The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-08-28

shape, with a bulge about six feet
from the ground, Tartar style OF
afehiteoture, as l afterward discov-
Tered
We entered one of the best which
| had evidently been arranged for our
reception. Inside there were Al couple
Tor large comfortable touches, the
siues Sf which We're Of peculiar
sefoll-shape design. and in one corner
| thefe was a little recess in which
stood-or rather squatted--a brass
image OF Ruddha about eighteen
lhches IN height, in front of which
| were arranged in Il semi-circle nine
ofaEen vases of wine glass shape.
About o'clock the following
morning the Khan appeared and took
| Mchlll away with nim When they
came back about two hours later /
could see that Mckim was tremen-
dously excited, His hands were work
| ing spasmodtcallY, his nostrila dis
| tended, and from time to time l
caught the red glare from his pupila,
which l learned TO associate with un-
usual excitement, He turned ON me
abruptly.
| Doctor" he said. "do you know
| what these people tell me-"
II can form an idea" said l, They
claim that YOU are a descendant ot
| their own race, and, more than that,
/
| lie looked at me i'm amazement,
How did you ever discover that?" he
| demanded,
| simply because l have thought so
myself for some time"
| We'll" he said. II give it up. Sur
prisea are coming too fast. But do
you know what they want me TO do p
| "Rule them ?"
| "Not quite that, but to remain with
/ "A hA ~
| structed by their wise men, and per-
| haps later to lead the tribe northWard,
| 1t seems that their own country is -
| the north. and they have a tradition
| that a man of their royal blood viii
come from across a big water and
will lead them home"
| "A very hackneyed popular tribal
| prophecy" | remarked. "And what
are you going to do?"
| "Oh, l don't know. I've got to think
| 1t out. II doesn't make much differ
ence, as they wouldn't let us go now,
anyway"
| What does the Khan rank in the
outfit? ?" l asked.
'He Is the YOUNGER brother of the
present chief, He went down to the
| coast with "A good bulk OF the opium
| for the partner of our friend In Ma
Mia Ii seems we had the misfortune
| to kill one of his servants who went
out with the stun: rather favorite
with the old man."
"And whose plan was it to scragg
us?"
| "Oh. that scheme was cooked up
| by our friends partner, who wants TO
start little piracy business of his
own and needed vessel
| "He got it. and something to boot, "
| | said with Il ~rin, thinking OF the
way he had dived into the scuppera.
| A little later the Khan came for
Mckim. and they went out together.
And then began process which
hope to God | may never live TO see
| again--the reVerson of a man from
| the civilized TO the barbarian Day
| by day | could see the insidious pro-
cess working. Through the wiles of
that cunning sehemer Khan ghi~sep,
Mekim sunk slowly backward through
| six centuries in a little more than six
months. AT the end OF that time /
| doubt IL there was fiercer keener
more blood-thirsty pagan in the whole
| clan than he. / Witnessed the pro-
cess passively, for l had always felt
more interest than affection for my
partner. At first the old Khan watch
ed me with jealous suspicion, but see
| ing that l was indifferent, his vigil
lance relaxed, and We even became.
|
| Mckim was allowed to taste both
| the freedom and the darker pleasures
of an Oriental life, His manner al /
| disposition began 10 undergo subtle
changes. until the liking / had once
felt for him turned gradually into dis
gust AT last the climax came,
| For some time there had been fire.
quent depredatlons among the scarce
| flocks of the tribe, and though repeat
| ed efforts had been made TO detect the
! robbers, all had been unsuccessful
Finally. one night Mckim took n
dozen of the young men from the
IVllage and managed TO ambush and
capture the thieves although in the
! fight one of his men was knitted and
| killed. The following day hearing a
great hubbub in the market place, |
went over to see what ii was all about,
| To my horror l saw one of the robbers
! flashed to a stake that had been firm
ly planted into the ground, While
near by man was heating q spear
! head in a little mud furnace, Standing
| by, apparently directing the proceed
| ing, stood my shipmate,
"Mckim," said /, what under
| Heaven are YOU up to? Are YOU going
| TO torture that MANI"
YES" ne answered sullenly; che
| has killed one of u.s.
but, my God, man. YOU can't tor
| ture him. Remember that you're an
| American!"
Il am Mongol," he answered in
an even voice, lit is the custom of
| our people,
| well, ifs not the custom OF mine
| to stand by and see a man tortured, -"
| | laid my hand on the hilt of my knife
| xiii him ii you want to, but il that
beggar with the spear tries to torture
| him, there viii be another of you
gone up"
His eyes narrowed, and he tried to
glare me down, but Ii his eyes were
Iafame, my blood was as WELL and
verify believe l would have tackled
the whole gang, But l think the good
| English words brought him TO his
| senses,
"Dr, Roles," he said at length, sit
was my fault that you got into this
scrape, and l had hoped 10 be able TO
make some sort of amends. but 1t is
| time we parted, | have wanted TO
| keep you with us because YOU stood
| by me In danger, and my people say
| your skill is great, and honor and re-
spect you, But your ways are not our
ways, and it is better that we part"
The next day l left for the coast in
the care of six coolies and a sort of
| lieutenant. 1t was a ten days trip to