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^ NS!S^BMI-WEBKL^ l. m. grist & sons, Publisher.. 1 %. ^atnfljj SletDspagcr: <jfor the promotion of the gotitiral, Social, Agricultural, and (Eommet;cial Interests of the JSouth. J term|,n'Scopt. wra craTCANCK' ESTABLISHED 1855. YOEKYILLE, S. O., SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 1899] \ NO. 4. . m Bswiwi f BY GUY : Author of "A.BId For For 3Iarriao:c of Copyright,'189S, by D. Appleton and Con Synopsis of Previous Installments. In order that new readers of The Enquirer may begin with the following installment oi this story, and understand it just the same as though they had read it all from the beginning, we nere give a synopsis of that portion of it which has ulready been published: Dr. De Normauville, an English physisician at Hongkong, hears of a woman called the Beautiful White Devil making her home on an island in the Pacific of which she is the sovereign and leading a piratical life in a white yacht on the ocean. Dr. De Normauville receives a call from a stranger who engages bis professional services to go to an unknown place to treat an epidemic of smallpox. Alter an eventful voyage he finds himself on board the Lone Star, the yacht of the Beautiful White Devil. CHAPTER III. (Continued.) She pressed an electric bell in the woodwork by her side and ordered tiffin. When it was served, we went over to the table and the meal commenced. I am not going to tell yon what we ate, for, to confess the honest troth, within half an honr I bad forgotten what it was myself. I only know that "I do not like the Chinese!" ft was admirably cooked and served. As it proceeded we chatted on varions minor matters?literature of all nations, music and painting?and it was nnf rinf.il wa had finished and the cloth bad been removed and we were alone together that my hostess toncbed npon the reason of my presence on board. "You know, of course, Dr De Norman ville, " she said, ensconcing herself in a big chair when we had left the table, "why I sent for you?" "It was explained to me by your messenger. But I must confess 1 do not quite understand it yet. He said some thing about an island." "And he was quite right An outbreak of smallpox has occurred on the island which 1 make my depot. . Where that island is i cannot of course tell you. But you will see it for yourself soon enough. In the meantime 1 may inform you that the havoc wrought by the disease has been terrible, and it was only when 1 found that i could make no headway against it myself that 1 determined to send to Hongkong for assistance. To get hold of you was a piece of good fortune 1 did not expect. " 1 bowed my acknowledgment of the ximplimeut she paid me and asked if she herself bad been much among the cases "Why, of course!" she answered. "My poor people call me their mother and naturally turn to me for assistance in their trouble. It went to my very heart not to be able to help them." "But were you quite wise, do you think, to run so much risk?" "1 did not think of myself at all. How conld 1? Do yon think of the risk yon rnn when yon are called in to an infections case?" "Itake all proper precaution, at least When were you vaccinated last, may I ask?" "In Rome, in .Tone, 1883 " "Then, with yonr mission, I'll do it again, and at once. Yon cannot be too careful." Receiving her assent I went off to ray cabin, where 1 bad noticed that a large portion of my medical outfit bad been stored, and having obtained what 1 sought returned with it to the saloon. Alie, for by that name 1 must henceforward call her, was waiting for me. her arm bared to the shoulder. Never, if I live to be a hundred, shall 1 forget the impression that snow white arm made upon me. It seemed like an act of basest sacrilege to perform even such a simple operation upon it. Beelzebub, the bulldog, evidently thought so, too. for he . watched me attentively enough during the whole of the time it took me However, it had to be done, and done it accordingly was Then, when I had put my paraphernalia back into its case, I bade her goodby and turned to go She stopped me, however, and held out her hand "Do you know, Dr De Normanville, 1 want to make you like me 1 want you to forget, if you can?while you are with us. at any rate?the stories vnn have heard about me Some day perhap3 1 will attempt to show yon that 1 am not altogether as bad as people have painted me. " For the moment I was so completely carried away by her outburst of girlish frankness that 1 hardly knew what to say " Pon my soul, I really don t believe