The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-18

ssssssssss.sss.ssssssssss ing mountains, but the sea beyond the de- file, the surf breaking white against the rocky islets in the offing, and the crests of the climbing pillows. Once he saw great dismasted ship, strange and foreign the next moment.
 The thunder became deafening. Bowld- CTS began to roll down the hills before the gathering torrents. The rain came down with such might that streams raced down all the slopes and the swampy valley be- gan to turn into lake.
 Kaspar had laid Wilm with his head raised against the stone. But despite that, the flood rose around him till it reached to his hips. Wilm made desperate efforts to free himself, but the harder he strug- gled the more firmly did the hide bind him fast He cried for Kaspar, but Kas- par was far away. He dared not call on God. But he shuddered when he thought of supplicating the powers to which he had resigned himself.
 The water rose and reached his nostrils. God. I am lostl" he cried, as a stream washed over his face. Then he heard a sudden roar as of a cascade. The water receded from his mouth. The flood had broken through the valley. The rain les sened soon after and a faint light re- turned to the sky
 His terror diminished and he began to hope again. Although he felt all the weakness and exhaustion of a man who had fought with death, avarice and de- sire came back again and he ceased to desire that he might be freed from his armor of hide. Convinced that he must remain as he was in order to reach his goal he remained quietly in his position and finally cold and exhaustion threw him into a deep sleep.
 Two hours had passed when he was aroused by cold wind that lashed his cheek and he heard roaring as of on- coming breakers.
 A flash of lightning, like that which had introduced the storm, lit up the horizon. Wilm's gaze which had been fixed in the direction of the detile, saw the tumultu- ous sea. A strange ship was outlined in the great light It hung for moment on a huge pillow that seemed to bear it straight toward the cliffs of Steenfoli cavern. Then it dived, bow first, down a watery slope.
 He was staring at the spot with all his might, for an incessant play of lightnings lit the scene, when a renewed rush of wa ters lifted him, hurried him on and threw him at last against rock with such vio- lence that he lost his senses.
 When hel became conscious again the sky was calm and bright the weather was stiIled, but the lightning continued. He lay near the foot of a hill and was so bruised that he could hardly stir. Sud denly through the far roar of the surf he heard solemn sound that seemed won drousy like churchly music.
 At first the sound was so faint that he thought it a delusion But 1t approached and became more distinct with each min ute. At last he felt sure that he recog- nized the melody of a psalm that he had heard one day aboard a Dutch fishing smack
 Soon he could distinguish voices and even words. The voices were in the val ley. He succeeded, after hard struggle, in raising his head, and saw long line of human figures from whom came the song. They moved straight toward him.
 At last he could see them clearly. Ter TOT and grief seemed to be imprinted on each face. Their garments were dripping with water. Singing solemnly they moved on till the foremost reached him, then they stopped.
 Those behind came on till all were close around Wilm Fake, who gazed at them with dread. Their song ceased. He saw musicians, many sailors, and then there stepped forth large, powerfully built man In antique garb, very rich and em- broidered with gold. A sword hung at his side and he carried thick staff with a. golden head
 At his left hand walked a negro lad, who gave his master long pipe at inter- vals. The old man would take few solemn puffs and then hand 1t back.
 He stopped before Wilm. Other men, in garb that was rich but much inferior to his, ranged themselves at both sides of him. Behind them thronged many per sons among them women with children. all in lavish but strange attire. party of Dutch sailors stood beyond all these. Each chewed tobacco and carried brown pipe between his teeth, and each man smoked in gloomy silence.
 Wilm Fake gazed with growing terror at the weird gathering, but he fortified his spirits b ythe deterplination to find his spirits by the determination to find His courage was tested for long min utes, for not a word was said. The party smoked silently until the smoke hung over them like a veil, through which the stars blinked fitfully.
 The circle crowded more and more close and more energetic. Fakes boldness waned. Precipitation started to his fore head. He thought that fear would kill him. Then his heart seemed to stand still Close by his head he saw the little yellow man sitting stiff and motionless on a stone As if in derision of the solemn assemblage, he held short pipe in his bloodless mouth
 Wilm Fake could bear it no more. In deadly terror he screamed: "1n the name of him whom you serve, who are you! And what do you wish from me?'
 The large man puffed his pipe three times more soemnly than ever, handed it back to his black servant, and an swered with cold, passionless voice:
 q am Alfred Franz van der Sweider' commander of the ship Carmlhan or An