"STAR" TALES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10754, 28 April 1913, Page 4

"STAR" TALES.

A TALE OF OLD ATLANTIS (By F. H. BODLE.) 4 [Alt; Rights Reserved.] !• CHAPTER, I. In ail times and all places men Aave talked of Atlantis, that wonderland of the ancient world. Of all these talkers, only those who in a former , life lived in that strange, lost land know, even dimly, anything of it. Few (all, how few!) even of these; reborn citizens of that great Empire can tell anything definite of their old hbme. • Dimly they hear its rivers calling, or the fragrant noon breeze singing through the orange groves, or, mayhap, like giant, half-heard whisperings, the quick throaty' speech of old Atlanz. .But it is all blur and giant mutterings. There are no definite connected pictures of a past that would be indeed so interesting. So it seems; but it is not so. There is a way—known *'• not to very many—wlierebv our past existences are spread before us like great pictures. Hear now a tale of Atlanz that I, Prince Vellak of Mirain, tell to you. Few, if any, will believe, but what care I. My time has been—it may come again; for the present, what I know I know, and no laughter of sceptics can rob me of my wonderful dreams. Now the shape of Atlanz—that was ■what we called it—was, roughly, that Ci a great butterfly thus—

ind it was divided into tlireei princijialities. My own Mirain was in the north-east wing-tip, a mountainous country, a land of waterfalls and dark glens and a hardy, independent people. In the north-west corner was Atora, a country of low-rising hills, that were flung endlessly over it, as the waves upon the sea. The whole southern half of Atiana had come under the rule of DnC family, who called themselves kings of the whole continent. These Ferils had a sort of nominal overlordshij> of "Atora, but from Mirain they received no shadow of allegiance. We were helped in this partly by the wild nature of the country, but more by the faot that between Mirain and the land of

the Feril there was a buffer state. •This is how it came about. The old * original inhabitants of Atlanz were the . Edami—the Red Men. When our an- • cestors came to Atlanz (they came from somewhere in the north) they conquer- " ed and enslaved the Edami. Uj> till fche time of my grandfather the Edami were our beasts of labour; they were treated as now we treat horses, or even av. little worse. They were bred to Blayehood, and seemed settled in that state; but a halfcaste Edami felt tha stirring of his white father's blood in his veins, and whispered, a thought of freedom among the slaves. They rose suddenly, slew many of >' 'the whites, and made for the mountains that lay between us and the Peril. They had no thought c' life, no fear of dearth; they killed every white man in their power, and in the end - their ferocity won them immunity from attack. My own father had been killed in an expedition against them, but that is another and a long story. We held them back to the north, they held the Feril back to the south, and so the position was when I remember first. '

I had been brought up quietly in my own' home till I had reached the age of twenty-one. It was a custom with us that when a Prince was born, a man-child of the common people born on the. same day was taken into the Palace and reared as a foster-brother. .Mytioth was my foster-brother; we shared everything together and .were inseparable, because, as he was not of the Blood, he had reason for gratitude and none for jealousy. Cb the birthday of my full age my toother called me into her own room. ~ "You are man-grown now, Vellak," jhe said, stroking my hair, " and therefore Prince of Mirain. Have you . heard anything of Myriol?" , " Aye, mother, she is the Princess of Atora, but what of her?" • " How if the Prince of Mirain were Prince of Atora, too? Would that not make the Feril keep their distance?" • . Jt is your plan that I should marry Myriol." J cried, laughing .at the thought. "Why, mother, she is but a girl, they say." " And therefore, foolish _ boy, soon to be ft woman. At this time she is, so say my .spies, within a few days of eighteen years. You know what that means, son.' I knew, and did not much like the ' thought that knowledge bred. It was a sacred custom with all Atlanteans