you are, " 1 blurted out, like a schoolboy "Thank you for that, at least, ' she said, smiling at my earnestness, and then, making me a little courtesy, she turned and disappeared through the door by which she had first entered the saloon After dinner, of which 1 partook in the officer's messroom, 1 returned to the deck. It was nearly 8 o'clock, and as iwm urn. BOOTHBY. tune," 4<I>r. Nikola," "The Esther," Etc. ripauy. fine a night as I had seen since I came into the east Lighting a cigar. I walked aft and, leaning npon the taffrail, scanned the qniet sea. Sitnated as 1 was, it is not to be wondered at that a variety of thoughts thronged my brain 1 tried to think what my dear old mother wouM have said conld she have seen ' * * A/wvnfanno nf me posiuou Illy uvcuaou ai>vo^uauvo ui a tempting offer bad placed me in. From my mother, who, with my father, had been dead nearly five years, my thoughts passed on to other relatives? to a girl whom I had onoe thought I loved, 6ut who had jilted me in favor of a brother student. The old heartache was almost gone now, but it bad been a most -unfortunate affair. Since then, however, I flattered myself, I bad been heart whole, and 1 deluded myself with the notion that I was likely to remain so. Since dinner the breeze bad freshened, and the schooner, with all sail set, was now slipping swiftly through the water. 1 turned, and, leaning against the rail, looked aloft at the stretch of canvas which seemed to reach up almost to the stars, theb back again at the wake and the wonderful exhibition of phosphorized water below the oounter. Suddenly I became aware of some one standing by my side, and turning my head I discovered it was none other than the Beautiful White Devil herself. She was still dressed in black, with a sort of mantilla of soft lace draped about her head. "What a supreme fasoination there is about the sea at night, isn't there?" she said softly, looking down at the sparkling water. I noticed the beanty of the little white band npon the rail as I replied in appropriate terms. "There is somebody, " she continned, "who says that 'the sea belongs to eternity, and not time, and of that it sings its monotonous song forever and ever.' " "That is a very beautiful idea," I answered, "but don't you think there are others that fully equal it? What do you say to 'the sea complains upon a thousand shores?' " "Or your English poet Wordsworth, 'The sea that bares her bosom to the wind?' " "Let me meet you with an American, 'The sea tosses and foams to hud its way up to the cloud, and wind.' Could anything be tiuer than that? There yon have the true picture?the utter restlessness and the striving of the untamed sea. " " 'Would'st thou.' 90 that helmsman answered. Learn the secret of the sea? Only those who brave its dangers Comprehend its mystery I' " "Bravo! That caps all." For some seconds my companion stood silent, gazing across the deep Then she 6aid very softly: "And who is better able to speak about its daugers than 1, whose home it is? Dr. De Normauville, 1 think if I were to tell you some of the dangers through which 1 have passed you would hardly believe me." "1 think 1 could believe anything you toia me "1 rather donbt it Yon see, you have o idea what an extraordinary existence mine is Why, my life is one long battle with despair 1 am like a hnnted animal flying before that hellhound, man Do you know bow near 1 was to being caught once? Let me tell you about it and see if it will convey any idea to you It was in Singapore, and I was dining at the house of a prominent police official, us the friend of his wife. I had met her some months before under peculiar circumstances, and we had become intimate During the meal my host spoke of the Beautiful White Devil and commented on her audacity. 'However, we have at last received a clew concerning her, be said. 'She is not far away from Singapore at the present momeut, and I have every reason to believe that in 4b hours she will be in our hands.' 1 had a full glass of champagne in my band at the moment, and it is a compliment to the strength of my uerves to say that 1 raised it to my lips before answering him without spilling one drop " "And did he never suspect?" "No, indeed. To tell the truth, I doubt if ho knows to this day how close the Beautiful White Devil really was to him Yet one moment 's hesitation might have cost me my life. Another time I attended a viceregul bail in Colombo in the capacity of an heiress from England. In the middle of the evening the partner with whom 1 was dancing, a young inspector of police, apologized for having to leave me He said be had received information concerning the Beautiful White Devil, who was known to be in the town During supper he had been telling me about his prospects and the girl who was coming out from Gugland to marry him when he got his step. 