1899-11-04 — Page 5

( Published by Arrangement

THE OLD WERCK.

HUME NISBET, Author of Bait Up"

[COPYRIGHT.)

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, SATURDAY NOVEMBER 4, 1899.

her meant a wade up to the waist; at high tide the water reached to the portholes in the middle portion, and almost level with the poop at the

She stood grandly out of the waters at low tide, and made a picture at once impressiveandpathet, ic with her massive slinge, countless weather staine, and blood-like rust runnings. I had watched and drawn her alrendy in all positions "and in every phase of effect-sunrise, mid-day, I did not get my holidays until nearly the sunset, moonlight, when the waves rose whitely close of September that year, as I had some and savagely over her, and when the mist half work to finish which kept me preity, clors shrouded her and made her ghost-like and during the dog days, but as soon as it was shadowy, I had also climbed her sides, and finished I packed my sketching paraphernalia, explored her empty dismantled cabin, forecastle and rushed off to my old haunts on the Kentish and hold, so that I knew almost every plank coast, resolved to have a good time of it;, ---- and rib and could have rebuilt her figure-head

The weather was simply delicious, and the and restored her lost masts, yards and rigging. place almost my own, for the summer visitors indeed so much bad she taken possession of had left, and only a few invalids and respectable my mind and imagination that had dreamt familes remained.net.

of her often in my London Chambers, where Su Abbs was not a fashionable place at any I saw her with her heavy guns and swash time, although it had its share of custom friend I had always paid my first visit to when buckding crew in all her glory. She was the during the busy season. It was situated too

I came to St. Ablis with a fear lest she might far distant from any railway station to be. generally known, and as the whole land was have broken up, and a thrill of pleasure when owned by an ancient and strictly conservative

I saw her still rugged, staunch, and defiant of family, the building fiend could not get hold of time. it The place was old-fashioned and restful in On this occasion I reached the little village its character, with Bttle of change or excite late in the afternoon of a September day, and as ment unless when the stormy season set i

soon as I had secured my bedroom, had some a wrecked vessel caine ashore...

tea with the fry of delicious fresh fish which my Yet it had a charm of its own that fashion. host always welcomed me with, 1 lit my pipe abla

resorts with their glaring new } and went off to see my old Mary Ann. brick and mortar monstrosities, could never hope to reach. The wandering minstrel seldom passed that way, the brass bands of the Salvation Army had not yet discovered it, so that the natives were left to prepare them selves for the better world in the old orthodox and peaceful way. The murmur of the waves against the sands in summer, or the breaking of the ocean against the chalk cliffs in winter, were the only sounds that entered the ears of those who cared to listen.

in and

A little cluster of red-tiled and thatched col tages, each with its garden attached, comprised the village, which crouched under the shelter of a hill and by the side of a small creek where lay the fleet of fishing boats with their pictur- esque rigging, patched red sails, and purple nets. The banks of the creek were picturesque also, if not over savoury with the remains of fish and other odds and ends which are scatter ed so freely about a fishing village, while the natives went about their daily business with the perfect indifference to costume which fish ermen and their women-folk always display when they are not much troubled by strangers: They were a simple and slow-moving set, contented with their small carnings and ocean harvest, not at all averte lo an occasional wreck, and as yet had not been educated in the art of living upon visitors. One might walk about or lie on the sands all day without being asked once to hire a boat, and when the stranger did come they gave him or her pot-lack and left the reckoning to their own discretion.

The spirits at the little public-house were unadulterated, and if some of it did not pay duty it was none the weaker for that, the brandy being undeniably cognac, and much cheaper than the whisky, for the good hostess paying less for it, set smaller value on it; the ale also was country browed and wholesome, and the bar-parlour comfortable, if homely. In that cosy parlour I had passed many a pleasant night listening to stories and legends, and feel. ing as if London were only a livid nightmare and the result of a bad fit of indigestion,

Beyond the village the creek had been dredged and deepened and took a um round the cliffs before it reached the sea, so that although the storm might be raging outside, the boats and cottages were safety sheltered - from its fury.

|

The moon had already risen as I reached the mouth of the creek, and i saw with satisfaction that the tide was well out. A soft mist crept over the sea, through which the mellow Sep tember moon shone softly yet lustrously, and through this tender mist the old wreck could be seen looming in grander proportions than ever.

