UENA, THE GEISHA QUEEN,
OR
THE PLAY-GROUND OF PASSION.
BY CHARLES J. H. HAL.COMTE. (Author of "The Mystic Flowery- Land,” "Children of Far Cathay," etc.)
CHAPTER XII.
THE FORBIDDEN ISLE..
a
A small house-boat was indring slowly in Northerly direction over the central part of the
THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, SATURDAY, MARCH 25ra, 1911.
"The boat, my master !!! he cried excitedly, hurrying away to rejoin the old man at the pulloa.
upon the old man to steer the boat close up to the reef and there hebt it fast with a basthook.
Haring manned that part of the island Snatching up his glasses, Merton went through his glasses, and fading everything on deck and at ones caught sight of the quiet and satafactory, ho went into the sit jaland, which was close ahead, and the block cabin for the purpose of divesting himself of hull of the boat whose sail had been lowered his clothing, sa ko intended to swim ashore. as it bal ren out of the breszo and Ali, my master," said the old sailor, shrewdly ant entered a region of calm, the waters in the vicin-shaking his bond, it is a bold venture,"
B foolhardy one. I have entreated you ity of the island being as still and glassy as a frotten lake. But the small craft was making not to risk your precious life upon that good way, boing yuhloed vigoureusly, and was forbiditon island, bat my words have fallen still too far distant for those on board to he upos, ears which have not deigned to hear. As that is the case, my mastor, and as you may be distinguished at all plainly.
prevented from returning to this boat, it would be well for mo of you would grasiously condesc end to remunerate me for my humble services."
Soon afterwards Morton perceived a huge Inland Sea. In was evening, and the heavenstone terit or gateway, like those he had son in were dyed with the hues of a glorious sunset. Shinte tamplas, rising out of the water in front and the waters were flooded with subdued
of the island, and in the middle of it—suspended reflections of prismatla light; white far ahead in from the top-hung a large orb of polished tho dlm distance of the horizon the last rays of the fast-sinking san rested upon a solitary tueal which reflected the brightness of the moon. island which gloomed like a jewel upon the handing him his glass
"What is that?" he asked the old man, glassy so. Coming from that direction was n trading junk whose amber-coloured sails idly fluttered amidst the light and shade, and quiver- ing upon the silent depths, quickly darkezed the deepening gloom; and between this craft, and the remote island was tho golden' glons of yet another sail.
The house-boat's Intoon sail was hauled down as there was no wil, but the vessel was being propelled by means of a largo yuhlon pushed over the stern and worked by a vouerable look man and a youth who constituted the crew aud on the forward deck, of the boat sat Guy Merton, who was now dressed in the flowing kimono of a Japanese gentleman.
ing
"That,
my master, is the great gong of the island," was the reply, and no boat cm ap Prusca he inland without passing under that
ror way and sounding the going."
Why is that?***
Well, my master, a roof surrounds tho is land on all sides, and
Merton at once courted out the passage money
agreed upon, sikding to it a substantial hos and a couple of von for the boy; for they had both worked well and served him willingly.
northern
"Here, my good mau," he said, handing the silver to the older seaman, "this is for yourself and this for the boy. You need not wait just horo, for if I come back it will be through the great areliway. So you can lay off the
entrance for three days. If you do not hear from mo by then, youcan return to Kokuro and post this boomed naross the waters and was repeated as
At that moment a deep sonorone sound latter. Take caro of the few things I have left,
woat them." thrics, the noise being so great an to drown tho
you, thank you, my muster," said thờ vaics of the speaker. And as alertau tayed ald man, koulowing with all humility and with a start his way that the other boat bal speaking in gaarded tones as though afrakt of being heard from the shore. "We aw both passed throught the archway. -
grateful to you for your gracious benevolenco and will obey your commands with cheerfulness. May the gods preserve you, my master: we will pray for you!"
Tly have sounded the gong my mastor, said the old man, "and have passed the barrier.
And we," said Merton, will pass in after them.".
"No, no, my master, that may not be aus sweet the seamen, shaking his head oad an
I know no man who has ever been there: It is ing grimly. That is a forbidden island, and, stray and secret place. Moro I do not know, but this boat may not pass through the gatway." “Nonaense! **ozelaimed, Merton. Youder boat lanu
passed through!"
That is true, my master, but those in it must belong to the island, for they have entered boldly and have made known their coming.
And we will enter boldly!"
19
No, no, my master," and the old man hauled down the sail; for they were now in the only waters and no breath of air ruffled the mirrorlike surface. I lave brought you to this island, but my boat may not pass beyond che barrier."
"Wht if I pay for your extra P”?