'It will be a good thing for yon if you catch this woman, won't it?'I inquired. 'It will get me promotion, and that will mean the greatest happiness of my life ?my marriage!' he answered. 'Won't you wish me luck?' 1 did wish him luck and then went off to dance the lancers with his excellency the governor. " "Do you think it wise to run such awful risks?" 1 asked, amazed at her audacity "Perhaps not, but in that particular case 1 could not help myself I stood in need of some important information and could trust nobody to obtain it but myself " "It must have been a terrible five minutes for you." "1 expect you have been told some very curious stories about me, Dr. De Normauville?" my companion said after a little while "I wish I could induce you to tell me what you have heard. Believe me, 1 have very good reason for wanting you to know the truth about me. " "That is easily told," I answered. 'I have beard a great many variations of the same story, but knowing how news travels out here 1 have placed very little credence in any of them." "You have heard perhaps about the sultan of Surabaya?" 1 intimated that 1 had. "At first you must have thought that rather a cruel action on my part. And yet if you knew all your blame would probably turn to admiration You do not know perhaps what a character that man bore in bis own state, the life he led, his excesses, his constant crimes, bis tyranny over bis unfortunate sub jects. 1 tell yon. sir, that that mac was and is one of the greatest scoundrels npon the face of this earth I had beard over and over again of him, and when 1 discovered that his people oonld obtain no redress for their grievances 1 determined to meet bitn on bis own ground. 1 arranged my plans accordingly, abducted him, made him disgorge a large sum of money, half of. which I caused to be anonymously distributed among the poor wretches he had robbed, and at the same time told him his character for the first and only time in his beatneu existence, promising him as I did so that if he did nut mend hiB ways I'd catch him again and silence him forever. Punishment was surely never more fitly earned. Then there was a merchant in Hongkong named Veeey. I expect yon have beard of hi'rn and the trick I played him. Well, that man made an assertion about me in a pnblio place to the effect that I was? But never mind what it was. It was so vile that I cannot repeat it to yon, but I made a vow I would be revenged on him for it sooner or later. I was revenged, and in the only way he could be made to teel?that is, through his banker. He will never forgive me, of oourse. Now, what else have you heard?" "Pardon my alluding to it," I said, "but?the Vectis Queen?the Oodnadatta. " "So yon have heard of those affairs? Well, I do not deny them 1 must have money Look at the expenses I have to meet. Look at this boat?think of the settlement 1 maintain, of the hundreds of pensioners i have all through the east, of the number of people whose services it is necessary for me to retain. * 5 j ~ *" (via tv* AOU prav UU UUli UIIMIIJUCIOIiUUU iun. xu yon it may seem that such transactions make me neither more nor less than a thief?a common cheat and swindler. In yonr eyes 1 may be that, but I most own 1 do not look npon it in the same light myself I am, and have been all my life, at war with what yon call society The reason 1 may perhaps explain to yon some day. I know the risk 1 rnn. If society catches me, in all probability my life will pay the forfeit. I know that, and I am natnrally resolved not to be cangbt. "One thing is certain?I prey only on those who can afford to lose, and, like the freebooters of romance, I make it my boast that I have never knowingly robbed a poor man, while, on the other band, I have materially assisted many. There are those, of conrse, who judge me harshly. Heaven forbid that they ever find themselves in the position in which I am placed I Think of it! I am hnnted by all men; every man's hand is against me. 1 am cot off from country and frienda A price is pat apon my head, and for that reason I am obliged to distrust every one on principle. Think of having the knowledge continually before you that if you are not constantly on the watch you may be caught I And then"? "And then?" 1 heard her grind her