As I walked on rapidly and examined her, an irresistible desire came upon me to wade out and board her,

I had forgotten to ask about the tides, but I could see as I advanced that it would soon be on the turn. There would be time enough for me to reach the wreck, yet if I did so I should have to make up my mind to stay on board till early morning. Would I go? I recalled the stories the honest but superstitious fishermen so often told in the bar-parlour of her being a haunted ship, how that strange lights and ghostly forms had been seen by them, both from the shore and from the sea as they passed her at a respectful distance, and the recollec- tion of these absurdities determined me to spend the night on board, so that might have a laugh at them when I got back.

The weather was calm and settled; therefore I had no fear about being caught inastorm. The air also was balnty and soft for it was too early yet in the season for frost, so that the worst I need fear was a fast and a giant's appetite for break- fast; therefore without any more hesitation, I slipped off my boots, stockings and trousers, and, slinging them round my neck, began my wade cheerfully.

The daylight still lingered in the west, and over against me, with the wreck between, lay the round golden moon, with the gauzy mist making the vessel's pitchy hulk a soft violet, a. tender picture of peace and delicate colour,

The same old rusty chain, up which I had so often climbed still hung over the side and into the water. In another minute I was standing on the deserted deck and drying my limbs pre- paratory to redressing.

turban, from which her dark hair fell in thick and rippling masses to her waist, AS. When I saw her, I sprang to my feet with a cry of surprise, dropping my pipe as I did so. This exclamation, however, she checked by putting her finger to her lips as a sign to me to be silent; then, holding out a long dark coloured mantle and cambric-like beaver that she carried she signalled for me to put them on and follow her.

at it.

UNG THE CAVE-DWELLER.

Wothe

WALL OF THE WOODS.

BY WILLIAM-A, DUTT.]

reeds around the mere, among which the water The spring time of the year came, and the fowl had wailed all through the winter, were again the haunt of thousands of little brown feathered warblers which swung to and fro on felt I must be dreaming, yet so real that I could notes with the song of the south wind merry

It was all so strange and unexpected, that the wind-waved culms and mingled their hardly think so either. I saw the moon of the thefen flawers began to bloom, yellow, purple, water, and the distant cliffs misty and grey, pink, and white blossoms decking the banks The hulk also on which we stood was a realityofthe mere and shedding their fragile petals on in its bareness and decay.

the sunlit waters. The night mists were no No, that was changed since my last looking longer dank and chill; the air was filled with a full-rigged ship riding at anchor, with the key day when the sun-god rose out of the It was no longer a stranded wreck, but the fragrance of flowers and bursting buds, heavy yards and saits breaking up the sky, and waters of the Great Sea the jarks soared up to the bowsprit reaching out beyond me and greet him, carolling their thanks to him for the above the gilded lion which was the figure new life and beauty he had brought into the head.

The decks were no longer bare and deserted, but covered with articles of use and warfare; the ice melted from the mere, the white frost Mole, too, was glad that the winter was past, round-shot lay piled up by the sides of the bronze from the trees, and as soon as she saw that the guns casks were lashed to the bulwarks; the flowers were blooming she took Ung's coracle hatchways covered the hutd; while in the forefrom its hiding-place amid the reeds and spent rastle and cabin i could hear loud voices. many hours on the mere. She loved to watch Obedient to that signal, I disguised myself the warblers as they built their nests in the with the beaver and cloak, and followed the reed beds, and when a hawk hovered over them woman as she glided along the deck until we and they hushed their sangs and drapped reached the "waist," where a rope ladder led silently down among the brown shoots of the down to the boat. Still following her, I got sedge she would wave her anns and cy into the boat which was laden with packages aloud until she had driven the intruder and boxes, and taking my place at the stern J away. Then she would lie down and rest crouched down, as she indicated I should do, her arms and waited for the next development, of the that she could look down into the depths on the edge of the coracle, so strange drama.

of the mere and catch a glimpse of the silvery gleaming fish as they darted in and out among the long green leaves of the water weeds. On calm, sunny days she liked to think that there was another world beneath the clear surface of the mere, and that in it there were reeds and trees, Rowers and birds, and white clouds floating across a blue sky. There was a Molé, too, in that imagined world that seemed so real to her-a Mole who gazed up into her face. who laughed when she laughed, and who also swept back her dusky hair when it fell over her eyes,

"Keep silent, watch and remember," she whispered to me after she had seen me safely placed; then she retreated up the rope ladder, and I was left alone.

Fresently, as I lay rocking at the bottom of the boat, and amongst the packages, seven bearded and bold-looking bucaneers, all richly costumed in velvets, fine linen and high boots, came over the side and took their places, six of them at the cars, and the seventh, who seemed the leader, sitting down close to me at the tiller, then they cast off silently and began rowing for

the shore.

