In the Land of the Mikado.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5, 4 February 1905, Page 55

In the Land of the Mikado.

TALES OF NEW JAPAN. By Wood Smith. Illustrated by Arthur Rackham, A.R.W.S. V.—AN ADVENTI RE IN YOKOHAMA. The chrysanthemum gardens of Mr. Tani at Yokohama were famous for many miles around, and were by some considered only second to the Imperial Gardena at Tokyo, which were noted throughout Japan for their wonderful display of chrysanthemums of every conceivable form and colour. Indeed, Mr. Tani was proud iu the knowledge that he poMtessed

some blooms, which were not to be seen even in the beautiful gardens of the Emperor.

Accordingly, when Mr. Tani threw open his grounds to the public, the privilege was accepted by everyone in the

neighbourhood, and on the day that cm atory opens crowds Of people—old anH young' Mien, women and 'children— had flocked to the gardens. There, blossom* of every hue, perfect gems of colour and form, delighted the eyes of the flowerloving Japanese, and the crowds lingered admiringly round some particularly fw vourite bloom. However, though the Howers afforded so much delight, one visitor found more interest in the garden itself, its pretty secluded walks and Hower laden nooks, the miniature lake with its tiny islands and little stone bridges. Indeed, there was not a corner of the garden which did not receive the visitor’s most careful attention. He had separated from the crowd of sightseers, and now' found himself ipiit« alone in a distant and secluded part of the grounds, which had Ijeen cleverly screened from the main garden. Walking along a path he presently came to some stone steps, and descending these he was not a little astonished to discover that the bottom step, immediately his whole weight was upon it. began slowly to sink into the ground bee math him. Though he had been engaged all the

usual in the garden, this was an unexpected experience. Putting out both arms in 'order to save himself from sinking dee|»er than he desired, the man waited to M*e what would happen, His curiosity was soon satisfied, for when the stone had sunken to a depth of several feet, it stopped, and he found himself in a subterranean passage. This discovery pleased him greatly, but he determined not to pr<M*<*ed further with his investigations until nightfall. So he raised himself again to the level of the ground, the stone step rising with him as it was relieved of his weight. I’hen he made his way back to the chrysanthemum garden, and, apparently unobserved. was soon lost in the crowd of people still admiring Mr. Tani’s beautiful flowers.

for some time and without incident they continued their exploration, until they presently came to the entrance of a eave. Suddenly the second man, who was closely following the other, caught his foot in the ground and stumbled forward. There was a loud click behind them, and turning quickly, they were amazed to perceive that the passage was now barred by an iron door, which had slid from one side to the other, and was imbedded firmly in the sides of the passage. For a few seconds the men stood gazing at the door in bewilderment. “'We are caught in a trap,” said one. ‘Our only' chance of escape is to go forward at once,” replied the other.

latte al night, however, the man returned with two companions, ami. under cover of the darkness, entered the grounds, which at this hour were completely deserted. Creeping cautiously to tin* spot \isitcil earlier in the day. the three nn*n descended the stone steps, and while ‘one man remained above to watch, the other two lowered themselves into the underground passage. Directly they stepped from the stone it rose slowly into its place again, and they then discovered that it was attached to a strong spring, which w.i» so controlled that it only permitted tin* step to return slowly into its a Hot i cd posit ion. By the aid of an electric lamp which one of tlicin carried, the two men began to explore tin* passage. For some distance it was high enough to allow of their standing upright in it. but at some points it was so narrow ami shallow that only one man could pass along at a time, and th<i» only upon his hands and knees. Thus

‘‘We must not remain here undecided; Jet us hasten.” But at this moment a faint sound as of splashing water reached them. Both men strained their ears and listened eagerly. 'l’hen with one accord they looked into each other’s face, and in a glance each read the other's thoughts. “The sea!” They held their breath as the truth flashed upon them. Nearer and more distinct, again ami again, the ominous sound smote their ears. They wore caught in a death trap! Behind them was an impassable door completely cutting off their retreat, ami in front the sea, rapidly rising ami filling the cave, effectually blocked escape in that dircc--1 ion. 'l’here was not a ray of hope, and both men realised their terrible position. And nearer and nearer came the sea. flooding with an angry roar every crevice in that underground channel.

ii. The situation in which the two men were thus suddenly placed was desperate in the extreme. The passage they had entered was a secret way leading from Mr Tuni’s garden on the hill overlooking the sea to the sea-shore, and had been in existence many years. Upon its discovery accidentally' by the present owner of the house he had at once turned it to profitable account by carrying on a system of smuggling on a large scale. Men of the worst character in Japan were admitted into the secret passage, and, under the shadow of night, landed valuable cargoes of goods which were not allowed into the country, carrying them unobserved into hid-ing-places provided by Mr Tani. who posed as a respectable retired merchant. The smuggled goods were afterwards disposed of by agents scattered throughout the country, and for some years this system of fraud had continued with more or less success. In order to protect the passage, if necessary, against intrusion from the sea end. ami also to stay the tide when desired, a heavy iron door had been fitted with great labour into the sides of the passage, and it. was the accidental releasing of a spring with which the door was connected that had caused the door to close and to imprison the officers who had been sent by the police authorities to investigate certain information which had reached them from a distant part of the country. Every hour, every minute, the situation of these men became more critical. If they could have withdrawn a few feet all would have been well, but an examination of the sides of the cave showed them that the sea had only lately been up to the very spot upon which they now stood, and they knew well that it would come again —was, indeed, fast approaching—and that they must inevitably be overwhelmed. Nearer and nearer crept the sea. now but a few yards away, now lapping menacingly at the feet of its victims, then passing on to dash itself in vain against the iron door. Slowly hut surely it rose higher and yet higher, up to 1 he knees of the terror-stricken men. then to their waists, and then close up to their chins, so that only by standing on their toes could they get beyond its cruel reach. More than once one or the other was carried off his feet, and was only saved by the courage and presence of mind of his companion. Almost exhausted with the strain under which they had laboured for so long, the men had given up hope, when one of them quickly' perceived that the sea. had ceased to rise. If they could hold out a little longer they would yet be saved! 111. Hardly perceptible at first, but still steadily the sea slowly receded, ami gathering fresh strength from their happy escape, the men followed the outgoing tide, and in due course reached the shore and safety. With characteristic energy they at once made their way to the police headquarters to report their adventure, and to despatch relief to their companion who had been

left on guard in the grounds at the eS* trance to the underground channel. The man was still where he had bees left, but his comrades found him severely wounded. He had been surprised and shot by Mr Tani, who had become suspicious of the i>oliee, and had watched their movements. Two of the ollicers were deputed to attend to the ■wounded man, while the others proceeded immediately to the house. Mr Tani, knowing that he could not .possibly escape, was quietly awaiting their coining; but instead of tlie elderly man they had known and so long respected they found a comparatively young man, for the impostor had thrown off the disguise of years, and now displayed himself in his true character. He received them with a mocking laugh. “You are too late. ho.cried “I shall not live another hour.” And he held aloft in triumph an empty poison viaL it was now the turn of the police to' laugh. “You are mistaken,” said one. “The vial contained only a harmless liquid which we substituted for the jmison. yesterday while you were entertaining guests in the garden. You are in most excellent health.” Ami so it proved, for Mr Tani has lived to spend many years in a Japanese prison, and smuggling in that part of the coast has not been heard of again.