T---------------------------------------------------------------------------■---- - 0. R. & N. CO. E. McNEILL, Receiver. TO THE THE PEOPLE OF THE MIST By H. SIDES HAGGARD. T A CtHT 9 « A (Copyright, ¡¿9e, by the Author.] a » soa spoke Leonard saw that me conference in the square had come to an end. The messengers were calling com mands to the captains, which the captains repeated to the soldiers, and then follow GIVES THE CHOICE OF ed a mighty rattling of quivers. Another TWO TRANSCONTINENTAL instant and the light shone upon many hundreds of arrow beads, every one of which was pointed toward them. Juanna saw also, and springing forward on to a rock stood there for a moment in the full light of the sun. Instantly a murmur went up from the host; a great voice called a command; the barbs of steel flickered like innumerable stars and sank downward. Now’, Otto, naked except for his moooha, leaped on to the rock by Juan- na’s side, and the murmur of the soldiers of the great people grew into a hoarse roar of astonishment and dismay. Won SPOKANE der had turned to fear, thougli why this Minneapolis OMAHA multitude of warriors should fear a lovely white girl and a black dwarf was not ap AND AND parent. For a moment the ill assorted pair stood ST. KANSAS CY together on the rock. Then Juanna leaped to the plain, Otter following her. For 20 LOW RATES TO ALL yards or so she walked in silence, holding EASTERN CITIES. the dwarf by the hand. Then suddenly she burst into singing, wild and sweet. This was the refrain of the song which she sang OCEAN STEAMERS Leave Portland Every ß Days in the ancient language of the People of the Mist, the tongue that Soa had taught her • • FOR • • as a child: I do but sleep. Have ye wept for me awhile? Hush, I did but sleep. I shall awake, my people. I am not dead, nor can I ever die. See, I have but slept 1 For full details call on See, I come again, made beautiful! C. A. U ll.L U E, McMinnville. Or. Have ye not seen me in the faces of the chil Or Address dren? W. II III ’KI*Bl KT, Have ye not heard me in the voices of the chil dren? Gen. Pass. Agt. Look on me now, the sleeper arisen. PUftTlsAND, OK. Look on me, who wandered, whose name is the Dawning 1 EAST AND Why have ye mourned me, the sleeper awak ened? VIA Thus she sang, ever more sweetly and louder, till her voice rang through the still air like the song of the bird in win ter. Hushed were the ranks of the great OF THE men as she drew toward them with slow and gliding steps—hushed with fear and wonder, as though her presenco awoke a memory or fulfilled a promise. Express Trains Leave Portland Daily Now she was in front of their foremost rank, and halting there was silent for a leav E arrive moment. Then she changed her song: Portland.......... 6:15 P M I San Frauebco. 10:45 A M bun Francisco.7:00 PM I Portland............ 8:20AM Will ye not greet me, children of my children? Have ye forgotten the promise of the dead? Above trains stop at all stations from Portland to Shall I return to the dreamland whence I wan der? Albany inclusive. Also langem, Shedds, Hal sey, Harrisburg, Junction City, Irving, Eugen« Will you refuse me, the Mother of the Snake? and all stations from Roseburg to Ashland inclu The ranks of the great eyed men looked sive. upon one another and murmured each to Koseburg JIail Daily* each. Now she saw that they understood LEAVE ARRIVE: Portland......... 8 30 A M | Roseburg 5.50 P M her words and were terror stricken by Roseburg 7:00 A M | Portland 4.30 P 51 them. For another moment there was si lence; then suddenly the three priests or DINING ON medicine men, who had drawn near to gether, passed through the ranks and stood PULL7WKN « BUFFET before her, accompanied by the warrior SLEEPERS king. AND Then one of them, the most aged, a SECOND CLASS SLEEPING CARS. man who must have numbered 90 years, spoko in the midst of an intense stillness, Attached to all Through Trains. and as they had understood her, so, to .West Side Di virion. Juanna’s joy, sho understood him, for the BETWEEN PORTLAND AND CORVALLIS language which he spoke was the same Mail Train Daily, (Except Sunday.) that Soa taught her many years before, and in which, for the sake of practice, f 30 A M 1 Lv Portland Ar 1 5:35 P M they had always conversed together for 1Q;1Ó A M 1 Lv McMinnville Lv I 3:01 P 5! the last two months. Corvallis Lv| 1:00 P M 1415 P M Ar “Art tbou woman or spirit?” asked the At Albany and Corvallis connect with ancient priest. “I am both woman and spirit,” she an trains of Oregon Pacific Railroad, swered. Express Train Daily, (Except Sunday.) “And he with thee, ho whom we know P M Lv Portland Ar 1 8:25 A M of”—the priest tremblingly pointed to Ot 7:15 P M Lv Lv I 5:58 St. Joseph M ter—“is he god or man?” Lv| 5 50 A 7:26 P M Ar McMinnville “He is both god and man,” sheanswer- Through Tickets to all points In Eastern ed. “And those yonder, who are they?” States, Canaria and Europe can be obtained at “They are are our ministers and serv lowest rates from G. A. Wilcox, Agent, McMinn Ville. E. P. KOGERS, ants, white for the white and black for Asst. G. F. & P. A., Portland, Or. the black, the companions of our wander R. KOEHLER, Manager. ings—men and not spirits.” The priests consulted together, while the chief looked on Juanna’s beauty with I wondering eyes. Then the oldest of them c spoke again: CHURCHES “Thou tellest us in our own tongue of B aptist —Services Sunday 11 a. ni. and I'Sjp. m ; Sunday school 9:50 a m. ; th< things that have long been hidden, though young people's sooiety 6:15p m Prayer perchance they are remembered. Either, meeting Thursday 7:30 p. m. Covenant O beautiful, thou hast learned these things and liest to us, and then food are meeting first Sat each month 2:00 p. m. E. B. P ace , Pastor. ye all for the snake against whom thou dost blaspheme, or ye are gods indeed, and M ethodist E piscopal —Services everj as gods ye shall be worshiped. Tell us Sabbath 11:00 a. m. and 7:30 p. ni. Sundai now thy namo and the name of yonder school 9:30 a m. Prayer meeting 7:00 p dwarf, of whom we know.” m. Thursday. L ee T hompson , Pastor. “I am named the Shepherdess of Heav C omb . P resbyterian —Services every Sab en among men. He is named Otter, bath 11:00 a m and 7:3C p. m. Sunday Dweller in the Waters among men. Once school 9:30 a. m. Y. P C. E.. Sunday 6:3t p. ni. Pruj er meeting Thursday, 7:30 p. m we had other names.” “Tell us the othernames, O Shepherd E E. T hompson , Pastor. ess. ’ ’ C hristian —Services every Sabbath 11 :(X “Once in the far past I was named a m and 7:30 p. in. Sunday school H Brightness; I was named Dawn; I was a ni. Young |>eople's meeting at 6 30 p. m. named Daylight. Once in the far past he J ames C ampbell , Pastor. was named Silence; he was named Ter S t . J ames C atholic —First st., betweei 0 and H. Sunday school 2:30 p. m. Ves ror; he was named Darkness. Yet at the beginning we had other names. Perchance pers 7:30. Services once a month. ye know them, ministers of the snake?” T. B riody , Pastor “Perchance we know them, O thou SECRET ORDERS. who art named Shepherdess of Heaven, KNOWLES C hapter No, 12, O. E. 9.