The leader steered straight for one of the enormous caves that had already explored, and as the tide was now full in, they got right up to its entrance, where, making the boat fast, they leapt ashore and began to unload.

Fortunately for nie, they took the nearest packages first, their leader who had now fit a lantern showing them the way, and the men, each two carrying a box between them. As soon as I had seen them safe into the cave, followed at a discreet distance, the glare from the lantern in front guiding me as well as them. It was a long cavern with several angles and twists, and they went pretty far into it. At last they reached the end where they set down their loads and returned for others.

It was easy to dodge them as they passed me, forthey seemed to be quite unsuspicious of any one watching them, and there were crevices enough for me to hide myself, until they passed. Three times they went past my hiding-place and returned carrying these small, but strongly bound and heavy cases, making twelve boxes in all, with other packets which they bore un der their arms, and on the final trip from the boat they brought with them pickaxes and spades.

Then they set to work picking out a grave- like hole in the soft chalk floor, while I looked on their labours with vast interest. They lantern for them until they had reached a depth worked diligently, their leader holding the of about eight or ten feet, when they left off excavating, and packing the boxes and

The

It was on one of these calm, sunny days that Molé, while leaning over the edge of the coracle, saw a face that was not hers gazing up at her from the depths of the still water. coracle was lying in a quiet creek, where lily leaves floated on the surface of the water, and tiny fish swam in shoals, and the face that looked up at Molé was framed by the leaves of a stunted tree. There was just such a tree on the margin of the creek, and, raising her eyes, Molé saw the face there too, half hidden by the leaves of a bough that stretched out above her head. It was the face of a girl who was lying at length on the bough, and watching Mole with the stealthy gaze of a wild creature of the woods.

It was Wali of the Woods-Wali of whom the care-dwellers told such strange tales, and whom they held in awe because of the fear lessness with which she wandered alone in fearsome places, and made friends of the wild est of the woodland beasts.

After I was once more presentable, 1 got out my tobacco-pouch and again filling my pipe, lit it, laughing to myself as I watched the glare of my wax-march; and thinking that if any one on shore saw that glare and my spectral figure, there would be another ghost-story ready for me when I got back from my adventure.

I stopped short in my laughing as that narcels closely in, they began filling up the hot and, stroking its back with her hand, she

The

struck down a hunter wife said he had seen ACCOMPLISHED THE IMPOSSIBLY. har bend over Ung and gaze into his face as bei pr lay asleep but he never joined with those who sought to woo her before Ulo awed them with his terrible threats. Yet Wali had always when Ung fied from the People of Ulu and shown a liking for. Mole and her lover, and Mold followed him to his cave in the cliff she remained among their enemies and listened to. Mole back to then. the plans they made to slay Ung and bring

I was during through Scotland not long ago (anys a writer in Chums for September and while I was staying ut nifarm-house in which is well worth recording. The neigh Galloway a very remarkable event occurred bourhood, as many people know, abounds in precipices, and at some distance down from the summit of one of the steepest and inost dangerous, a pair of cagles had built their nights had not yet lost all their winter cold- daring spirits of the village as to who should As they crouched over the fire--for the nest. The competition amongst the young and ness-Wali told Ung what was in the mind secure the covered nest and the eggs it con- of Ulo, and how he had determined toitained was very keen. But the precipice send some of his fighting men to kill him was well-nigh perpendicular, affording the in his cave. She had overheard Ulo's plotting scantiest af footholds, and a slip would hayb feared, too, that Anu's body had been found, rocks 600 feet below. One or two attempta as she lay awake among the children, and had sent the unwary climber erashing to the head. The death of the mountain beast-was- and the eagles seemed to defy the very boldest: with the wound made by Ung's axe in its were made however, but never successfully also spoken of but the hunters who had seen of us. Now my host had a son named David, the stain monster believed that it had alföd: swamp. Now that it was dent they had no or other. He confided to ins that the subject of starvation through being embedded in the lutely determined to secure that nest somehow a boy of fifteen, and this youngster was abso

the time the moon ruse on the following night at night, and he vowed he would not rest until fear of setting out for the cave of Ung. By was a worry to him, that it entered into his dreams they would he on their way to the cliff, and at dawn Ung was to be dragged from the cave

the eggs were in his possession. One moming he came down very late to breakfast: Come, and slain before Male's eyes. Knowing this Wali had left the People of Ulo, and, for the Are yo tired?" "Na, na.

Davie," said his father. "What's wrong? love she had for Mold and the knowledge that dream that tired me."

