2IO THE WOODLANDS ORCHIDS 



found Cypripeds beyond counting and noted certain spots 

 to be re-visited. Then he chose a shady nook for lunch, 

 and Ahtan lit a fire. 



It was beneath a wall of limestone, a tangle of foliage 

 above, where the sunlight struck it, but clothed only in moss 

 and ferns and bare roots in the shade below. There was 

 wind upon the hill as usual, and Ahtan made his fire in a 

 cleft. 



Smidt sat on a log opposite, smoking, after the meal. 

 He remembered afterwards that Ahtan was eager to start, 

 packing his utensils hastily, and predicting ' muchee rain 

 by'm bye minute.' But no signs of change were visible. 

 Presently the Chinaman put a quantity of green leaves upon 

 the fire. Such a volume of smoke arose as called Smidt's 

 attention. 



It was in a cleft, and he sat opposite, as has been said. 

 The blaze had scorched that drapery of ferns. The moss just 

 above had peeled off in flakes, taken fire mostly and dropped. 

 So in places the rock stood bare. Looking in that direction 

 now, Smidt observed a yellow gleam, hidden by smoke for a 

 moment, then reappearing more distinctly. It was worth 

 investigation. He rose leisurely and crossed the little space. 

 Ahtan was standing on one side. As he scattered the fire 

 with his foot, looking for that yellow gleam the while, a 

 tremendous blow felled him. He was dimly conscious of 

 another before his senses fled. 



Not till sunset did Smidt feel strong enough to descend 

 the hill ; before starting he looked for the ' yellow gleam ' — 

 it had vanished, and in place of it was a hole. Bloodstained 

 and tottering he regained the public path. Diggers return- 

 ing from their work laughed heartily at the spectacle, but 

 perhaps they meant no harm. Chinamen must not be judged 

 by the laws that apply to other mortals. At least they 

 warned the chief, who sent two stalwart members of the 



