Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1909-07-14

slumber.
The rumor of the prophetic words of
the idol spread rapidly and all through
the day the people gave Up their usual
sleep to bow low and kiss the feet of
this unusually ugly idol. Even the sol
diers who guarded the royal jewels in
the strong house were relieved so they
could salaam at the sacred feet of
Bong. This was very unusual, for in
the strong house were piles upon piles
of precious stones; rubies, emeralds,
sapphires and pearls of great price;
some found farther back than the old
est bag could remember, others dis
covered during their own time. No
trader had ever been able to buy a sin
gle gem from the islanders. All were
carefully saved and guarded to be kept
until, so tradition said, Bong should
open his long-closed lips and tell them
what he wished done with them, the
offerings of his faithful children.
So in the throes of unheard of ex-
element the scantily-clad people of
Dong awaited the words of the idol.
When the appointed time arrived the
entire nation had turned out to hear
with the king the mystic words which
Bong would speak for their guidance
during the many, many seasons to
come. Each considered himself ia
vored one to be allowed to hear the
prophetic words from beyond the veil.
That morning the shark Jared richly;
many were the tender, young male
children who went to make his break
fast; for was it not well to placate the
spirit of the mighty when it was in
such favorable mood?
The sun was just beginning to show
far out in the east and Gumbo was
casting glances of regal diSpleasure
upon Matsu Sam when curious vibrat-
ing sounds began to come from the
misshapen Uranium of Bong. He was,
indeed, clearing his throat, and four
hundred dusky foreheads sought the
warm sand Then came pause and
the idol began to speak In deep
bass voice he said:
king Gumbo, for many years have
kept my eye upon you. You have been
good king and have served me well
in all but one thing. Your people have
not been gathering precious stones.
You mus collect more. One month
from now l will speak again and by
that time ii you have no more jewels
for me | will let the sun shine no
more upon you"
A month of widest activity passed.
Many wicker baskets were filled with
precious stones, for which any trader
would have come through sea of fire.
The appointed morning came and
once more were the islanders thrilled
by the dulcet tones of their most ugly
old idol. This time his speech was
long. After commencing them for
their diligence and devotion he direct
ed that on the night they saw fire at
his lips and eyes they should take all
the Jewels in the storehouse and place
them on the beach beside the tall
PALM that only the most devoted OF
the faithful shopld do this, and do it
they must without fail. 1t would serve
as an offering to the restless spirit of
the sea which they must placate.
Two nights later in the early dark
ness of threatening storm slight
glow played about the mouth and eyes
of Bong. 1t grew brighter and then
gradually died away, but not before,
the watchers had seen it. That night
all the treasure, the wealth of king
dom, was carried down to the shore as
an offering to the sea. The next morn
ing when light broke not cask nor
basket remained. The sea had &C
cepted the costly offering OF the peO-
pie of King Gumbo's island.