But I dreamed a the death of Ung would break her heart, she

This declaration had hastened through the woods to warn them mand that he would rolate, his dream. was received with applause, and the de- of their danger.

"Weel, dreamed that I climbed the cliff. and harried the eagles' nos" "And what did

UNCLAIMED LETTERS AT THE POST OFFICE. Letters for the following persons lie un claimed at the Post Office: Arndt, J.

When Mole heard Wali's story she clung to. die with him, and Vab turned her face with the eggs?" I asked laughingly. Ung's neck and told him if he died she would from them that they might not know by the the shelf aloov the kitchen door." By way of Weel, I put them in my bonnet and set it on tears in her eyes the trouble that was in her keeping up the joke his father sent him to the heart. She knew that althought she loved kitchen to see if his bonnet was, as he had said. People of Ulo, it was rant for her sake only that there, sure enough, were the cap and the Mole better than all the other girls of the upon the shelf. He went to the place and the days when she first saw Ung in the forest what would have been an impossibility at any she had come to warn and succour Ung. Since eagles' eggs. In his sleep he had accomplished she had looked upon him as different to other time, and robbed the precipitous nest. the other hunters, for he had not cast love When I came away, David was the hero of the glances upon her, but rather had treated her hour, but his father had sternly forbidden him as though she were a fair-faced spirit of the to think anything more about eagles' eggs. woods. Then the time had come when Ung set himself to win Melé, and Wali knew that she would willingly have become Ung's slave if only he would love her as a woman rather than worship her as a spirit. Het Ung had won Molé, and Mold was now to him what she could never be, and so she hid her face until she could again look into their eyes and watch unmoved their love glances and caresses.

The sudden knowledge of the closeness of danger so frightened Mold that Ung could not soothe her fears. So Wali drew her head might a mother to a trembling child, at length down upon her breast, and, speaking to her as

sad heart. Then Ung set himself to think dried her tears and comforted somewhat her

how he and Molé micht escape ere Ulo's fighting men reached the care. For a lung time he sat silent, wondering at times if up to Ulo, and let him deal with him as he would not be best for Molé if he gave himself

sorrowful eyes he knew that she would never pleased; but when he looked up into Mole's

Bire without him. At length Wali roused him from his reverie, urging that there was little time left to him if he would save himself and Molé, and told him of a plan she had thought of as she lay waiting for Mold on the bough of the tree.

Ah Moo, Mrs. Allsopp, G. F. E. Andesher, Miss M. Attias, J. S.

Dlake, R. E. Ahbasa.

Bona, fasim. Branch, Capt.

Barnett, A. Bark, F. W. Bachmann, Mrs. E.

Burris, Miss L. Beeck & Co, A.

Bingham, J. E. Brooks, J. S.

Brooke, F. N. Bryan, M. R. Cordard, Mons, Clark, Mias M. Crawford, T. C. Clark, Mrs. A. Cohen, M. C. Cooper, Rev. A. W. Duncan, Mrs. J. A. Dunleary, F. J. Durocher, Mons. Dadre, Mons, Debeaux, R.

Donkin, Mrs. Eidels

P.

In olden days a good deal of safo amuggling | ghostly iden crossed my miad, and tried to push and trampling the chalk upon it until it appear. Then she laughed at the hunters, and, points Here they had wandered many days, until at Edwards,

had been conducted here, for the cliffs formed a pretty bay and the landing was a safe one. The cliffs were lofty, and worn in many places with caverns through which one could penetrate and reach the hill-top. Some of these passages were, however choked up, and only-used as hiding-places for the children, th

At low tide, the sands spread firm and hard half a mile seaward, along which one could walk for miles in either direction watching the ocean stretching blue and level, or the ships coursing

Where Wali came from, no one could tell; but the people of Ulo believed that she was guarded by the good fairies of the spirit land. When they first knew her she was little more than a child, and some of the hunters had found her in the woods, lying asleep in a hollow She could vaguely remember, she said, that, tree. One of them went up to her to awaken her; but as he did so a rough coated, wild cat,

when she was a child, a woman, who must with gleaming white teeth and savagely flash-distant country where the people were all have been her mother, had brought her from a

furiously that none dared touch her. ing eyer, leapt upon her breast and snarled so fair haired like herself, and lived in shelters snarling of the wild cat, however, aroused her, earth as did the cave dwellers, The way the made of boughs instead of in holes in the

soothed

woman had brought her was across a wide and it till it crouched down beside her. dreary fen, where no trees grow and dense to the birds they were carrying home with them

beds of reeds surrounded weed-choked pools.' to their caves, inade them understand that she last they had reached the border of the fen, was hungry, and they gave her a roasted wood where there was a dense forest. In the forest dove to eat. And as she ate they stood around the woman had lust her, and from that time her, wondering at the gracefulness of her form until the hunters found her asleep with the and the fairness of her hair.