—Meets a O thou who wert named Brightness and Masonic hall the first and third Monday evenin, Dawn and Daylight, O tbou who art In eat’li month. Visiting members coraiallv in named Dweller in the Waters and were viUMt. C. H. McKINNEY, Sec. MRS. < IV. TALMAGE. W. M. named Silence and Terror and Darkness! A. O. V. W.—Charity Lodge No. 7 meets first and Perchance we know them, although they third Fridays of each month, 7:30 p. m. Lodge be known to few and are never spoken room in L’nlon block. save in utter gloom and with hidden head. II. C. BURKS, M. W. But do you know them, those names of J. D. BAKER. Becorder. 10 CrsTER P ost N o . 9—Meets the second and fourth the beginning? For if ye know them not, Saturday of each month in Union hall at 7:31 O Beautiful, then ye lie, and ye blas p m on second Saturday and at 10:30 a. m. on pheme, and ye are food for the snake.” 4th Saturday. All members of lhe order art “Seldom through all the years have cordially invited to attend our meetings. those holy names been spoken save in ut J. B. S tilwell , Commander. B. F C ll ’M ne , Adjt. ter darkness and with covered heads,” W. C T. U.—Meets on every Fri Juanna answered boldly, “but now is the new hour, the hour of the coming, day, in Wright’s hall at 3 o’clock p. m. and now they shall be called aloud in the L. T. L. at 3 p. m. Mas. H. F. A llen , Pres light of day from open lips and with up C lara G. E sson . Sec'y. lifted eyes. Hearken, Children of the Snake, these are the names by which we St Yl^lOÜS. were known in the beginning: Aca is my In the circuit court of the State of Oregon for name, the Mother of the Snake. Jal is Yamhill county. be named who is the Snake. Say, do ye Mary J. Duffy, plaintiff. ) know us now?” VS. j As these words rang from her lips a Walter L. French. Nathan t French, Mary E. French. Na- I groan of terror burst from every man who than ScblOhN, Michael Schloss, j heard them. Then the aged priest cried Julius Schloss. Jonas Schloss, | aloud: “Down upon your faces, ye Chil Laura J. Schloss and George | dren of the Snake. Worship, ail ye Peo H. Pistle, defendants. To Walter L French, Nathan Schloss, Michael ple of the Spear, Dwellers in the Mist. Schloss. Julius Schloss, Jonas Schloss, Laura J Schloss and Geo. H. Pistle, defendants above Aca, the queen immortal, has come again. Jal, the god, has put on the flesh of men. named .\ the name of the state of Oregon you and Olfan, lay down thy kingship. It is bis. each of you are hereby notified and required Ye priests, throw wide the temples. They to appear and answer the complaint tiled against you and the other defendants In the above enti are theirs. Worship the mother; do honor tled court by the first day of the term following to the god. ” the expiration oftbe time prescribed in the ordei The multitude heard and prostrated for publication of this summons, to-wit, Monday, the 25th day of March, A. D. 1895, and if you fait themselves like a single man, every one of so to appear or answer, for want thereof the them crying in a shout of thunder; plaintiff will apply to said court for the reliet “Aca, the queen of life, has come! Jal, prayed for in her complaint, to-wit: For a judg ment and decree against the defendant Walter the death god, has put on flesh! Worship L. French for the sum of $5.000.00, with interest the mother; do honor to the god!” thereon at lhe rale of 9 per cent per annum iron, It was as though the army had sudden the 21st day of June, 1894, and for her costs ano disbursements of *un. and the further sum ol ly been smitten with death, and of the Soou 00 attorneys’ fees in said suit, and for the sum hundreds there Juanna and Otter alone of $22.50, with interest thereon from February 2d, were left standing. There was one excep 1895, and for a decree foreclosing the mortgage pleaded in the complaint, and for au order of saie tion, however, and that was Olfan, the of the mortgaged real premises, to-wit warrior chief, who remained upon his feet, Situate in Yamhill county, State of Oregon, ana being the s hf of the s bi of ihe original donation not seeming to relish the command tc ab land claim of Thomas Hubbard and wife, claim dicate his authority thus brusquely in fa No. 52, Notification 1425. in township three (3) vor of a dwarf, were he god or man. south of range three (3i west of the Willamette Otter, who was utterly bewildered, not meridian, more particularly described as follows: Commencing at the southeast corner of said dot comprehending a word of what had been nation land claim, thence north on the east lin said and being unable to fathom the mean of said donation land claim 23225 chains, thence west parallel with the south line of said c.aim to ing of these strange antics, pointed at the a point on the west line of said claim 28.25 chains chief with his spear by way of calling Ju north of the southwest corner ot said claim, anna’s attention to the fact that he was thence south 23.25 chains to the southwest corner of said claim, thence vast on the south line of still standing. But the great man inter said claim to the place of t>eginning, containing preted the action otherwise. Evidently 160acres more or less. Also the homestead claim he thought that the newly arrived god No. 728 of Richard 8. Johnson, described as the west half of the northeast quarter and the south was invoking destruction on him. His west qua rter of the southeast quarter, and lot- pride yielded to his superstition, and he two (2), three (3) and four (4) of section twentys sank to his knees also. nine f29) in tow nship three (3j south of range When the sound of the worshiping had three (3» west of the Willamette meridian, con taining 173.17 acres, more or less. Also the north passed away, Juanna spoke again, ad west quarter of the northeast quarter of section dressing the old priest. twenty-nine (29) in said tow nship and range, con “Rise, my child,” she said—he might taining 40 acres, more or less, and being part of well have been ber great-grandfather— the homeKead claim No 710 of Nicolas Carlin. And for a decree barring and foreclosing said “and rise all ye soldiers of the spear and defendants and each of them, and all persons servants of the snake, and hear my words. claiming by, through or under them or either of them, ot all equity of redemption in or right to Ye know me now. Ye know me by said premises or any part thereof, and for such the holy name. Ye know me by the other and further relief as may be meet and equi fashion of my face and by the red stone table in the premises. This summons 1» published for 6 weeks bv or that gleams upon my brow. In the begin der of Hon. H H Hewitt, judge of said court ning my blood fell yonder and was frozen made February 19th. A D. L-95. $.7 into such gems as these which today ye M X. M ac MAHON, Atfy for Plaintiff offer yoarly to him who is my son and ROUTES DENVER PAUL FRANCISCO SAN SOUTH The Shasta Route CARS 4 OGDEN ROUTE. LOCAL DIRECTORY. 