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tive feature earlier by half a century at | tious inhabitants declare the tower least than in other parts of Europe. It haunted by "the shriekings of despair may have been introduced from the and many a stifled groan.” The farm East. To St. Per's or Peter's church, of Oja is still held by lineal descendof which a mere fragment remains, is ants of Ung Hans. also attached a story of hidden treasure. A poor child playing among the ruins found a large sum of money. Filling her pinafore with as many pieces as she could carry, she bore them home in triumph; but from that moment she became hopelessly blind, and the remainder of the treasure was sought for in vain.

Perhaps the most pleasing of all the traditions is that which sets forth how Gotland in the first instance became terra firma. According to the early Saga, the "Eye of the Baltic " was an island that floated by night and sank by day. Like Delos:

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Long time the sport of ev'ry blast O'er ocean it was wont to toss, Each of the dark grey wall towers Till grateful Phoebus moored it fast has also a name and tradition of its To Gyaros and high Myconos, own. The most thrilling is that conAnd bade it lie unmoved and brave nected with the Maiden's Tower on the The violence of wind and wave. north-west side of the ancient wall. In the case of Gotland, Thjelvar, son King Waldemar of Denmark plays the of Guti, acted the part of the grateful part of the hero, or, we may say, the god. Driven by famine from the kingvillain of the story. In order to test of Gotland, he set sail with his the truth of the fabulous wealth of Hafdi and his daughter-in-law Visby, Waldemar disguised himself as Whitestar and a small company of a merchant, and, in the autumn of hungry followers, to seek sustenance 1360, took up his abode at the farm of elsewhere. Guided by a raven, they one Ung Hans, who dwelt at Oja, some steered their course towards the floatmiles from the city. Here the king ing isle. Thjelvar, learned in tradition, won the love of the fair but frail daugh- boldly determined to land. Wise men ter of the farmer, obtaining with her had assured him that if fire could be assistance valuable knowledge of the brought to the island it would float no defences of Visby and of the best more. He ran the vessel into a small landing-places for his fleet. In the bay, and, landing, lighted a huge fire of spring, having carefully beguiled his wood. The prediction was fulfilled; unfortunate viciim with many false from that night the island never sauk. promises, he returned to Denmark to His companions gathered round Thjelprepare for the enterprise. Soon after, var, praising his skill and wisdom; but as we know, he besieged, captured, he waved them aside, and, pointing to and sacked the town. The only notice the new moon as it rose over the sea, he bestowed on the wretched girl was lifted his hands towards heaven and to order the farmhouse in which she thanked the gods who had graciously dwelt to be spared. It availed her led him to a new land. Fantastic cerelittle, for, overcome with shame and re- monies followed in honor of the young morse at having betrayed her country-moon, a principal feature being the men, and careless of her doom, she, consumption of vast quantities of new like Constance de Beverley, made full milk out of buffalo horns. Whence confession, meeting with the same came the milk does not appear. Thjel terrible fate as befell the false Mar- var with proper filial reverence named mion's betrothed. Infuriated by her the island Gutiland, after his father. treachery, the townsmen condemned Now a curious dream about three serher to be immured alive, choosing for pents visited Whitestar the first night her" living tomb" the tower which she slept in her new home, a dream has since borne the name of Jung- which in these dyspeptic days might fru. Here she was slowly starved to reasonably have been attributed to overdeath. No wonder that the supersti-indulgence in the new milk. The in

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seer who was of the company, was that Whitestar should become the mother of three sons at a birth, sons who should combine the wisdom of serpents with the innocence of doves, and prove able rulers of the land. Again prediction was verified, and the trio received the names of Guti, Graffr, and Gaufgaun. When Thjelvar died, Hafdi succeeded, and after him came the three sons, who divided the island between them. To this day there are places called by their

names.

" said the king; 66 only two colts can be nourished at the same time ; what does the third do ?"