that no maid might be wooed before w she reached eighteen years. If she Owned property or had any dowry, the suitor must work for her or under her orders during the space of three nionths. After that his claims were strong upon her, and if he did not .afterward marry her it was chiefly his own fault. " You would haare me go serve this Myriol," I cried, disliking the idea altogether. "Aye, Vellak, for _ your peoples cake—and she is beautiful. My spies among the Feril say also that Krantis, second son of their King, is oil to Atora. 'He can have but one object. If Ator* be joined to the Feril, what hope foff Mirain? Son, you must act iwith speed. Now, think!" ' "I have thought," I answered quickly, for I was not altogether fool nor coVard. "To-morrow, Mytioth and I willstart." "Go you as Prince Vellak, son? " Nay, mother, for the Feril are crafty and cunning, and must be met by cunning. We will seek service of Myriorspeople as workmen, and no more. When our time is up I will win the maid—somehow." My mother kissed me very gently. V May the sun serve you, Vellak. You are your father's boy; but, my boy, he not over-rash." CHAPTER 11. The land' road was impassable to us ©v reason of the Edami. Therefore, Mytioth and I mu6t take boat and inake a passage of some 150 miles Ecross the open sea*. The boat was a fude thing of light timber ajid skins, fashioned not unlike a Rob Roy canoe of to-day. Away from rocks it was unsinkable, and Myt. and I were of a jea-bred folk, and set forth gaily. That no spies mignt carry news, we set out with the evening's sudden fall, and leaping out to sea guided our progress by the stars above. We were two days and nights beyond the sight of land', but on the morning of the third day we were at the entrance of the River Frask —a jmiddy-mouthed river surely. That day Ire pulled painfully upstream against ■the current, and all the time saw no fcuman being. As night came on we pushed in to the bank under the hangpig branches, and swung ourselves up Jnto the trees. Mytioth, cautious by jiature, clambered to the top, and was ■ there some little time. He came down quietly, but was plainly excited. " There is an encampment about a mile up the river round the bend," he ■aid soWly. " By the arrangement of - the fires it is some war party of the Ed'ami. We have no pleasant neighbours, Vellak." > "Then we must go on up-stream, Myt.," I answered, quietly enough. " We are between the Edami and their own country, and if we go forward and warn the Atora we will win their friendliness. Into the canoe, lad. | So we culled cautiously up-stream.

hugging the further oh ore, and then Myt. whispereil to me: " They will have sentries on both banks, ' Vellak. Mid-stream is our path." We came gradually nearer the triangle of fires, and thou' our blood •ilmost froze with horror. In four of the fires white men—men of the same race though not of the same tribe were tied by water-soaked ropes, each to a stake. There were many Edami about; we had no. chance to save them, but we could' end their agony. Our chief war weapon was a silent gun that, with pent air, threw a silver needle to a great distance. " Load quickly, Myt.,'' I whispered hoaively. " Slic<tt the white man on the right. I will begin to the left. Better death for them than torture." " Aye," croaked Mvtioth, and there was a little hiss as the air burst from his gun. We of Mirain are sure marksmen, and the target was full before us. Ono by one the white men's heads dropped 'on their breasts. Their tortures were over, their spirits were gone to the Sun. Now, since their faces were to the Edami and' we shot them in the back of the head, the savages, but thought the white men had passed quickly off, and were annoyed, but 110't suspicious. By this time wo had drifted down stream some little way, and I could see between the fires. By all the stars there was still one more captive, and I could see that she was a woman. Her long fair hair was loose and fell wildly about her shoulders. Her dark eyes were wide with a frantic horror, nigh to madness. She was alone among these red fiends, bound tightly to a stake placed, in the centre of the fire-girt enclosure. " This thing must not be, Myt," I said savagely. "We must get that girl away from these red devils." "Aye, but how, Vellak?" "Wait, lad, wait. When the fires burn low pull you upstream, land on the farther shore, light there a little fire and come back to mid-stream. When you hear the cry of the wild duck come to me. I will be swimming." "Nay, I am the one to venture among them, Vellak," said Mytioth stubbornly. " Think of your mother. You are the Prince." " Therefore obey me," I whispered sternly. "Do as I say, Myt. When the sentries see the fire tliey will cluster that way, and then's my chance." "But the boats, Vellak. See they have five—six large boats. They will overtake a swimming man." " I will attend to them first, Myt. Now, we must wait." The savages had evidently come far that day, for they were very tired, and soon most of them were asleep. The fires died, down, and now there were but three watchers—one at each angle of the fires. " Now, Myt, do as I say," I said again, and slipped over the side before he could answer. The current was not very swift, and I slanted easily inshore and, diving, came up under the stern of a canoe. I ran my copper sword swiftly through her skin sides, and she filled quietly, but as the bow was on phore she did not altogether sink. One by on'e I served tliem all alike, and then crawled _ inshore, waiting the first sign of Myt's fire. # I chose the path I should tread, held my sharp sword ready, and waited with quick beating heart. Ah! there was the spark of it, now a little flame, and one of the sentries seeing, called softly to another. The three moved together towards the angle facing the new fire and consulted, for they did not wish to rouse their comrades without occasion.

