Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-03-26

kor, sculptured in red granite, the
brow of each being gilded.
IS the eE3 nf the passage was
reached 2 foreign save, dressed al
most like a priest of ancient Isis.
glanced iuquiringly at us for mo-
ment, then, without speaking, drew
back a richly woven curtain and mo-
toned US to pass on.
We halted abruptly. There, upon
her throne, with a bodyguard of slaves
about her, we saw the one before whom
each Arab of that city bent his will
like the reed to the gale-the myster-
ious Egyptian Cal!
/ | saw that she was Egyptian as her
strangely lustrous eyes were turned
searchingly upon US. Behind her hung
head veil; her garments, richly jew
eled, were in accordance with those of
the race from whom her descent was.
and there. twisted about her forehead.
we saw the brazen snake of which
Hassan had spoken.
/ kass instinctively frightened his hold
upon his spear, movement which Cal.
the queen, was quick to understand.
STOPPING, she raised from before her
sandeled feet what seemed to us at first
to be yellow ball of wool At her
touch the object woke and we saw that
in her hand the queen held out a tiger
cub.
See" she cried to Kass, the tiger
that has no fangs is harmless
The Wadigo whose spear is broken
fits another to his hand and pursues
his foe to DEATH" our guide answered
quickly, as he watched the face of Cal
grow dark at his reply
Denviers motioned to Kass TO lay
down his shield and spear, which the
, Wadigo reluctantly did
"Ye are quick to understand" said
! Cal. why come We here unbidden?"
I'VE are travellers who wished to see
thee and this strange city, o Queen"
he answered. For these reasons
alone have we entered Kor."
"A false reply" she cried, sharply,
'or else the lore of Egypt, which it is
mine alone to know now fails me as
never yet it has done. Ye come here
foolishly thinking to probe to it's core
the secret of the idol by which | reign
as queen and which brings death to
those who long to depose me-"
IF We were permitted to depart one
Gay foreign host would come, led by
We, and despoil me of what empire
possess. UNLIMITED We came into the
city, spies for aught | know, and, so
surely as you stand before me, death
by the idol shall be yours"
why should we die?" l asked, i'm
crime say, o queen, what we have
| doner'
Eye have entered the hidden city;
therein lies your folly, for which death
shall surely come upon ye,' Cal calmly
responded.
Tomorrow, in the temple, before the
idol my handmade, who | have doomed
to like fate, shall perish in your sight
Long have l striven to spare her since
she was deposed to make way for my
rule. The sun has not set twice since
another plot of these crafty Arabs was
! made known TO me by the lore which
[ alone can understand.
after her We three shall perish; yet
| would that this slave whom we call
kass might live to command my own.
Come nearer slave. and answer. Wilt
thou serve me with thy spear?"
To our CONSERVATION, as the queen
glanced into the Wadigos face, Kass
bent lowly before her and gave the re-
ply she desired. Stretching forth her
hand, Cal touched him and ordered
him to take up his spear and shield.
In spite of our struggles we were
dragged away, each in a different di-
rection, Kass making no effort either
to intercede for us or to keep off our
| captors.
We saw no more of each other until
morning, when we were conducted I'M
bound into the temple. A low, weird
chant struck upon my ears as I was
led forward.
DenvierS was already in the temple
when | was taken there and SO placed
apart from where [ stood that we
could not communicate with each
ether.
The only light came from a brazier,
the embers in which threw a fiickerin e
CLEAN before a somber curtain. Abou:
us on every side thlonged the slaves Of
! the dreaded Cal, while apart from the
rest and near to the glowing braZier,
knelt Kass.
A strange hush fell upon all as there
came into the temple, clad in simple
robe, the maiden whom the insatiate
. Egyptian, Cal, had doomed to be first
! to meet the fate of death.
The great curtain before us parted
and there, raised up before us, the
dreadful idol, the very counterpart of
Cal, the queen, met our view, as still
and rigid it stood. [ struggled des-
perately to cast off the slaves who held
me, as l looked in awe upon the idol
! and saw it's face become animate with
/ life, while it's eyes searched out and
drew it's victim INTERESTINGLY forward
until she reached the brazier.
Almost paralyzed with unaccount-
able dread I watched the idol as it
slowly raised one arm and beckoned
it's victim to approach yet nearer.
Suddenly through the temple an
other cry rang out-Kass had started
to his feet and thrust his spear with all
his force at the idol! Casting off the
terrified slaves who held us we ran for
ward.
No idol Of stone with mystic powers