"Just what I am doing," answered

terpretation, however, given to it by a | found the king and queen at the Smörgads board. The ambassador from Gotland was announced, and Ivar waited at the door expecting an invitation to join the feast. The king, however, allowed him to remain where he stood. After an interval he asked his visitor in a mocking tone what news he had brought from Gotland. Ivar, thoroughly incensed, replied carelessly that there was nothing more remarkable to relate than that a mare had produced three foals at a birth. Indeed," They successfully cultivated the land, improved navigation and trade, and defended themselves from their enemies with point and edge. Their descendants were distinguished | Ivar roughly; "stands and looks on.” for a strong veneration for groves and hills, holy places, rune stones and idols. To these last the aristocracy claimed the privilege of sacrificing their sons and daughters; the humbler folk had to content themselves with an offering of sheep and goats. Probably in this matter they thought themselves aggrieved. As the Gotlanders increased in wealth and power, they were frequently attacked by their neighbors, and although for the most part successful in defending their independence, they considered it prudent to seek the protection of a powerful alliance. Partly by piracy and partly by traffic, valuable treasures had been amassed on the island, and these roused rapacious desires in the minds of the pirate chieftains who were their neighbors.

This bold answer pleased the king, and Ivar was told to come forward and appease his appetite. His mission prospered. In consideration of a yearly payment of sixty marks from the Gotlanders, and the loan of seven ships in time of war, Eric agreed to befriend them whenever they needed help, which, judging from their recent experiences, was likely to be tolerably often. The Gotlanders, who look upon Sweden with kindly eyes, never forget that their first alliance with the mother country was due to Ivar Straben. He has many namesakes.

So great is the veneration for sagas and legends, that most of the young Gotlanders bear the name of some hero of renown in fact or fable. In the same way the gards or farmholdings are often called after heathen deities, and the plants in like manner. Thus, the common yellow stone-crop goes by the name of Thor's skagg (beard), and is considered of good omen to the dwelling on which it grows. nettle, barley, and the small fern, ruta muraria, are also named after the god of thunder.

The stinging

The islanders had several times sought assistance at the Swedish court, sending presents of white horses, oxen with gilded horns, and such-like trifles. It usually happened, however, that the · presents were retained and the petition dismissed. An exception, however, is recorded in the success of one Ivar Straben, or Longshanks, who was chosen as envoy to King Eric of Swe- Numerous relics of ancient times are den. Before departing on his perilous found scattered over the island; notaerrand, Ivar demanded the payment of bly memorial stones bearing quaint three ransoms in hard cash, so that in drawings of men and animals, or of O the event of losing his life, his wife ships in full sail. The most remarkand child would be provided for. Hav-able stands in the parish of Hallingbö. Wing effected this sensible form of in- On one side of the stone are inscribed surance, he arrived at Upsala, and some curious characters, and the draw

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manded a payment of five hundred | Wan Lee says his relatives have raised ounces of silver as a recompense for the money for his marriage, and begs the expense he had been put to in me to let a "Melican officer go with bringing her up. him to see it paid over to Lung Sienand by-the-by, Mr. Arnold, as I have promised to put him ashore at Cheefoo when we weigh anchor, I want you to keep an eye on him and see that he comes back to the ship after he is married. It may be all right, and he is a very civil fellow, but I shall have the officers' jewellery looked over. It's rather queer his coming into this money so suddenly.'

"Now, as far as Wan Lee was concerned, he might just as well have asked five thousand, and that the old rascal knew very well, and doubtless thought that when poor little Sing had taken time to dry her tears, and reflect how impossible it was she should ever become Mrs. Wan Lee, she would, like a sensible girl, take the man of her uncle's choice, rather than run the risk of becoming that most miserable of created beings, a Chinese old maid. And no doubt Lung Sien (Long Sinner' the sailors called him; and they weren't far wrong) was correct in his calculations, for Chinese girls are very much like their American sisters.

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Well, Wan Lee had taken service on the Delaware as a last despairing hope. All the foreign devils were rich, and surely among them there must be some chance of making money. But the poor fellow found that, even on such a mine of wealth as the Delaware must have seemed, there were very close limits to the amount to be picked up by a 'pigtail.'

"Of course I wasn't sorry for the chance of seeing a little real Chinese life, so solemnly promising to keep my eyes glued on to Wan Lee, I went on shore with him in the gig.

