San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-12-26
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O F T H E M I N E.


he grasped with one arm a buttress of
rock, and, with the other, he lent me a
support which was entirely adequate for
my deliverance. The pain of the injured
limb made me vince at every movement;
but set my teeth together. and. trust
ing to the directions acted rather than
uttered, was released from my position
of peril.
Then saw that owed my safety To
phoonghie or priest. have already in
dictated my impression of Moung Kos
character. repeat that he was genuine
in spite of all. In person he was short,
stoutly built, and with features wrinkled,
sallow and inscrutable. He was DID, but
fancy did not count nearly as many
years as his looks gave him credit for,
and as the truculent tribes with whom he
had settled believed.
The question of concern now was a
place of refuge.
"You must stay with me. Can you
walk at all-thus, leaning on my shout
der, using my staff?''
And Moung Ko-whose name had
ascertained-led me slowly down the
winding passage. Was his monastery
near, wondered? l had seen no signs
But it proved unnecessary to put the
question into words. There was a cum
ningly hidden opening in the rock wall.
We1squeezed through, and within was a
wide and airy cave-evidently a place of
habitation. Nature had shaped its walls
and stretched it's roof, but art had trans
formed the rude mountain eyrie into a
palatial hall. Evidences of wealth were
on every side. The finest Oriental fab
RIGS were the garniture of shelving floor
and lofty recess. Soft rugs were here in
bewildering profusion, and furniture and
pieces of bric-a-brac that would have
fetched fabulous sums in Wardour street.
My eyes caught also the unmistakable
CLEAN of the precious metals
1t was a riddle at first where the sub
dued light came from. for window there
was none But at last made the dis
covery that at one end of the great
chamber was long gallery, commune
eating, doubtless, with the outside world
amidst the inaccessible heights of the
cliff. This admitted both air and light:
sunshine could be but a brief visitant
| am weaving together the results of
extended and leisurely examination. At
the instant of introduction | was too as
tonished to observe many details. The
amazement mirrored inevitably upon my
countenance was noticed.
This is a poor wanderers occasional
home. Its existence is a secret which
you will not betray," Moung Ko said.
"You are the first stranger have had
the honor to welcome here: and when
you are strong enough to go with me
down the valley to the monastery shall
ask that you keep strict silence as to
where you have been. You can say that
you have rested in a cave mans haunt
Il will be true, am sure my secret il
safe"
The calm expression OF complete cer'
tainty struck me as singular.
Il am fiattered by your faith in my
gratitude, and | hope and believe that it
is not misplaced" answered.; but is
there not risk? may disappoint you
by some unguarded word. Do you not
fear it,"
was smiling; but it was no smile that
came ON Moung Kos face. A light was
in the deep set, neutral tinted eyes that
touched my spirit almost to awe.
No, do not, MOung Ko replied, in
deep, resonant tones. 1T is on the
scroll of the future that shall not suffer
through you My own people-they will
mete out the punishment that has tar
ried so long But what am ! saying?
Yes, can read the language of the face.
know that may trust you
The light was gone. and could have
fancied that had not really heard those
words of weird fate which, nevertheless.
was to remember after many days.
While we talked Moung Ko was deftly
preparing and applying a cool compress
to the swollen joint. 1t was patent that
he possessed not a little surgical skill
Suddenly spoke of the strange figure
had seen while waiting for the fiat of
fate; ard l surely felt Moung Kos
fingers tremble. His head was bent
down, and this was my one warning of
the phoonghie's uneasiness. His reply
was evasive
'There is no village in that direction;
it is all waste and barren; there are no
paths, either. The hill folk talk like you
of things that it is ill to see. They are
towards. But | say that bushes take
wonderful shapes; and sometimes they
move in the wind"
1t sonnlnA like satire. and Monnr Kn