little white teeth viciously "There will be no then, Dr. De Normanville, so we need not talk of it. While I live they will never catoh me, " You have heard perhaps about the sultan o 1 Surabayat" and when I am dead it cannot matter who has possession of my body. Good night!" Before I could answer she had left me and vanished down the companion ladder I turned to the sea and my own thoughts. The ship's bell struck four (10 o'clock), the lookout at the forecastle head cried," "All's well!" and silence reigned?a wonderful quiet broken only by the humming of the breeze in the shrouds and the tinkling of the water alongside 1 leaned against the rail and considered the life of the Beautiful White Devil as I bad heard it from her own lips. CHAPTER 17. THE HOME OK THE BEAUTIFUL WHITE DEVIL. The sun next morning had scarcely made his appearance when I awoke to a knowledge of the fact that the yacht was stationary Such a circumstance could have hut oue meaning?we had arrived at our destination. As soon, therefore, as this idea became properly impressed upon my mind 1 sprang from my bank, made for the porthole and, i drawing back the little, ourtain that I oovered it, gazed out upon the world. < And what a picture met my eager eyes I 1 What a scene to paint in words or pig- i ments! But, oh, how difficult! If I were i a literary craftsman of more than ordi- i nary ability, 1 might possibly be able to I give you some dim impression'of what < 1 saw But being only an amateur word < painter of the sorriest sort 1 very much } fear it is a task beyond my capabilities. I However, for the sake of my story, I I suppose 1 must try I To begin with, yon must endeavor to < imagine a small harbor, at most half a j mile long by three-quarters wide, hav- i ing upon the side toward which I looked a wide plateau extending almost to the i sands that fringe the water's edge. Pio- < ture this tableland, or plateau, as I have t called it. backed by a tall, forest crown- i ed bill, almost a mountain, which soars up and up a couple of thousand feet or more into the azure sky, while peering out of the jungle that ornaments its base may be seen the white roofs of bouses, with here and there the thatch of a native but of the kind usually met with on the west coast of Borneo and the islands thereabout. To my surprise the harbor was entirely landlocked, and though I searched for some time I could discern no opening in the amphitheater of bills through which a vessel of even the smallest size could pass in from the sea. But, being more taken up with the beautiful scenery of the bay than its harbor facilities, I did not puzzle over this for very long. My old acquaintance Walworth joined me at the rail and laid himself oat for conversation "Doctor," be said, "I want you to tell me candidly if in all your experience of the world you have ever looked upon a fairer scene than that you have before you now?" * "No, 1 don't think 1 have," I answered "It is marvelously beautiful; but, all the same, 1 must own one or two things about it rather puzzle me." "And what are they?" "Well, in the first place, since I can see no opening in the bills, how did we get in here?" "Ah, you bavejbeen thinking about tbat, have your wen, to save yon any further trouble on tbat score, let me tell you that if you were to look for 100 years from where you stand now yon would not be able to discover it, and unless her ladyship gives permission it would be as much as my life is worth for me to tell you. Now for your second question." "Well, I can see, say, a dozen huts, all told, over yonder," I answered. "Surely they don't constitute the settle- j ment of which you spoke to me?" "No, they do not. Those you see over y there are only the outlying portions of ] the village, meant to deceive the crew t of any vessel who might land and find * their way in here. The real plaoe itself G lies five miles inland, round that hill. ( through the gap you can just make out T alongside that bit of terra cotta colored r cliff yonder " ^ "I see! Aiid now to change the sub- j ject. With regard to tbat lymph you ( procured for me in Hongkong, where is f it?" t "It has already been sent to your bungalow with the rest of the medical t paraphernalia we brought with us." 8 "And her ladyship?" c "Went ashore as soon as we came to ? anchor If 1 mistake not, that's her boat coming off to ns now." As he spoke a large white surfboat put off from the beach and under the sturdy arms of her crew came swiftly across the stretch of blue toward us. As she ranged alongside 1 carefully examined