Evening star., 1921-03-27

eyes were instantly turned in the di-
rection she pointed.
by Jove" cried the major. "on
your life, something has happened to
her. See. She's footing her whistle
now a signal of distress"
Who's on board of her. boys?" ask
ed the consul of the servants. who
, were just as excited over the occur
| renee as their masters.
| b lonSee' engineer. blongee nre-
j man." replied the boy, two piecee
man hab got
| 1t became evident to all in an in
| slant that something had happened
| to the engine and that the launch was
/ absolutely without control and was
! being carried by the tide back toward
! the other islands.
| Thank goodness it isn't drifting
out to the ocean," said the major. in
a tone of reinsurance to the already
| thoroughly frightened ladies'. 1t WILL
| just go in to the shore over there. apd
! there they can beach her and get help.
I But. ladies. 1 think we shall have to
! make up our minds to the romantic
fact that we shall have to spend the
| night where we are"
What a delightful Robinson Crusoe
| experience" exclaimed Lieut.. Chan
| dler, who. though a perfect military
| figure to look at. didn't seem to have
very much brain reserve of his own:
"I1l be the faithful man Friday. and
| we'll go around and explore the is
land. How awfully jolly"
| Major" whispered Miss Under
| wood. who was trying to make every
| one cheerful and happy. you don't
really think Lieut.. Chandler is in. a
serious condition. do you"
| Serious condition? Why. what do
! you mean?''
why, mean he isn't suffering
! from what We call brain mutiny.'
is he? He has just given utterance
to two intelligent sentiments without
| your orders or assistance.
| by Jove. So he has" laughed the
major. "and now. Miss Underwood. as
we've all got to make the best of it
and cheer each other up. I'm going to
think up bright conundrum for
you-wait a bit. All. I have it: Why
| is Lieut.. Chambers brain like the
Island Of Hongkong?"
| Because it's in the charge of the
/ 9th Hindustanees. possibly" smiled the
clever American girl.
| Thanks for the compliment; very
good. that. Ha. Ha! I mnst keep that
| for the mess. No. that's not it: try
/ again."
II am afraid shall have to give it
up she said in despair
! Why. it's because he so often has
| clouds on his peak"
| Having carefully. rationed out the
remainder of the lunch. SO that at
! least food and drink for another day
would be assured. the party gave
! themselves uD to exploring the island
/ and. following an old patch which led
at last to the entrance to a little
grotto. which they saw at once would
provide an excellent shelter for the
. night There were a few old carved
at some time devotees had worshiped
| there. and over the stone arch were
carved the words "Yuin TIE Tung,"
which the house-boy said at once
| meant Gave of the Clouds"
| Why did he tremble as he read the
characters? Why was he so anxious
| that they should not cook their sup
per there but down on the lower
| level? What was it that seemed to
affect him so mysteriously? Why was
, it that he could only say in answer
| TO the consurs questions: ''B'longee
| velly bad joss. velly bad joss? What
strange superstition had seized upon
| him so suddenly? And why. last Of
| lieved when they discovered that the
| last match was gone and that it
! would be impossible for them to light
! a fire? None of the party had the
| slightest idea.
| H\7ENERABLE Father" said Wang
| Foo 10 the abbot, as he came
| to the Red Cloud alley in answer to
his urgent letter, and they sat to-
/ gether in the upper room. 'how many
| years is it since the great earthquake
shook our island of "Fragrant Wa
ters"?
| six times have the sacred cycles
revolved since then" slowly repeat
ed the visitor. as he turned the well
worn pages OF volume open before
, him.
! Three hundred and sixty years,
/ then. as We speak in these modern
| times"
. 1t is even as the master saws"
. And what saith the Book of Mys-
: terry as to its coming again? Is it six
/ times the cycle?'
| Nay. Let the master read himself
| the ancient words--'tis eight not six"
/ -Four hundred and eighty wears
i four hundred and eighty years" re-
; peated Wang Foo to himself Then
| we have to wait Il hundred and TWEEN
| ty years
| Even so. even so, 'tis not in our
| lifetime that We should fear it,"
| How comes it then that the fear
! the ears of so many OF the people?''
! There is but one answer" said the
abbot slowly. leaning over and point
ing with his long slender finger to
| the characters on the page; otis a
forgery and the sacred Book of Mys-
| terry has been changed"
| And who is he that would dare to
| tamper with the sacred words?" ask
ed the detective as he watched every
] movement of the abbots face
There lives but one who would
dare to defy the powers of heaven