The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1911-03-28

beach, on which the launcn was cdIS
fully grounded
.sShall we eat?'' asked Woodward
hungrily as he opened the basket and
spread sandwiches. fruit and wine be-
tween them.
The doctors silent appropriation OF
a sandwich signilied his consent, and
the repast was unbroken save for an /
occasional careless word. When 1t was
over and the basket had been replaced
Woodward stretched himself lazily and |
felt for his pipe.
~faeel IKE taking stroll2" he asked.
The doctor nodded and, lighting a
cigar. foissed his companion, and to-
| uether they walked toward the grove
OF chestnuts.
.ouiet enough here" muttered the
doctor as he reached Tor another cigar.
'sToo quiet for me seems almost un-
,canny haven't heard bird song
since we landed, have your
81 don't recollect, Vance," said the
ether. with a quick glance at Che young
man. III it's case of nerves can
fix yon up in a jiffy," he ssid sugges-
4 lively.
'sI'll be, glad If you will. doctor.
What's that?' He stopped abruptly
and pointed ahead
DR.. Leeds looked curionsly in the d|
.recfion indicated. at first he could
see nothing save the green tangle of
uHdergrowtla; then against its back
ground there came into view the hide
Gus outlines of colossal idol. Before
they reached it they became aware
that they were passing between widely
placed columns that must once have
supported temple roof. although
there was nothing overhead now save
the arch of chestnuts and the sky
Chinese idols are VIGOROUSLY ugly
and reYusive. and this one was no ex-
ception to the rule Above its painted
head fllere were curved and sinuous
bodies Of reptiles that slid down upon
the massive shoulders like gigantic
ringlefs. The paiRfed reptiles grisned
and showed fangless mouths. One of
its many arms held sword. and the
other hand was raised in q mighty
invocation.
The doctor turned to his companion,
who was approaching the image with
interest in his concentrated gaze. Il
!, believe I'd have picture of that fel-
! low if had my kodak here" He stop
ped abruptly, for although he had
raised bis voice ia speaking not a
sound broke the stiffness. He had open.
ed his mouth and spoken the words
and they had died before utterance.
He was really mounting at nothing.
He was dumb
At the same moment Woodward
looked back and threw a remark over
his shoulder. His startled glance and
sudden return to the doctors side ia.
dicated that the doctor was not alone
in his strange affection. He, too, had
spoken and his words had gone into
silence. A glance at the doctors
blanched face was enough.
They shouted at each other, they
clutched each other by the shoulders
and shouted into ears that might have
heard if it had not been for the dull
cloud that seemed to settle down over
body and intellect. They We're stand
ing directly under the great idol. anG
it's nearness seemed to exert some ma
levolent influence over them. They
looked up at the grinning image anG
then they screamed desperately a
each other. The silence was awful.
When their words had vanished. 81
to speak. they leaned breathiessly
against either foot of the idol ant
stared at each other DR.. Leeds wa.
1 lxsn
upon the events of the past ffteel
minutes and hoped to arrive at som,
rational elucidation of the mystery O.
this silent place-this spot that com
PEELED silence from its visitors. Within
this sixty foot parallelogram. outlined
by the columns, it was impossible tt
utter sound that might be heard
! There was only one thing to do, an(
D that was to get back to light and lif,
!. and sanity.
Leeds was stung to action. He hat
been watching his companions fac,
u and saw it sink into dreamy abstrac
Y ton. sudden fear seized him tha
r Woodward might be overcomc-might
p like the victims Of the mysterious
. SOult VI koHCuCC, NC IL L utCHCu illt, Its
4 With what might be called m I'm
t yelled yell, for it died on his lips, DR.
Leeds grabbed his companions hant
7 and turned and ran down the marrow
Il path up which they had come. Wood
: ward painted heavily beside him, ncve
y seeking to withdraw his hand from tn
e others violent grasp.
q loC hn yhn hoH hoo
/ muttering formless words to himsel
d as he raced away toward the launch
e heard his words uttered on the ali
Q He repeated them and others. Thel
q he stopped and noticed with thankful
+ ness that Woodwards face was rapid
e ly regaining it's usual composure.
what is it, doctor? Is it a grea
silence or a great sound that dwarf
all other soundsy'
| A