The morning news., 1899-02-12
YOUTHS PAGE


gust and supersttious fear, and the old
man put them away
They are harmless" he said: their
poison fangs are drawn. But seer
| He drew aside another curtain and dis
| played a simple staff set in the ground.
Round its top was wound a narrow band
| of beaten gold, twisted In The form of a
| serpent, whose head rose above the stick
| and was. adorned with two big rubles for
| eyes.
The treasure" said Sir Roger, simply.
MY memory may fail me in values, but
should judge il worth f1O0 l made it in
my tedious hours. and these people have
| accepted it as an idol"
Ozel gasped. For this had these men
| been so eager to rush across the seas and
| get to it first,
''Is that ali?" he stammered.
"Ah!" said Sir Roger. looking at him
with what Oziel at once thought suspicion.
The simple Puritan farmers face gloou1ed.
| A little gold. and at once. be it Lynch or
| Gabriel, or this old man, the possessor or
| the would-be possessor, distrusts every fell
| low creature, Ee said nothing, disdaininS
to tell that his thought had been only of
| Justin's disappointment, who had dreamed
and talked so oft to him and Marian of
| reviving the family glory.
DOUBTLESS" said Sir Roger, quietly.
'Donnereau has heard that 1 possess more.
| None of these savages have ever entered
my hut TO know. But now We must talk
of my son. If he is again in the hands of
| these rascals, feel no doubt his life is
safe, for as you explained it, through him
! they play their game"
Even as he spoke he started and Oziel
| ran to the door, for on their ears there fen
| the noise of great shouting and of the
| musical instruments, coming that way.
Sir Roger looked troubled
what can bring the people to my heTm-
itage at this time" he said. "All our rites
are performed by night. Nothing but an
| occasion of great urgency could send them
here"
Oziel peeped out from the curtain.
'sThere is a crowd of savages," he cried
back 10 Sir Roger, with music They are
| dancing as they come. All! Donnereau is
| at their head, and o, the villains they
| are together! Lynch and old Gabriel come
| shoulder to shoulder, and then-'ns your
| boy! 'Tis Justin! Then follow Noll Dade
and the men of the schooner. How dis
mayed these lookl But Justin, sir-see!
Sir Roger peeped under the tail lad 8
arm.
"My boy. my boy!' he cried. They
| have wrought him furous The mark!
| See the birthmark on his brow-the snake.
| ',Tis palmer than ever was his fathers.
| Come back lad come back! lis PLAIN
| what they would do! Donnereau has
| shown them the newcomer. Distrusttul
| as they are they will accept that sign, and
| now they come TO make him priest in my
| place. Come back-'tis death TO mel"
He was about to slip away to the hut
bv a rear door from the temple but, look
ing out first, he saw ii was too late
Donnereau had evidently sent a party
there to make him prisoner, for saVages
were running across to the little hermit
age Before the old man could devise an
! other means of escape, The rush OF blacks
swarmed onto the plain, and filled the tenn
ple. Oziel and Sir Roger hid behind the
curtain that covered the golden serpent
lust in time to save being seen. They could
not see, but they heard the crowd assemble
to weird music and then, suddenly the
clear, cool voice of Dixey Lynch.
"Tell them, Donnereau," said the 1d-
venturer ''in the most agreeable terms
which their abominable lingo Is capable OF
that, although white men, we are ferVent
converts to their adorable belief. Assure
them of our sincerity, and that we have
come to live among them in peace. Tell
them that crazy Noll Dade, VINO was a
captive in the African forests and there
learned the sweet delights of this way Of
living, came to show us what a blessing
we had in the person of Master Justin
Hallowell Say we worship that wonder
tut marx as well dS lIGys anu 11CAiAiSAcA
be most exact in informing them that
Justin's powers are extraordinary, and
that he must be placed in fun charge of
the temple and all its treasures"
Thou villain! Thou blasphemous vii
lainr' cried the voice of Justin Hallowen
in choking rage. was it for this you en-
ticed me 10 peril my soul? No! no!'
His voice rose 10 a scream Of shame end
rage. for Donnereau had been rapidly talk
ing TO the savages, and now, as the old
man OWNED behind tine curtain, the
wretched pagan worshippers were throw
ing themselves at his feet and rendering
him homage 1t was this hideous act which
caused the lad TO cry out, an act to one
bred in the strictly simple faith of The
pIritans, so unnatural, so inspired by
demons. as TO make mis- soul revolt with
horror and fear.
That scream had an immediate effect
1,pon Sir Roger. 1t was the voice of his
boyIn agony, and as he heard It,, he drew
himself up, and his faded face was suffus-
ed with angry blood, until once again the
Hallowen mark stood boldly out in vivid
red upon his forehead. He seized he sa-
cred staff and drew the curtain aside.
Not a word did he say, but, at his
sudden appearance, the crowd broke
backward in evident amaze, for, as he
himself had told Oziel, IL was long since
rage had drawn the sign on his brow.
Donnereau and Lynch and Gabriel Ohe
latter of whom at the head Of his men
was very apparently bewidered at what
passed) were speechless for a moment.
Then Donnereau rushed on the old priest,
CRYING to the savages TO follow him.
"A sacrifcew he yelled. "It is the law!
Obi has sent new priest. Let now the
old be sacrihcedr'
He darted at the old man. Oziel sprang
to protect him, but Sir Roger acted for
himself He raised the wand the strange
idol and with it's heavy golden head,
smote so sternly the great black that Don
nereau sank bleeding to the floor.
(To BE Contined)