The Washington herald., 1914-05-03

IN the SOmDcr QarkncSS WHcIc WIN
shafts of hot sunlight smote into the
forest. There also were brilliant greer
underground and colored flowers. Then
they heard the rush of water.
Here is the river. We should be
close to it now," said Hooker.
The vegetation was thick by the river
bank. Great plants, as yet unnamed
grew among the roots OF the big trees
and spread rosettes of huge green fan:
toward the strip OF sky. Many flower:
and a creeper with shiny foliage clune
to the exposed stems. On the water oi
the broad, quiet pool which the treasure
seekers now overlooked there f1oated
big, oval leaves and waxen, pinkish-
white flower not unlike a water lily
Farther. as the river bent away from
them, the water suddenly frothed and
became noisy in a rapid.
Well" said Evans.
I'VE have syervcd'a a little from the
straight" said Hooker. That was to
be expected"
He turned and looked into the dim,
cool shadows of the silent forest behind
them. If we beat little way up and
down the stream we should come to
something"
you said" began Evans.
"He said there was a heap of stones,
said Hooker.
The two men looked at each other for
a moment.
Let US try little down stream first,
said Evans.
They advanced slowly, looking Curl
ously about them.
Suddenly Evans stopped. What the
devils that" he said
Hooker followed his finger. Some
thing blue" he said. 1t had come into
view as they topped gentle swell OF
the ground. Then he began to distin-
guish what it was.
He advanced suddenly with hasty
steps until the body that belonged to
the limp hand and arm had become Wis
ible. His grip frightened on the imple-
ment he carried. The thing was the
figure of Chinaman lying on his face
The abandon of the pose was unmis-
taxable.
The two men drew together, and stood
staring silently at this ominous dead
body.
1t lay in a clear space among the
trees. Near by was a spade after the
Chinese pattern, and farther off lay a
scattered heap OF stones, close TO q
freshly dug hole.
Somebody has been here before
said Hooker, clearing mis- throat.
Then suddenly Evans began to swear
and rave and stamp upon the ground.
Hooker turned white, but said moth
ing. He advanced toward the PROSTATE
body. He saw the neck was puffed and
purple and the hands and ankles swol-
len. "PahI" he said, and suddenly
turned away and went toward the ex-
cavation. He gave a cry of surprise,
He shouted to Evans, who was follow
ing him slowly.
you fool! It's all right. It's here
still" Then he turned again and looked
at the dead Chinaman and then again
at the hole.
Evans hurried to the hole. Already
half exposed by the ill-fated wretch be-
side them lay number of dull yellow
bars. He bent down in the hole, and,
clearing off the soil with his bare hands,
hastily pulled one OF the heavy masses
out.
As he did so little thorn pricked his
hand. He pulled the delicate spike out
with his fingers and lifted the ingot
Only gold or lead could weigh like
this" he said exultantly.
Hooker was still looking at the dead
Chinaman. He was puzzled.
He stole a march on his friends, '
he said at last. ''He came here alone,
and some poisonous snake has killed
him-I wonder how he found the place" :"
Evans stood with the ingot in his
hands. What did a dead Chinaman
signify?
I'VE shall have to take this stuff to
the mainland piecemeal and bury it
there for a while" he said. How shall
we get it to the canoe?"
He took his jacket off and spread it
on the ground, and flung two or three
ingots into it.
Presently he found that another little
thorn had punctured his skin.
This is as much as We can carry"
said he. Then suddenly, with queer
rush of irritation, What are you star
ing at?"
Hooker turned to him. 81 can't stand
him." He nodded toward the corpse.
ats so like"
Rubbish" said Evans. "All China
men are alike"
Hooker looked into his face. Tm
going to bury that, anyhow, before i
lend hand with this stuff"