Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-03
CHAPTER XI1.-Continued.

THAT leaves us free he explained. Il
sent my men home. Have We matches?
The two companions chose light canoe
and padded slowly ont into the lake,
munching biscuits for their supper. over
head, where the sunset family tinged the
upper air. the flying foxes wavered in err
ratio flight; the vesper chanting or the
Koran made its mournful circuit among
the villages; few ruddy points or lamp
light skirting the shore. blinked slowly
behind trees. or quickly behind the NOV
ing legs of unseen bearers: dogs barked.
and voices of men travelling some noun
tain trail half DAYS journey upward.
came floating down iii fragments almost
articlllate Presently. dead ahead. the
island of the old Sultan Muda reared
from duskv indigo it's craig of darkness.
With David help the truant prince ma
their canoe deep among bushes. men
through the messy lane both men store
into deeper hlackness. the hear' Oh the
island.
Here's fun" Rama crouched under the
corded banyan fringe. His pessmism had
vanished al prospect of night enter
tainment. Wait" he whispered. srlnliF,
"tjII | catch that COMPOUNDED hp-lap!
They waited. Sounds of evening dinlln-
fshed into hush of night The banyan
covert. deep as mine shaft, heii az tne
top shimmering pallor studded WIN
tropic stars: At bottom only dense per
fame of frangipani. and a white blur,
where the flowers themselves, at the
grave head across the circle, caught the
dregs of starlight. Lake, populous valley,
woods to the least tree point. mountains
TO the farthest crater. siumbered IN uni
verSaI calm Not a paddle could strike
the water without being heard INSIDE TINS
lea fN mauSOleun.
No one came. The air grew colder.
Time passed y few light ripples disturb
cd tho shore and lightly ended. Then
Stiffness closed in. heavier than before.
Suddenly the sultan leaned over athwart
the gloom.
some one" he breathed in David's ear.
BY the tree, Quiet. felt him
strainnG his eyes. No boat had crossed
the lake. near or far. There could not be
9 third presence on the island.
Yet as he watched without belief.
moving shadow hlotted the wilderness OF
the frangipani. Something had crept be-
tween him and the grave
Now whispered the sultan; then
aloud: Come on
Together they sprang UP and out, like
men tacklinc at foot ball Without a
sound the shadow bulk rushed past them
and was gone. \ dying sprinkle of drops
fell warm on David's outstretched hand.
Through the branches went noise like
the passage of sudden gust.
Clutched David's arm in all the panic of
one who acknowledges the powers OF
darkness. "A light, a light!
David, Juggling out his box. struck
match. II f1ared. binding them at first,
then revealing the dark ring of banyan
walls. empty There was nothing-noth-
ing but thin vertical shadows writhing
like knotted worms. where in one place
the dangling roots, green painted with
moss, were swayinG as reed curtain
sways when violently parted.
The match burned out David struck
another. to find the sultan stopping anx-
iously over the grave and reckoning. His
olive-gray cheek shone wet, as though
brushed with an aspergill.
Bring your match. l thought 1
Together by the streaming splinter of
light they bent toward the brown disk
of-tlle Written Stone.
Whatever II was" declared Rama, sol
emily, 1T had been swimming.
The drops on his cheek. the drops that
glistened on the back Of David's hand,
were plain water. Stamped in water, on
the brown surface of the stone. was the
print of a naked foot. the great toe
twisted at right angles like an out
spread thumb.