t thickness. He found himself in a garden
of the greatest beauty, and magnificent proportions. Temples and other
buildings of the most elaborate and artistic design and construction
showed here and there amid a profusion of gloriously-foliaged trees and
flowering shrubs. No sound broke the silence except the twittering of
birds; and not a single person was visible.

The guide, who had not yet uttered a single word, now turned and
motioned Carpenter to follow him along a winding path, paved with white
marble slabs, and bordered with gaily-hued flowers. Suddenly they
emerged upon a lovely sward of the brightest green, in the centre of
which a fountain played, sending its fine feathery spray high in air.

On one side of the fountain were a number of "braves" who stood in a
close circle, and, as Carpenter approached, two of them silently stepped
out of the cordon, brought their rifles to the salute, and the guide
whispered to him to enter.

Within the circle was Kwang, who was seated in his chair of office. He
rose and greeted the captain politely.

"I promised you that you should again see the criminal in whom you and
your officers took such a deep and benevolent interest. I now fulfil
that promise--and leave you." And, with a malevolent smile, he bowed and
disappeared.

The guide touched Carpenter's arm.

"Look," he said in a whisper.

* * * * *

Within a few inches of a wavering line of spray from the fountain,
purposely diverted so as to fall upon the grass, lay what appeared at
first sight to be a round bundle tied up in a buffalo hide. A black
swarm of flies buzzed and buzzed over and around it.

"Draw near and look," said the harsh voice of the officer who commanded
the grim, silent guard, as he stepped up to the strange-looking bundle,
and waved his fan quickly to and fro over a protuberance in the centre.

A black cloud of flies arose, and revealed a sight that will haunt
Carpenter to his dying day--the purpled, distorted face of a living man.
The eyelids had been cut off, and only two dreadful, bloodied, glaring
things of horror appealed mutely to God. The victim's knees had been
drawn up to his chin, and only his head was visible; for the fresh
buffalo hide in which his body had been sewn, fitted tightly around his
neck.

Shuddering with horror, and yet fascinated with the dreadful spectacle,
Carpenter asked the officer how long the prisoner had been tortured.

"Four