The Island Mystery

al times. Twice they arrived by different routes at the large central kitchen. Twice they left it by different doors. They grew hot with laughter and bewilderm

nted red and green, high prowed, high sterned. The biggest of them had a mast stepped right forward, a mast which raked steeply aft, across which lay the yard of a lateen sail. Six oarsmen sat in her. The other is

le apart from them stood a tall bare-headed man. He had a long white beard. There seemed to be some kind of consultation going on. When the Queen and Phillips appeared on the steps below the castle the group on the steamer broke up. Captain Wilson, Mr. Donova

," said Phillips. "They are

shall I do? What will they do? They can't al

ng sort of position. They'll have to climb up the steps to get to you. I wish the

ace beneath the limp royal standard. Mr. Ph

after him. Captain Wilson bade his men push off. He remained, a crit

ing to be a pageant. The inhabitants o

m?" said the Queen. "Wha

uage. He's been explaining the situation to the high priest of the island for the last half-hour while we blew bugle calls

h bo

. "A dialect, a patois. Partly Turkish

professors. If you found a university on the island, Daisy, you must

the men are as gay as the women. Oh! there's the dinkiest little baby with a brown fac

ey talked rapidly in low voices and gazed with frank curiosity at the little group above them. Women held babies high in their arms. Men took

ith gold thread. Underneath it was a blue tunic reaching to his knees. Round his waist was a broad crimson sash. He advanced with a grave dignity. Each bow-and he bowed often-was an act of ceremonial courtesy. There was no trace of servi

t, low tone. Smith stepped fo

s," he said, "the

religion?"

ple; but I don't know that the Church of England would consider him as a regular

e say?" aske

y wish me to tran

ueen

elder of Salissa and father o

all his children?" asked th

Smith, "though I expect he's fathe

said th

f the dwellers on the island, bid the Engli

ll him that-though I would rather like a brown baby to play with, just loaned to me

id Donovan, "that we're Ame

Smith, "but I expect it'l

difference between an Englishman and an American clear to

nswer was tr

t the white feet of the English lady and she shall take th

red to fulfil the promise he had made on their behalf. Five smiling young women with babies in their arms detached

ure to roll away and fall into the sea. Tell them to-morrow will be time enough, and-an

t down on the steps and laid a crowing baby on her lap. The mothers smiled and drew nearer to her. Other women from the crowd below gathered round her. Their shyness disappeared completely, too completely. They stroked her hair. They patted her face and hands. They were filled with curiosity about her clothes. They

my clothes off alt

re ready to give their babies to her if she asked for them. They would not forgo if they could help it the delight of examining new and fascinat

mustn't do it. I'm sure they don't mean an

or even heard. There was a babble of soft voices. They were

ke again, gra

the fairest and the deftest. If it be the good pleasure of the English lady Kalliope shall serve her day and night, doing in all things the bidding of the Queen wherein if Kalliope fail by

an't dare say a word to Kalliope even

trot out the young woman. You must have a maid of some sort, Daisy, and

th to translate what Donovan said. He turned to the women crowded below him. He raised

lli

gested profound humility, but her eyes, when she raised them, sparkled, and her lips were parted in a gay smile. She was evidently in no fear of an immediate beatin

the Queen's face and her eyes were full of laughter and delight. Stephanos took her by the hand, led her forward and

he girl the same wages that I undertook to give to the

below. She was at the moment the most fortunate, the most envied young woman on the island. Hers would be the inexpressible joy of examining at her leisure all the wonderful clothes worn or possessed by the Queen. She realized t

meals she stood behind the Queen's chair. During the day she followed the Queen from room to room. She would stand silent in a corner for an hour waiting while her mistress read or talked. There was no escaping from the girl. At n