Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-06-22
Y
THE HEAD OF THE ETHIo Plan.
For this is the lot Of man

AT length the heralds and forerunners
of the royal sun had done their work, and,
searching out the shadows, had caused
them to flee away. Then up he came III
glory from his ocean bed l., and flooded the
earth with warmth and light. sat there
| in the boat and listened to the gentle lap
ping Of the water and watched him rise,
till presently the slight drift of the boat
brought the odd-shaped Iock, or peak at
the end of the promontory, which he had
weathered with so much peril between me
and the majestic sight. and blotted it from
my view. | still continue to gaze at the
rock, however. absently enough, till pres.
emily il became edged with fire Of the
glowing light behind it and then started,
as well | might. for preceived that the
top or the peak, which was about eighty
feet high by one hundred feet thick at its
base was shaped like negros head and
face, on which was stamped a most fiend-
ish and terrifying expression. There was
no doubt about it; there were the thick
lips, the fat cheeks, and the squat nose
standing out with startling clearness
against the flaming background. There
too, was the round skull washed into
shape perhaps by thousands Of years Of
wind and weather. and, TO complete the
resemblance, there was scrubby growth
of weeds or lichen upon il, which against
the sun looked for all the world like the
wool on a colossal negro's head. 1t GER
tainly was very odd-so odd that now
believe that 1t is not mere freak of nat e.
ure, but gigantic monument fashioned
like the well known Egyptian Sphinx, by
forgotten people out of pile of rock
that lent itself to their design, perhaps as
an emblem OF warning and defiance to any
enemies who approached the harbor
Unfortunately we were never able to ascer-
tain whether or not this was the case,
inasmuch as the rock was difficult of
access both from the land and the water
side, and we had other things to attend to-
Myself, considering the matter by the
light of what we afterwards saw, believe
was fashioned by men, but whether or
not this is so, there it stands, and sullenly
stares from age to age out across the
changing sea; there it stood two thousand
years and more ago, when Amenartss. the
Egyptian princess, and the wife of Leo
remote ancestor Kallikrates. gazed upon
its devilsh face; and there have no doubt
it will still stand when as many centuries
as are numbered between her day and our
own are added to the years that bore us 10
oblivion.
What do you think of that. Job?"
asked Of our retainer, who was setting on
the edge of the boat, trying to get as much
sunshine as possible, and generally look
ing uncommonly wretched. and pointed
TO the fiery demoniacal head.
ooh, Lord, SIR" answered Job, who
now preceived the object for the first time,
Il think that the old gentleman must have
been sitting for portrait on them rocks. "
laughed, and the laugh woke up Leo.
"Halloo, he said, whats the matter
with me? l am all stiff. Where is the
dhow2"
you may be thankful that you are not
sitter, my boy. answered. "The dhow
is sunk, and everybody on board her is
drowned, with the exception of us four,
and your own live was only saved by a
miracle;" and while Job, now that it was
light enough, searching about in locker
for the brandy, for which Leo asked, |
told him the history of our nights ad-
venture.
"Great Heavens he said, family; land
to think that we should have been chosen
to live through itp
By this time the brandy was forthcom.
ming. and we all had good pull at it,
and thankful enough we were for it, Al.
so the sun was beginning to get strength,
and warm our chilled bones, for we had