The Washington times., 1919-07-25
CHAPTER XVIII.

LhAE-LHA n HI
Conveyed BY the spearmen. tAs
party Of LeonciA, the two Morgans
and Torres were led through Tia
pleasant fields, all under q high
state OF primitive cultivation. and
on across running streams and
through woodland stretches and
knee-deep pastures where graSed
cows OF so miniature q breed that,
full grown, they were no larger
than young calves.
They're mileh cows without mis-
take" Henry commented. HAnd
they're perfect beauties. But did
you ever see such dWarfs? A strong
man could life the biggest spsci-
men and walk of with It"
Don't fool yourself" Francis
spoke up. Take that one over
there, the black one. I'll wager IT'S
not an ounce under 800 weight"
How much viii you wager
Henry challenged.
Name the bet" was the reply.
Then q hundred even" Henry
stated. 'that I can lift II up and
walk away with it"
Done"
But the bet was never to be de-
cided. for the instant Henry left
the path he was poked back by the
spearmen. who scowled and made
signs that they were to proceed
straight ahead.
Where the way came to lead past
the foot OF q very rugged cliff they
saw above them many goats.
.Domestieated." said Francis.
Look at the herd, boys"
tfT ~ -.
that stew" Henry nodded IT al
ways did like goats. II the Lady +.
Who Dreams, whoever she may be.
vetoes the priest. and lets rs live,
and il we have to stop for the rest
of our days with the Lost Souls,
I'm going to petition to be made
master goatherd OF the realm and
I'll build you q nice little cottage.
Leoncia, and you can become thu
Exalted CheeSe-Aaker to the
Queen"
But he did not whimsicaIly wan
der further, for at that moment they
emerged upon a lake 50 beautiful
as to bring q long whistle from
Francis, q handicap from Leoncia.
and q muttered ejaculation OF Gp-
probation from Torres. Fully a mile
in length 1t stretched, with more =.
than half the same In width, and !
was a perfect oval
With one exception, no habitatioa ]
broke the fringe Of trees, bamboo
thickets and rushes that circled It's
shore, even along the foot Of the
cliff where the bamboo was excep-
tionslly luxuriant
On the placid surface was 20
wildly mirrored the surrounding
uNnnTnfafwa
scarcely discern where reality end
ed and reflection began.
In the midst OF her rapture over
the perfect reflection Leoncia broke
OF to exclaim her disappointment In
that the water was not crystal clear.
What a pity II Il so muddy
That's because Of the wash OF
the rich soil Of the valley floor"
Henry elucidated. TITS hundreds OF
feet deep, that soil"
The whole valley must have been
a lake at some time" Francis con-
Cured. run your eye along the
cliff and see the old water lines. I
wonder what made II shrink"
Earthquake. most liksly-open-
ed up some subteFranean exit and
drained IL off to its present level
and keeps on draining II. too. It's
rich chocolate color shows the
amount Of water that flows in all
the time, and that II doesn't have
much chance to settle. It's the
catch basin for the entire circling
watershed OF the valley"
well. there's one house at least
Leoncia was saying five minutes
later, as they rounded an angle Of
the cliff and saw, tucked against
h al
the water, a low-roofed bungalow
like dwelling.
ITO BE CONTINUED ToMORRoW.O