The Washington times., 1905-12-10

open gateway and a little to the right
of it. she motioned TO us to stop.
Then she went TO a low place in the
wall and stood there. as though she
We're considering the scene beyond Ii
seemed to US. indeed. that she saw what
she had not expected, and was thereby
perplexed or angered. Presently she APP
peared to make up her mind. for again
she motioned to us to remain where we
We're. enjoining silence upon us by plac-
iTg her swathed hand upon the mask
that hid her face. Next moment she was
gone. How she went, or whittier. l can
not say; all we knew was that she was
90 longer there.
What shall we do now whispered
Leo 70 me.
Stay where we are till she comes
hack again or something happens. l
answered
So there being nothing else to be done,
we stayed. hoping that the horse would
not betray nus by neighing. or that
we might not be otherwise discovered.
since we were certain that IL so we
should be in danger OF our lives Very
soon. however. we forgot the anxieties
of our own position in the study of the
wild scene before us, which now began
10 develop a fearful interest.
1t would seem that what has been de-
drama itself, and that this drama was
scribed was but preliminary 20 the
the trial of certain people for their lives.
This we could guess, for after a while
the incarnation ceased and the crowd in
front of the big man with the cat upon
his head opened ont. while behind him
a column of smoke rose into the air. as
though light had been set to some sunk
furnace.
Into the space that had thus been
cleared were now led seven persons.
whose hands were tied behind them.
They were of both sexes. and included
an old man and a wv-iIan with a tall
and handsome figure, who appeared to
be quite young, scarcely more than a
girl indeed. These seven were ranged
in a line where they stood, clearly IN
great fear for the old man fell upon his
knees. and one of the women began to
sob. Thus they were left a while. per-
haps to allow the fire behind them TO
burn up, which it soon did with great
fierceness, throwing a vivid light upon
every detail of the spectacle.
Now all was ready, and man
brought a wooden tray TO the red
bearded priest, who was seated on
stool. the white cat upon his knees.
whittier we had seen it leap from his
head little while before. He took the
tray by its handles, and at word from
him the cat jumped on to il and sat
there. Then amid the most intense ST.
lence he rose and uttered some prayer,
apparently to the cat, which sat facing
him. This done he turned the tray
hot he heC
now toward him, and. advancing TO the
line of prisoners. began to walk up and
down in front of them, which he did
several times, at each turn drawing a
little nearer.
Holding out the tray, he presented it
at the face of the prisoner on the left,
whereon the cat rose, arched its back
and began to lift its paws up and down.
Presently he moved to the next pris-
oner and held II before him a while, and
so on till he came to the fifth, that
young woman of whom L have spoken.
Now the cat grew very angry, for in the
deathIike stiffness we could hear it spit
ting and growing. At length it seemed
to lift it's paws and strike the girl upon
the face whercon she screamed aloud.
terrible scream. Then all the audi
ence broke out into shout. a single
word, which we understood, for we had
heard one very like it used BY the peo-
pie of the plain. 1t was Witch. Witch!
Witch"
Executioners who were waiting for ths
victim TO be chosen in this ordeal by
cat. rushed forward, and. seizing the
girl. began TO drag her toward the fire.
The prisoner who was standing by her
and whom We rightly guessed to be her
ht1C nd fria q IA
arms being bound, poor fellow. ne could
do nothing one OF the executioners
knocked him down with stick. For
moment his wife escaped and threw her
self upon him. but the brutes lifted her
up again, haling her toward the fire.
while all the audience shouted wildly.
Il can't stand this said Leo; its
rnurder-cold-bIood murder" and he
drew his sword.
Best leave the beasts alone" l an
swered. doubtfully. though my own
blood was boiling in my veins.
Whether he heard or not l do not
know, for the next thing L saw was
Leo rushing through the gate waving
the Khan's sword and shouting at the
top of his voice. Then 1 struck my
heels into the ribs Of the horse and fol-
lowed after him. In ten seconds we
were among them. As we came, the
sayages fell back this way and that,
staring at US amazed. for at first
think they took us for apparitions. Thus.
Leo on foot and I gallopins after him.
we came to the place.
The executioners and their victim
were near the fire nova very great
fire of resinous pine logs built in ii pit
that measured about eight feet across.
Close TO it sat the priest upon his stool.
watching the scene with a cruel smile
and rewarding the cat with little COB
bets or raw meat, that he took from a
leathern pouch at his side occupations
in which he was so deeply engaged that
he never saw us until we were right on
TO him.
Shouting, Leave her alone, YOU
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