Evening star., 1922-01-15

to the main pavilion. Shwang and
the others assembled there had heard
nothing. He passed down to the
White Heron Beach itself and located
Tu the One-eyed. Tu and his four
men swore that there had been no
such bird: but as they were located
amid thick bushes with a view only
Of the river. their testimony was not
important. Benson was satisfied be-
yond question that the guard had
been dreaming.
He was very quickly diverted from
the subject, however. Tu the One
eyed pointed out a river boat which.
instead Of keeping in the usual traffic
lanes, was most certainly headed over
for their bank. AS Tu observed GRIM
they had business.
Benson knew that Hanecy was
coming into his hands at last-and
with Hanecy a very choice lot OF
plunder. Deep hatred burning in him.
Benson sent to the pavilion for
Shwang, and presently rivermen and
women came trooping forth in COM
pany, eager to take part in the COM
ing ambuscade. They hurried forth
to the White Heron Beach every last
soul Of them-even the guard from
Toptit's cage rushed to join the fun.
loath to miss his share of the TAX
ings.
DENSON, who was paying well for
- obedience, gave strict orders that
Hanecy was to be allowed to land,
and then taken alive. His hatred was
too bitter, too intense, to be satisfied
with a quick death. For the moment
this man was tainted with the bestial
urge of the yellow brutes around
him, filled with the fever of passion
and blood-lust that was theirs. He
had set 1t to work as his servant. and
now it was mastering him.
Laughter rippled among the rocks
and bushes above the shore, as men
and women settled down, veritable
harpies who awaited the coming of
their victims. There was something
shrill and viciously terrible in that
bubbling laughter. Then the shore
was silent again.
Jim Hanecy, standing in the prov
Of the boat with the captain, scru-
tinised the landing-place carefully.
There was no sign Of life visible on
the shore or up at the buildings; the
whole place appeared deserted. A
dozen white herons stalked along the
sandy beach.
"This is a place of evil talk, heaven
born" protested the captain for the
last time as the boat drew toward
shore and the sail was run down.
"Junks have vanished; there is rumor
Of piracy"
'It looks peaceful enough" said
Hanecy, frowning at the shore.
Besides. my friend is here. II he's
in trouble, he needs me. If not, we'll
be gone in five minutes"
The captain made q gesture OF
resignation and turned away.
The boats PROV Scraped the shelv-
ing sand: the white herons tapped
into the air and sailed slowly away.
Hanecy jumped ashore and strobe to-
ward the pavilion above.
At his third step. q bush moved. At
his fourth a net was flung over his
head. Hanecy fired one shot, and Tu
the One-eyed died there: then the net
was drawn tight and men were on
top of him. There was an outburst
Of musket-shots. Black powder
smoke obscured the Beach OF White
Herons and from the smoke came
the shri1l screams Of dying men, the
curses of Hanecy, and the terrible
wild laughter Of naked women. whose
knives dripped red.
After Benson left him, and his
cigar-smoke thinned out to nothing
on the floor, Toptit quite gave up
hope.
He dropped in his lashings. Tor
tured by the pain Of his wounds, and
weary as he was. none the less his
eyes closed and q fitful sleep Of ex-
|haustion rested upon; him. This :alum.