Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-07-02
The Mandarin's
DAUGHTER
BY " oNG CHIS FOO

bWOOn. ne waves BULL pEOhC ONOL VIC
threshold and poured into the black
pool, but their violence was consider
ably diminished. Within the cave was
shrouded in a gloom which Sho Mai
feared yet longed to pierce, for at inter-
walls could be heard the growing and
rumbIng of the giant voices, and to her
excited fancy it seemed more terrible
that they should be thus hidden by a
vail through which they might at any
moment advance upon her than the
sight of them could possibly be, however
fierce their aspect.
Painfully, for her body was covered
with bruises, she made her way over
the rough rocks toward the mouth OF
the cave. Near the entrance lay little
wreckage of the junk, and she deserted
the mast to which she had chung. That
end which had been lower in the junk
was now the higher, and the top was
buried in the pool.
She looked about fearfully for the
body of the captain, but could not see
it. A natural path in the rock en-
ablcd her with difficulty to pass out at
the doorway, and after half hours
hard climb she stood upon ledge be-
low which beat the waters of the sea.
Tho sun was just breaking through the
mists, and it's rays glanced along the
face of the rocks. Sho Mai found a
sidelong crevice into which the sun
shone, making a little warmth, and
there she rearranged her disordered
clothing as best she could. After all,
it was not so badly torn, and once thor
oughly dry she thought that she would
not be wholly unpresentable.
Gathering up her courage, therefore,
she crcpt out of the crevice and looked
back once moro toward the mouth of
the cave. The sun was now shining
brightly, lighting up the rocks ami the
dashing waves. These she saw only for
an instant. Another sight made her
forget Thorn utterly, for there, standing
with folded arms and gazing with mel
ancholy thoughtfulness at q piece of
wreckage, stood handsome youth who
had come upon the scene while she had
been hidden within the crevice. He
turned in a moment and, catching sight
of her, advanced with astonishment and
sympathy in his eyes.
The young stranger extended his hands
in p gesture of welcome, but before he
could speak Sho Mai replied to the look
of wondering inquiry in his eyes.
EYES," she said, cit pleased the gods
to save me, a weak stripling"-she had
nearly said woman-"and to destroy all
the strong men who were with me in the
junk which was cast upon these rocks
last night. At least, I have seen no sign
of any other and haze no Coubt that
all persisted"
at could hardly have been otherwise"
c~iH GkTN what mi cn1n
did you escaped"
~ was cast headlong into the mouth
of this great cave" she replied. THE
vessel was crushed to pieces on those
rocks over which the waves are still
rushing, but 1 and one other were flung
with a broken mast into a deep pool
within the cave. 1 was carried by the
current to the rocks, but was not dashed
against them violently. do not think
that he who fell with me ever came out
of the pool at ALL
at is wonderful" said the stranger
''It must be as you say, for l saw no one
when l came out through the cave.
However, if you have strength enough,
after the terrible experience through
which you have passed, we will make a
search for the body of your companion"
Sho Mai shuddered when the young
man spoke of returning into the cave.
The memory of what she had heard
within and the darkness of the place
terrified her. 1t seemed that she could
even now hear the strange, rumbling
voices of the demons. Her nerves were
badly shaken by the horrors of the night
and strange, superstitious fears crowded
upon her. Could it be that this beauti-
| full youth was the embodiment of some
| spirit of the cave, who had come forth tC
| lure her back again after her fortunate
escape? She hesitated, but the thought
| that she owed her life to the captain
who might now be lying wounded on
the rocks, decided her and she said
"Come, then; let US lose no time"
AS they clambcred up the rocks the
stranger said: ~ will postpone all
those questions which my curiosity
| prompts until you have rested in my
fathers house, to which I hope soon tc
guide you. Afterwards you shall tel
me as much as you think fit about your
self and tho voyage which has had 81
marvellous an end. Meanwhile, name:
will suffice. My own is Ii Xiii
"And mine is Wong Tien Pow" re
piled Sho Mai, giving the name which
she had borne during her stay on boarc
the ill-fated junk.
1t was with an awful sinking of the
heart that Sho Mai saw the daylight
wane as they advanced into the cave
Soon she could barely see the path be
fore her, but Ii Xiii stepped boldly al
one who knew the way. He led her b,
circuitous path which climbed up
little way, and then turning, de
scended. In a few minutes she coulC
hear the rush of waters, and far ava,
to the right the voices that had 81
frightened her before. She tremblet
and chung to Ii Xiii, though sh
feared that her timidity would betra,
her secret. Suddenly they passed GU
between two great rocks, and Sho Ma
saw the great doorway of the cavern
and perceived that she stood again be
side the pool.
"Here the waters are now STILL" sait
Ii Xiii, taking her hand and leading
her to the brink. "This pool lies mucl
above the main path by which the waves