The Florence daily tribune., 1898-04-23
CHAPTER ".


THE HOME OF THE BEAUTIFUL WHITE
DEVIL.
The sun next morning had scarcely
made his appearance when awoke to
knowledge of tho fact that the yacht
was stationary. Such a circumstance
could have but one meaning-we had
arrived at our destination. AS soon,
therefore, as this idea became properly
impressed upon my mind sprang from
my bunk, made for the portfolio and,
drawing back the little curtain that
covered it, gszed out upon the world.
And what picture met my eager eyes!
What a scene to paint in words or pig
mentsl But, oh, how difficult! If were
. literary craftsman of more than ordi-
nary ability, might possibly be able to
give You some dim impression of what
[ saw. But being only an amateur word
painter of the sorriest sort l very much
fear it is task beyond my capabilities.
However, for the sake of my story, l
suppose Unjust try.
To begin with, you must endeavor to
imagine small harbor, at most half
mile long by three-quarters wide, hav-
ing upon the side toward which looked
wide plateau extending almost to the
sands that fringe the waters edge. Pic
;ure this tableland, or plateau, as have
JAILED it, backed by tall. forest crown
ed hill, almost mountain, which soaIs
Up and up q couple of thousand feet or
more into che azure sky, while peerine
out of the jungle that ornaments its
base may be seen the white roofs of
houses, with here and there the thatch
of native hut of the kind usually met
with on the west coast of Borneo and
the islands thereabout.
To my surprise the harbor was entire
ly landlocked, and though l searched
for some time could discern no open
ing in the amphitheater of hills through
which vessel of even the smallest size
could pass in from the sea. But, being
more taken up with the beautiful seem
cry of the bay than its harbor facilities,
did not puzzle over this for very long.
My old acquaintance Walworth Joined
me at the rail and laid himself out for
conversation.
Doctor" he said, 81 want You to
tell me candidly if in all your expe-
rience of the world you have ever looked
upon fairer scene than that you have
before you now?"
"No, l don't think I have" l an
swered. at is marvelously beautiful !;
but, all the same, l must own one or
two things about it rather puzzle me. +"
"And what are tbey?'
well, in the first place, since / can
see no opening in the hills, how did we
get in here?"
"Ah, You have been thinking about
that. have you? Well. to save you any
further trouble ON that score, let me
tell yen that if you were to look for
100 years from where you stand now
You would not be able to discover it,
and unless her ladyship gives permits
sion it would be as much as my life is
worth for me to tell you. Now for your
second question. 4"
well, can see, shy, dozen huts,
all told, over yonder," / answered.
Surely they don I constitute the settle
ment Of which you spoke to mef''
No. they do not. Those you see over
there are only the outlying portions Of
the village. meant to deceive tho crew
Of any vessel who might land and fnd
their way in here. Tho real place itself
lies five miles inland, round that hill.
through the gap you can just mako out
alongside that bit Of terra Gotta colored
cliff yondcr
II seel And now to change tho sub
ject. With regard to that lymph you
procured for nio in Hongkong, where Ia
itr'
1T has already been sent to your
bungalow with the rast Of the medical
parapherpnlia we brought with us.
And her la6ysbip2''
"wsnt ashore as soon tn wa came to
anchor II mistake not, that's her
boat coming on TO Va now -
ITO eoniipgaij