Now I sprang forward silently and swiftly, and, running between two fires, raced towards the girl. My sword cut her bonds almost before she had seen ine, and seizing her hand, I whispered pantingly, "I am a friend. Quick! run!" For all her tears and anguish, she was clear-witted, and saying no word she plunged forward with me. And then the watchers saw us. They gave a wild scream, and on the instant the camp was aroused. But all save the watchers were still silly with sleep, and before they understood clearly tne girl and I were amongst the half-risen men and close to the fires. Behind us we heard the thudding feet of the sentries; then a heavy fall, then another. One man alone barred us. He' had clutched his "booble," the knobbed club of the Edami. Him I cut down, though he bruised my arm, and we were through the fires and on the river verge. "Quick, into the water,'' I cried; a boat is waiting." Together we plunged in and swam, and as I swam I called as the wild duck calls his mate. Shrill and close came the answer, and soon Myt and the boat were upon us. " One to each side," cried Myt. warnmgly, " and climb together." "Give me the paddle Myt.," I said, when in, and together we rowed up stream for dear life. The girl lay huddled in the bottom of the boat. She had, I thought, fainted (and no wonder), but time was now precious. They have found the boats are useless, 1 Myt. called, "some of thein are swimming across." " They cannot overtake us by that means," I said exultantly. " No, but they can land on the other bank Vellak, and keep pace with us from botfh shores. By daylight they will see us and shoot us down." "They will think we are going up stream, for that is where the girl's friends would be," quoth I. " Now, Myt., by going down stream we can gain the river mouth long before daylight, reach further along the Atora coast and then strike up some safer river." So we turned down stream, shot silently and unobserved past the now roused camp and with all speed ran for the river mouth. By daylight we were' coasting the open beaches of Atora and running easily before a light wind. All this time the girl had not stirred. We heard her breathing, sometimes with snarp catchings, but she was in a sleep of deep exhaustion, and the sun was half up the sky before she woke suddenly. The wildness had not left her eyes, and she looked round dazedly. " Oh ! oh ! I remember," she said with a sharp cry. ' And you saved me. Yes, now I remember. Oh! the fiends." " You are safe now," I answered, soothingly. " We are on the open sea, and soon you will be among your own people." "Who are you?" she asked. "You risked your lives for me when I was at the mercy of those fiends. Tell me your name that I may be able, in some slight measure to repay you, for now I feel too overwrought to cry the thanks I feel." Her face had told me she was no child of the common people; now her voice and speech confirmed my thoughts. And then I saw her hand and the red orix bracelet. Now this lost metal was with us more precious and more beautiful than gold to-day, and might only be worn by the high-bora—as a bracelet only by the ruling family in a country. Could this then be—nay, how foolish the thought. " Say, rather who are you lady, who wear the Orix bracelet P" I said suddenly. " I am Myriol of Atora," she answered simply. " I was on a tour of my country with a party of friends. We had come to the borders when the Edami captured us. Of all the afterhorrors I will not sa}-. Some, doubtless, you saw." "Aye, Lady Myriol. and eased their sufferings. We could not save and so we phot them." " For that I thank you friend," she said softly. "Tell mo how you managed to save me." I So I told her our little plan, how it Succeeded, and how as the sentries turned to chase us, one by one Myt. had shot them down. " Now tell me who you are, and whence you come, for you. too, I think, are not of the common peoole." she re-

marked, when I had finished. " Lady Myriol, you have been frank with me, I will be also with you," I said after a little thought. " Will you keep my secret; will you swear by the sun not to divulge what I will tell?" "You hedge your frankness with many conditions, friend," she answered smiling; ' 1 nevertheless, I will keep your secret. By the debt I owe you and by the Sun I swear it.'' " Then, Lady Myriol, I am Vellak of Mirain, and I have come to be your bondsman for the space of three months, More I cannot lawfully say, but from now I am of your service." "If you continue as you have begun, Prinoe Vellak, I will never be a-ble to repay you." "The Sun grant that you may," I answered fervently, for in spite of her wild disorder she was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen." We were silent for a space, and then she said shyly: " Prince Vellak, what is your name to be among my people ?" • "Call me Vuss the Stranger, Lady Myriol, and remember that my three months' service began yesternight-" CHAPTER IH.

By early afternoon we were in sight of the Etri River and the little sacred island that lay across the mouth. This holy islet, Inad, I had often heard of it, and knew it instantly by the six foather-tufted palms, three on either side of the white pyramid, and by its foam-circled coral reef. There is but one road to its white beaolies, a swim through the mad white breakers to the reef, from thence a further swim over the calm lagoon, where dwell the great round-billed, saw-teethed, man-eating fish. Not over many dared the risks, and few won through alive, so that the l'tile island, altogether cut off from the world, had' never been over-peopled. How few or how many dwelt on its one whto pyramid was never known, for j cnee only in the whole history of Atlanz I had they liekl communication with the ■ ccntin; it. It was in a time of great ■ stress, centuries agone, plague had followed f Amine, and little hairy manlings from Western Africa had gained a footing on our unhappy land. How the priests knew these things was never told, but they scattered strange healing among our peoples and smote the black manlings with fiery bolts that burst among the blacks like tumbling stars. _ Afterward they returned to Inad, in what way no man knew, and in all the years since then had had no communication with the shore.

