The San Francisco call., 1904-04-24

seers rather than spies, the QUICK
witted dancers turned their cunning in
to an exhibition rather than continual
ton of 1t as a menacing defense. They
came back, sweeping the cave with
light: they came forward in perfect uni
son and swiftly, throwing the great
swords about them to a weird song
which now became a feature OF the
performance. The new development OF
the fiery dramatic melody OF the
monotone and the more elaborate
scenic display, the circles and squares
Of flame, and other nameless convolu-
tions-rendered the close Of the exhioi-
ton as marvellous as the beginning
Next to the last service at the Temple
of Ching-Ing, 1 shall ever remember
the dance Of Nsase. the sword dancer,
which saved my life on the mountains
Of Quelparte that night.
At the end came a tumult Of ap-
plause from the delighted spectators,
now utterly at the mercy Of my friends
I cav at once they meant to stay all
night; and 1 also saw, with disquietude,
that they were being received with hos
pitality, to say the least. Perhaps any
thing else would have aroused suspi-
cion.
Food was prepared for the visitors,
and the Jars of sui. or native beer,
clinked as they were raised and low
cred. There was more laughter than
talk, and more sui than rice. The girls,
still fantastically dressed IN the scant
raiment in which they had danced, led
in the laughter and did most Of the
talking: and Nsase outtalked and out
laughed her sister The soldiers an
swered with many a coarse guffaw,
which grew louder for a while-and
then quite ceased.
had grown respondent. I did not
know what the strange carousal Of the
dancing girls meant. and feared what
might happen when all became drunk.
I took down a forbidden sword and lay
quiet on my bed.
1 must have dropped asleep, and
knew not when the scene changed IN
the other room. nor just when Nsase
and her sister ceased playing the trag-
edy they acted so we'll. I awoke when
Nsase aroused me by unclasping my
fingers from the sword She was
dressed decentIy and heavily, as Tor
travelling. She smiled as 1 sat up, and
instantly helped me to my feet. saw
she intended to start me on my way.
In an instant 1 was ready, but
paused and pointed to the sword
wanted that But Nsase took my out
stretched hand and led me into the
other room.
Her sister and the old woman were
gone By the light Of a paper lantern
we picked our way along by the over
turned pots and jugs. Nsase paused
as we neared the door, looked at me,
and then glanced behind her. She still
held my hand and now she pressed 1t.
I looked over her shoulder.
The two Cinnamon lay stretched on
the floor. The color of the liquor was
on their bloated faces-and another
color tooi In searching for me they had
found the sword dancers hut, which no
man may know, much less enter. And
vet into it they had broken, rough and
furious They would trouble them and
me no morel
Before we went out and mounted
their horses. Nsase wrapped me In
long white robe, such as that she wore
She took the lead, and we pushed the
horses on silently from ten o'clock until
dawn. AS it began to grow light we
were getting down deep into the mists
of the Phan Valley, and 1 knew that
when they lifted Keinning would be in
sight. When it became light enough
for us. to see each other, Nsase dropped
back. and we rode side by side. Now
and again / knew the girl was looking
at me from between the folds Of her
white head dress. We had not spoken
for good reasons. And yet amid all
else I was thinking, had not forgotten
her: she was not girl easily forgotten
In a hundred ways she had shown that
she had seen the world and knew IT.
Where had she come from, that she
should now be found in the mountains
of Ouelparte. a postmaster In the out
lawed profession OF sword-dancing?
And now. her wild lessons learned from
the old woman with whom she lived
(for Ouelpartiens are known as unri-
vailed in this soldiers art), what
strange land would claim her, what
cities praise her-Singapore or Ran
COON, Lassa or Port Said? Strong.
handsome-oh, well; something set me
to humming "Mandalay."
At last the mist did lift. And there
was Keinning just at our feet. Nsase
had come farther with me than neces-
sary. but think she would have gone
farther, much farther.
She drew up her tired horse on the
last range Of foothills, and dismounted-
She pointed to the distant city, then.
with a sad smile on her face. up the
road which she must return 1 dis
mounted, too, to rest moment IL
seemed good to feel safe again. We
stood still awhile by our horses. was
more grateful to her than I could ever
tell could we have spoken the same
language. 1t was a relief not to be able
to try.
After a while Nsase reached under
her long robe (she had taken mine ofD
and drew out long. beautifui scao-
bard containing 9, finer sword than
many more exalted officers than
carry. With an attempt at laughing
the girl surrendered it to me, and then
girt the belt around my waist. For
second she held the scabard- She was
very close to me. and looked away at
the distant city. Then she dropped It
and went to her horse