1 slew me. Now the fate is accomplished, and his reign is finished. I come with him indeed, and he is still a god, but he loves me as a son again and bows the knee to me in service. Enough; ye know the ancient tale that is fulfilled this day. Now we pass on toward your city, there to so journ with you awhile and to proclaim the law of the ending, and we pass alone. There in your city let a place be made ready for us. a plnce apart, but nigh to the temple, and let food be brought to the place, that my servants may eat. At the gates of the city also let men be waiting to bear us to that place. Let none spy upon us. lest an evil fate attend you all, and let none be disobedient, lest we pass from you back to the laud of death and dreams. Perchance we shall not tarry here for long. Perchance we come to bring a blessing and to depart again. Therefore hasten to do our bidding and do it all. For this time farewell, my servants.” Having spoken thus with much dignity, accompanied by Otter, whose hand she held as before, Joanna withdrew herself, stepping backward very slowly toward the circle of rocks and singing as she went. CHAPTER XII. Juanna and Otter gained tho circlo of rocks where the little band lay watching and wonder struck—that is, all except Soa, who sat apart brooding, her arms clasped upon her breast. Things had be fallen as she expected, as they must be fall indeed, provided that Juanna did not forget her lesson or show fear, and that tho dwarf did nothing foolish. But Soa knejv well that this was but the begin ning ot the struggle, and that, although it might be comparatively easy for Juanna and Otter to enter tho city and impose themselves on its superstition haunted people as the incarnations of their fabled gods, the maintenance of the imposture was a very different matter. Moreover, 6he knew that, should they be discovered, escape would be impossible, or that at best it must be most difficult. Therefore sho sat apart and brooded, for notwith standing their present triumph her heart foreboded evil. But with the others it was different, They had heard tho singing; they had seen the regiment of great men prostrate themselves, and the sound of worship- ing had come to their cars liko thunder, but of the why and wherefore of it all they could only guess. “What has happened?” said Leonard eagerly. “Your initiation seems to have como off well.” . "Bid the men all back, and I will tell you,” Juanna answered. Leonard did so, but instead of speaking she broke into hysterical laughter. Her nerves had been overstrained, and now they sought relief thus. “ You must all be very respectful to Ot ter and myself, ” she said at length, “for wo really are gods. Don't look shocked, Francisco. I begin to believe in it my self. We have only just found it out, but I assure you it is a fact. They accepted us fully, and that after not more than five minutes' cross examination. Listen.” And she told them all that had passed. While sho was speaking the regiment began to movo, no longer in a square, but in a formation of companies. Company by company it rushed by where they stood, shaking tho earth with its footsteps, and as each section passed them it tossed Its spears into the air as a salute, crying, “Glory to the mother, glory to the snake!” and fled on toward the city. At length the story was done, and the regiment was gone. “Well,” said Leonard, “so far so good. Juanna; you are tho bravest and tho clev erest girl in the whole world. Most young women would have forgotten everything and gone into hysterics at tho critical point.” “I kept them till afterward,” she an swered demurely. “And as for being brave and clever, I only repeated what Soa taught me like a parrot. You see, I knew that I should be killed if I made any mistake, and that sharpeus the mem ory. All I havo to say is, if the snake they talk so much about is anything like those which are tattooed upon the old priests' breasts, I have no wish to make a nearer acquaintance with it I hate snakes. There, don’t say any more,” for both I Con ard and Francisco were breaking into fresh protestations of gratitude and admi ration. “If you want to thank anybody, thank Soa.” “And so I do, ” said Leonard heartily, for his spirits had risen in a most wonder ful manner. “Soa, you have told us the truth, and you have managed well, and I thank you.” “Did you take me for a liar?” the wom an answered, fixing her gloomy eyes upon Leonard’s face. “I told you the truth, deliverer, when I said that my people would accept the Shepherdess and this black dog of yours as their gods. But did I not tell you also that the death of the rest of us lies in the matter? If not, I say so now. You have not been named a god, deliverer, nor has yonder bald pate” —the natives called Francisco thus be cause of his tonsure—"and your black dog will betray you by his yapping. When you look down the jaws of the snake, re member then that Soa told you tho truth, deliverer. Perchance you shall find the red stones you seek hidden in bis belly, white man.” “Be silent, Soa,” said Juanna indig nantly, and she slunk back like a whipped hound. “Confound the old woman,” put in Leonard, with a shiver. “She is a black Jonah, and if I have to go inside this snake I hope that it will bo a case of la dies first, that is all. It will be the best place for her.” “I am sure I don’t know what has hap pened to Soa,” said Juanna. “Her native air has a very bad effect upon her temper. ” “Well, the future must look out for itself,” answered Leonard, “snake or no snake. At present we must follow our luck. Otter, listen to me. Do you under stand that you are a god, the god ot tills people?” “The god, baas? That is what that old cow Soa called mo when first we met in an evil hour. Wbat is a god?” “You fool, have I not told you a hun dred times? You are not «man any more —you aro a spirit. Once you ruled this people in the past, and now you will rule them again. You and tho Shepherdess aro both gods. She is your mother, and you are her son.” “Yes, baas, no doubt, but onco I had another mother, a much uglier one.” “Otter, cease to talk folly, else when you are no more a god I will kill you. Now you are a god, and we are all your serv ants, except the Shepherdess. When you speak to us, you must speak roughly, like a great chief to tho lowest ot his people, tailing us dogs and slaves. If you name me 1 baas’in public, I will beat you pri vately when you are no more a god. You will do best to speak little or not at all, so that none can take hold of your words, which are always foolish.” “If you say that I am god, baas, it is enough, for doubtless you have met the gods and know their ways, though it is strange that none have told me this be fore. They must be an ugly people, the gods. But how will it be with the settle ment men when they hear that I am a great spirit? They will say: ' Does a spirit wait upon a man and call him chief? Dees a spirit clean the guns and cook the food for a man?’ They will ask many such things, and the great people will hear them. And wlll they think then that I am a god? No. They will know me for a liar and will kill me and all of us.” “That is true,” said Leonard. Then lie summoned Peter and the settlement men and addressed them. He told them that the plot had succeeded, and that Otter and the Shepherdess were accepted as the gods of the People of the Mist. Because ot this they were left alive and held in honor, who, but for it, would now be dead, riddled through with the arrows of the great people. He explained to them for the second time that it was necessary to the safety of all that this delusion as to the divinity of Otter and the Shepherd ess should be maintained, Eince, should the slightest suspicion of fraud cross the minds of tho gTeat people, without doubt they would all be sacrificed as impostors. This was the tale they should tell: They should say that all of them were bunting game in a far country with himself, Soa and Francisco when one night they heard a singing, and_by the light of the moon i ♦ they saw the Shepherdess and the dwarf Otter coming toward them. Then the Shepherdess and Otter commanded them to be their servants and travel with them to a new land, and they obeyed them, white and black together, for they saw that they were not mortals. This was the tale that they must tell, and. moreover, they must act up to their words if they would continue to look upon the sun. When their first surprise was past, the settlement men. who were quick witted people, entered into the spirit of the thing readily enough. Indeed Peter caused them to repeat the story to him, so that he might be sure that they had its details by heart. Then they continued their march toward the city on the hill. The two white men went first, next came Juanna and Otter, followed by Soa, and last of all walked the settlement men. An hour’s journey brought them to the bank of the river, which, dividing above it, engirdled the town, to reuuite near tho roadway that they followed. Here canoes were ready to tako them across to tho island, or, rather, tho peninsula, on which the city was built, and on the other side of the river they found priests waiting in the great gate way, with two litters that had been pre pared for J uanna and Otter respectively. This the farther bank was lined with some thousands of spectators, who, when the divine pair set their feet upon its shores, prostrated themselves, men, wom en and children, and burst into a shout of welcomo. Juanna and Otter took no heed. With such dignity as they could command, and in the dwarf’s caso it was not much, they entered the litters, drew the hide curtains and were borne forward swiftly. After them came Leonard, Francisco and the others, while the population followed in silence. Now the sun was sinking, but enough of daylight was left to show how strange were the place and the people among which they found themselves. The city indeed was rudely built of like materials and iu such fushion as tho house in the plain that has been described already. But the streets were roughly paved. Each habitation stood apart from tho other in its own garden, and the gates were of wood, fastened together with primitive iron bolts. There were driuking shops, or, rather, booths and a large market place, which they crossed as they ascended the hill, and where, as they afterward dis covered, this people carried on their trade, if trade it could be called, for they had no money and conducted all transactions, liko other savages, upon a principle of barter. As they went Leonard took note of these things, which, to his mind, showed clear ly that the inhabitants of this city were the degenerate inheritors of some ancient and forgotten civilization. Their fortifica tions, stone built houses, drinking shops and markets indicated this, just as their rude system of theology, with its divini ties of light and darkness or of death and life, each springing from the other, en gaged in an eternal struggle, and yet one, was probably the survival of some elabo rate nature myth of the early world. But nothing struck him so much as the appearance of the people. In sizo they were almost giants, a peculiarity which was shared by the women, sonio of whom measured 6 feet in height. In common with other uncivilized races, most of these women wore little except a girdle and a goatskin cloak tbat hung loosely upon their shoulders, displaying their magnifi cent proportions somewhat freely. They were much handsomer than the men, hav ing splendid solemn eyes, very white teeth and a remarkable dignity of gait. Their faces, however, wore the same somber look as those of their husbands and broth ers, and they did not chatter after the manner of tbeir sex, but contented them- Eelves with pointing out tho peculiarities of the strangers in a few brief words to their children or to one another. After they had crossed the market place there came a long and gentle ascent, which terminated at a wall surrounding the low er of the two great buildings that they had seen from the plain. Passing its gates, they halted at the doors ot the first of those edifleos. Here the priests stood with torches—or at least they judged them to be priests from the symbol of the snake's head tattooed upon their naked breasts— ready to conduct them to their resting place, for now the night was closing in rap idly. Soon they found themselves within the walla of a great bouse, built in the usual way with rough bowlders, but on three sides of a square and inclosing a court yard in which a fountain bubbled. The furniture of tho house was rude, but gro tesquely carved, and in the courtyard stood a throne sheltered by a roof of turf and fashioned of black wood <and ivory, with feet shaped like those of a human being. Indeed, as they afterward discovered, this was the palace of the king, Olfan, who had been summarily ejected by the priests to make room for tho newcomers. Here in this strange dwelling the at tendant priests assigned them all quar ters, tiie settlement men in one wing Leon ard, Francisco and Soa in the other and Juanna and Otter in two separate apart ments in the body of the building. This arrangement involved tiie separation of the party, but it was difficult to offer ob jections, so they were forced to acquiesce to it. Presently women came in bearing food—boiled corn, milk in bowls and roasted flesh in plenty—of which loxmard and Francisco ate with thankfulness. Before they went to sleep Leonard look ed into the courtyard aud was somewhat alarme«! to find tbat guards were stationed at every door, while in front of thoso lead ing to the apartments of Juanna and Ot ter stood a body of priests, with torches in their hands. He made an effort to pass through these gi ards in order to visit Ju anna, but without a word they lifted their great spears and stopped him, and for that tiino lie abandoned the attempt. "Why do the priests stand before the door of the Shepherdess. Soa?” asked Leonard. “They guard the place of the gods,” sho answered. “Unless the gods will it none may enter there.” “Say, Soa,” Leonard asked again, "are you not afraid of being here in your own land?” “I am much afraid, deliverer, for if I am found out then 1 die. Yet many years have gono by since 1 fled. Few live who knew me, and perchance none remember me; also now I do not wear my hair after tho fashion of my people, and there fore I may escape unless tiie priests dis cover me by their magic. And now I would sleep.” On the following morning at dawn Leon ard arose, and accompanied by Francisco went into the courtyard. This time the soldiers did