The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1895-11-23

"Let me see your face, young gentleman"
doed-I uncovered. She shot a piercing
glance at my face and looking down on
the floor traced hurriedly figure with her
stick She studied tho phantom lines
moment and then looked up.
Listen, she said solemnly, and wav-
ing her stick round me she quavered out
in tones which filled me with a strange
trcmor
1.-THE man goes east, and the wind blows west,
Wood to the head and steel to the breastl
The man goes west, and the wind blows east,
The neck twice doomed the gallows shall FEAST
"Bewaren she went on more loudly
and barshly, tapping with her stick on
the floor and shaking her palsied head at
me- Beware, unlucky shoot Of "a crooked
branchl Go no farther with It'll Go back
The sword may miss or may not fall, but
the cord is surel"
Ii Master BERTHE had not held my arm
tightly, l should have recoiled, as most Of
those within hearing had already done.
The strange illusions to my past, which
had no difficulty in detecting, and the
witch's knowledge of the risks of our pres
ent enterprise were enough to startle and
shake the most constant mind and in the
midst of enterprises secret and dangerous
few minds are SO firm or so reckless as to
disdain omens. That she was one Of those
unhappy beings who buy dark secrets at
tho expense of other souls seemed certain,
and had been alone should have, am
not ashamed to say 1t, given back.
But was lucky in having for my com
panion man of rare mind, and besides of
SO single religious belief that at the end
Of his life he always refused to put faith in
a thing of the existence of which have
no doubt myself mean witchcraft
He showed at this moment the courage
of his opinions. Peace, peace, womanW
he said compassionately. 1--WE shall live
while God wills 1t and die when he wills
1t, and neither live longer nor die earlierl
So let us by"
would you perishi" she quavered.
"Aye, If so God willsl" no answered, un-
daunted.
At that she seemed to shake all over and
hobbled aside, muttering: 'Then go oni
Go onl God wills iti''
Master BERTHE gave me no time for hest
tation. but holding my arm urged me on
to where the hostler stood awaiting the
event with a face Of much discomposure
He opened the door for us, however, and
led the way up a narrow and not too clean
staircase. On tho landing at the head Of
this he paused and raised his lantern SO as
to cast the light on our faces "She has
overlooked me, the old witchl' he said
viciouslY. Iwish had never meddled in
this business"
Man" Master Berthe replied sternly
do you fear that weak old woman"
mo, but fear her master, f" retorted the
hostler, land that is the DEVIL"
"Then l do not" Master BERTHE an
swered bravely. For my Master is as
good match for him as am for that old
woman. When he wills 1t, man, you will
die, and not before. SO pluck up spirit. -
Master BERTHE did not look at me, though
needed his encouragement as much as
tho hostler, having had better proofs of the
woman's strange knowledge. But seeing
that his exhortation had emboldened this
ignorant man ! was ashamed to seem to
hesitate. When the hostler knocked at the
door-not Of 32, but Of 1b-and 1t present.
| ly opened, l went in without more ado.
The room was a bare inn chamber. A
pallet without covering lay in one corner.
In the middle were couple Of stools, and
on one Of them a taper
The person who had opened to us stood
| eying us attentively, a bluff, weather
beaten man with a thick beard and the air
of a sailor. "Well," he said, what nowi"
"Theso gentlemen want TO buy some
lace, the hostler explained.
what lace do they wantf" was the re-
tort
French lace" answered.
you have come to the right shop,
them" the man answered briskly. Nod
ding to our conductor to depart, he care
fully let him out Then barring the door
behind him, he as rapidly strobe to the
pallet and twitohed 1t aside, disclosing a
trapdoor. He lifted this, and we saw a
narrow shaft descending into darkness
He brought the taper and held 1t SO as to
throw faint light into the opening. There
was no ladder, but blocks OF wood nailed
alternately against two of the sides, at in
teryals OF couple of feet or SO, made the
descent pretty easy for an active man.
THE door is on this side" he said point
Ing out the one. KNOCK loudly once and
softly twice. The word is the same"
ITO be Continued.l