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Wan, who was dressed in his best, took me to a little tea-house near the quay, where we found a couple of coolies waiting for us, for the expectant bridegroom had come on shore the night before and made his preparations. I expected to see some of his relatives waiting to meet us, but no one appeared save the proprietor, who received us most obsequiously, and led us into the back room, where Wan took out a key and opened the door of a little off-room "Had it been only a small sum he he had hired for a treasure chamber. needed he might have got help when In it was a long box, which he inthe men knew his story, but five hun- structed the coolies to take up and foldred ounces means five hundred dol-low us. Now, as you most likely all lars, more or less, and that was beyond even Jack's openheartedness.

"So poor Wan's gains were confined to what he could save out of his monthly five dollars, and that was roughly shaken every third month (when we ran into Hong Kong) by the preserved violets, candied slugs, and similar dainties which he would smuggle in to Sing Ooh, for human nature is pretty much the same whether under a dude's silk hat or a coolie's skull-cap.

"We were lying at anchor on one of our visits, and as it was my turn for leave, I had togged up and was coming on deck when I was summoned to the captain. 'Oh, Mr. Arnold,' he said, 'I want you to do a little commission for me.' 'Certainly, sir. What is Why, it's rather a queer affair.

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know, there are no Chinese coins larger than the 'cash,' about six of which go to a cent. So all large sums are paid by silver ingots, which are always carefully weighed at each transaction, and the balances adjusted by strings of cash, so I could make a very fair guess at what the box contained. We hadn't far to carry it, for of course Long Sinner's place was near the river, and very shortly we were in the cool shade of the mat-hung piazza, and Wan was unpacking the box.

"The old merchant had evidently had notice of our coming, for his money scales were ready, and in the room be hind the shop we could hear soft voices and the swish of calico. As might be expected, my companion had eyes for nowhere but the door into that apart

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ment, and the old man and his cashier | the idea that had passed through my had the weighing pretty much to them-mind, that if Lung Sien was left with selves. I nudged Wan once, and asked the money in his hands a lucky day if he oughtn't to check the weights, but might be some time in coming, had also his only answer was, 'Lung Sien hon- presented itself to her, and she spoke orable merchant, if watchee him take as a young woman would be apt to unaway his face' (namely, make him der such circumstances. Anyhow, blush, which I knew to be a grave settled the question, for a jinrickshaw breach of Chinese etiquette). I must was fetched, and the poor little maid own I stared a little at Wan's ill-timed packed in it, and trotted off to the Conpoliteness. I've been in love a few sulate. Neither her uncle nor any of times myself, and I know how soft it his family accompanied her, for he had makes a man, but it struck me if it evidently washed his hands of her. could blind poor Wan to the character Her belongings were bundled out; one of the villainous old chandler opposite little bamboo box held all, and that was us, he must have it badly; but it was carried on the head of a coolie, who did no affair of mine, I had done my duty not need to shirk his turn at the 'rickby warning him. So when Lung Sien shaw in consequence. had weighed each bar very carefully, he brought over the receipt signed and countersigned by himself and his cashier, and also the balance, for the bars weighed a few ounces over the five hundred, which he handed to Wan Lee in long strings of cash, for I can tell you a dollar in Chinese currency makes quite a respectable show.

"When we got to the Consulate the poor girl was helped out, and up the steps, looking rather frightened and woebegone, as ladies, white or yellow, will do when they've got their own way, and are not quite sure what's coming of it; and any one who knows the amount of fuss and ceremony attending a Chinese marriage, even of the lowest class, can understand her feelings in such a position,

With no glad bells, no marriage feast,
No joyous home returning.

afraid that Wan Lee would make some excuse for not going straight back to the ship, and if he did I should be at my wits' end to find out how to fulfil my promise to Captain Roberts.

"The next thing to settle was the marriage, and Lung Sien intimated that the 'honorable festivities' should take place as soon as the astrologers had picked out a lucky day; but this didn't suit the lover; he very soon informed "But, pale and trembling as she was, the old gentleman that, being on the there was no back-out in her, and, by books of the Delaware, he was allee the aid of the interpreter, the happy same Melican man,' and that he meant pair were made one in a very few minto be married at the American Con-utes. Then my worry began, for I was sulate that very day, whatever might be the luck. The uncle remonstrated pretty vigorously, and threatened to return the silver and break off the match, rather than submit to such an indignity; but Wan was firm, and it ended in the "If Hong Kong had been under matter being left to Sing Ooh's deci-native rule it would have been easy sion, and that young lady was brought enough—just take him by the pigtail out from the back shop to give it. She and march him down to the boat, and let was not long in making up her mind; her remarks to the old gentleman I was not scholar enough to understand, but from the stamp of the small foot, and the expression of the little mouth, it seemed something decisive, and from the way her lover and the coolies laughed I think it must have been slightly sarcastic. In fact, I fancy that

the captain and the American consul put it right afterwards with the authorities.