" That is the isle of Inad," said Myriol, pointing; "you have heard of it." I nodded. "And that dim island out to sea is Twin Peaks, where the red fire flares once each month." "Yes, that is it," answered Myriol. " You know our custom. They took me there for my christening, where all my family are buried., and - where I too must one day lie. But see, see yonder, what is that great thing? Surely no bird—what can it be?" By the Sun! it was a marvel far beyond our dreams. It rose noisefully from, the summit of the white pyramid, throbbed above the palms, circled the island, then swung skywards and headed straight for us. It was no bird; the hard green of its outspread wings told of worked metal, of tempered copper. But copper is heavy; yet this thing of metal floated feather-light, high in the clear l>lue skv.

"It is man-made," I cried, wondering; "see, there are men aboard." 'Ten." cried Mytioth, excitedly, "I counted them! See, she swoops down to us!"

We were wonder-dumb and wildeyed. Who were these people that flew the air as birds, that climbed its hills as we drove over the waves of the ocean. But a word came out of the sky. " Be not afraid." it said, " the gods watch over you. Only do as I bid and all croes well." " Who are you?" I cried, standing up. "You shaH know soon," the voioe rolled back. " Grasp each the rope we send to him. sit on the little board in the loop and hold fast—quick! quick! you have no time to lose." Indeed we had not. But ten paces distant rose a long-necked water-beast, wide-mouthed and hungry-eyed. " Into the loop for your life," I cried to Myriol, and she sat in her little swinging chair. Then Myt and I climbed each to a seat beside her and hung fast. My arm crept around Myriol and I held her fast; for a while fear was on her face, as the cruel jaws of the water-beast rose almost over us. She leaned close against me, whispering fearfully, " Vellak, Vellak, save me." But this I could not do. 'We were in the hands of the people of the metal bird; they alone could help us. Slowly ah! how slowly it seemed!—they drew us up, fearing lest (as they told afterward) we might be shaken off into the sea, where waited the wide-mouthed beast. And as we rose skyward steadily, looking down I saw the thing below vent its rage on our little canoe. There are not many of these foul beasts left, though aforetime there were many in the sea, and the land reeked with the filthy stench of them. The old tales tell 'of them thrice the size of now, with great arching necks and slimy tails. To-day their necks are shorter, they are almost tailless, and are squatbodied, waddling things. But their savagery has not abated with their size, and I watched this one climb over our little boat, then turn and crunch its fragments noisily. But we three, its late owners, swung safely in niiidsky, thinking of the fate we had drawn so near, and wondering whither we went now. Then came the voice from above to cheer us yet again. "Hold fast!" it cried, assuringly. " The gods watch over you, and soon your feet will stand on solid earth." Then we heaved a little backward with the forward going of the bird above. " Truly the gods watch oyer us,'' said Myriol softly. My arm still held her tightly, and she leaned against mo almost happily. My other hand wound around the rope, reached round to hi>>'

