Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-07-06
CHAPTER VI.
A TERRIBLE ORDEAL

When Sho Mai, with the officer, zee
Chan, had passed out of the great hall,
she found herself in miniature city
with paved streets. Around it stretched
a wall of solid masonry at least seventy
five feet in height, without any gates
whatever so far as she could discern.
The wall had been SO highly polished
that it reflected the city's lights as II 1t
were great circular mirror.
The houses were low and were built at
equal distances apart along the wide av-
enucs but here and there were larger
DWELLINGS, tho residences of Generals
md their families. These large houses
resembled very much the residences OF
retired merchant princes, and were
beautiful structures with finely laid-out
gardens before them.
They stopped before house which
had been selected as the residence of
the future Toyhai. In the courtyard a
deft attendant removed Sho Mails outer
robe and helped her to put on the uni
form of her rank. Then she was led
into chamber, where she kneeled be-
| fore a figure attired in long black satin
robes. the somberness of which was re-
lieved by the heavy gold embroidered
L u0S1SIS Will "hASb ~ "OS PAO~NO~J
| ornamented.
Brother" said he of the black robe,
as he laid his hand upon the head of the
novice, ''the God of your Good Fortune
| has smiled upon you in permitting you
l to enter the eternal city of joy and
| plentitudo. Let us sing the song of
| praise"
| Ten men, attired in robes similar to
that worn by the speaker, then advanced
and raised up their voices in wierd
/ chant.
The words were:
| Drink thou the cup of eternal life ana friend
| ship now,
Thou art tho hero OF all heroes now alive,
| Thou hast arrived this day to drink eternal
| wine.
Wherever you go you will find your faithful
| brother.
Before the chant had ended silver cup
filed with orange wine was held to She
| Mails lips, and she drank of it. When
the singers had finished they all slipped
in turn of the liquid remaining. Then
two Young men, in garments garnished
with gold and armed with swords, laid
the heavy, cruel-looking blades upon
the barod head of the girl, who shud
dered.
NA~OA
robe, "swear on the pirates cross to be
true as the steel to tho brothers of the
Kwan Dab Clan. Swear to the north
swear to the south, swear to the eas1
and to the west. Swear"
81 swear" whispered the girl, and hel
voice sounded to her as though it had
come from another being.
Then three men formed triangle
1 Gu ~. l., 4,,r< ~
the center, and as they walked she
crept on her knees over the tiled floor
with the swords still resting their fear
: full weight on her head, into the mex
chamber The swords were removed
I and she was commanded to look up
Before her stood red-robed figure
Again voice broke the death-like still
ness of the chamber.
Brother, will you swear by the SUI
which gives you light by day, by tn
= moon which Eliminates the heavens a
6 night, and by the stars to be true satn
son of the kingdom of JOY and plenti
d tude; to enrich only the clan of Kwal
t Dab; to protect only the men of tn
4 clan, and to declare eternal war agains
the Han Chows2"
!, Again she uttered that whisper, low
distinct, but with a sound as though
q were born of a sepulcher;
81 swear"
Of "You hear" came from him of tn
s red robes. "Let us sing the chant {
:. the faithful" and once more the voice
!! were lifted up in the strain of WELDON
b to a new member of the order. Whe
q the last echo had found death in silenc
the head of the candidate was aga1
bowed, and four swords rested the
weight upon her head. Then the for
y men formed square and again the gil
u kept pace on her knees with the SLOW
Il measured steps of the men about he
It The third chamber was reached. Itws
A darker than the other two, and as tt
r | procession came to a halt and one en-
d of the human fence broke apart ma
n in robes of royal yellow stepped fort
is As he waved his hand the four sworc