-or
what?"

"I am King of the Pipes," whispered the old man. "You don't know what
that means," he added, scanning her puzzled face. "No. And that's the
secret. You cannot be told."

"Oh," murmured Ruth, somewhat amused, yet pitying his evident mental
state.

"Hush!" he said again. "You are in danger. Go away from this place at
once, and don't come here again. If my courtiers see you--Ha! Off with
her head! I shall have to follow the kingly custom. It is not my fault,"
he added, in the same low tone, shaking his head mournfully. "We kings
have to lead our lives, you know."

"It must be a dreadful life, if you have to order people's heads cut off
when they have done you no harm," Ruth ventured.

"But my people would not believe that you would do no harm," he
explained. "I can see that you are quite harmless. But they have not the
intelligence I possess. You understand?"

"Quite," said Ruth. "And I will go right away. Thank you for your
kindness."

"That is right, young woman. Go away. And do not return. It is not safe
here."

"Can't--can't I do anything for you?"

"Hush!" warned the old man. "No, I do not think you can. I do not care to
divide my power with any consort. And, unless you are of noble blood I
could not make you Queen of the Pipes. That would never do. Such a
mesalliance would never do. My people would never stand for it--oh,
never!"

"I quite understand that," said Ruth, having difficulty to keep from
smiling.

"Now go, young woman," the man said pompously. "And do not return."

"I will obey you," said Ruth soberly. "If you are sure I cannot help
you."

"Hush!" he warned her again, waving his hand. "They are likely to come at
any moment. And then--"

The girl backed through the bushes and stepped upon the table-like rock.
She would have bade him good-bye, but he hissed after her another
sibilant "hush!" and disappeared as mysteriously as he had come.

Ruth descended to the canoe and waited until they were well away from the
island before she said a word to the other girls about the queer old man.

CHAPTER IX

A FILM MYSTERY

"I told you there were pirates there," Helen declared that evening, when
she and Ruth were in the room they shared together. Wonota slept in a
room adjoining and had already retired.

"I don't think that poor old man was a pirate," returned Ruth, smiling a
little.

"Didn't he tell you he was 'king of the pirates'?" demanded Helen.

Ruth laughed outr