jncl brushed a cur] back from her foreh*4. " You arc a little hasty, Vellak," aha whispered in my ear; but hor smile hold naught of auger. At last our feet touched the ground before the door of the nyramid whero stood an ok! <jrrry-hnirod priest. "Enter, my i-h'ldren." he -said, kindly. " The [rods have given us a message to deliver you. Come you inside." Wo alighted, and followed the old man down endless passages, brightly lit by little glass Runs, into a, long vault-like room. Here a small company of men and one or two women stood waiting. The old n:mi led. us to seats before a treat glass mirror, and as we sat the lights disappeared. Then in the darkness, in a quaint old speech that was kindred to our own and yet seemed strange and olden. the band behind us- chanted softly. They sang of tho old, old time, when the gods dwelt hero on earth, when all was joy and haopiness. Then slowly, sadly, mournfully, doep-toned, and very solemnly, they told of tho coming of pain and parting, of hard labour and utter weariness. There was silence, then with a loud burst of melody that rang through the little room and seemed to wako a thousand joyful echoings deep in our hearts, they sang of a final jov of an endless time of painlessness when men drew nigh to the .gods again and "Oh" they sang, " wait, wait that golden day." Wo sat dumb in the aftor-silence, then a white light flashed on the mirror and we saw figures, little naked people, creep across the light. They were tiny people, full of many fears, for they looked everywhere around in terror. They started and ran from this and jumped away from that ; and then they passed and other people oame. It was the life-story of our world that marched before us and we gazed at the changing wonders, amazed, almost stupefied with the mystery of it. Then cam© the times we krfew and Myt and I saw ourselves on the sea and up the river Trash. The tale of it was before us, we lived again our meeting with the Ed ami, our rescue of Myriol, our flight with her and after that the water-beast, till the pictures marched on, and I saw with us another man, a great-eared with laughter-wide mouth and immense black eyes. We three and Myriol behind us stood at bay against a rock and round us surged many men. One face was there, a woman's demoned by rage. She was dressed as a woman, but her eyes held the hard hate of a man, in her right hand she swung a sword and first Myt and then I fell before her quick thrusts. But Big Ear caught her up and dashed her back against the rock, and then there was darkness. "Watch, watch," cried the priest and again the pictures came. We saw a. new strange life on our old world. New lands, new cities, and strangegarbed peoples flashed before us. Stranger and more wonderful Avere the marvels of their handiwork, but always we saw, their hands were bred to war. Battles unnumbered, wars without count, came and were gone and still the peoples, sullen and afraid, forged weapons more awful, more deadly and as we looked, we marvelled at the folly of it.

" The evil gods, the dwellers of the night, have cast their chains into the hearts of every man," the priest chanted. "But oh! be joyful, the end draws nigh, the times are done and peace shall come again." With their singing the thought came to me that we Avatched the world's last war, the last great 'fight of all. There was a multitude of men, dark swarthy little people, and with them tall, flat-faced men, belted and grey cloaked. /They Avere ranged on a plain outside a little city. There were white round-topped buildings in it sitting on many hills. And in the city were men, stout-hearted men, men of my own race, men I knew and ah! there I was beside the young king and there was Mytioth and there the long-eared man. But Myriol? Yes, there was she, white clad and on her arm a little red cross, stooping over a man sorewounded.

Again I saw the enemy and there in their midst, the centre, the leader of their host, was the woman with tho steadfast man-liate in her eyes. But she was no woman now: it was a man who led these siegers. Away in the west a cloud of dust arose. There was haste in the camp of the flat-faced and the swarthy men for an army qf foes drew near. Wo saw the march of them, joyous as men assured of victory. They seemed a countless host, but all were young men, all had certainty in their glad swinging step and in tlieir clear bright eyes, They drew nearer and the town sent forth its host and the two armies fell upon the flat-faced men and drove them back, back, oyer plain., over hills, through long valleys to the shore of ft lake and swept the remnant into the deep dark waters. And I saw the face of the woman that was a man. staring whiteeyed to the blue, oloudles3 shy, He was dead, his spirit had gone 3 and with it that Evil Spirit that troubled the hearts of man and bred this endless strife. For it came to me that this man was slain in war, then would all war cease, for in him dwelt the Breeder of Strife. The picture faded, and the lights shone again. "The message is given," cried the priest; "out, out to daylight." Ho led us out 3 and. with us came a short, big-headed man, with great flap-ears, our comrade of the picture. " The gods guard you," cried the old priest, as he pushed us on_ to the grounded metal-bird, " The Night God pant the water-beast to slay you, The gods gave us message to save you, and now you go to fight this Night God in the flesh. Beware the man that is pretended woman, and if it be that in fair fight ye alay him, then will f>ur world know peace. But it may net be —ah! Gods, it may not bt> —ytib p little while. Haste, children, you of Atora and you of jVfiraln, the world awaits yon? doings, Fare ye well," And as the metal throbbed up from the ground I heard liim cry again. Ah, gods, that it might be, that it plight V' They wheeled us breathlessly wer sea and land, till at the fall of night wa-dropped down through tho plouds and were at the gates of Myriol'a home-city, Be a, Big-aara came with n». All ths voyage hia hjm4fi ha<d h!s e?rs ; as if to keen out the noise pnr bird pad a in its going: 'Speak 'softly, friends." ha w]iis-pei-ed. as we landed. Sfy ears are yery large anet hear a long way, but closet noises deafeji them and shake my brain- I, Toroki, am ftf t-hy service n(ny by prder of tha gods, hut, ph! friends, think pf my great and speak softly; ■•Who is there?" cried a man inside |hq gate. ! ■ <Jh, bods, he.mereit'ul, hf) sq:ea4ns." whispered Toroki, clasping his ears. "I, the Princess Myriol, am here," said Myriol; "open the gate, Zamo.' 1 Then them was a gfa} cry of joy | r biQ W'thiU and a mutter pf pam from l : oro}ti. They led us in, and Mvriol was taken to the palace and her friends. Wo others, by our own asking, stayed with Zamdj but next morn the chiefs called us to tho palace and gave us presents and a multitude of thanks, Hut we, knowing the spies of tho Peril might be near, pretended to ha dullwitted country folk, and asked but for work among the cattle. Mytioth, Toroki and I wero quartered in a little shed behind tho palace, and I would like hero to tell a little of that strange mortal (or was; heP), Toroki. He was short, but longarmed, big-headed, bald as a seashore rock, with very bi<* black eves. From his head up to his nose-tip was a straight even line, his mouth was wide and mirthful, but his ears wore monstrous. He could wag them to an fro, and many the time I have seen him squint down along his cheek, then flap his ears and chase a fly away. The Hies were his torment; they settled on his bald and shiny pate, and in desperation he painted a big blue spider and a webnet on his poll I-., keep tho pestj away.

