Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-07-05

While | was continuing ana extending
the exploration previously interrupted
by my accident the storm broke. The
paace had been treacherous after all
Some spark fell on the combustibIe ma
terial of race passion and tribal jealousy,
and there was a disastrous outburst OF
sanguinary fury. But of this at the
time. as say, was in ignorance. The
care that came to me was of different
sort. When a declining sun warned ne
to work my way downward if did not
wish to camp out, made blunder and
took my bearings so indifferently 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 expedient 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 burying treasure. saw bundle
after bundle pushed into yawning hol-
low With stupefed gaze l watched.
What genius of Desert Mountain was
this? Uncouth, dunrobed, dwartish;
do not wonder that, for q space, be-
lieve in a being of other lineage than
til human. But when the stranga,
squat figure moved off. was sufficiently
daring or sufficiently magnetized to fol-
low.
Pursuit was unexpected, and stealth
ruled my conduct. l was led by winding
ways into yet another place of bewilder-
ment. Of Burmese ruby mines l knew
little by report and reading. Now L
was in one. On every side were tokens
of thef fact, abruptly realized, that caprice
had brought me into one Of natures no
table treasure houses. Astonishment in
duced carelessness. My foot overturned
a stone, and my presence was discoV-
cred.
1t was an instant of curious crisis.
And l fancy nay unwilling guide was as
uncertain of result as myself. But was
in light just then, and he was in shadow,
and it gave him the advantage Of quick
knowledge. He came forward, not even
pausing as he heard the click CT my
weapon, drawn against eventualities.
Closer scrutiny revealed a deformed
Burman boy, with the stamp equally Of
intelligence and suffering on his pinched,
prematureIy old countenance. And it
was a startling thing that he called me at
once by my name, without prefix or ex-
PLANTATION.
what do you do here, Ho-Ton2" he
asked in a shrill, troubled voice.
II want the path to the lower village"
answered. 81 have missed it."
At last got olew to much that was
puzzling.
"You are far out Of your way. You
can not reach the zyat tonight. 1t viii
be better to stay in fathers-in our cave
again. Come"
Iobeyed the word and gesture, and a
very few PAGES brought US through a
steep descent on to my old ledge, and
thus once again into the familiar quar-
ters of Moung Kos secret home
My geni of the mine. then. was Moung
Kos son?
"Hark" said he. And a terrified look
came upon his countenance.
listened, but could hear nothing. Ny
senses were less acute than his.
Eyes, yes; it has come, as he said it
would, the boy cried, shifting his breast
And his eyes dilated with fear.
"What is your troubled" | asked
though could already guess.
'Hark, say, again. he answered in
an agony; 1.-The waiting is louder! There
is fighting below in the valley Oh. will
they kill him?"
Kill the loved and revered phoonghie,
of whose Iapses from orthodoxy thers
seemed no current suspicionl l thought
it very unlikely. Yet the forebodiac
words of the seer echoed in my memory.
The eventide went in anxious wssoA
ing and waiting. 1t was marvellous 1ao~
the one touch of nature made rs kan
But the boy spoke no word of his pas,
When the morrow dawned TIVE S0S-
ious faces watched from the fnSas3Sy
veil of the bushwood the bend of the
great valley. A solitary wayfarer came
into view. Relief. ringing into eSUots,
rant joy. was in my companions accents
''It is my father. He is cafe, the
poor lad said.
Alas! the gladness was doomed to
speedy eclipse. l thought that Moung
Ko crept upwards slowly, and staggered
as he walked. And once within the
mountain fastness it was plain that his
somber forecast had not been SO false rs
we would willingly have believed.
Mou2g Ko looked at me first with con-
sternation and then, was almost sure,
content. l know that, with genuine I'M
selfshness, he wished me well. a man
was q man and brother to Moung Ko,
whether he were Burman or BritOn. 1t
is the glory of the world-bond that in al
lands there are these hearts loyal to hui
nlanitv. But tie ph0Onghie reeled and
sank upon the floor. To the boys horror
and my own we saw that his coarse robe
was dyed crimson at the side he gripped
so tightly. Moung 10 was wounded.
1t was my turn to play the surgeon.
aided, as to appliances, by the devoted.
despairing son. But my skill was in
finitely below Moung Kos. 1t was the
patients suggestions that | had to fol-
low
And it will be in vain, the old priest
gasped, YEARLY. ''the time is at hand.
| have known it from the first. 1t is my
fate, and deserve it, Listen. and will
make tile dark thing clear. The law
of the pagoda allows aaoPhites to go