not try to stop them, but the priests were still standing in front of Ju anna’s door, looking like specters in the gray mist. They went to them and sig nified by signs that they would worship the queen, but were sternly refused ad mission in words which they could not understand, but that Soa, who was listen ing, afterward translated to them. "The mother had come to her home,” said the spokesman, "and might be pro faned no more by the eyes of the vulgar. The snake also was in his home, and none should look upon him.” When arguments faffed, Leonard tried to force his way through and was met by a huge spear pointed at his throat. How things would have ended it is difficult to say had not Juanna herself appeared at this juncture, standing between the cur tains of the doorway. At the sight of hei the priests and soldiers fell upon their faces, and Leonard had sufficient presence of mind to follow their example, dragging Francisco down beside him. “What is this tumult?” she asks the guards in their own tongue. "I tell you what it is, Juanna, ” said Leonard, rubbiDg his head upon the ground and speaking in English. “If you do not come to an understanding with these infernal scoundrels, you will be cut off from all communication with us, and, what is more, we shall be cut off, too, in another way. Will you be so good as to issue an order that we are to be admitted when we like?” Juanna turned toward the priests and spoke angrily. "Who has dared to forbid my servants to come before me and worship me? My will Is my owh, and I only make It I known. _ It is my will that these white men and yonder black woman pass in be other servants should have free access to fore me at their pleasure.” "Tby will is our will, mother,” said the us at all times and without question; also it is our will that their food should be priests humbly. So they went In, and the curtains were brought to them with our food. Moreover, it is the desire of my son. the snake, that closed behind them. “I am so thankful to see you,” said Ju no more grass should be given to him to anna. “You don't know how dreadfully eat, for now, in the60 latter days, having lonely it has been in this great room all put on the flesh of men, he needs that night, and I am afraid of thoso solemn which will support the flesh. One thing eyed priests who stand round the doors. more, my servant. The snake forgives the The women who brought me food last affront that was offered him, and I com night crawled about the place on all fours, mand that some of the greatest of the holy stones should be brought to me, that like dogs. It is horrible.” “I am sorry that you have been left I may look on the blood that I shed so alone,” said Leonard, "but you must try long ago. ” “Alas! It may not be, mother,” an to make better arrangements. Soa might sleep with you, at any rate. Where is Ot swered the priest in tones of sorrow. “All ter? Let us pay him a visit. I want to the stones, red and blue together, have been placed in liags of hide and cast into that see how that god is getting on.” Juanna went to the door and addressed place whence they can be brought no more, the priests, saying that she desired to be together with him who offended. Nor can led before the snake, and her servants others be gathered at this season of the with her. They demurred a little and year, seeing that deep snow covers the then gave way, and all four of them were place where they lie buried. In the sum conducted first into the courtyard, in mer, when the sun has melted the snow, which no human being was to bo seen, more can be found if your eyes still desire and thence into an adjoining chamber, the sight of them.” Juanna made no answer, and the priest where a curious sight awaited them. In a huge chair set upon a dais sat Otter, went. “Here is a pretty business,” said Leon looking furious and by no means at ease, while stretched upon the ground in front ard. “That idiot Otter has upset every of him lay four priests, who muttered thing. We might have become million prayers unceasingly. aires for the asking, and now we must “Welcome, baas,” he cried In rapture wait for months before we so much as get at the sightof Leonard. “Welcome, Shep 6ight of a ruby or a sapphire. ” herdess.” Nobody answered. Indeed the whole “You fool. ” answered Leonard in Dutch, party was plunged into consternation at but speuking in tho most bumble voice the fatal effects of this accident. As for and sinking to his knees. “If you will Otter himself, when he fully understood not remember that you are a god, I will what he had done, he almost wept for break your neck as soon as we are alone. grief. “Who could have known, baas?” he Bid these fellows bo gone. The Shepherd ess will translate for you.” groaned. “It was the sight of the green “Go, dogs,” said Otter, taking the hint. food that bewitched me, who have al "Go and bring me food. I would speak ways hated the taste of grass. And now with my servant, who is named Baas, my folly has undone all, and it seems that aud with my mother.” I must be a god for many months, if in “These are tho words of the snake that deed they do not find me out.” he speaks in the holy tongue,” said Juan “Never mind, Otter,” said Leonard, na, and she translated them. moved to pity by the dwarf’s genuine grief. The four priests rose, and bowing to the “You have lost the stones, and you will earth crept backward out of the room. As have to get them back somehow. By the soon as they were gone Otter leaped from way, Soa, why did you start so when the his throne, with an exclamation of rage old priest came in?” that caused the others to burst out laugh “Because ho is my father, deliverer,” ing. she answered. “Laugh, baas, laugh if you will,” said Leonard whistled. There was a new tho dwarf, “for you have never been a god complication. What if ho should recognize and don’t know what it is. What think her? you, baas? All night long I have sat upon that great stool, while those accursed dogs CHAPTER XIII burnt stinking stuff beneath my nostrils In considerable agitation of mind Leon and muttered nonsense. Ono hour more, ard bid goodby to Juanna, promising to aud I should have fallen on them and return soon, and went to visit the settle killed them, for I have had no meat, and ment men, whom be bad not seen since hunger makes me mad.” the previous evening. Ho found them in “Hush!” said Leonard. “I hear foot- good ease enough, so Qir as their material steps. On to your throne, Otter, quick! comfort was concerned, for they were well Juanna, stand by his side. We will supplied with food and warmly lodged. kneel.” So much could not be said, however, for They had barely time to obey when tbe their mental state, for they were terrified curtaius were thrown aside, and a priest by the multitude of solemn priests and entered, holding a vessel of wood covered warriors who watched them as cats watch with a cloth. Slowly he crept toward tho mice. Crouching round him dejectedly, throne, with his head bent almost to his they implored Leonard not to leave them, knees. Then, straightening himself sud saying that they expected to be murdered every minute. He pacified them as well denly, he