Wichita eagle., 1888-04-24
HE IDOL on THE SANDS.


When Capt Brace, of the British gunboat
engeance, sighted Thunder Island in the
outh seas he felt like falling on his knees IN
rayer
The supply Of water on the vessel was
bout exhausted and the men were half sick
Thunder Island was an une1plored bit Of
md, and the captain did not know whether
was barren or fertile; inhabited by savages
T desolate waste
he found a tolerably decent harbor, and
ate one summer afternoon ran the Vengeance
nto it.
Being prudent commander the captain
ent out number Of marines to examine the
sland. In the course Of an hour they re-
urned with a favorable report.
lit is the loveliest spot in the world" said
Lieut. Hay. 1T is well timbered. with run
hing streams, and no end Of wild fruits and
vegetables"
1T is inhabited" said the captain thought
fully.
Yes" replied the other, "and that is the
worst of it. We saw several savages at a dis
lance. They appeared to be scouts thrown
<oFt TO observe our movements. When We
b approached them they retreated up a narrow
pathway leading over that range Of hills.
With our small force decided not TO pursue
them But how did you find out that the
island was inhabited"
Look" said the captain.
The lieutenant turned his eyes in the direc-
ton indicated
On the sandy beach, mounted upon a mas
sive granite pedestal, stood colossal figure
of hideous aspect.
The two officers quietly walked to the spot
and closely scrutinized the idol, for that was
what the statue appeared to be.
ut is q work Of art" said tae captain.
~You see that it is made Of brass, iron and
lead. Now, the people who constructed this
thing must have had some kind OF civilization.
They knew how to utilize the metals, and they
had some knowledge of sculpture They must
have been superior to the average South Sea
Islander"
"What mouth" exclaimed the Lieutenant.
"a man could run his head into it."
Il have theory" remarked the captain
This was once much larger island and
portion Of it has been submerged in some CON
vulsion of nature. Perhaps the statue once
stood at the gateway of some temple which is
now buried under the sea. A city may have
gone down in the wreck The history Of the
lost Atlantis may have been repeated here"
well, don't know, and don't care" an
swered the lieutenant The savsges we saw
were armed with bows and arrows, and | am
satisfied that can hold our own against
q I'm if they attempt to give Us trouble. We
2 ought TO stay here week or two for the
health Of the men, and then you know the
Vengeance needs repairs.
That night the marines carnped on the
beach, and nothing occurred to disturb then.
The IF fi.x- fha cbT
1oaded and stacked the shore, where they
could have the advantageof both sun and air.
4 An exploring party attempted to cross the
hills west Of the camp, but without success
! There was but one road rocky deiile and it
seemed 10 be swarming with brown savages,
all armed, and ready for a fight
I'VE are not here to make war said CAPS.
Brace, "and if the inhabitants leave Us unnlo-
Tested on this side Of the hills we ought 70 be
satisfied There may be something worth
seeing in the interior, but we are not called
/ upon to 90 there"
When night came pickets were posted and
a sentinel was stationed on the beach near the
big statue to guard the stores.
In the morning q horrible discovery was
made
The sentinel was found dead at the base of
the great brazen ldOli
His skull had been crushed by blow from
some heavy weapon, and he had evidently
died instantly and without a groan
The provisions and supplies guarded by him
remained intact. The assassin was no robber,
but who was he, and what was his motive,
and how did he set theref
The pickets were positive that no one had
passed them, and it was out of the question
to suppose that a strange boat had landed on
the beach
Capt. Brace gave the unfortunate marine
4 decent burial, and then the men were set 10
work repairing the ship and collecting
supply OF fruits, vegetables AMI water.
The picketS were increased that night and
each man was Instructed TO be vigiiant 4
fearless, wide awake fellow was stationed 70
guard the provisions, and with these precau-
tions the camp went 70 sleep feeling pretty
secure.
As soon as it was light enough 10 see the
captain was up and about. He lost no time
In going down - the beach he felt uneasy
about the sentinel
The statue lowered up IN grim majesty.
and it seemed to the captain that its features
had a ferociouS look. But where was the
sentinell
Half dazed, and with a sinking heart, Brace
walked around to the other side of the Idol
The marine was lying face downward One
look told the story. The dead mans head had
been shattered by a terrible blow!
I'll take the watch tonight. said the cap
tain.
During the entire day horror and conster-
nation pervaded the camp. The men were
willing 70 face death, but they were supersti-
tious, and the mystery Of these murders
turned the boldest into a coward
ScvaaoS havor,i ha hills r0ntt1f,a,i
watching the invaders, but they showed no
J, disposition to act on the offensive
AT the close OF the day bluff Capt Brace,
with a cooked revolver in his hand, walked
slowly up and down his chosen beat. Scarcely
100 yarSiS away lay the sleeping camp Be
yond was the line Of pickets.
The captain took MS stand directly in front
of the statue, and glanced about IN every di-
rection-
Midnight came. but there was no sign Of
an enezny's presence. no indication Of danger
Brace found himself studying the monster
idol Even by the starlight be could see that
it was of marvellous and peTfect workman
shin The right hand OF the statue was
stretched forth towards the sea
THAT means Something said the captain
to himself, but vhati Tie history Of this
strange god or demon belongs 70 a past age,
and there is no way of getting at 1t.
He nlaced one hand upon the PEDESTAL and
helped himself up.
"A good rlace 20 SIT he said, and by Jovs
thosa moor fellows who were killed must have
-. -t.+i--r here Their bodies were found