The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-07-26

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tree. Don't laugh, for I may be not
so nimble at this sort of thing as Twas
years ago."
Up, up I went, until I reached the
higher branches. Settling myself
where could stand without discom-
fort, I looked over the wall. The
scene upon which I looked was a
startling one.
Back from the wall, extending sew
eral hundred feet, was a clear space.
Upon this space were about thou
sand women, kneeling with their faces
toward the wall, evidently engaged in
some kind of prayer. Gestures of en-
treaty and supplication were easily
distinguishable.
These women we're of darkabrown
color. They were clad in garments
that were simple, comfortable and
adapted to the climate. A critically
inclined observer might claim that
they were only half dressed, but this
would not be literally true. Their
garment was a gown, loosely hanging
around the neck, armless, belted at
the waist, and skirt reaching short
distance below the knee.
Back of them a narrow road led in
to the forest.
"What do you see there?" asked
Miss Arnold. "You look interested.
Are we near q town."
"I don't see anything that looks like
town." I replied, tbut there is a
gigantic prayer-meeting going on over
there. All women. And they are as
brown as tan. Their features are
much like our own. They all kneel,
facing this way, and are praying aloud.
They don't look like civilized people,
nor do they look like savages. I have
heard of Amazons, but never heard
they spent much time praying. I
don't see any weapons of any kind. I
am going to call to them.
Miss Arnold watched me anxiously
as I placed myself in the tree where
the women could see me. I gave
loud shout.
The effect was instantaneous.
Amusement seemed to seize upon
them.
They stopped praying and COM
menced to laugh and shout. Then,
as if overcome by some sudden fear,
they turned and fed into the forest.
In an instant not a woman was visible.
"They are not Amazons," said to
Miss Arnold, ''for they fed precipit-
ately. Not one is left. There isn't a
human being in sight now, but I am
going to stay up here while. Pos
sibly the male population will come to
see what's up"
II hope they are not savages, said
Miss Arnold. 81 don't understand
how we could get to land of brown
people. We didn't have time to get
very far from China"
"Here comes somebody now," I said.
':Hcllo! This is place of mysteries.
I see Chinese soldier-a cavalryman,
slowly ridind along. Now another
Chinaman on foot-he is soldier,
too. I must not let them see me.
They are talking together. Now they
are going up the road leading into the
forest"
"Oh, dear, I am all of a shiver, !"
said Miss Arnold. "What will you
see next I wonder?"
I remained in the tree until was
tired, and nothing new transpiring, I
descended.
"What shall we do?" asked Miss
Arnold. "We are not so much better
off than before. The women may be
SO frightened that they will not let
anyone come to our assistance"
eve must be patient and see. If
no one comes after a reasonable
length of time I will construct a lad
der and we will get over the wall.
Meanwhile I am going to take bite" !"
81 will join you, said mans voice
near me.
We both started. Miss Arnold
turned very white and nearly tainted.
I grasped my rifle and stood ready to
meet foe. But it was no foe that
was coming toward us-at least not
formidable one. He was apparently
man more than seventyyears of age.
He was tall and thin. His face was
haggard and coursed with deep lines
of suffering. He was dressed in o
dark-brown suit, anil his feet were
clad in sandals. His hair was thin
and white. No beard was on his face
save the short growth of few days.
His right arm hung, useless, by his
side.
"Who are you?" I asked. still
standing with my rifle ready.
His thin, ashen lips parted as if in
an attempt to smile. But it was o
smile in which there was no mirth or
gladness.
"I might better ask who you are"
he SAID, advancing toward us, "since
you are the stranger and I the dweller
here. You need have no fear-of me
at least. I am rs luckless-nay, a
thousand times worse off than your
Selves"
put down my rifle. Miss, Arnold
looked courageous again. There was
no mistaking the honesty in the old
mans voice.
"rhen if you are dweller here,
tell us where we are and how we can
get to Hong Kong" I said.
Again the old mans lips parted in
his mirthless smile.
"The one were easy to tell-the
other, impossible. But I offer you
my hand. See, it is the left one. My
right is powerless.
"Slowly, general! Easy!' he said,
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