ii6 THE WOODLANDS ORCHIDS 



prau doubtless, ready to be launched, Micholitz skirted 

 this channel. He noticed a curious group of persons sitting 

 apart — an old man, two women, a boy, and a girl. The 

 elders were squatting motionless upon the sand, so bowed 

 that the long wool drooping hid their faces ; the children 

 lay with their heads in the women's laps. None looked up ; 

 in passing he observed that these latter were bound. 



The boat-house — so to call it — spanning the channel, 

 was a hundred feet long, built of palm thatch, with sub- 

 stantial posts at due distance. As he walked along it, 

 Micholitz became aware of an unpleasant smell. It was not 

 strong. But in turning the further corner he marked a 

 great purple stain upon the sand. Flies clustered thick 

 there. It was blood. And then, upon the wall of thatch 

 above, and the corner post, he traced the stain streaming 

 broadly down. He looked to the other angle. The horrid 

 mark was there also. They could not see him from the 

 beach. Easily he parted the crackling palm leaves, and 

 thrust in his head. At a few feet distance rose the lofty 

 stern-post, carved and painted, with two broad shells glisten- 

 ing like eyes in the twilight. No more could he see, dazzled 

 by the glare outside. That passed. He turned to the right 

 hand — and drew back with a cry. A naked corpse, with 

 head hanging on its chest, was bound to the corner post — 

 the same to left. 



Poor Micholitz felt sick. He ran from the cursed spot. 

 So glowing was the sunlight round, so sweet and soft the 

 shadow of the near forest — and those awful things in the 

 midst ! The old hymn rang in his ears — 



Where every prospect pleases 

 And only man is vile. 



He hurried towards the trees. 



An outburst of yells and laughter made him turn. The 



