San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-12-24
THE GEM OF THE NINE.

The claimant to peculiar respect on
the score of sanctity of life varies in va
rious lands, or, for that matter, in any
habitat. He may be a hypocrite, or a
fanatic, deoeiver or dupe-a man of gen.
uine worth-though, perhaps, for rea-
sons he would scout-or loafer win
ming, on acquaintance, deserved con-
tempt. ! shall put my old friend,
Moung Ko, without a seconds hesita-
ton, in an upper grade of "holy men,"
He walked consciously on high levels
of his profession. Not phoonghie in all
Burmah was better versed in the lore,
not merely of the pagoda, but of nature
and of life. His fame for charity was
just, and at least have never been able,
since the occurrence of the events pro-
pose to relate, to hold that the wild hill
men of Anapoora were wholly mistaken
in calling Moung Ko a seer as well as
priest. shall have to show that he. too,
had failed where. verify, popes have
failed. And it may be that the weird
gift, never JOY to its pOssessor, was
linked in hidden depths with the ro-
of a long fight for repentance.
To be coherent, and even to compass
conciseness, it is generally well to begin
at the beginning. Moreover. my first
meeting with Moung Ko is an integral
part of my tale. A hint was offered even
then which was slow to seize, but which
later was bathed in revealing light. The
IF hn /, 1iri,
before an Interpretation can be supplied.
| had penetrated u new district and
encountered an accident. A luckless
slip on the shelving ledge of a remote
gorge had nearly sent me to my doom.
/ escaped through the circumstance that
the thick scrub of the wilderness stray
gled down the cliff side to wherever
there was layer of earth to support
vegetation. For long hours remained
in precarious situation, lodged, with
sprained ankle, amongst brambles; above
me, frowning rocks: beneath me, the
abyss. The outlook was black. If ]
stirred, the odds were that / should go
over the brink and be dashed to pieces;
if | stayed where | was, | must starve.
Again-and l had plenty of space to
think the thing through-if l shouted
myself hoarse nobody was likely to come;
and if the improbable became fact, and
there was a response, had no insurance
that aid and not cruel thrust would be
the result. 1t was all uncertain whether
friends or enemies were in the neighbor-
hood.
In the retrospect it seems to me that
my energies suddenly tagged and that l
passed into stupor of despair. Surely
there was excuse. But as the weary day
wore on my faculties regained their edge.
determined to have a cast for dear life.
With much of the gamblers recklessness
and fever cried aloud at intervals full
score of times. The silence remained I'M
broken. But queer portent perplexed
my mind. From where ! was lying the
opposite bend of the valley was distinct
ly in view, and twice across the line of
vision fitted a grotesque. understood
figure in a costume certainly not known
to me as favored by any Burman, Shan
or Karen, male or female. The draper
les were flowing and dark, scarcely dis
tinguishable from the color of the rocks
Ishivered involuntariIy. Did the creature
belong to the realm of honest, practical
existence? Or was delirious? pinched
myself, as those do who cannot be sure
if they are awake or dreaming. The
dwarfish apparition did not vanish. 1t
went on to the head of the defile and was
finally lost in the shadows of the teak
trees. Another idea, belonging to a state
of weakness, came to me. Was it a warn
ing that | must expect the worst?
''Softly, friend; have courage. Move
not. will help you"
Sweeter words never heard spoken
in any vernacular than those l thus
translate. knew their meaning, for l
had picked up not little of the native
tongue. They were whispered literally
into my ear The new conner had APP
preached so silently that there was dan
ger even in his announcement of kindly
purpose.
The sharp surprise made me start.
tried to lool; the speaker in the face, and,
in the effort, swayed towards the preci-
pice. A swarthy, sinewy hand gripped
me and held me back.
Ibid not say softly friend?" expos
tulated the stranger, with gentle reproach
in his accents.
Thanks" answered.; "but my ankle
is twisted. How will you get me out of
this?'
Moung Ko was not a man of unneces-
sary words For reply he drew aside,
with his arm, bush Immediately to my
| right. A natural recess was disclosed,