Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1911-12-08

among the machinery, two huge, cof-
Unlike oval structures of aluminium,
each about the length of man.
When l come to die my last memory
Will be of standing there, beside Tai
bot, bound, on the beach, listening to
the waves, and straining my eyes for
the thin wisp of smoke that would
indicate the approach of Admiral
Evans flagship and announce our i'm
minent death.
Ten o'clock tinkled from q clock in
the Japanese officers house. We
| looked hard out to sea. The mists
| lifted; now we could see the frowning
| cllffs opposite and, In the distance, the
| white houses Of Punta Arenas. But
no ship came. The clock tinkled IL
and then IL. A wild hope throbbed in
my heart. Suddenly the electric in
strument began to click. Kitachi
turned impassively to the machine. It
was not Morse, but the secret Japa-
nese method of communication, and
neither Of us understood, though we
concluded it was the signal for the
ships to enter the strait.
! AS Kitachi stood reading I saw his
body stiffen gradually, until he
seemed to be figure of wood. When
the last click ceased he came up to
us and stood watching us with a Pc
culiar smile.
You're very lucky" he said, and
turned aside to mutter to the chief
Indian. Immediately the ropes were
taken off our limbs, and we remained
looking at Kitachi in amazement, free,
yet hardly daring to hope.
These Indians will escort you as
far as the sheep trail where they met
you yesterday" he added. "Go-you
are free"
"Free?" stammered.
eyes, gentlemen" said Kitachi
YEARLY. cine vessels of the American
fleet passed through the straits last
night. The magnetic storm, unusual
for this time of the year, was caused
by an event which only occurs once
in long periods-and last night it hap
pened and luck overthrow AL my
plans. There was a shifting of the
south magnetic pole, due to some I'M
known combination of heavenly bodies.
which caused my instruments to pick
up the fleet in wrong region of the
compass. But my emperor does not
permit chance to overcome his will.
have failed; all is over" He threw
up his hands and walked slowly into
his house.
I whispered to Talbot to wait and
ran after him. My heart was touched
with pity. After all, he was merely
obeying what he fancied were his en-
peror's commands; and he had treated
us as an officer and a gentleman should
do. Now, PERHAPS, he would believe
me if / told him the truth about the
conspiracy
I knocked at the door twice; then.
as no answer came, opened it and
entered. Kitachi was sitting, Japa-
nese fashion, upon the floor, wrapped
in rug, his shoulders curiously
bowed. He looked up at me patiently
as entered, but made no sign.
Gradually, however, as unfolded the
story, an expression of~horror came
over his features. He groaned; he
tried to rise AS he did so the rug
fell from him and saw that it's under
side was stained with blood and that
short sword lay between his knees,
hilt down, point upward. Even as
looked Kitachi's features composed
themselves, his eyes closed, and he
fell forward, transixed upon the
weapon with which, in the old feudal
style, he had performed the sacred
rite.
Sick with pity, ran out, to find Tai
bot at the door.
"All right, old boy?" he asked.
Then, seeing the answer in my eyes,
he saluted me, soldier fashion.
Begging your pardon, sir" he said;
IT think we ought to be moving"