Nearly six weeks bad alapsed since his departure from Nagasaki, bu during that time bo had Hot seon anything of Upna, though he had frequently heard of her and been able to trace ho mcy emouts. For she was far better known than ho had posed, particularly on the southern shores of Inland Sea, where her first success as a singer had boun schioyed; and, althongir only seen at long intervals her fame and gradually spread abroad dad the peoplo spoke of her as "ony,
Yet who was as much a the Geisho Queen.” mystery to them as to him, and ring of the simple-minded Asher folk regarded her in a superstitious light and spoke of her voice ni her beauty a supernatural; sed some told strung stories of her wealth and her beneficency, fers declared that she came from an inchuuled flé in the middle of the Inland Sen
It was towori Chis mysterionsale that Merton was Bow Approaching after long days of senrolling,, før he wis" determined to see for himself whether there was any truth. Jų sprangend runalio taxies he had, bard concerning his alvelling place. He had traged when my time comes I would fain rost among My hair is gray and my body foable, but. her from place though always r riving a test flies for hit left-ant my alive hills and among the bones of my honbumble incestors who were all good seamen bad last heard of her sentido to call who sailed these Roas. But they wore wins men "Kokury, #ð 11, scoured,
ble that the ndani neo of them left their barks ou youder hot gone by reef or their bones on gondor isla"
Very well," said Merton doggedly. "then I rail straight 10 doll and from rom must get natrore as best I canbat ashers I the itast is the Lustig fermingut Boppsvill ge Find the narrowest part of the Not glonning any things of her, at either of those places of et io inforvening stationis, he had returned to Saga, where he chance of ovéning to see her photograph on some posters outside a tiristeo and learned from this
Think undergrowth of semi tropical regetation maningar, that she had sung hero is day fieldy fringed the shofo en vory side and the previously and had gone on to Fukusi Abench of a fight entoured and which the latter town he arrived three days late and it so happened think he always nussed her in this aunor daring the rest of the jour to the coast.
the
After having
He was now leisurely seafining the appresiel ing junk through his bimoulsf glasses. It was A fairly large vessel and was being yuhloed, mul the weird chart of her seamon and the crinking at the long one they wore working could be heard distinctly. When they were within speaking distance of one another; he stood up and spoke in Japanese to the skippor who was leaning over the rail of the high-raised phop.
The old man shook his head sagoly and again silatk.
lagoon
As hoy drot still nearer to the mysterious island, he was struck with its singular beauty. Fofast trees festooned with creepors and having
load like witvor in the moonlights and het wear the land the jagged roof which surrounded it was a deep lagoon whose shadowy wasers wore hovor Hikturled by the wintery gales
sort thy, arrived wh at times swept across the Inland Sen.
at the colossal
Calm weather, Captain whore Are you from P
From Akoshi, my master, bound to Hijib with a cargo of cotton yarn."
Do you think we shall have any wind to night
Not more than a gentle breeze wastor The tight-wind generally comes from, the Woat."
to the distant sail,
away which guarded the parsago through the reef, the old man gave the long oar a sudden then with detected the course of the boat
it to skut the margin of the rocks with
on going too neat,
to sound came from the island, yet the old kept a vigilant eye upon the dark woods slong seaman appeared nervous, and distrustful and
shore, ut the same time endeavouring to disando Merton from his rash enterprise and would be closely watched. frequently cautioning him that their movements Bat ho paid little hood determined to get to the bottom of tho to these well-meant warnings, being
which mystery
sarronaded. Denx's life; and glos: a longth they arrived at a
Is that a fishing junk yonder pointinot the north-western side of the island "It seems, my mater, like a small passengerhof the Ingeon was narrowest he prailed
bost; but I think there are only two persons ou bourit of her."
Merton's baart gave a bound of expectation. "A man and a woman Captain?
"Yo, my master," of the skipper laughed grally. “The woman is as pretry us a pistare but the man looks liko a pirata: ho has the face of a monkey 1."
Merton smiled and waved his band. “Sayonara, Captais!--a pleasant voyage to you!
The same to you, my master -Sayonara!” The junk passed on to the southward and Merton-who felt sure that Uená and Krishn wero in the vessel aboad-told the old mys and the boy to pulloa as fast as they could. But their arms were tired, for they had born tolling at the our nearly all day; and although bours had passed and that remota speck of canvas liad chased from white to silver and from sikrer to gold, got it seemed as distant as over and would soon altogether fade from sight. Nevertheless they brightened up for a while and singing their monotouons clingt redorbled their effort, and the old man pointed hopefully towards the west, whore & light mist hovered upon the horizon.
པ
Night soon fell, shutting out from their view the departing just and the sail of the other vesel, but there was a full moon and the atmosphere was so clear that it was possible to. ses a considerable distance. Being the middle of November, the nights were cold and inclined to bo frosty, though the days were fairly WAIL; so Merlon pat na tanio liued with silver fox skin and took his place at blus yahlea, for he was determined to fellow Tena and see if she lauded 8h the island.
Presently a breoze came rippling along. ont of the west, and the rail was listed. For- tunately the boat was a fast one and soon began to throw the spray over ber Weather bow; and after the man and boy bad rested themeves and bad their evening meal of rice and fish, during which time Morten took the tiller, they still further increased the spoed by again work- ing the yukloa
She fics like a gull, my mastar 1" ex- claimed the old man, hauling the sheet in a Tittle:
་
"But the breeze freshens too fart to last "lang"
Will it last us to the island?" asked Merton Yes, my master, it will do that. For she. makes a good seven kuois an hour, and the island was not more than eight miles distant int sundown.”
Onward they sped through the moonlight, and over an hour passed without anything being sighted. Then the island loomed into view pale and silvery on the les bow.
Merton now went below to wurm himself at a small oliarocal stove and have some refreshment; and while he was there he heard a sadden shout, and the boy opened the door and inserted his head.
Barton nor took off his clothes, and placing his loaded revolver, come cartridges, a task of
with neaf brandy and his watch and cigarette so thom, rolled then inta B bundlo which ho strapped small
to the top
his Head. seotroly Haring done this, he stepped on deck and stool for a moment or two shivering in the moonlight, while the old man and boy rabbed one sweat oil upon him.
"Swim silently, my nmstar, and swim fast, ov you may get the crap. For the water is cold and deep.
Merton took a last seatching look at the spot. where he intended to land, and as nothing around his mapicion ho clambered out on the reef, and waving adiou to these in the boat quietly let himself down into the waters of the lagoon and rack out boldly for the shore.
(To be continued)
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