The San Francisco call., 1904-04-24

neral, Tor learned from paper that
boat had sailed then for Port Arthur.
BY this time was ready to return to
the mausoleum in search of Kim, and a
fresh horse quickly carried me over the
three miles, driven by the anxiety that
filled my heart. The place was still un-
der guard, and it was only by good luck
that was able to approach the mound.
Andorph was not there. but one of his
captains knew me and let me within
the lines.
The moment my foot touched the
mound, up which the officer led me,
was beside myself with excitement.
asked anxiously for Kim Ling. but the
man could give me no information. 1
was surprised at this, but never for a
moment doubted that the officer in
command could do so.
The whole of the great basin of the
Phan lay at our feet as we ascended
this mound so beautifully set in the
midst OF the plain. The view was more
charming from this spot than from the
hills about, for the fog had lifted, and
things before shrouded in 1t now took
on their true outlines. But to my tired
eyes II was common enough-the great
sweep of the Phan, the crowds cf huts
that lay along its banks, the odd boats,
some of them Of large proportions,
which went up and down carrying the
strangest sails winds even encountered.
Far beyond, the silk worm wound
along on the crest of the mountain very
like the crawling thing the Quelpar-
items took ii to be. Above 1t great buzz
ns4l1f 1,a {,, hor dc
and arose and left the room.
yards were circling, and on it's side a
dozen forms in white were raking grass
for the winter fire. Keinning lay flung
wide over the valley. the gray walls,
some Of the legations, the Pagoda, a
new American house, being all that
could be seen, save the dead level
of the graceful tile roofs or the
bushy straw roofs of the poor.
On the other side lay Pukhan,
with the great wall of a mountain
fortress. surrounding on its summit a
space as great as that. occupied by
Keinning in the valley. a refuge for the
kings of Qualparte who should be brave
enough to dare to run away-should
there ever come one so brave.
Good morning" / said eagerly to the
officer in command, who was oversee
ing the erection of the roof above the
tablet; may see Lieutenant Ling?"
The man started at my words. Ling
is not here" he replied; 81 have moth
ing to do with Lieutenant Ling"
kim Ling not here?" cried out.
NO"
WAS he not appointed secret guard
ian Of the Queen?"
The man gazed at me open -mouthed.
But burst on. regardless Of his sur
prise / could not lose Kim now.
could not go to the King!
You are mistaken, sir" I pressed
him. Ling was appointed to office
here; / saw his appointment, after ask
ing the King myself that it be given to
him.
The man fell backward from me, his
eyes strained open wide: then he an
swered me firmly and gravely tand I
admired him for IT'D:
''He is not and has not been here. sir;
but 1 am only keeper of the tomb.
Have you looked for him at the bar
racks?"
The tablet had fallen fairly into it's
place upon the sunken tomb. without
sign Of crack or other mar. Directly
upon it were laid the light sleepers OF
the little building now being erected.
1t was a handsome little structure Of
cedar wood in which the memorial tab
lets would be kept for inspection. The
building was not intended as temple,
for the temple of the tomb had been
built to be permanent, and there the
sacrifices and incense would be burned
Thus / gazed around me while 1 tried
to think of my next step. 1t was
plain that this man, even if he knew,
would not tell me where Kim Ling was;
/ doubted if he knew. But / made one
more effort to get something out of
him:
Yes, I have been to the barracks" >"
/ replied with great lack of regard for
the truth, but he left the barracks on
the night of the funeral. His commits
sion took effect when the Queen was
buried; where else. then, would he be
save here-on Lynx Island?"
But even my sarcasm was of no avail
with this sturdy man. Yet the two
talked moment behind my back. Then
one said gently:
kim Ling's Uncle Kysang is ringer
of the bell; he can tell you where Kim
lives, and no doubt you can get scent
of him there
/ was indebted to the men for this in
formation, but 1 fingered for-well, for
strength to take up the search.
leaned heavily upon the sweet new tim
Der just brought from the rar-off noun
tains; / prayed to God then as never
had before, and as I prayed for the
strength to find Dulcine and save her,
there came, in the scent of the cedars,
the memory OF my boyhood home in
dear old Vermont. / saw the hills and
forests and heard the chatter of those
clear brooks where the trout played; l
felt once more the sweet damp Of the
woodlands, and touch of the breeze
which fans those cool green mountains
from which / was now so far removed.
And when had thus rested a moment
] wiped my damp eyes and pulled my
self together.
/ left the men in as good humor as
possible, though I saw they thought i
knew more than might have been ex-
l. -