The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-09-27

know OF no American prisoner, but I
have plenty of Chinese in the dun
geons."
"Keep them there. But where is
Hen-Ko-Hi? He might be able to tell
us something's"
Gle might, if you had not carried
away his head with your first shot.
"Alas! Then Ralston-poor Raj
ston!-must be dead" muttered
Langston.
"Ralston, did you say? Is it Raj:
ston you are in search off," asked IN
excitement.
can! You know him?" shouted
Langston. "And you! And you!
Your voice is familiar, yet you are
native of this island. The only man
I knew whose voice resembled yours
was drowned in the China Sea months
ago."
I looked him full in the face. He
was laboring under so great strain
that I saw it would only increase it to
withhold my identity.
Arthur" I said, "don't you know
me?"
"Crickmore! Crickmore! You! No!
Dead, yet here, and king, while Ral.
ston now is missing. What Internal
mystery rules this part of earth?'
He almost reeled. He clasped his
hands to his head, He trembled like
leaf. He started at me as If L were
O ghost. To him was one.
Eyes, Arthur, old man-Crickmore,
alive and we'll. I didn't drown. By S
miracle T was saved. I lived among
these people and learned their ways.
I taught them rebellion against Hen
Kohl, and we have wiped him out
At last the shot from the Beaver did
the last fnlshing-stroke for US. But
my dear fellow, how thin and old you
look! Where"
"Don't talk of me, Crickmore," ht
almost walled. where is Ralslon:
Have you not seen him?"
"No. I did not dream he was any
where save in California.
"Then, oh heavens. he is dead,
Crickmore, dead in the tower!"
"What tower? Where did you leave
him." asked quickly.
"In a dungeon under the north
tower of the palace. 1t was there we
were kept. If you have not found him
he has starved to death since You
came, or Hen-Ko.Hi has murdered
him in his wrath at my escape. Oh
search, Crickmore, search!'
II will, indeed, Arthur. But be
calm. You are not yourself.
"No, I am not myself. The tor.
lures and imprisonment I have had
have shattered my nerves, and th'
sight of you has almost unnamed me
I have not yet told you even that I wal
glad you did not drown"
He said this with a wan smile.
'No need of that. But come. I an
devoured by curiosity to know how
you came here, in the frstplace. Here
we have been living Oh twenty.mile
island and did not guess it. But ou'
talk must come later. We must lock
for Ralston now."
Captain Harwood had been an eager
listener to our conversation. When J
turned to call Garu-Saak he sale
quietly:
"I would suggest, Mr.. Crickmore,
King of Talmooch, that, in order to
avoid mistakes in future, you change
that flag"
I followed his look, and 10, the flag
of China was flying gayly from the
north tower.
"Garu-Saak!' I called. My genera!
had withdrawn to arespectful distance
when he saw that Langston and ]
were friends.
Sire, I am here" he replied, step
ping forward.
"Do you know of any dungeon un
der the north tower"
mo, sire; have seen none. There
are no prisoners there"
"a friend of mine-of ours-is con.
fined there. We must find him, anc
quickly. Get q detail of soldiers anc
follow me. Bring lights. And Oso
Bark"
"Sire, I am ready"
"See that the flag now floating owe,
the north tower is taken down."
On our way toward the south tower
we met Mr.. Avery and Miss Arnold
coming toward US. motionod foi
them to go back and wait for US.
"Who is that?" asked Langston.
quickly informed him.
"But about Ralston," I said
"Where did you leave him, and how
was he then?"
"Oh, haven't seen him in four O,
five months. I don't know just how
long it is since we landed, but I have
not set eyes on him from that day tt
this"
"But how came you here? Wha
brought you?"
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