But lie could hear amazing distances, and often told us what far-off peoplo said. A week from our employment the woman came. She was tall and goodlooking, but I knew thoso hate-hard eyes, and as she watched us feed the little kine, she turned to Myriol, who with others stood near. We heard no least syllable, but Toroki, who was with us, repeated each speech. "Who are these?" 6he •asked contemptuously. " The country lads T told you of," f,aid Myriol; "those who saved me from the Edami. .1 gave them service." The woman turned away. "Find out who she is," I said to Toroki, but the queer fellow wagged his great ears and grinned. "She!" ho whispered, and again, " She 1 This is no she, Vellnk, 'tis the young prince of the Feril. She. indeed. Clothes make not tho woman." Tlien he listened again intently and then laughed at ns.

"He or she is a teacher," he said, " of songs and of painting, and of old tales and charms. He or she is here to serve our lady tho full three months and then to wed her. But it is not so. By my ears, it is not so." I was very silent- _ that night and left Myt and Toroki to wander beneath the Palace windows, thinking of my lady Myriol and the teacher I must kill. For it had come to me with a great flood that I must kill him, kill him at all risks, all costs; kill him in open fight, that the world might be freed of its fears and ha-tings. So I set my teeth as I walked below, and my heart was full of great- thoughts. But a voice rang out in the stillness from the lighted room above—a voice all rich beauty and sweetness. It was not Myriol, and though I hated thia woman-man, I knew of a surety the clear, fresh voice was hers. It hurt me, ah! Gods, how it hurt to hear that sweet olden song of love and happiness come from those hard, cruel lips. Higher and clearer, almost triumphantly, it seemed, it told of the sorrow of love, of flight, and of the happiness of two alone on a naked coast, the world away and they together. It was a message of truth quivering with the utmost art of song, and almost, almost I doubted the vision and the woman. But I remembered the hate-hard eyes and turned, back to the hut. The time sped on, our bondage was almost spent and yet had I no chance of speech with Myriol. We worked hard and as we Avorked we heard the news of gatherings of the Feril on the borders of Atora, anel my blood grew hot. They would frighten the maid Myriol; compel the marriage. Toroki laughed, at my impatience, but he brought me news each evening. Twice we had been waylaid, and mayhap killed, had not his long ears caught a hint of plans, so that we slipped through frep. Once in the forest depths we were 6et upon by a dozen men, but Toroki was a hot fighter. He wore always a long, thin copper sword beneath his robe; this he wielded mightily, inasmuch that three were slain, some more wounded, and the rest turned tail and fled.

"Oh! the fighting is naught," he whispered to us afterward. "I love peace, but Avhen they shout their blabber drives me mad. The shouts of them frenzy me; I could kill the bunch for easement of their noises.*' Our last night of servitude came; on the morroAv I Avould throAv off all disguise and claim my Princess. Wo were cutting dry grass in the forests that afternoon and we gathered it hastily, for the sky grew very black. There* was great rejoicing at this, for months and months had slipped by Avithout rain and all the land was parched. Daily we had noted how di-oves of animals of every sort were drifting down from the dried volcanic hills of the north-east, where dwelt the Edami.

