n richer, if we go on the ship to the southland."

"Yes", said one of the oyster carriers, "if all that is true--"

"And if we are not drowned on the long journey," put in another.

"Or, if 'the devils from the West' do not kill us for our money after
we have brought all the gold from the land to the ship for them," put
in the third fish carrier.

"Yes, but if I knew that I would surely come back with some of the
gold, I would go," added the fourth.

"There, just see how sharp you all are!" said Lohe. "Just such doubts
as these troubled my friends and myself, so we are here to consult the
priest of the God of the Golden Fish, who surely knows. We have
promised to have a new fish made of solid gold to replace the gilded
wooden one, if he counsels us well and has a care over us while on the
way. The priest is now in his cell burning incense before the God, and
when the moon reaches that constellation in the middle of the heavens,
he will tell us the God's answer."

The moon had almost reached the place designated. Lihoa and his
followers with the rest of the men seated themselves on the mossy rocks
before the sanctuary, to await the answer of the spirit. The nearer
the time came the quieter they were; until at last they scarcely dared
breathe. The rim of the moon touched the constellation: no sound was
heard in the cave. Softly the silver beams of light fell upon the bare
rocks and cast over the "waters of the sea a shimmering bridge that
stretched from the foot of the hill away into the darkness.

"Will the spirit not answer?" whispered Lihoa impatiently.

"Wait. The moon is not yet in the middle of the constellation,"
answered Lohe. Hardly had he uttered these words when from the cell
came the sound of a gong, then a song in a high nasal tone, which was
plainly heard, but being in a strange language was not understood by
any of the listeners.

"The Spirit speaks to the priest," said the credulous men, trembling
with superstitious fear. The secret song lasted for a minute perhaps,
then from the depths of the cave came a flash of lightning and a loud
peal of thunder. Many of the Chinamen, half frightened out of their
wits, fled screaming at the top of their lungs. Again the gong
sounded, and the priest came to the entrance of the cell with a smoking
pan of incense in his hand. So suddenly did he appear, that it seemed
as if he had sprung out of the very rock on which they stood. All gave
a wild cry