the men rowing. They were of medium size and evidently of the Dyak race, being taller than the average Malay and inclining more to the build of the Solomon islander than to any other class I could think of. They were bright, intelligent looking fellows and evidently well cared for. As soon as they bad hitched on to the gangway the cockswain came aboard and said something in native to my companion, who in reply pointed to me. Thereupon the man drew a note from his turban and handed it to me with the confidence and easy bearing of one gentleman rendering a service to another. It was addressed in Alie'B handwriting. Though a considerable time has elapsed since my receipt of that little note, I can plainly recall the thrill that went through me as I opened it. It ran as follows: Dkah Dk. De Normanville?I beg you will forgive my not remaining on board to welcome you to my home, but ns you will readily imag ine 1 was most anxious to see for myself at once how things were progressing ashore. Un fortunately, however, I have nothing favorable to report. Will you come and breakfast with me immediately on receipt of this? My cockswain will show you the way. Then, afterward, 1 could take you, myself, round the settle- 1 ment. With very kind regards, believe me truly your friend, Alii. i I thrust the note into my pocket and, ' having told Walworth what 1 was about to do, went below to my cabin to i prepare for my excursion. Then return- j ing to the deck, 1 desoended into the boat alongside, and we set off for the ] shore. As we rowed I was able to look back and observe for the first time the proportions and symmetry of the beau- t tiful craft 1 bad ju6t left. i Within five minutes of leaving her onr cockswain had deftly brought us f alongside a small but neatly construct- ] ed wooden jetty Here I disembarked j and, escorted by that amiable iudividu- < al, set off at once on onr journey to the 1 dwelling of my mysterious hostess. j Leaving tbe white, sandy foreshore of ( the bay, we passed by a well made track i through the forest in a due northerly ( direction. auu huuii u luress ua u warn j Such wealth of timber, such varieties of woods, shrubs, creepers, orchids and flowers, indeed, so enjoyable was it that 1 was sorry when we left the forest for the last time and emerged on to a small plain, bounded by the scrub on one side and by the mountain on the other. On this 1 could discern a collection of huts and houses to the number of perhaps 300. But what struck me as most remarkable about them was the fact that they were arranged in streets ind that tbe majority of them were bailt on Enropean lines; also in almost avery case?and I was able to verify this later on?each one possessed a well kept ?nd apparently prodnctive garden, varying in extent from a quarter up to as much in some cases as an acre. Altogether a more picturesque little plaoe :ould not have been discovered It was juite in keeping with the woman, the racht, the forest and the harbor. And to think that this was the home of the Beautiful, White Devil, the home of that mysterious woman whose so called crimes and acts of daring were common jossip from Colombo to the farthest Sakhalin coast Leaving the village on onr left, we iscended the mountain side for a short listance by a well worn track, then inrning sharply to ot^ left hand'wonnd round it to where another large plateau t>egan. Reaching, this, midway between die village and the waterfall, we saw pefore us a high and well made picket fence in which <was a gate. Through this gate we passed, and after carefully ilosing it behind us followed a short iraok along a lovely avenue of areca palms and India rubber trees toward a aouse we could just discern through the foliage, then having ascended a flight if broad stone Bteps flanked with quaint itone gods and images we stood before the dwelling of the Beautiful White Devil. I fear, deeply as the memory of it is infjpressed upon my mind, it is hardly In my power to convey to you any real Impression of the building 1 bad ooine in tan tn ena nnH in whinh I WflH des tined to spend so many boars. Saffice it that it was an adobe coostraction? we story bigh and designed on somoWe pawed by a well made track through the forest. vbat tbe same plan as an Indian bunga ow; the walls were of great thickness, be better to withstand the heat, I supjose; the rooms presented the appearance of being lofty and imposing, while ine and all opened by means of French vindows on to the broad veranda which an ronnd the honse upon every side. Dhis veranda and indeed