THE IVORY CYLINDER

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 226, 24 September 1938, Page 25 (Supplement)

THE IVORY CYLINDER

By WALLACE DIXON Continued

CHAPTER X. — (Continued.) "First, then, you must know that there is a legend of my people, going hack as far as can be remembered, that so long as the Tooth of Maw remains in possession of my house so long will the line of which I come rule over Mokuna. But if the Tooth of Maw passes from our possession, then disaster will fall on us. I am aged 2o years. When I was 1"> my brother inherited the throne —although my kingdom is but a tiny one, let us speak in terms understood by all —and tie had hardly assumed power than our ill-for-tune began. Every yeai it is our custom to place offerings of flowers and fruits before Maw, the crater god. anil at such times a priest bears before the procession as sacred Tooth of Maw. "On this occasion a great eagle, of which there are many in Mokuna. attacked the head of the procession. In the confusion the Tooth of Maw fell to the ground. Before any could recover it the bird had seized it with its claws and flown away. That night the crater 'erupted for the first time for many years. Ah, my friends, you may smile, but there are things beyond human explanation. The crater god was angered. Kver since he has wreaked vengeance upon lis.' 1

"Didn't you go after tlie eagle?" Cap tain Dawes asked.

"My brother at once sent six of his best scouts in pursuit," Tu replied. "But t lie bird was no ordinary bird. If I say that it is believed to this day in Mokuna that it was an evil spirit in the guise of an eagle, you would perhaps scoff. Vet that is the truth, I believe. I'he eagle flew far out to sea and was never again seen.

"Not long after this our kinsman, Ru. began plotting against us. Meantime the priests took counsel of certain spirits of the island and learned that the Tooth <if Maw. though far away, was yet preserved from destruction. The spirits said further that it was written that after many years the Tooth of Maw would be restored to Mokuna by one who was of our people but a stranger to them. AA e were not able to understand this saying. My brother, however, determined to send me from the island, being fearful of the wrath of Maw, the Crater Hod. and his instrument, Oku. To make a long story short, as you sav, I was sent to school in England. From school I went to the university. Funds were provided from the sale of jewels which Xgami, my brother's old friend and adviser, who accompanied me, took 1 with him and so]<l abroad. Xgami died while I was at. Oxford. And shortly afterwards I set out to search for the Tooth of Maw. being warned in a dream of my brother's impending death and that to me. indeed, was the mission of recovery entrusted."

"An extraordinarily interesting story," Nortli commented. "So vou got on the track of the symbol. Tu?" "For two years T traced it." Tu said. "Finally T heard that it was in the possession of a merchant at Suva. Arriving there T found it had been sold. Then came news of the success of Oku's long rebellion and my brother's death. T was wanted in Mokuna . . . Rut here is the g(»od Muggs. Tell me. Honest .Toe. what you know of the Tooth of Maw?"

Carey, seeing the sailor's bewilderment, said: "Tu means the ivory cylinder that you left with Dr. North . . . the cylinder the man you call Frank the Kye-talion was trying to get hold of."

"And did get hold of," Dr. North put in. "Undoubtedly it was he that stole the Symbol. By the way, what ha* become of this man, I wonder."

"An Italian, you say!" Tu asked quickly.

"Ave, aye, your Impersonal Highness." •said Joe Muggs. who was obviously awed by discovery of the real rank attaching to the one-time steward. "A Eye-taliou right enough, and may I be scuttled for a derelict if he ain't as bad a craft as ever put to sea."

"Now I begin to see daylight at last," said the brown man quietly. "This man of whom you speak . . . 'the man who stole from you the Tooth of Maw, is employed by Oku. When we find him we shall find the Sacred Svmliol."

"You'd somehow expect to find him among the mutineers, wouldn't you," Mortimer said. "I mean . . . I've had a feeling all along tliat Murgtoyd has other business here besides myself. All those schemes have somehow got tangled up together."

"It's, an idea, anyhow," Carey said. Tu had turned again to Joe Muggs.

"What can you tell me?" "Only what I've told the doctor," Muggs replied. "The bone was left in his cabin by one of these here towerists that came aboard at Suva. I sorter took a fancy to the thinp. d'ye see."

"And the Italian?"' Tu asked. Honest Joe Muggs' face became red with remembered wrath.

"A ewab, ver Royal Kingship, wfcatll fool the weight of my fist the first chance I get. A dockyard rat and loafer. If yer smells anything narsty one of these da ye when yer get out of

ver bunk in the morning, ye'll know Frank the Eye-talion has come ashore." Dr. North asked: '"What are you r plans, Tn? You know that if we can help you we will gladly do so." "L ntil I have the Tooth of Maw eafelv in my possession," Tu said. "there can be no peace on Mokuna. Yet perhaps already the Symbol is in the island. Ihe Italian may have landed . . . though I confess I do not know how he can have done so."

''W ell," said Mr. Bellew, who had just entered the cabin, "he's on his way here apparently, anyhow. (ilad to see you looking fit, skipper. I've had a thorough search of the ship made, and there's not even a rat left in hiding. The lookout ir.au they left behind when they landed jumped over the rail ami swam ashore when we approached. All told, Murgatovd's men number about nine. The ■lain trouble is that they are now all well armed, if they mean to resort t-o real mischief. Irish reports that the rack in the gunroom is empty and that the aft ammunition locker" has been forced and looted. We've enough arms left to go round, however."

Irish appeared to say that several natives were from the lagoon beach.

"My men, I think," Tu said. "If i do not return for some days. Dr. North, please do not be alarmed. If you need help by day. (ire three shots in quick succession. If by lii-ht. put a light at your masthead. My scouts will be on

"If you want to," the captain said, smiling. "I thought you and Mortimer . .

"I've told them that it would be better to have the company of okler brains on watch," Dr. Xorth said. "We can't afford to take any more chances, and, to be frank, these two are inclined to pet dreaming and talking when left together. You may scowl. Carey, but it's true. You're a reversal of the old slogan: United we stand, divided we fall."'

"You can pair with Joe Muggs then," Captain Dawes promised Mortimer. "You'll each of you have quite a good nurse to look after vou."

"Of all the cheek 1 ' Mortimer rumbled, as the two pals went on deck. 'Still, he's a sick man. and sk-k men have to be humoured, they say. What did you think of Bones' varn?"

(Continued Xext Week.)