"There will be poor hunting for the Edami this season," quoth Toroki, at sight of a flight of mountain birds that drew down from the north. "Their crops have failed, I wager, with the drought, and now the birds and' beasts leave too. Poor hunting lads, unless —-——" and he stopped. "But the rain comes," said Myt. joyfully. "And to-morrow is my day," I added not less happily. "But " ' 'Listen! Listen f'' whispered Toroki intently. He leaned forward, thrusting his long ears out and standing stiff. '' Oh! ye gods! what means it ? Vellak, I hear fhe screams of mad < terror, the 6hrieks of Avomen and the wailings of little children. Listen, I say. Ah! my gods! I hear the Edami war-call. Baloo ! Baloo ! They are on the trail, hunger-driven. Oh! gods! They will kill everyone, and oh! my ears the/ noise they will make. To the palace, quick." We turned and ran, and as we ran hot drops splashed down from the clouds above. There Avas a bright flash, and the deep growl of thunder. Toroki put hands to ears and ran furiously, and, following fast, Ave reached the palace together. "The Edami, the Edami!" I cried, and though Toroki quivered with the pain of it, he too called loudly "The Edami are upon us." First we ran for our arms, then to the palace, where all was confusion, for on our heels came fugitives from the Edami massacre.

" They are almost here," cried one, and ' 1 Flee ! Flee!'' called another. "Cease your blabber, fools," said Toroki sharply; "where is the lady Myriol?"

" Here I am. What is this tale 1 hear?" said Myriol quietly.

" The Edami are on the war trail, Princess," I answered quickly. "Hunger drives them from their hot d'ry hills, and they are almost here. Come with us quickly. We can protect you till your people rally." "So be it," answered Myriol. "I am in your hands, Vellak." At the word Vellak the teacher woman looked hard at me, but "Not you," I cried angrily. "Not you, Krantis, Prince of the Feril, who hide in woman's clothes. Get you to your own folk." Mvriol turned swiftly 011 the woman. "Is this true?" she cried. But the man was not abashed. " I did it for love of yen, lady," he said earnestly. " Come with me quickly, ere it be too late. My people are not very far, and there you will be safe. Tli is boy " "Go, spy," cried Myriol angrily, "go to your own people, then, but go quickly, lest my guards shall slay you." He caught 'her arm, but I rushed' forward with .sword bare. Krantis sprang back and turned. "As you say, ladv," he cried as he ran. " I go to my own folk. But hear me, this is not the end. Vellak, I ivill kill you, if the Edami do not rob me of the joy."

"I pray a safe jcmrney for yjia, Krantis," I called mockingly; "for I too would crave the joy of slaying yua with my own hands." He was gone, and none too &0011 did wo make of)', for as we ran even Alyt. and I could hear the war shout cf the enemy. " 'ialoo! Baloo!" it boomed and Toroki quivered with pa in , muttering fierce curses on the noisy, niiktd men. Most of tho army of Atora lay along the frontier, so that for so large a force of the Edami to win so far these guards must have been either outwitted or outfought. Hunger is a powerful driver, an 3 the little red men were swarming into view as we fled off. TorokT caught and killed one of the little kine. and hewed off a haunch of it, skin and all. He swung it to ihia ghouklers, and we ran on. Always wo heard the horrid "Baloo! Baloo!" behind us, but as we climbed a steep bare hiil Toroki stopped suddenly. " I hear them on the other side." he whispered. "We are surrounded." "God help us," cried Myrioi, spent with running; " where shall wo turn?" Myf was a sharp-eyed lack Ho spied out a hole in the hillside, and pointed. " Lot us hide there." h-e said. "Aye! let us bid.) there," ' cried;