lifted up tbe wooden vessel and as he could and left them with the assur cried aloud: ance that he would return presently, hav “We bring you food, O Snake! Eat and ing first reminded them that the lives be satisfied!” of all dependod upon the maintenance of Otter took the dlsli, and lifting tho cloth tho delusion as to the divinity of Otter and gazed upon its contents hungrily, but with the Shepherdess. The remainder of that an ever growing dissatisfaction. day passed heavily enough. “Son of a dog,” he cried in his own After the first excitement of their strange tongue, “Is this food to set before a man?” position had gone by a reaction set in, and And he held the platter downward, expos everybody was much depressed. As the ing its contents. hours drew on the mist,which bad lifted a They were simple, consisting of various little about 10 o’clock, closed in very sorts of vegetables and water cresses, poor densely, throwing the ill lighted chamber in quality, for the season was winter, and where they sat into a deep gloom. In such nil of them uncooked. In tbe center of an atmosphere conversation languished. this fodder, whether placed there in obe Indeed at times it died away altogether, dience to some religious tradition or by and the only sound to be beard was that way of ornament or perhaps to assist the of the monotonous voices of the priests digestive process of the god, as a tenpen- without the curtains as they muttered ny nail is said to assist that of an ostrich, prayers unceasingly. At length Leonard was a fine ruby stone, not so big indeed could bear It no longer, but rose, declar as tbat which Soa had given Leonard, but ing that he was going out to see whatever still of considerable sizo and value. might be seen. Juanna tried faintly to Leonard saw it with delight, but not so dissuade him, and Otter wished to come, the dwarf, the selfish promptings of whose too, which was impossible. The end of it stomach caused him to forget that his was that he went alone. master had journeyed far to soek such First he revisited the settlement men gems as this. In the fury of his disap and tried to cheer them, a process which pointed appe.ttte he stood upon the foot they sadly needed. Then he passed to the stool of tbe throne, and soizins the ruby great gates of tho palace yard and looked hurled it at tbe priest, hitting him fair through them. The mist liad lifted a lit between the eyes. “Am I an eel,” he tle, and about lOu paces away he could per roared, “that I should live on water grass ceive the doors of tho temple, on cither and red gravel?” sldo of which rose cyclopean walls 50 feet Then the priest, terrified at the behavior or more in height. Here it was obvious of this strange divinity, picked up the that preparations for some ceremony were offending gem—to the presence of which in progress, and on a large scale, for im he attributed his anger—and fled, never mense crowds of people were gathered looking behind him. about the doors, through which bodies of Juanna and Francisco were seized with priests and armed soldiers passed continu uncontrollable laughter, while even Soa ally. More he could not learn, for the deigned to smile, but Leonard *i4 not gates of the palaeo yard were barred and smile. guarded, and tho soldiers would not let “Oh, you last descendant of generations him through. He stood and watched till of asses!” he said bitterly. “You ass with sunset, then returned to the others and four ears and a tenfold bray! What have told them what he had seen. you dono now? You have hurled the pre Another hour passed, and suddenly the cious stone at tho head of him who brought curtains were drawn aside and a body of it, and now lie will bring no more. Had priests entered, 12 in number, bearing it not been for you, doubtless with every large candles of fat in their hands and meal such stones would have been offered headed by their chief Nam. Prostrating to you, and thougli you grew thin we themselves before J uauua and Otter, they should all of us have become rich, and that 1 remained in silence. without trouble.” “Speak on,” said Juanna at length. “Forgive mo, baas,” lamented Otter, “We come, O mother and O snake,” “but my rage took away my reason, and said the priest Nam, "to lead you to the I forgot. See now what it is to be a god. templetbat the people may look upon their It is to be fed upon stuff such as would gods. ’ ’ gripe an ox. Oil, baas, I would that these “It is well. Lead An.” devils had mad« you a god and left me “First thou must be robed, mother,” your servant!” And again he gazed with said Nam, “for without the temple none disgust upon tbe water cress aud rows of may look upon thy divinity save thy leathery vegetables resembling turnips. priests alone.” “You had better eat them. Otter,” said TheD, rising as he spoke, he produced a Juanna, who was still choking with laugh black dress from a grass bag, which was ter. "If you don’t, you may get nothing carried by an attendant. This dress was more for days. Evidently you are sup very curious. It fastened in front with posed to have a small appetite.” buttons of horns and either was or seemed Then, driven to it by his ravening hun to be woven in a single piece from the soft ger, tbe wretched Otter fell upon the tur est hair of black fleeced goats. Moreover, nips and devoured them sullenly, Leonard it had sleeves just long enougli to leave rating him all tho while for his unequaled the hands of the wearer visible, and be stupidity. neath its peaked cap was a sort of mask Scarcely had ho flnishod his meal when with three slits, two for the eyes and one there was a stir without, and once again for the mouth. Juanna retired to put on priests entered, headed ou this occasion by this hideous garment over her white robe that same aged man who had acted as and presently reappeared, looking like the spokesman when Juanna declared herself black ghost of a mediaeval monk. Then on tiie previous day, and who, as they had they gave her two flowers, a red lily and discovered, was named Nam. In fact, he white, to bo held in either hand, and it had many other and mucli longer names, appeared tbat her equipment was com but os this was the shortest and most con plete. Next they camo to Otter and bound venient of them they adopted it. It a scarlet fringe of hair about Ills forehead chanced that Leonard was standing by in such a fashion that the fringe hid his Soa, and when this priest entered, whom face, at the same time placing in his hand sho now saw lor the first time, he noticed a scepter of ivory, apparently of very an that she started, trembled and then drew cient workmanship and fashioned in the back into tiie shadow of the throne. shape of a snake standing on its tail. “Some friend of the old lady’s youth,” "All is prepared,” said Nam. thought Leonard to himself "I hope "Lead on,” answered Juanna again, tbat he won’t recognize her, that is all. ” "but let our servants come with us, both Nam l>ent himself in adoration before those here and those without, save the the gods, and then began an address, the woman only, who stays to make ready for substance of which Juanna translated our return.” from time to