Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-03-02


In from the sea. summoned by waving
| flares, the fishing boats came plowlne
nightly. driven by many paddles In the
hands OF the strange white-haired men,
Along the beach the townsfolk thronged
and down the causeway. beneath tho vast
| monollthic plinth OF the fortified gate,
Jostled and pushed an ever-growng multi
tude.
Cries Of "Kromno hvlat Tai Kromno -
| re-echoed-"The chief has come back! The
| great master and the confusion swelled
| to mighty roar. close-pent under the
heavy mists blued by the naphtha torches
But Stern noticed, and rejolced to see II,
that none prostrated themselves. None fell
to earth or groveled In his presence. Dis
| orderly and wild the greeting was, but II
| was the greeting OF men, not slaves.
Thank God. I've got race of real men
| TO deal with here !" thought he, surveying
| the pressing throng Hard they may be
| to rule. and even turbulent, but they're not
| servile. Rude brave, bold-what better
stock could have hoped for in this great
| adventuring?"
For while even thoughts of Beatrice
we're crowded back by tho excitement Of the
| arrival In all his wonderful experience
| never before had he sensed feeling such
| as this.
To be returning, master and lord of a
| race OF long-buried people, his own people.
after ALTO be acknowledged chleftan--
to hold their destinles within his hand for
good or evll-thc magnitude OF the situa-
tion, the tremendous difficulties and re-
sponsibilties almost overwhelmed him.
He felt need to rest and think and
plan. TO recuperate from the long journey
and to recover pose and strength.
And with relief. as he raised his hand
for silence, he perceived the wrinkled face
or one Vreenya, head counselor OF Kamrou
his predecessor.
Him he summoned to come close and to
him gave his orders. with some degree of
iuency-for in the months Beatrice and he
mad spent in the Abyss they had acquired
much of the Merucaan tongue-he said:
greet you, NTeenya / greet my
people, all Harken. ! have made long
Journey TO return TO you. | am tired and
would rest. There be many things to tell
you. but not now. | would sleep and eat
Is my house in readness?"
IL Is III readiness-the house of the
hromno, Your word Is our law. II shall
be as you have spoken"
That is good. Now it is my will that
this airboat on which ride should be car
ried close up to the walls and carefully
covered with mantles especially this part"
and he gestured at the engines After that
l rest"
so IT shall be-" Vreenya made answer.
whlle the Folk listened. But master
where is the woman? Where is the ancient
alrboat to those uppsr regions we know
not Off"
The woman is we'll She awaits in a
pace we nave prepared for you"
IL Is we'll And the ancient MANI"
stern thought quickly. To confess the
patriarchs death would certainly be fatal
TO the undertaking. These simple minds
would judge from it that certain destruc-
tioh must be the portion of any who should
udre venture into those mysterious upner
regions which to them were but a myth a
strange tradition-almost a terror
ana though the truth was dear to him. vet
under stress of greater good he uttered
falsehood by implication.
me ancient man awaits you, too He
Is resting in the far places. He would de-
sire you to come to him"
he is at peace? lie found the upper
world good?" NHP'i
He found It good. Vreenva Ana ho l.,
at peace" " 10
1t Is well. Now the commands or Tai
kromno shall be done. His house il ready :"
While Stern clambered out Of the ma
chine and stretched his half-paralyzed
limbs. the news ran, a murmur of many
voices. through the massed Folk Stern's
heart swelled with pride at the success of
MS mission. If all should go as well from
now on. his mighty object could and wouId
be accomplished. But IL not
he shuddered slightly despite himself for
IL
ity Of the Folks custom of trial bv combat
the chance that some rebellous one might
challenge hm-that the outcome nniebt
another time turn against him.
lie remembered still the scream of Kam-
arou as the deposed chieftain had nlungad
into the boiling pool. What IL tbis fsta
should some time yet be his? And oncs
more thoughts of Beatrice obtruded. ora
despite himself, he felt the clutch of terror
at his heart 0'''i
He put it resolutely away however for
he realized that all depended now on main.
tanning good courage and a bold CO..
mandlng air. The slightest weakness nnipbt
at any time prove fatal
He understood enough of the barbarian
psychology to know the value of domina nee
And with command to Vreenya "Maka
way Tor me, your MASTER" he advanced
through the lane which the crowdinp EoIi,
made for him.
AS, followed by the councillor and tho
elders he climbed the slippery causewav
and passed through the labyrnthne pa sses
him.
The scene was still the same as when he
first had witnessed II. Still fared tho
torches In the hands Of the populace and
along the walls, where, perched on the
very ledge of the one-time battle with tbe
Lanskaarn, the strange waterfowl still
blinked their ghostly eyes.
NO change was to be witnessed I'm the
inclosure, the huts the wild plaza, stretcb-
ing away to the cliff, to the fire-pit and the
dungeon OF Skeletons. But still how diff
ferent was it all
Only too clearly he remembered the first
time he and Beatrice had been thrust
into this weird community, bound and can
tive: with only too vivid dlstinctness he re-
called the frightful indignities, perils and
hardships inflicted on them
The absence OF the kindly patriarch sad
dened him and, too, the fact that now no