" they may pass us by, and if they do not, we can hold the place till help coines. Up to it quick." Now wo saw the red men on tho hilltop, and when they saw us they gave a wild, fierce yell. "The devils," muttered Toroki; "if I could but fret at them.'' It was a hard-fought race. The cave was nearer to us than to them, but the hill slope aided them. We must race uphill, and were besides almost spent. '• I can run no more," cried Myriol faintly. "I am almost spent." But Toroki was wild wfth the noises of the Edami, and he flung his haunch of meat to Mytiotb, and ran on ahead uphill. I seized Myriol on my back, and thus sweetly- laden staggered on with Myt. Toroki was raging mad. Noises drove him frantic, and lie leaped uphill as if the grade were with him, reached and passed the cave, and whirled amongst the naked, screaming Edami. "My ears, my ears," we beard him call, and then, fighting madness choked him. He seemed possessed with ten thousand devils, and charged amongst them, smiting through' their little wooden clubs to the skinny pate, a;;d at each stroke a red man fell. They shrank back a little-, and with this we were in the cavo. Myt threw down his load and Mvriol sat panting in the dlarkness, but Toroki_ fought on. "Come back Toroki, " I called sternly, but Toroki, save a little quiver, took no heed. " Come back, Toroki," I called at full lung stretch; " come back, oi we will shout you deaf." He turned on the instant, and fled for the cave, the red men clustering .at his heeK But there he turned, and the three of us faced and beat them back. Fn&y use only the '' booble/' the roundheaded clumsy club, and there was no space fbr a great rush. "If they but keep silence, all is well," panted Toroki, as the Edami drew back sullenly. How thin they were and sunken-eyed; the- bones seemed to start right out of the skin, the : eyes spat out the hunger of wild beasts. They ringed us round and waited till j evening. At the fall of night they rushed again, but we drew back into the cave, where there was room for but one man at a time, and Toroki soon built a rampart of their dead. We slept a little by turns, and in the morning ate some raw meat each. We were bred to cooked foods, but hunger drives to all things, so we ate, half-sick and yet satisfied. All that day Ave held them back. Some of them hunted and brought food, and oh! gods! how they ravened it and gulped it down. Again in the night hours, thirsty for, vengeance—we I had killed maybe a score—they nulled [ again and again. But they were noisy nghters, and Toroki, driven frantic, beat them back time after time, and. leaping the Avail of dead, chased them to the door. • At dawn we were almost spent. The air Avas hot and close. Thunder rolled across the heavens, the skies were black, but not much rain had fallen yet. The heat was terrible in the cave, and the dead bodies began to smell poisonously. Toroki and Mytcarried them to the door and flung them out, and the Edami snarled hungrily at us. But " "Hark!" whispered Toroki, "I hear the ordered tramp of many men The people rally, and we are saved." He rushed out, swinging his red sword, and the Edami fell back. "Come back, com© back," I called; "these are no friends to us, they are the Feril. See there is Krantis." "This is the end," said Myriol sadly. " Remember the pictures, Vellak. Your back against the rocks and so you fell. And it comes to me that there was a cave-mouth in the picture." I held her close and kissed her tenderly, and as we stood thus, forgetting all the world, forgotten, she drew from me a promise. " All is over, Vellak,' 5 she whispered softly, "and I would choose of all things to die by your hands. Promise me, Vellak." I nodded sorrowfully, "It is finished, sweetheart. 1 will do it. But oh! if I can but kill this Krantis." " I pray you may," she answered fervently. " But now, Vellak, now, see the Edami. are fled and the Feril are almost on .'us. Good-bye, by love—till a happier day," and for the last time we kissed. -. AhiJ ye gods! how the deed hurt me, craze 3 me, yet there was no other way. Even as she fell dead at my feet, there was a glad, sweet smile on her parted lips. I stooped and kissed her once again ; then turned and with the others faced the Feril. A cold,-fathomless rages swept over me, and as they came, I fought as Toroki, striving to get at Krantis. But these at ere Ave 11 armed, skilful fighters, different men altogether to the Edami, and though I fought madly, savagely, for a space I could not reach my enemy. Red spots danced before me, my blood Avas boiling in my veins, yet I could not Avin within swora-thrust. They forced us back and I saw Krantis cut down my gallant brother Myt. He fell beside my lost love Myriol, and then I sprang clear and faced Krantis. His eyes glittered Avith hate, it flamed from him, but I. too, was anger-mad and hungry for his blood. For a little space wg fought in silence, coughing Avitli our fierce exertions, but his strength was more than mine, though I Avas not unskilful. My blade slipped off his to his arm, and I felt the sweet tingle as it bit into his quivering flesh, then I saw his upraised gleaming sword, and then —darkness. Always the dream ends here. There is no least change in all the changing scenes, and ahvays here, darkness, the end. But is it the end? The picture of that little city on the hilltops, and the army of the grey-cloaked, flat-faced men is very real to me, and deep down in my heart, beyond all reasoning, I feel that the drama is not yet finished, that Krantis and I shall meet again as in the old Avorld. and that I Shall hear the SAvinging march of the young men who rally round their youthful kiug. Aye, and that I shall see once again Myt., my foster-brother, and Toroki, of the big ears. Maybe it is foolishness, these things are all beyond my reasoning, but this I feel Avith clearest certainty, tho Pa.st .shall be avenged. I shall yet see enemy Krantis lying wide-eyed to the stars," beside that deep black lake, and shall claim once for all my lost love Myriol, when the times_ of peace come round. And for that time I Avait.

The Rev B. Met son, who was recently appointed minister to the Cambridge circuit, preaching at Madras Street, St Albans, yesterday morning, from the text " The open door," said that there were in the churches big, strong, healthy men who, instead of entering the door of service, hid behind a pretty sentiment of John Milton that "they also serve who stand and wait," but those lines were intended for invalids.