time. Bitterly did he grieve, Juanna spoke thus because Soa bad an he said, that such insult had been offered nounced her wish to be left behind when to the snake as the presenting to him they went to the temple. Juanna had con among his food of the red stone known sulted Leonard on the subject, who gave as the blood of Aca. That man who had it as his opinion that Soa had good reasons done this folly was doomed to die. if in of ber own for making this request; also deed ho was not already dead. Well could he pointed out tbat in case of disturbance they understand tbat, the mother and she could scarcely help them and might snake having become reconciled, tbe possibly prove an encumbrance. proffering to Jal of that which reminded "They wait," answered Nam. “All is him of the sin of long ago was a wicked prepared for them also,” and as he spoke ness that might bring a curse upon tbe a sardonic smile flickered on his withered land. Let the snake be appeased. Com countenance that made Leonard feel very mand had been given that all such stones uncomfortable. Wbat was prepared, he shculd be hidden in a secret place by him wondered. They passed through the curtains into who had wrought the crime, and, as he had said, if tho man returned alive from the courtyard, where soldiers, clad in goat that place he should be slain. But he skin cloaks, waited with two litters. Here would not return alive, for to go thither also were the settlement men, armed, but was death, as it should be death hence in an extremity of fear, for they were forth even to mention that stone, of guarded by about 50 of the great people, which but one should now be seen in the also armed. Juanna and Otter entered the litters, laud—-that which the mother wore in behind which Leonard formed up his little memory of the past. “Oh, Otter, my friend,” murmured band, going in front of it himself, with Leonard to himself, “if I don’t pay you Francisco, both of them having rifles in their hands and revolvers at their girdles, out for this my name is not Outram!” But enough of the stones, went on Nam. of which no attempt was made to deprive He had come upon a greater matter. That them, for none knew their use. Then they started, surrounded by the night an assembly of all tbe people would be held in the great temple an hour before bare breasted priests, who chanted and moonrise, that the mother and the snake waved torches as they walked, and preced might take up their royalty in the pres ed and followed by the grim flies of tall ence of the people. Thither they would soldiers, on whose spears the torchlight come to lead them and their servants at flashed ominously. As they came the gates the appointed time. Was this pleasing to of the palace yard were opened. They passed them and across the open space un the gods? Juanna bent her hoad in assent, and tho til they reached the doors of the temple, priest turned to go with many obeisances, which were thrown wide open before them. but before he went he spoke again, asking Here Otter and Juanna descended from the litters, and all the torches were extin if all things were as the gods desired. “Not altogether, my servant, ” answered guished, leaving them in darkness. Leon Juanna. _“It labour will that these our ard felt his hagd seized and was led along, he knew hot where, for the misty gloom was intense. He could scarcely sec the face even of the priest who conducted him, but from tbe sounds he gathered that all their party were being guided in a similar I fashion. Once or twice also he heard the voice of a settlement man speaking in ac cents of fear or complaint, but such dem onstrations were quickly followed by the I sound of a heavy blow, dealt no doubt by i the priest or soldier in oharge of that in dividual. Evidently it was expected that ] all should be silent. Presently Ix'onard became aware that they hod left the open space across which they were walking, for the air grew close, and their footsteps rang hollow on tho rocky floor. “I believe that we are in a tunnel,” whispered Francisco. “Silence, dog,” hissed a priest in his ear. “Silence. This place is holy.” They did not understand the meaning of the words at the moment, but the tone in which they were spoken made their purport sufficiently clear. Leonard took the hint, and at the same time clutched his rifle more tightly. He began to be afraid for their safety. Whither were they being led—to a dungeon? Well,they would soon know, and at tbe worst it was not probable that these barbarians would harm Juanna. They followed the tunnel or pas sage for about 150 paces. At first it sloped downward; then the floor became lovel till at length they began to ascend a stair. There were 61 steps in this stairway, for Leonard counted them, each about 10 Inches high, and when all were climbed they advanced 11 paces along a tunnel that echoed strangely to their steps and was so low that they must bend their heads to pass it. Emerging from this tunnel through a narrow opening, they stood upon a plat form also of stone, and once more the chill night air fanned their brows. Leonard was tempted to cry aloud, so great was tbe strain upon his nerves, which usually were strong enough. Nor was he alone in this desire. Presently a sound arose from below him, as of a per son in hysterics, and he heard a priest command silence in a fierce voice. The sobbing and laughter went on till they cul minated in a shrill scream. After the scream came the thud of a blow, a heavy fall, a groan, and once again the invisible multitudes whispered and rustled. “Some one has been killed,” muttered Francisco in Leonard's ear. “Who is it, I wonder?” Leonard shuddered, but made no answer, for a great hand was placed upon his mouth in warning. At length the portentous quiet was broken, and a voice spoke, the voice of Nam, the priest. In the silence all that he uttered could be heard plainly, but his words camo from far away, aud the sound of them was still and small. “Hear me, ye children of the 6nake, ye ancient People of tho Mist! Hearken to me, Nam, tiie priest of the snake! Many a generation gone in the beginning of time, so runs the legend, the mother god dess whom we worship from of old de scended from heaven and came hither to us, and with her came the snako, her son. While she tarried in the land the crime of crimes was wrought, the darkness slow the daylight, and she passed hence, wo know not Low or where, and from that hour the laud has been a land of mist, and its people have wandered in the mist, for he whose name is darkness has ruled over them, answering tbeir prayers with death. But this doom was on tho son—tbat because of bis wickedness he must put off the flesh of men and descend into tbe holy place of water, where, as we and our fathers have kDown, his symbol dwells eternally,taking tribute of tbe lives of men. Yet ere that crime was wrought the mother gave a word of promise to her people. ‘Now I am about to die at the hands of him I bore, for so it is fated, ’ she said, * but not forever do I leave you, and not forever shall my son be punished by putting off the flesh of men. Many generations shall go by, and we will return again and rule over