The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1901-02-21

Thou art the hero OF all heroes now alive,
Thou hast arrived this day to drink eterns
wine.
: Wherever you go you will ind your faithful
brother.
Before the chant had ended silver GU
: filled with orange wine was held to Sh,
MATS lips, and she drank of it. Whel
the singers had finished they all slipped
in turn Of the liquid remaining. TheI
two young men, in garments garnisheC
with gold and armed with swords, lait
the heavy, cruel-looking blades upor
the barred head OF the girl, who shud
dered.
Swear" said voice from the blacl
robe, ''swear on the pirates cross to be
true as the steel to the brothers Of the
Kwan Dab Clan. Swear to the north
swear to the south, swear to the east
and to the west. Swear"
81 swear" whispered the girl, and her
voice sounded to her as though it had
come from another being.
Then three men formed triangle
with Sho Mai and the two young men in
the center, and as they walked she
crept on her knees over the tiled floor,
| with the swords still resting their fear
full weight on her head, into the next
chamber. The swords were removed
and she was commanded to look up.
Before her stood a red-robed figure
Again voice broke the death-like still
ness Of the chamber.
Brother, will you swear by the sun
which gives you light by day, by the
moon which Eliminates the heavens at
night, and by the stars to be true saint
son OF the kingdom of Joy and plenti-
tude; to enrich only the clan of Kwan
Dab; to protect only the men Of the
clan, and to declare eternal war against
the Han Chows2"
Again she uttered that whisper, low,
distinct, but with sound as though it
were born of sepulcher:
II swear"
"You hear" came from him of the
red robes. "Let us sing the chant of
the faithful" and once more the voices
were lifted up in the strain Of welcome
to new member of the order. When
the last echo had found death in silence
the head of the candidate was again
bowed, and four swords rested their
weight upon her head. Then the four
men formed square and again the girl
kept pace on her knees with the slow.
measured steps of the men about her.
The third chamber was reached. Itwas
darker than the other two, and as the
procession came to halt and one end
Of the human fence broke apart a man
In robes Of royal yellow stepped forth.
As he waved his hand the four swords
were removed from the head of the can
didate. Then he spoke:
Brother Toyhai, 1 hand YOU a
sword" suiting the action to the word
This is the only emblem of authority
OF the saints of Joy and plentitude. By
IL all brothers conquer. 1t is the fit |
1000 OF the Han elbows, and command
you to feed them well. But rememberlI
single secret given to you in these
Tour walls and under the roof of this
chamber revealed, you will be the sheath
Tor thousand such swords"
Eight men, armed with eight swords
formed circle about the trembling
girl who closed her eyes lest she might
snow weakness, and encircled her head
with the glittering points of their
weapons. Should she move even so
much as a hairs breadth she would
reach point held by stern and steady
nand. 1t seemed to her fevered mind
as though eight fiery fingers we're
pointing at her in condemnation. but
such was the horrible fascination that
she closed her quivering eyelids only to
open them again.
suddenly the chant began. 1t was
'aKen up by men in the second cham
per- repeated by those in the first cham
Der and passed along until it seemed as
'hough the stones of the floor, the reeds
u the roof and even the very swords
themselves gave tongue to the strain.
Z was echoed and re-echoed; it swelled
'ut into the open air, and came back re-
hlorced. Even when the voices had
lushed 1T seemed to the kneeling girl
IS though the spirits of the air were
Valting 1t up to the gods. The words
ola her she was hero, but the music.
wild and unearthly, killed in its con-
option the thought Of praise.
he OF the yellow robes then advanced
nth cup.
Drink" he said, land NAV the cow
rd blood OF the Han Chow make YOU
tronger and more vengeful against our
awful preyl"
Inc liquor was one-half wine and ONE
an ploodl Could size drink itp Invol- I
ntarily she turned her head to look be- 8
ind, hoping to see the face of the Chief. 7
You are looking beyond the earth. !
mere Is death behind you," came the '
oice from the yellow robe. "Drinkn q
40 the dreadful cup came just trifie /
carer. ,
Death and there was so much to live
r-hl Xii; the competition, her ma t
nts. II she died there, no one would r
'er know her fate. The compressed a
ps parted just trifie and the small t
lapeiy head leaned forward with an O
most imperceptible movement The Il
p came closer. She hesitated to think /,
"Death!' said voice behind her. h
Drink came from the robe. h
ne words were all that broke the
stiffness Of the chamber save +
g breathing of the girl. She would a
INK, then perhaps the awful ceremony r,
'uld be ended. o
Inc full, round lips kissed the cold X
go OF the cup. The hand which held IL fl
TED 1t just little, and the blood of the Il