Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-02-13

prescription with the most excellent re-
suits That night / took dose in water.
very nasty II was, and rubbed my leg with
the stun to find that next morning all
pain had left me and that. except for some
local weakness, l was virtually quite we'll
| kept the rest OF the salve for years and
IL proved perfect specific in cases Of
sciatica and rheumatism. Now, alas 1t is
all used and no recipe Is available from
which II can be made up again.
The next few days passed uneventfully
As soon as ! could walk / began TO 90
about the town, which was nothing but
scattered village much resembling those to
he seen on the eastern coasts of Africa
Nearly all the men seemed to be away,
making preparations for the harvest / sup
pose, and as the women shut themselves
up in their houses after the oriental fash
ion, though the few that l saw about were
unveiled and rather good looking, / did not
gather any intelligence worth noting.
To tell the truth I cannot remember
being In a more uninteresting place than
this little town with its extremely uncom-
municative population which, It seemed to
me- lived under a shadow of fear that
prevented all gayety. Even the children,
of whom there were not many. crept about
in depressed fashion and talked in a low
voice. never saw any of them playing
games or heard them shouting and laugh
ing. as young people do in most parts of
the world.
For the rest. we were very we'll looked
| after. Plenty of food was provided for us
| and every thought taken for our comfort.
| Thus a strong and quiet pony was brought
| for me to ride because of my lameness. 7
| had only to go out of the house and call
and 1t arrived from somewhere. all ready
| saddled and bridled, in charge OF a lad
who appeared TO be dumb At any rate
when I spoke to him he would not answer.
Mounted on this pony took one or two
| rides along the southern slopes of the
| mountain on the old pretext of shooting
| for the pot. Hans accompanied me on
| these occasions, but was. noted, very
| silent and thoughtful as though he were
bunting something up and down his tortu-
| Gus intelligence Once we got quite near
| to the mouth of the cave or tunnel where
| poor Savage had met his horrid end As
| we stood studying it white-robed man
| whose head was shaved, which made me
think he must be a priest, came up and
| asked me mockingly why we did not go
| through the tunnel and see what lay be-
yond, adding, almost In the words of Harut
| himself that none would attempt to inter-
| fere with us as the road was open to any
] who could travel 1t. BY way of answer
| only smiled and put him few questions
| about a very beautiful breed of goats with
long silky hair, some of which he seemed to
be engaged in herding. He replied that
these goats were sacred, being the food of
|
| only when the moon changed"
When I inquired who this person was
he said with his unpleasant smile that / had
better go through the tunnel and see for
| myself an invitation which l did not ac-
| cept.
| That evening Harut appeared unexpect-
| edly. looking very grave and troubled. He
| was in great hurry and stayed only long
| enough to congratulate me upon the excel
\ nf eli ai,n
could fight Jana on one leg"
I asked him when the fight with Jana
was to come off. He replied
| Lord. I go up the Mountain to attend
| the Feast of the First-fruts which is held
| at sunrise on the day of the new moon.
| After the offering the Oracle will speak
| and we shall learn when there will be war
with Jana, and perchance other things"
May we not attend this feast, Harut
| who are weary of doing nothing here?"
Certainly" he answered with his grave
| bow. THAT is, IL you come unarmed for
to appear before the Child with arms is
death. You know the road II runs through
yonder cave and the forest beyond the cave
| Take 1t when you will, Lord"
Then II we can pass the cave we shall
be welcome at the feast?"
"You will be very welcome. None shall,
| hurt you there. going returning
swear It by the Child oh Macuma zana y
| he added. smiling little. why do you tall,
| folly, who know well that one dwells in
yonder cave whom none may look upon and
| live, as Rena learned not long ago? You
are thinking that perhaps you might kill
| this Dweller in the cave with your weapons
| Put away that dream, seeing that hence
| forth those who watch you have orders
| to see that none of you leave this house
| carrying so much as a knife. Indeed nm.
| less you will promise me that this shall bs
so you will not be suffered to set foot out.
side its gardens until return again. Now
| do you promise?"
| thought a while and, drawing the tvo
| others aside out of hearing, asked them
| their opinion.
Ragnall was at first unwilling to give any
such promise. but Hans said:
| "Baas. II Is better to go free and unburt
| without guns and knives than to become a
| prisoner once more. as you were among
the Black Kendah. Often there IA but 2
short step between the prison ana the
grave"
| Both Ragnall and I Acknowledged the
force of this argument and in the end we
gave the promise speaking one by one,
at is enough" said Harut; moreover
know, Lord, that among us White Kendall
he who breaks an oath is put across the
| river Tava unarmed to make report there
Of to Jana, Father of Lies Now farewell
II we do not meat at the Feast Of the
Vfrst-fruits on tho day Of the nav moon
whittier once moro Invite you, ~ can tan
iSrc1hsr hocp o{x>r ! Nm heey1 ~ vQIc1