"But under the despotic rule of her Britannic Majesty, where a man mustn't wallop his own nigger, this would have been a risky proceeding, and I should have been stopped before I had got three streets' length, by some puggareed oppressor.

"However, my trouble did not last | was his custom to take silver without at

once testing it, he replied Certainly not,' but that the fact of an American officer, whom he knew to belong to the Delaware, coming with the prisoner had thrown him off his guard, as it seemed to corroborate the tale which Wan Lee had told him the night before, that the officers of the frigate had raised the money by subscription for him.

"I felt rather a buzzing in my head at this answer, which was not improved by Frank Morley, the wildest young scapegrace in the ship, whispering in my ear, 'Oh, Arnold! Arnold! only to think of the 'cute Jack Arnold being used as a tool by a Chinese coolie; what will they say at Harvard when I write home!' However, the magistrate seemed to think it was reasonable answer, and the plaintiff left the stand, to be followed by his cashier, whose evidence was only a copy of his master's. Then came my turn, and I of course corroborated them as far as the buying of the silver was concerned.

long, for Wan himself was the first to
propose an immediate return to the
Delaware. So I escorted him and the
'rickshaw to the quay, and did not leave
them till I saw both in the gig and the
oars splashing up the water. Then I
went off for my own private spree.
Well, that has nothing to do with this
tale, so I'll only say that next morning
I was just thinking of getting up (I was
staying with an old friend in the tea
trade), and trying to make sure whether
the thing on my shoulders was a head
or a forge with the hammers going in-
side it, when there came a knock at the
door, and one of our midshipmites was
shown in. 'Captain Roberts wishes
you to meet him at the police office at
once, sir; Wan Lee has been arrested;
the silver he paid for his wife wasn't
silver at all, and you are wanted for a
witness.' You may guess I tumbled
out sharp and dressed at a sailor's rate,
and was soon on my way, the boy giv-
ing me the particulars as we went
along. After the first surprise was
over I didn't so much wonder at Wan
Lee's fraud as at his being so mad as
to stay near the scene of his knavery,
knowing how soon it must be discov-
ered. When we got to the office the
case had commenced before the police
magistrate and a red-buttoned manda-
rin, who was sitting with him to act as
assessor on knotty points of Chinese
law. Wan Lee was in the dock, look-tempt.'
ing pallid, but not so cast down as I
expected; but poor little Sing Ooh was
weeping bitterly, in spite of a gruff
word of sympathy given her by the
good old captain from time to time.
There were the usual court loungers,
and a number of liberty men from the
frigate mixed among them, freely ex-
pressing their sympathy for Sing Ooh,
and their desire to give 'Long Sinner'
a keelhauling. Lung Sien was giving
his evidence as I came in, and it was
terribly simple and plain. Wan Lee
had paid him the silver, it was put
straight into the strong room, and on
being tested in the morning was found
to be base metal.

"On the magistrate asking him if it

a very

"Then a silversmith was called to prove the baseness of the metal, and that closed the case for the prosecution, and very black it looked against poor Wan Lee, as the magistrate turned to him for his defence. 'That poor little girl is in for two years' widowhood at least,' whispered Frank to me; 'they can't give him less for such an at

The

"But before the prisoner was sworn (following the very sensible custom of the middle kingdom,' where they don't shut out the evidence of the man who may be supposed to know most about the case) a question arose as to how the oath was to be administered. other witnesses had taken it in the usual Shintoo way, by breaking a plate, and the mandarin was for swearing Wan in the same way; but the magistrate, looking to the marriage of the day before, thought the oath should be put in the usual Christian form. some little discussion the prisoner's opinion was asked, but that astute young man, with an evident determination to offend neither of his judges,

After

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