the whole lonse was embowered in dense masses it different colored creepers, whioh in he brilliant sunshine presented a most :harming and novel effect From the reranda on the left or south side another >road Sight of stone steps, similarly tdorned with stone carvings, conducted ine to the garden, while to the right, ind scarcely more than a couple of hunlred yards distant, crashed the waterall I bad seen from the hill, with a oar that could have been heard many niles away, down into the black pool 300 feet below. At the foot of the first steps my guide eft me and returned to the harbor by he road along which be had come. I laused to recover my breath and watched lim out of sight, then, turning to the louse, ascended the flight of steps. Just is I reached the top and was wondering low I might best make my presence mown to those inside I heard the rus ? - J *u? iilUg UI a UICB3 1U bUO VOlaum llbAll noment Alie herself, clad in white from ;op to toe, as was her custom, came onnd the corner, followed by her mormons bulldog, and confronted me. [ can see her now, and even after this apse of time can feel the influence of ler wonderful personality upon me just is plainly as if it were but yesterday I itood before her. Seeing me, she said lomething to the dog?who bad uttered i low growl?and stretched out her land. "Good morning, Dr. De Normanrille,"she said, smiling as no other woman could ever do. "You received my note, then? I am glad to see you, ind I make you welcome to my home." "A garden of Eden I should be indined to call it," I answered, looking ibout me. "How many of us would be glad to dwell in it!" She looked at me for a moment and :hen asked somewhat bitterly: "Pray is that pretty speech meant for Mie or the Beautiful White Devil? There is a difference, you know." Then, not permitting me time to anrwer, she changed the subject by sayng: "Breakfast is on the table, I believe. Let us go in to it Will you give me four arm?" I did so, and together we passed from die creeper covered veranda into a room straight before us. In the previous chapter I have described to you Alie's cabin on board the Lone Star and in doing it almost beggared myself of language. Now I can inly ask you to believe that, rich as ;hat cabin was in its appointments, in ts arrangements, its cnrios and articles if virtu, the room which we entered low eclipsed it in every particular. Inleed, such another I never remember to bave seen In the center of the room stood the ireakfast table, covered with an exqnilitely embroidered white linen cloth, on ivhich was displayed such a collection if beautiful-gold and silver ware as I lad never seen on a table before. Three leaps of frnit, consisting of durians, lisangs, bananas, mangoes, mangosteens ind custard apples, were piled upon ;hree lovely Sevres dishes in the cente.*, tanked by two quaintly shaped decan;ers filled with wine. We seated ourselves at either end of the table, and my hostess struck a tiny silver goug by her side Breakfast wa9 instautly served by the same impassive servant who had waited npon ns on board the yacht If he felt any surprise at my preseooe on this oocasiou, be did uot show it. Indeed, it would almost have seemed as if he were not aware that I was the same person. And now a word as to the dejeuner itself. It has been my good fortune to have breakfasted at most of the famous restaurants in Europe?that" is to say, in London, Paris, Rome and Vienna? but i am prepared to state, and I put it forward believing it to be true, that the meal of which I partook that morning in the Beautiful White Devil's bun galow excelled any I bad ever partaken of before. From beginning to end it was perfeot in every way. "Yon are evidently wondering at tbe civilization of iny surroundings," sbe said, as tbe manservant ponred her ont a glass of Tokay. "Indeed,'yes," I answered. "I most own I bad no notion I should find anything in any way approaching it in these seas. Yonr cook must be a wonder." " Well, perhaps be is rather extraordinary, " she continued. "But I donbt if you will deem it so wonderful when I tell you that he is a Frenchman of the Frtmch, who was once in the service of Victor Emmanuel. How I came to obtain the benefit of bis skill is, of course, another matter." "And will be stay with you, do you think? Are you not sometimes afraid that your servants will want to leave you and return to civilization again?" "My servants never leave me," she answered, with an empbasis there was no mistaking, "and for the best of reasons. No, I certainly have no fear on that