-wild cat in the hollow tree she had lived alone That night she slept on a couch of skins among the birds and beasts. Often she had which the hunters spread for her in a forest tried to find a way out of the forests to the dingle, and the wild cat curled itself up in her fea, but though she wandered far and wide, arms; but when the next day dawned she was gone, leaving behind her a circlet of small not escape from the shadow of the trees, and was aften weary and hungry, she could

in his cave as a gift of the good spirits. After- wards the men of Ulo often met Wall in the

on the Hough, it suddenly came to her farest and tried to persuade her to come to the the margin of the mere was the same fen on mind that the fen which stretched away from cave of their people; but she only shook her which she and the fair-haired woman had wan- head till her fair hair fell over her white shouldered, and something within her told her that if ders, and after following them for a while she crossed the fen she would come to the disappeared into the woods. But while she country where all the people had fair hair and was with them they were amazed at the skill dwelt in shelters made of boughs and skins. with which she imitated the cries of the And she determined that if Ung and Mole different birds and beasts of the forest. She would go with her she would try to cross the would cry like a weasel fanged hare, whistle fen, hoping that in the country which lay like an otter swimming up a stream, croon like beyond it she might find her own people, and over a forsaken fen. The hunters were glad People of Ulo. a wood-dove, and wail like a whimbrel flying Ung and Mole might live without fear of the to have her with them, for her strange cries and calls brought the birds and beasts close to her so that they could slay them; but when she saw the fate that befell her woodland friends she refused to call them, and wept at the hunters' cruelty.

Mansfield, Miss M. Mohamed, Ahsain McGilivray, D.. Marthens, A.

Moses, H. E. H. McLean, Grace H:

Nathan Sens N. P. Orman. Lt. P. L. Orient Trading Co. Parker, F. F. Paul, W. E. Poincilit, C. H. Panton, Capt. J. Petschak, M. Porusse, L.. L. Pantoch, T. Frynn, F. J. Passano, Mr. 'T. Partridge, C. Piemonge, T. F.. Rhodes, F. Robinson, Mr. Rosa, Mr. de Rotenbarg, K.. Reynolds, J. Reyes, G.. Robertson, C. Sprague, Dr. F. F. Saunders, Fred. Steer, B. Schoenfelder, H Saidman, A Schoenfelder, E.

EE.

their way with their sails shining whitely curious mysteries of the most commonplace if it could only be realised. "If?" I rose to shining stones which the chief hunter hung up That moming, however, while she lay thinking Hutchinson, Mrs. F. Thomson, R.

in the sunlight I had spent many a day on these sands and sketched almost every point of interest for miles, yet always dis- cerned something fresh whenever I came to look about me, with the ever-changing lights and alterations of colour and effect.

One of my favourite studies was an old wreck which had drifted ashore and stuck fast in a safe part of the sands, some years before. The crew had been saved during the storm, and the hull very little damaged, yet being an old craft and almost past service when she struck, the owner of the land had purchased her for a trifle and left her to rest and decay at her leisure, as she made a picturesque break in the otherwise level monotony,

The Mary dan was the modest title she had worn on her stem during her last voyage, and her cargo had been coal, which the honest fishermen had long ago cleared, even to the Jast vestige of black dust which their wives had swept carefully out of the hold and carried away to back their fires with.

Sho lay with bows facing the shore, hoary with age yet solid enough still to resist the many tempests which swept over her, with heavy bulwarks like pler-heads, and massive planks so thickly coated with pitch that they defied the influence of sun, wind and waves. She must have been a sluggish sailer with all that armour of pitch upon her and those un- gainly patches of her old ago, an uncomfort able home in a rough sea with her-unwieldy movements, but she would have wonderful stay ing powers, if sullen to answer the wheel.

Her age it was well-nigh impossible to guess at, for she had been repaited so often that pro bably few of her original planks remained, and her shape also must have been altered with these frequent patchings since the far-off days when she first left the builder's yard, possibly then a spank young thing in the way of fast

the way of fa going ships:

objects.

