San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-12-26

tie or klnShlp or creed mad existed, i
could not have been better cared for
And at the end of a week was able to
move gingerly about with crutch. My
host now suggested migration TO a zyat,
| or hostelry for travellers, hard by his
pagoda, in a village of the lower plateau.
l was perfectly willing to move 1t
would give me opportunities for becom-
ing acquainted with the inhabitants of
| the district and with local customs and
| characteristics that were hitherto only
matters of hearsay.
The man who had laid me under so
! great an obligation was more and more
marvel and mystery. His life, as
gradually disclosed, seemed full of con-
tradictions. 1t was abundantly clear
that he was held in extreme reverence by
the brethren of his order as we'll as by
the villagers. But, with innate skepti-
cism, l declined to think that there was
anything in his common fame as a seer.
Still, he accepted the homage, and it was
equally hard to believe him an impostor.
Your vulgar tricksuer does not devote
himself to the wants of poor and print
UiNS pSoDlC 90 tlouiIS INo
fee or reward, he was always at their
service. He was strict-none more So /
learned-in fulfillment of the ritual of
the pagoda. Yet, by the law, binding
on phoonghies, he could possess no per-
sonal property; and l had seen what
had seen. Perhaps fingered in the dis
trict longer than should otherwise have
done because wanted to fit an answer
to my enigma.
Tragic circumstances supplied it. The
tribesmen of Upper Anapoora were tur-
bulent and headstrong, and it was one
of Moung Kos most difficult and delicate
tasks to maintain peace.
There has always been strife be-
tween mountain and plain. Two races
touch in these hills" he said. ''The feud
will break out afresh one day in spite of
me- Yes, and soon. l have heard the
sound of the dismal wind-of the war
wind-siGhing i'll the air where no forest
trees are. 1t will come, and then the
vengeance falls and go.
The sad eyes were gazing through the
veil we all seek to pierce but may not.
Moung ko was in boding contemplation
of ISSUES that as yet were below the no.
rizon of his fellows.
frowned at myself, for again was
conscious of cert Tin eerie impression,
produced in defiance of reason, upon my
mind. And. to an outsiders Judgment,
the sky had no clouds.
Although | was a guest, and not a
prisoner, and although Moung Ko had
expressly stated that he trusted me, it
was a notion that grew in strength as
the days went by that | was watched,
and that Moung Ko preferred that !
should not wander far afield
Call it ingratitude, or the mere spirit
of contrariness and self assertion, as you
please, the fact remains that, one fine
morning, | secreted my revolver and
stock of ammunition upon my person
and managed to elude the surveillance.
| got up once more into the heights, and
in the exhilarating sense of freedom
snapped my fingers at the cautious old
priest.
The day was better chosen than at the
first moment of my revolt | guessed.
While | was continuing and extending
the exploration previously interrupted
by my accident the storm broke. The
peace had been treacherous after all
Some spark fell on the combustible ma
terial of race passion and tribal jealousy,
and there was a disastrous outburst of
sanguinary fury. But of this at the
time, as I 5ay, VAS in ignorance5. The
care that came to me was OF different
| sort. When declining SUI wnrahd ne
to work niy way downward if Idid not
wish to camp out, made bltlnder and
took my bearings so indiferently that
was lost.
Instead of striking the track / looked
for, had strayed into desolate gulch.
strewn with the debris of mighty rocks
shattered. no doubt, in some remote nat
ural catastrophe How to escape knew
not. except by the weary expcdient OF
retracing my steps. A wall Of adamant
blocked the path in front. Suddenly !
halted, in the cover of huge bowlder.
A mysterious figure. which | instantly
recognized again. was at work amongst
the stones a little distance ahead, appar
emily buryin2 treasure. | saw bundle
after bundle pushed into yawning hol
low. With stupetied gaze | watched.
What genius of Desert Mountain was
this? Uncouth, dunrobed. dwarfiSh; !
do not wonder that, for space, be-
lieve in a being of other lineage than
the human. But when the strange,
squat figure moved off, | was sufficiently
daring or sufficiently magnetized to fol