soore." "You are able to place implioit trust in them then?" I asked, amazed at the confidence with which sbe spoke. "The most implicit trust," she said. "My servants are carefully chosen. They give their services cheerfully, and, like my dog there, they would obey me at any cost, however great, to themselves. " For a few moments she sat wrapped in thought, looking at a flower she had taken from a vase. Then she lifted her eyes again and addressed me with an air of authority that sat well upon her. "We have finished our breakfast, I think," she said. "Now I imagine yon will be anxious to inspect your patients. Well, if you will wait ten minutes while I transact a little legal business, I will accompany you." So saying she led me out into the veranda, where we seated ourselves in long cane ohairs. A tall native was in waiting, and when she had said something to him be withdrew. "Now you will have an opportunity of witnessing a little piece of retributive justice," she observed, "and also of observing how I treat those who misoonduct themselves in my domains." She bad hardly spoken before the tramp of feet sounded from round the corner, and next moment two stalwart natives appeared escorting a young man, also an islander, whose bright, attraotive countenance won my regard from the first Behind this party came the complainant, an elderly native, whose puckered and wrinkled face was about as unprepossessing as the other's was pleasing. Seeing their ruler before them, they prostrated themselves with one accord and remained in that position until they were told to rise. When they had done so, Alie narrated the features of the case to me in English. The old man, it appeared, had a young wife; the prisoner was her cousin, and, if the complainant could be believed, bad shown himself fonder of her than was comfortable for the husband's peace of mind. Age, proving jealous and atr the same time suspicious of the motive of youth's cousinly affection, had trumped up a charge of stealing gardening implements against him and had brought sworn testimony to prove that the stolen articles bad been found in his possession. But it so happened that Alie had been aware for some time past that the real object of the youth's affection was one oi ner own auiuesbios, a uuuicij cuuugu damsel, employed in the boose. The upshot of it all was that the charge was dismissed; the old man bad to listen to a short homily on jealousy; the young couple were married there and then and given a hnt in the township for their own use, while the old man was ordered, by way of compensation for the false acousation he had brought, to provide them that selfsame day with certain goods and chattels necessary to their housekeeping. As for the three false witnesses, who bad placed so small a value upon their reputations for veracity as to allow themselves to be suborned against an innocent man, their case was somewhat harder. They were taken to the rear of the house, where they received ten strokes of the rod apiece, well laid on, as a warning to them against future dealings in nnsouud evidence. This case finished, Alie made another sign to one of her men, who instantly disappeared. Then she settled herself in her chair, and 1 noticed that a harder look came into her face. "You have witnessed how I conduct one side of my court, " she said. "Now you 6hall see the other." Aeain the tramD of feet was heard, and once more guards aud prisoner made their appearance round the corner. To my surprise, the latter was none other tbau my old acquaintance Kwong Fung, the notorious Chinese pirate. But though be must have remembered me bis sullen, evil face betrayed no sign of surprise. He only stood between his guards watching my hostess and waiting for her to speak. Presently she did so, in Chinese, aud once, only once, did be answer her. During the harangue I glanced at her face and was amazed at the change in it The old soft expu*ession was completely gone, and in its place had come one that, to tell the honest truth, eveu frightened me. Never before or since have 1 seen such a perfect exhibition of self contained but all consuming rage. Once more she spoke to the prisoner, who seiased to answer. She instantly address^dherself to tba The man in command wa?T"n~the act of replying when tbe prisoner, by some means which I sba*l never be able to explain, raised bis right arm before his gnards conld stop bim. In tbe palm of bis band lay a knife, somewhat resembling a Malay creese, bat with a shorter and straighter blade. With tbe swiftness of thought