There were, however, not may objects left on this wreck to make mystery out of, for it bad been pretty well dismantled, with the exception of this rusty chain which trailed its linky length to the dilapidated capstan.

it out, for although I might have indulged ited to be as solid as the other portions of the during the day and on shore, it seemed a floor. This done, they scattered the rest of the mighty unpleasant thought here in the gather chalk which they could not trample down, and, ing darkness and on this silent and lonely shouldering their implements, marched to the wreck; not that I was at all afraid, only that cave entrance, boarded their boat, and rowed somehow it seemed out of place. One might away under the moonlight towards, the full as well laugh in a lonely graveyard, or rigged ship that had been a wreck so long. amongst the ruins of an ancient castle, as on Ah! What a dream to be sure," I said board an unknown wreck when the shadows of aloud as I woke up to find myself still on the night are creeping down on one and the moon- forecastle of the Mary Ann with the early light makes fantastic shadows, weird lights, and morning air chilling me. A splendid dream my feet with eagerness, and loked towards the shore. The sands were once more firm and dry and the cavern i had dreamt about faced me Suppose that part of the dream about the buried treasure was real! Stranger things had Chanced than this. At the least before indulg ing in any wild hopes I would try, now that I knew the spot, a day or so of digging which would do me a world of good.

Quickly I left the wreck and went back to the village, getting into my room before anyone was up, and

so escaping any questioning; then, after breakfast, with a pick and spade, which I managed to borrow from the garden without being observed, I made my way to the cave, and lighting a candle that I had taken from my room I examined the ground carefully.

There was a slight depression at one portion of the rugged floor, and that I decided was the place to excavate, so casting off my coat and vest I began my labour.

I noticed that the bulwarks showed increased signs of decay since my former visit; here and there gaps appeared where patches had fallen away or had been torn off, und through these the moonbeams began to play, making white and black patterns on the deck.

I walked briskly over the boards, waking dull echaer as I went, first to the forecastle, within which I only glanced, for it was already too dusky to see much; then I had a look down the dark hold from the uncovered hatchways, after which I passed into the cabin, and here, striking another match, gazed round curiously.

In the coaling decline of the ship, the cabin had been partitioned and curtailed in size so as to accommodate the skipper and his two males, but now these partitions had been taken away one could got a better idea of its original size, and see where the berths had been a roomy cabin, square in shape, or father wider than it was long, with vast recesses where the stern windows had been.

Yawning and empty as a disused barn it looked, with the broken planks through which the moonlight glinted as the only relief to the otherwise monotony and dreariness-yes, its force of resistance was about spent now. I could see as I looked round, another winter or two, and only the ribs would be left to go piece by piece.

By the time I reached the deck, the tide had put it past my power to go, even if I wanted to, but I did not, for any confidence had returned, and I was prepared to enjoy my prison; there

I fore I went up to the forecastle deck, and taking my seat in the bows, puffed away lelsurely while I watched the tide racing in shore with the gleaming surf leaping farther and farther each second

No one came to interrupt me that

day, so I worked hard all the forendon ; and after dinner, buying a couple more candles, I worked on tiil

nearly night,

At last I was rewarded and the first of the boxes lay before me-my dream had not been an idle vision after all

I covered the box with some loose chalk and went home that night in a fever. Next day, at dawn, I was at the cave again and had four of the boxes, now so far decayed that they fell asun- der with a stroke of the pick and revealed the treasure in gold and silver pieces of ancient date lying thickly before me.

After that I had a busy time of it going to and from London with my protmanteau cram. nod as 1 went up and empty as I came back. The honest fishermen did not suspect anything for they had grown accustomed to seeing me go about, and felt that this legacy ought to be my own since it had been revealed to me so strangely and I had found it, yet I did not try to soothe my conscience with reasons about the right or wrong of the possession all my wits were centred on getting it quietly smug gied away.

though Ung believed that the country from This was the plan of Wali of the Woods, and which Wali came must be a country of spirits, be told her that as soon as the light of the sun- god again shone on the earth he and Molé would set out with her for the unknown land.

SONS OF A SAVAGE RACE.

As Wali grew older, some of the young-P. M. Gazelle. hunters sought to gain favour in her eyes by bringing her presents, and there were those among them who would have had her give up her wild, wandering life and mate with a man of the People of Ulo; but she would have nothing to do with any of the youths who quarrelled as to who should serve her. Then there were plots made to carry her off by force; but a knowledge of these came to the cars of Ulo, whe threatened that the man who laid hand upon her should be hacked to pieces with stone axes. For Ule had dreamt that Wali was one of the good spirits and had been sent into his country, to protect his people from the evil spirits who had led the mountain beast into their midst. So she was allowed to roam wherever her fancy led her, and the young hunters dared not so much as touch the fringe of her coat of skins. Some times she would come and sit with the children who played together around the caves, bring tag them flowers, fruits, and bright-hued berries which she had gathered in the forest. Then it was that she met Mold, who taught her to speak the tongue of the People of Ulo.

at

Figueora, Mrs. A. F. Fullarn, Dr. W. A. Fassitt, Hon. J. S. Fertsch, O Francis, M,. Gooch, F. V Goldman, A. Graham, Miss L.