you, and the veil of mist shall be lifted from your land, and we shall be great in the earth. Till then choose your kings and let them govern you. Moreover, forget not my worship and see to it that throughout the ages the altar of the snake is wet with blood, and that he lacks not tho food he loves, and I will give you a sign by whioh we shall be known when at length tho fate is accomplished mid the hour of forgiveness is at hand As a fair maid will I como again, a maid lovely and white, but because of his sin the snake, my son, shall appear in the shape of that w’hich sits within your tem ple, and his hue shall be black and Ills face hideous. Out of the earth will we arise, and we will call to you, and yo shall know us, and we will tell you our holy names that shall not be spoken aloud from thia hour to that hour of our coming. But be ware lest ye are deceived and false gods set themselves up among you, for then shall the last evil fall upon you.' “Thus, Children ot the Mist, did the mother speak to him who was her chief priest in the long ago, and he graved it with iron on the stone of tbat whereon I stand. And now the time is full, aud it has been given to me, his successor, in my old age, to see the fulfillment of thepropb ecy. “The time is full, and this night the promise of the past is accomplished, for, People of tbe Mist, the mother and the son, whose names are holy, have appeared to rule tbeir children. Yesterday they came, ye saw them, and in your oars they called aloud the sacred names. As a maid en fair and white and us a dwarf black and hideous have they come, and Aca is the name ot the maiden, and Jal is the name of the dwarf.” He ceased, and his voice died away in the echoes of the great place. Once again there was silence, broken only by tbe seeth ing sound of waters and tbe indefinable murmur of the unseen throng beneath Leonard stood still awhile, then edged himself gently forward with the design of discovering where and upon wbat they were standing. His curiosity was soon met with a violent check, for before he had gone a yard he felt that his right foot was dangling in space, and it wag only by a strong effort that he prevented himself from falling, whither he knew not. Recovering his balance, he shuffled him self back again to the side of Francisco and whispered a warning to him not to move if he valued his life. As he spoko ho noticed that to the east the blackness of lhe night was turning gray with the light ot the unrisen moon. Already her rays, striking upward, brightened the sky above and the mountains behind, and from them fell a pale reflection, which grew gradually stronger and clearer. Now he could discover that close upon him to tiie left a black mass towered high into the air, and that beneath him gleamed something like the foam on broken water. For a time be watched this water, or what ever it might be, until a smothered excla mation from Francisco caused him to look up again. As he looked the edge of the ---- --------- ——— above lhe horizon, aud by full moon - roae slow degrees a wonderful sight was re vealed to him. Not till the moon was fully up did he see everything, and to describe all as he discovered it piecemeal would be difficult, if not impossible. This was what he saw at length: Before him and beneath him was a vast and roofless building, open to the east, covering some two acres of ground and surrounded by titaDic walls 60 feet or more in height. The building was shaped like a Roman amphitheater; but, with the exception of the space Immediately beneath him, its area was filled with stone seats, and round its vast circumference stone seats rose tier on tier. These were all oc cupied by men and women in thousands, and, except at the farther end, scarcely a place was empty. At the western extrem ity of the building a huge statue towered 70 or 80 feet into the air, hewn, to all ap pearance, from a mass of living rock. At the back of this colossus, and not more than a hundred paces from it, the sheer mountain rose, precipice upon precipice, to the foot of the white peak clad in eter nal snow. It was this peak that they bad seen from the plain when the mist lifted, and the statue was the dark mass beneath it which had excited their curiosity. To be Continued. Gin Sine, a Chinese janitor who was stabbed by a fellow countryman, in Portland, on Feb. 22d, has since died. Chin Yin has been arrested for the crime. Thos. F. Oakes. Henry C. Payne, Henry C. Rouse. Receivers. orthern pacific R. R N R IT * N S Pullulali Sleeping Cars E lésant Dining Cars T ourist Sleeping Cars ST. PAUL MINNEAPOLIS DULUTH FARGO GRAND FORKS CROOKSTON WINNIPEG HELLENA and BUTTE TO THROUGH TICKETS TO CHICAGO WASHINGTON PHILADELPHIA NEW YORK BOSTON AND ALL POINTS EAST and SOUTH For information, time cards, maps or tickets, call on or write C. H. FLEMING, Agent. MCMINNVILLE. A.D.CHARLTON. Asst.Gen.Pas.Agt. 255 MORRISON ST.. COR. 30. PORTLAND, ORECON. LEGAL BLANKS. The following general forms are always in stock and for sale at the Reporter oftice : Warranty Deeds Real Estate Mortgage Quit-claim Deeds Chattel Mortgage Bond for Deed Satisfaction ot Mort Farm Lease Transfer of Mortgage Notes and Receipts. Bill of Sale We carry’ a large stock of stationery’ and are prepared to do Job printing of every sort iu the best style of the art and at low figures Mexican Mustang Liniment for Burns, Caked & Inflamed Udders. Piles, Rheumatic Pains, Bruises and Strains, Running; Sores, Inflammations, Stiff joints, Harness & Saddle Sores, Sciatica, Lumbago, Scalds, Blisters, Insect Bites, All Cattle Ailments, All Horse Ailments, All Sheep Ailments, Penetrates Muscle, Membrane and Tissue Quickly to the Very Seat of Pain and Ousts it in a Jiffy. Rub in Vigorously. Mustang Liniment conquer* Pain, Makes nan ar Beast well again. I This extra ordinary Re Ju Venator 1« the moit wonderful disoovery of the age. It has been en dorsed by the leadingkclen- tliic mea of l.urope and America. Hudyan is EbTe? veeb Hudyan step* PreiDitureness of the dis charge in 20 days. Cures LOST MANHOOD Constipation, Dizziness, Falling Sen sation., Nerv- oill twitching of the eye» and other parts. Strengthens, invigorate« and tones the entire «ystexn. Huths a cures Debility, Nervousness, Emissions, and develop« a and restores weak organ«. Pains in the back, 10K.es by day or nuLtsiopped quickly. Over 2,000 private endorsements. Freuxaturen?® mean* ba potency la U.e that ataee. It is a symptom of seminal weakness and barrenness. It can be stopped In *0days by the useof Endyan. The new discovery was made by the Bpecial- Istt of the old famous Huoscn Medical Inatituta. It is the strongest vitelizer made. It is very powerful, but batmle?s. Fold for *1 00 a pack age or* packages lor 00 (pin in scaled boxes), written guarante - given for* cure. If you boy sixboxeeaud are not entirely ctued.au mote La grippe is here again with all of its j will be sent to you free of al 1 charges. Send for circularsand testimonials. Address old time vigor. One Minute Cough Cure | is a reliable remedy. It cures and cures [ quickly. Rogers Bros. HUDSON MEDICAL INSTITUTE, Junction Mock ton, .Vlarket A Elite St*. San Francisco, Ca‘