The Irish standard., 1903-04-11

cent explained later. The storm
was so much more frightful than
they that I did not mind them. I
knew that both of them were harm
less, though that snake was big
enough to swallow deer or a man.
But he was as scared at the storm
as I was, and l tell you any COM
pany was welcome that night. I
went asleep finally, and when 1 woke
up the storm was over and the snake
and lizard were gone''
Simon Pence was venturng out of
his dungeon when the storm swept
in from the sea. He heard the roar
and dropped back in time to miss a
palm tree. torn up by the roots and
hurled over his head. An instant
later one of the huge monoliths fell
from it's pedestal and crashed
through the floor to the south of
where he stood. He ran back and
forth shouting and waving his hands
in terror. From hundred crevices
the rain poured in streams upon the
floor. At first it ran down the black
corridor, but as the storm increased
it began to rise. Inch by inch it
rose. The millionaire splashed
through the muddy flood and took
refuge on slab Of stone which had
fallen from the floor above. Here
he remained all night, the waters
steadily creeping toward him until
ut last it seemed to find an outlet
to the west and remained station
ary. The idols and images in the
far corner were half buried in de-
bris and water. The larger one
lifted its head above the flood, and
his wicked eyes cleaned in their
sockets in the flashes of lightning,
Blue flames of electricity ran along
the walls of the cavern; balls Of fire
and tongues of phosphorescent flame
g!owcd in it's depths. Above the
roar and turmoil of the storm, Mr..
Pence could hear wailing cries as Of
some soul in torment. 1t was prob
ably his imagination, but there were
sounds as if giants were struggling
on the shattered floors above his
head.
Through the lcrg night Mr.. Pence
remained in this cavern and heard
the storm flashing above his head.
No sleep came to his eyelids. When
day came and the lest rumble of the
thunder died away in the ncrth,
he was so crampcd he could hardly
move. He succeeded in wading
through the water, and after much
effort crawled out into the open
air bringing one OF the idols with
him. In the warmth of the sun his
clothes soon dried. He sat down
beneath a tree where he could watch
the opening of the cave. He closed
his eyes for moment and fell
asleep.
When Vincent a,vole and found
himself alive and not much injured,
except for n confusion on the back
of his head, he ;'lnted for the idols
and soon found them. He was lust
starting to returh TO the ruined city
when he heard Il shout to the north,
and the next instant the report of
Il gun. Vincent shouted in return,
and in Il few minutes saw Sidney
Hammond and Palmer j. Morton
coming towards hiul. Briefly he ex-
planned what had happened, and the
three set forth for the temple where
Mr.. Pence was guarding the treas
ure. The Indignation of Sidney and
Mr.. Morton was tempered by fear
that the millionaire had not sur
vived the fate which his avarice had
tempted.
They soon reached the temple. At
first they did not observe Mr.. Pence.
Vincent had crawlerl down into the
cavern and announced that no one
was there before Sidney discovered
the slumbering guardian under a
calabash tree.
1t was pathetic figure which these
three men approached. His hat had
fallen to the groun'l, and the matted
gray hair half covered the eyes of
the sleeping tinarcier. One hand
was firmly clutcheH to the idol. In
the relaxed fingers of the other hand
was 4 stout club. The linen clothes
were bcdraggled in mud and slime.
The right foot was in pool of wa
ter. Were it not for the slight but
regular heaving of the soiled shirt
bosom they would have thought him
dead.
Mr.. Morton pushed the idol with
his foot. The hand Of the sleeper
instinctivcly frightened it's grip. He
awokc with start. and with sur
prising agility sprang to his feet
Back! back" he shouted. 'You
Shall not have it. will die first!"
He brantlished the club dctantly
and swung a blow at Mr.. Morton,
who stepped back, and narrowly
evaded it.
Wake up, Mr.. Pence" said Sidney
Hammond. "You are all right! Come
out of your trance; it is time to go
home"
Simon Pence blinked his eyes, ran
his hand over his forehead and came
to his senses. lie threw himself into
Sidney's arms and gave way to his
emotions. When he recovered there
was no difficulty in persuading him
to go back to the bungalow. In
fact, he was eager to 60 The ex-
periences of the night had overmas-
tered his rapacity. Each of the four
carried one of the images. and an
hour later were on the raft and soon
after all the members of the Social
Island Colony once more were be-
meath the roof Of the bungalow.
After a meal they repaired to their
rooms and enjoyed several hours of
refreshing sleep. 1t was late in the