Graham, Miss M. Guerra, T.

Glover, R.

Hofstadt, L Harding, W. A. Ipland, Capt. M. Hart, Miss M. Jeffriest, J. ̃Y, Jones, Jas, Kow Lee, Mr. Kirby, Miss H. G. M. Knight, A. E Liberge, Mme. C. Lobo, D. C Lee Pung, MI. Lloyd, G. R. Lambe, W. P Lock, H. 5. Lawson, H. L. W. Marris, W. R. Li Shin Chaen. Monzon, V.

Moir, E. W, Mehtajenie & Co, Müller, O. Mure, R Marti, A. B. Metman, H. Mamedine, E.

y Spannel Miss A

Snyder, Mis. T.G Stimson, Mrs. A. "J" Spencer, C.-N:-- Smallwood, F Stephens, T. H” Saleskala, Mrs. R. Saldanha, D.C Stacker, P. L Stiengon, J. Stanley, JW,

Townsend, A. M. Trocs, M.P Tayler, Miss Cr Tata, FH. Taber, Miss H. Trois-Breitert, Mon Toy, W.B Vochel, R. Williams, H Whitebill, W. Woods, E. de W, Ward, Capt H.D, O Willoughby, Capt.) Walker, H. Wickens, H.. Wisner, Mrs. Welsmann, B. Watson, E. R. Walter, E. White, J. B White S. S. Whitelaw, W. R. Williamson, R: Young, G, W Zaliskoia, Mrs. R

Unclaimed Letters

for Merchant Shipse Kong Pak

Lady Joicey, LS, Maria, 8.8.

Momia, A

Retriever, sch,

Pegasus, ship

Rodney, s.1, Retriever, 3,

Shrewbury

Vale of Doon, ship!

Valkyrien, bark Velocity

Weser

Dead Letters, Baptlata, M. H. H.M. Naval Yard.. Breitag, H. Singapore,

It has long been the custom to quote the Bushmen of South Africa as being amongst the lowest races of mankind (says a writer in Chums for September); but they are a good deal further advanced in civilisation than they Acaca, a tone, and other African explorers came across Craigeme, ship were in the days when Mungo Park, Living Brodick Castle them and noted their manners and customs. Cleverdale, 6,8, Being a race of very small stature (the average Dumbarton, ship Bushman is under five feet high), they have Dalcairnic suffered a great deal at the hands of their Friesland, .. enemies the Damaras, Bechuanas, and Falls of Reltie, B., Matabele in particular. But, small as they Garonne are, and the burlier savages who have plundered

they are. not lacking in pluck Hoiping, s.a. and destroyed the Bustunen's villages have Joe Seagers

Haitien often had to smart for it afterwards, when the Japan, s.s. poisoned arrows of the little people began to y. Even the Boers, who sometimes kidnap ped a few Bush boys to work on their farms, learned by bitter experience that the "Bosjes As soon as Malé looked up into Wall's face, man was not to be trifled with That famous the Her from her leafy bower among the tree king had amongst his nendants is unabr of

of the knew her

monarch, Lobengula, Matabele boughs. Then Mold paddled her coracle to the side of the creek and sprang ashore, while

little Bash boys who had been captured by his Wall, swinging like a

warriors while on a raid. They were very thin bough to bough, dropped down to the king, but, being well fed and loooked after, equirre from and feeble when they were first brought to the bank beside her. Both the girls were graceful they soon became as plump and cheerful and pleasant to look upon; but Wali was taller as the Bush boys in our picture. At night The packages must have been silks and soft than Mold by a hand's span, and her fair tresses, they slept round the fire in the king'a goods, for they had become dust, but the gold seemed almost white when mingled with Mole's yard, and to all appearance they were quite counted up the small sum I had managed to this I took

As I thought over her tenderly and

and silver were all right: In six weeks after dusky hair.

contented with their new position. But, although save; I sighed bitterly and murmured hopeless. the honeymoon and show her the old wreck.

