g his
voice, he added mysteriously: "They think I'm _convarting_ you!"

"What--to Buddhism!" And Shafto burst out laughing.

"Faix, ye might do worse."

"Possibly; but I am all right as I am."

"That's a good hearing. Well, I'm not for troubling anyone's mind,
shure; aren't we all," with a sweep of his powerful hand, "shtriving to
reach the same place, and if it's what I expect, I'll hope to meet ye?
There's the gong for prayers, and I must fall in."

Two days later Shafto received a letter written in a neat clerkly hand.
It said:

"If you will be at the Great Goddema in the woods beyond the Turtle
Tank by five o'clock to-morrow, Tuesday, you may hear news,--M.R."

The Great Goddema in the woods is a gigantic image in alabaster,
encompassed by palm ferns, and half clothed in flowering creepers. The
day of this particular shrine has sunk below the horizon; worshippers
are absent and the flowers laid around and about are entirely the
contribution of Nature herself. Some day the shrine will disappear
altogether, buried, like many others, in appreciative vegetation.

As Shafto approached the rendezvous, he saw the _pongye_ seated on the
steps, engrossed in a book with a red cover, which he hastily thrust
into some inner pocket as he rose to his feet.

"Ye might not think it, but I'm a great reader," he explained
apologetically. "It passes the time and is no sin; the saints
themselves were wonderful writers and readers. A friend here gets me
books out of the public library, and then I borrow when I can."

"What have you got hold of now?" inquired Shafto.

"'Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World,' and before that, 'Jungle
Tales.' I could tell a good few myself; animals and birds does be very
friendly and confidential with me; but it's not books I brought you
here to talk about, but cocaine and opium."

"Yes, rather. Have you any news?"

"I have so. I've found out what I may call the head lair of the
divils."

"Good for you--how splendid! How did you manage it?"

"Bedad, it was a terrible touch-and-go business, as you shall hear.
You see, I should first explain how I get so much liberty to go
mouching round the bazaars and wharves. Being for so long weak in the
head--and also of another country--allowances are made, and I'm looked
on as an oddity, and yet well respected, for I'm clever with cures and
language. Well, I used to poke about among a lot of scum that has no
respect for any cloth wh