Telegram-herald., 1889-11-21
THE GEM OF THE NINE.

----~----a ~--''A "a IL Pc = man "a gen
ains ~orth-though, perhaps. for rea-
sons be souid scout-or q loafer win
ning, On acquaintance. deserved con-
taEapt. shall pas nay old friend
AcuDg 10, without a seconds hesita-
Eon, N an upper grade II "holy men.
he walked consciously on high levels
of ais profession. Not phoonghie 10 al
huTmah ~as better versed Ia the lore.
not merely u the pagoda. bat II nature
and II hfe. His tame for charity vas
Just, and 1 AZ least have never been able.
since the occurrence OF the events pro-
pose to relate, o. hold that the Md bill
meo Of Anapocra were wholly mistaken
III calling MoUng Ko a seer as well as a
priest. / shall have o. show that he. too
had failed where. verify, popes have
failed And il nay be that the weird
gift never a Ily % its possessor, was
linked la hidden depths with the To-
nance " a strange career and the pain
0f long hsht for repentance
To oe coherent, and even 70 compa Is
eoncseness, il Is generally well 10 begin
40 the beginning Moreover, my first
meeting with Moung Ko IS an integral
part q my tale. 4 hint was offered even
then which l was slow 20 seize. but which
later ~as bathed in revealing light. The
existence OF the cipher must be OWNED
before an Interpretation can be supplied.
1 had penetrated a new district and
encountered an accident. A mckless
siip on the shelving ledge OF a rsmote
gorge had yearly sent me % nv doom.
! escaped through tke circumstance that
the thick scrub of the wilderness strag-
gied down the clG side 20 wherever
there vas layer OF earth 10 support
vegetation. For long hours remained
IN precarious situation. lodged. with a
sprnned ankle. amongst brambles; above
me, frowning rocks. beneath me, the
abyss. The outlook was black. II I
stirred, the odds were that I should 20
over the brink and be dashed 70 pieces;
II l stayed where / was, I must starve.
Again-and | had plenty Of space &c
think the thing through-if / shouted
myself hoarse nobody was likely 20 come;
and II the improbable became fact. and
there was a response, / had no insurance
that aid and not a cruel thrust would be
the result. It was all uncertain whether
friends or enemies were in the neighbor-
hood.
In the retrospect it seems 70 me that
my energies suddenly tagged and that
passed into a stupor Of despair. Surely
there was excuse. But as the weary dav
wore on my faculties regained their edge.
l determined 20 have a cast for dear life.
With much Of tho gamblers recklessness
and fever cried aloud at intervals full
score Of times The silence remained un-
broken But a queer porteut perplexed
my mind. From where I was living the
opposite bend Of the valley was distinct
" In view, and twice across the line Of
vision fitted a grotesque. undersized
figure In a costume certainly not known
u me as favored by any Burman. Shan
or Karen. male or female The draper
les were flowing and dark. scarcely dis
tinguishable from tho color Of the rocks.
Ishivered inv0ltmtarily. Did thecreature
belong To the realm of honest. practical
EAAcAEA.AFs VI " - tAFAAt NUS fAttutrA
myseH. "a those do who cannot be sure
II they are awake or dreaming. The
dwRrfish apparitiOn did not vanish. II
went on % the head Of the defile and was
finally lost in the shadows Of the teak
trees. Another idea, belonging 70 a state
of weakness. came 20 me. Was it a warn
ing that I must expect the worst2
softly. friend, have courage. Move
not. viii help v0u.
Sweeter words never heard spoken
IN any vernacuiT than those I thus
translate / Knew their meaning. for I
had picked MP not n little of the native
tongue. They we're whispered literally
into my ear. The new conner had ap-
preached 50 silently that there was dan
ger even IN his announcement Of kindly
purpose.
The sharp surprise made me start.
tried 70 look the speaker in the face. and.
in the effort. swayed towards the preci-
pics. swarthv. sinewy hand gripped
ne and held me back.
"Di1 not say softly frieud?'' expos
tulated the stranger, with gentle reproach
IA his accents
Thanks, I answered; "but ny ankle
Is twisted How viii you get me ont q
thisg7
Moung 10 was not a man of uuneces-
sar7 words For reply be drew aside.
with his arm. a bush Immediately % my
right A natural recess was disclosed.
and. as there vas hight beyond, I sur
u1ised the existence q a tunnel OF pas
sags. IL was doubtless in this way that
hs had reached r1y ledge. Aud now he
proved the wonderful muscular strength
that resides m ths Burmau frame.
himself on the uneven ground
hs grasped with enc arm a buttress of
rock. and. with The other. he lent ne
support which vas entirely adequate for
my dehverance. The pain q the in iGred
limb made me vince as every movement.
but SET nv teeth together. ard. trust
.nr q, tha directions acted rather than
uttered. I was released from my position
~ peril
Then T saw that I owed ny safety 10
11ocnghia or priest I have already in
isated nv impression ~ AICunr Kos
character Irepess that BE- was genuine
h ~uise - AZ. IN person be was short.
stcutly built, ard with features wrinsled,
saI1rw and fnsrrutahie. Hevas Old. but
/ fsncv dii rot count nearly az many
r-ars ss hss looss gave him credit for,
snd ~ the tr-culent tribes with whom hs
bal setf "a hereved
The Question cf concern row vas
place ~ refuge.
"Vcu must stay With me Can Yen
walk at sf-thus. issninE en- ny shoui-
Ser. uanc ny eaII
Ara afetr K.s-vvhrsa nafne hef