'my bride down to St. Abbs jo spend

To Molé,

Wall was a girl like herself, fond of the eldest was not more than ten, these little idling in the pleasant sunshine, and watching fellows had no intention of remaining in slavery, ly: "Oh for some of those ducats and doub It is strange Jack, that you should have the ways of the wild life of the woods and fens separated froin home and friends; and one loons which this good ship must have carried," had the dream about that woman so like me, but to Ung, who that ni ht sat and gazed at morning there was a tremendous hubbub in

A slight touch at my elbow roused me with

she said as we stood on the shore jooking at her as the crouched with Mole by the side of the the king's kraal: all the little Bushmen-the The place for the figure head still remained start, as I murmured this vain desire, and tell that her great-grandmother was the whom a man might serve and reverence, but place was in an uproar. Lohengula was raging the hulk, for I have heard my grandmother fire in the cave, she seemed a fairy maiden king's page boys had disappeared! The whole a broad space with massive stanchions leading from it, but the image or images had long since glancing round quickly I saw to my astonish. daughter of a buccaneer who was hanged for who could never respond to the advance of an and storming; and troops of warriors set off to

ment a woman at my side, young, beautiful, vanished, so that her former majesty, could

love Heworshipped her as he scour the country in every direction. They only be guessed at through her present uncouth and singularly resembling the girl I was thinkiACY on the sent

While we were at the village a ayage gale

sup-god, for the beauty that came back at night, tired and dispirited, having bulkinesse

wing about.

three days and proved too strong for the but no thought of loving her as he loved gusted Lobengula is said to have remarked, swept on the coast which lasted uriously for was in her face and the light in her eyes found no trace of the runaways, and the dis endurance of the Mary Ann fr when the Mold entered his mind. In the days when weather cleared, a few ribs were all that lie dwelt among the People of Ulo he (Bushmen are not human beings they are Asi ubantų amatiri inyamazara godwn!" remained of the old wreck/

Had met her in the forest, and once he had simply wild animals 1")

I had sketched her often, and speculated in an idle fashion on what she might have been. lo her palmy days. Her bows, now half am- bedded in the sand, were lofty, bulging, and -rounded the of the seventeenth tury, indeed, one had a certaus galleon like appearance about her strangely suggestive of the days of those gentle buncaneers who scour ed the Spanish main, and brought home ducats and doubloons galore-thear winsome and roving blades whom King James the Second of England so often anointed with pitch and hung in chains by the side of the broad Thames as a reward for their merty and virtuous actions, She was decked now heavily with pitch, as they had been at the end of their days, but doubtless she had been gaudy enough once with colours and gold as they, her masters, had been with thel, velvate, ailks, chains, and Inces, and as frequently dyed with gore

Very soon the sands were covered and the cliffs all but hidden by the night mist, while the increased lustre and flooded the ocean with its white radiance, it was a magl cal scene, particularly to a fond lover as I then was, and I straightway gave myself up to thoughts of the girl, whom some day, when I had eamed enough, I hoped to make, my wife. we had done for the past three years, but the She was waiting for that time, as I was, and happy time seemed still to be far distant, for money came slowly and had to be worked very hard for..

She lay about a mile and half from the cliffs She was costumed in a fashion of the past, In our of the most absitored parts of the bay, rich and stately, and looked in the moonlight And at low tide, one could retab within a quarter shimmer of satin, gold, and lace; on her head of a mile of her without being wet, but to finch | sus wore, by way of covering, a bandanna

fortnight did this, and then when the hole had been cleared out, I covered it carefully, as the silent piratas had done, and then, saying farewell to St. Abbs with a fervent blessing on the lucky Mary Ann I began my nefocla tions with the money changers, to find myself sea-side trip. ten thousand pounds the richer for my little

the

court.

J

Min G.

Manila Manila,

Miss I

elbourne,

Berlin:

McDonald, Mrs. G..

kong,

ury, N.2

Manila,

Thaipat

J.C.'

Scott, J.

Shidone, Mr.

Viram Singh, Williams, Mrs.

Watson, Dr. G.

Manila Melbourne

The above letters have been return from various places at which the addressees cand not be found, or have been refused. If opt claimed within ten days, they will be opened. and returned to the writers

hospital

tent soon after Waterloo with most of the fick

An English soldier walked into

teguments which showed no sign of putrefaction part of his face torn away by a shell. The ins were attached at one point only.. "The Burgeon did succeed in restoring him to some se subtion could induce bim to remain. Nole blence of the human form divine but no part

stick, the French were licked, and now that be was in good health, thank God, had a good

·was a man again he would go to Brussels

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