The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-05-30

Inc next moment the pirates were
upon them, and they were captives. A
nimble sailor dropped lightly into the
little boat and made it fast with rope,
one end of which he threw to a waiting
comrade. Then rope ladder was
dropped over the side.
Cup to the presence of the most noble
First Chief of Kwan Dab and pay your
homage, dogsr' said the sailor, as he
roughly helped the trembling captives
all on deck they were placed in line,
where some wept, others wrung their
hands and few awaited their fate with
calm despair.
Then the First Chief, attired in gar
ments richly embroidered with gold and
studded with jewels, and attended by
his suite, came forth and ordered the
captives to be searched. At his COM
mand two powerful men, naked from
the waist up, each armed with a great
curved cutiass, came out to do his bid
ding. The cowardly captain of the junk
was the first man called upon to step
from the line.
"Doyou believe in the God of ocean,"
asked the chief.
eyes, faltered the trembling wretch.
"Then go to him, and may you pros
per!'
At this, one of the eXecutioners with
swinging stroke cut the captains
head from his body. Then beth threw
him over the rail into the sea. Another
victim was called, and in moment his
1ifa1occ hoI, FOL i,,tn Thns
the fearful murder was continued un-
til but five were left, of whom Sho Mai
was one. By this time the junk had
oyertaken another boat, and the places
which had been made vacant in the line
were filled again. AS the unrortunates
came up the side Sho Mai watched them
with an agony of expectation, but the
boat was cmptied and Ii Xiii had not
appeared.
Then the awful questioning began
again, and in almost every instance a
wave of the sword was the end. A few
were spared, but as they seemed to be
the largest and most powerful of the
captives, Sho Mai had little hope with
which to meet the summons, which came
at last.
''Boy, who are you?" asked the Chief
It seemed to Sho Mai that her voice
came from distance, and yet it did not
tremble as she replied: Il am now but
one of many captives of Kwan Dab. I
expect to be but one of many victims of
his sword"
"9ou speak boldly"
'Because there is but one death. l
am on the threshold"
There was a pause, and her eyes met
those of the Chief. No effort of her life
was comparable to that by which she
now steadied her gaze. A minute that
was like year crept by with it's burden
of terror, and then the Chief waved his
hand, ana Sho Mai was leS back to the
little band of those whom the sword had
passed by.
''Let them be taken below" ordered
the Chief, and in moment they were
in the rayless gloom of little cabin,
behind a bolted door. But Sho Mai had
cast one hasty glance at the sun which
now touched the horizon, and she carried
the remembrance of the gathering dark
ness with her as consolation. The
night might come in time to cast it's
vail between Ii Xiii and his pursuers.
The sword which had flashed so close to
her own throat had withdrawn into its
scabbard. Youth hopes easily, and Sho
Mai filled the darkness of her prison
with bright pictures.
With the cargo of the captured mer-
;hantman and the captives whose lives
had been spared the pirates set sail for
the homo of tho nj ipat 70 Iii H.
1t was long sail, but the winds were
favorable, and before many days had
passed the peaks of the famous island,
Shi Yam San, which, interpreted, is the
Ten Island mountains, rose out of the
sea.
The Shi Yam San is one of the most
lensely-wooded islands in the Yellow
Sea, near the peninsula of Corea. 1t is
known as the Mysterious Kingdom of
the Sea, because no vessel, excepting
the pirates junks, had ever been able
20 mako a landing. The shore is of a
most peculiar formation. Jagged rocks
rise prec!: pitously and in such fantastic
shapes that they seem every minute
about to fall into the ocean which for
aver beats at their feet. Gales are of
frequent occurrence and of long dura-
tion.
Inland the Kingdom of the Sea is OK
ceedingly fertile, and it's fields are
titled by the slaves of the pirates, w,-o
FOR many generations havo ml6o this
spot their home. OF tho chiefs who had
held sway over this infamous colony
mono had ever made his namo so terrible
On the surrounding seas as Kwan Dab.
At tho time of this story he had ruled
tor thirty years, though tho Erperor
had offered reward of ten million teals
and an hereditary dukedom to him who
should capture the pirate chief, dead or
alive.
In order to procure wives for his seven
thousand subjects Kwan Dab was in the
habit of raiding the towns on the coast
of China and Corea and stealing all the
young women that could be captured.
Half hundred of these unfortunate
creatures were prisoners in Kwan Dah's
harem, whence there was no escape ex-
eept to the grave.
Sho Mai learned these agreeable de-
tails of her future home during her
voyage in the pirate junk. The second
day after her capture she was allowed to
come on deck, and was not subjected to
any restraint, though those who had
been captured with her were still kept
closely imprisoned. She struck up a