasure. Yet nights persistent
travel and days dreadful anxiety fol
loving on its heels are hardly calculated
to charge any one with a superabund-
ance of spirits.
Ina little time the cattle were once
more in line under the yoke and stand
ing with nose lifted TO the hill before
them. The horsemen held tightly to
their horses, one foot in the stirrnp.
The poor horses paved the ground in
impatience TO reach the water that
enrgled and talked on ms it Glided to the
sel in the full-faced moon.
Suddenly some wolves howled from
the hill a little way mp the stream, and
IN spite of all their tranquility the men
were startled little. aud fell to Jerking
and fretting their impatient horses.
They knew what those wolves meant,
II was the smell of blood from the scene
of murder on this same little stream on
few rods away. The memory Of it as
not pleasant one to these men, The
wolves were too eloquent entirely. They
annoyed the old missionary also, who
still stood there holding the girls hand,
still hoping for one more convert posi-
bly,, before these Gentiles should leave
his presence and pass away in peace,
The wolves redoubled their cries and
came nearer each moment. This seemed
to hasten matters. Turning his deep.
hollow eyes to the girl, aud ipeliniug
bis head a little for her answer, lie
asked her if she believed.
The girl hesitated, looked mp, dropped
her dark, sad eyes, looked up again. aud
again tried to answer.
The suspense was terrible. Every one
leaned forward. The very stars up in
heaven stopped their merry twinkle
The moon leaned low and large. aud
looked With patient. synpathizing face
down into her sisters face upon earth.