tbe band seemed to drop back and instantly resume its upright position. The impetus thus given sent tbe weapon flying along tbe veranda toward us, and if I bad not thrown my loff at?m fUotin aah1<1 Ka W%r\ AVU.V (UUi IA/4UiO UOl UUUU UUU1U MO MM donbt that it would bave found a scabbard in Alie's breast. As it was, it stuck in the sleeve of my white jacket, passing through the fabrio without even scratching the flesh. Unnerving as the incident was, the Beautiful White Devil did not show the slightest sign of fear, but Bimply said, "Thank you!" to me and then resumed her instructions to the guard. Kwong Fung was immediately led away. For some seconds after this departure neither of us spoke, then, noticing that her face was regaining its old expression, I took courage enough to inquire my enemy'b fate.. "Death," she answered. "I bave forgiven that man'times out of number. 1 bave helped, him when he was in distress, and once I rescued him when he was within an ace of being executed. But since he has murdered one of my bravest subjects in cold blood and cannot respect the orders I bave given, but must needs attempt the liyes of those 1 bave sworn to protect, he must he prevented from doing any more barm by the safest means we can employ." She was silent again for a few moments, then picking up the dagger, which had fallen on the floor, she looked Jtlw iw% #a/iA oolfl ? iliU Dbcounjr 1LJ iuo uuu otitu "Dr. De Normanville^ I owe you my life. If ever the opportunity arrives, you will not find me UDgratefnl. It was a near escape, was it not? I shall have to change my servants if they cannot see that their prisoners are unarmed." I was about to reply, "but was interrupted by the arrival of a second batch of litigants, who were followed'by a third. They were all natives, for, as I discovered later, there was not one single instance on record in the history of the island of the white population having found it necessary to resort to law to settle their differences. A more peaceable, happy and law abiding community could not be found. One thing was very noticeable in each of these cases, and that was the pacific reception of and the resignation with which the decisions of their ruler were received. She spoke to them, chided them, sympathized with them and smoothed down their ruffled feathers just as if they had in reality been what she had called them?her children. And.as a result in each case plaintiff and defendant went off together, their differences settled and their former animosity quite forgotten. When the last case was concluded, Alie put on her large white hat, wbicb tnrougnout tne iegai pumutuat had been lying beside her, and we were in the act of setting oat for the village, accompanied by the dog, when an incident occurred whioh was fraught with as mnch interest to me in my study of her extraordinary position and oharao* ter as anything else 1 had so far met with during my stay in the island. We were descending the long stone steps before described, when a young and attractive native woman hove in sight, carrying in her arms a bundle, which on her nearer approach proved to be a baby. Arriving at the steps, she halted and knelt at Alie's feet, kissing Jm hem of her dress, and at the same mne saying something to her in the soft native tongue 1 have so repeatedly admired. When she had finished, Alie turned to me and said: "Doctor, this is your first case, and a sad one. Will you tell me if you can do anything for this poor creature's child?" Turning to the woman, 1 signed to her to let me look at the infant. The poor little tbiug was in the last stage of confluent smallpox and presented a sickening appearance. "Is it a hopeless case?" Alie asked, with almost an entreaty in her voice, a She halted and knelt at Alle'sfeet. note that bad certainly not been there a quarter of an hoar before, when she had sent Kwong Fung to his doom. "Quite hopeless," 1 answered, "but I will endeavor to make death as painless as possible. Will yon tell the poor soul to bring the child to me in half an honr in the village?" Alie translated my speech and must have given the mother some encouragement, for she fell at my feet and in the deepest reverenoe kissed my boots. Then with an obeisance to my companion she | passed down a side path and disappeared I nntmirv fUn frnnQ Alie tamed to me and said, with a deep sigh: "Now, Dr. De Normanville, if yon are ready we will set off on onr tour of inspection." I agreed, and accordingly we passed through the gate and went down the path toward the settlement. TO BE CONTINUED.