The San Francisco call., 1905-06-25

feeble strides. 1t was an aged man, with long
white beard and very wicked face, his little, rat
like eyes shining with hatred.
When he reached the floor he hastened to the
inner exit of the cave, and Tom following along
the edge of his hiding place, saw to his surprise
that outside on the grass were kneeling hundreds
of people, who seemed to be waiting for something,
they all staring into the with drawn
and fearful faces The little old NAH halted before
he reached them, and In thin voice said:
Our great and awful master is awake and about
to come forth Be We all prepared to greet him
with reverence He is crosser than usual this
ing, having slept poorly, and were one of you but
to wink he might instantly devour the offender! !!
/ will inform him that you assembled to do him
homage and request him to look kindly upon you,
for, as you know, l love you all and would gladly
spare you"
Then he hurried back to the inner cave and up
the steps. Tom, by merely moving few yards.
could have followed him with his eyes, but he was
staring at the people below, wondering who they
were and thinking that perhaps his poor father
might be among them. Had he watched the old
man he would have been surprised!
When at last he did turn to see what was happen
ing IN the little he was startled to see some
thing most unexpected and most amazing indeed.
Emerging from the recess was immense figure
far larger than any man, hgure SO tall that 1T
obliged to stoop to come out. and it was all clad
in shining armor like knight of old--anmor
cleaning and rafting it moved along and de-
scended the steps Its eyes of glass. like those
in divers suit. and they gave it an aspect most
horribly threatening in the gloom and it moved
stiffy yet grardly, might imagine the stately
movements of tremendous, nail-clad Animal
of the prehistoric past seeking its prey in the
dawnlight Perhaps, if it had been shaped like ono
of those ancient animals, he wouldn't have been 81,
amazed and startled, but it was man, after all
and therefore nothing but giant, or an ogre that
was inside of that shining armor! 1t marched out
of the inner end of the cave, and he followed along
the ledge of his hiding place. watching it until i:
emerged into the inside valley where, drawn up in
lines, were the hundreds of men and women all
kneeling there the grass
The copper giant halted when he came near
them. and in loud voice shouted:
"Slaves Dogs! Are ye all herel
The kneeling host responded as one man in ter
rifed accents:
"Hail, master! We are all here except tho
sick and aged. as you commanded
"'Tis we'll !" the. copper giant responded "Off
then, to your toll, and that ye labor well and
steadily else I'll be after you
All hastened away at once and the giant turned
marching slowly back TO his chamber in the rocky
wall. This time, you may be sure. Tom followed
him closely, and was immensely pleased to find that
he could see his every action.
Up the steps he climbed, and then far back in his
recess, out of sight Of all pryng eyesa he thought
the giant stopped. Then Tom saw sort of step
ladder beside the figure, and while he wondered
what it was for small door in the back of the giant
opened, and 10 and behold out of it came the very
same bent old man who had appeared before! He
crept feebly down the step-ladder and stretched
himself muttering something that the boy could