Part 9 (1/2)

Some rods up the ascent Ruth came to an open place--a table of rock that might really have been a giant's dining-table, so flat and perfectly shaped it was. She could look down upon Helen and Wonota, and they looked up and called to her.

”Look out for the pirates!” shouted Helen, with laughter.

Ruth waved her hand, smiling, and, crossing the rock, parted the brush and stepped out of sight of her friends. Two steps she took through the clinging bushes when a most surprising figure started up before her.

There was plenty of light, even if the sun had gone down. She was not uncertain at all as to the nature of the figure that confronted her--that of a man.

She saw almost instantly that the old man's brown eyes were more like a child's in expression than like an angry man's. He grinned at her, but the grimace was involuntary or meaningless.

”Hus.h.!.+” he whispered. ”Hus.h.!.+”

Ruth remained both quiet and speechless, looking into his wrinkled old face calmly. She thought he must be a beggar from his clothing, but she could not imagine him a robber, nor even one of Helen's ”pirates.” As she said nothing the old man repeated his sibilant warning:

”Hus.h.!.+”

”I am 'hus.h.i.+ng' just as hard as I can,” whispered the girl in return, and smiling a little now. ”Why must I 'hush'?”

”Hus.h.!.+” he said again, quite as earnestly. ”You are in danger of your life, young woman.”

”Not from you, I am sure,” she returned. ”You would not try to hurt me.”

”Hus.h.!.+” he repeated, looking back over his shoulder into the thicker wood. ”They may come at any moment now. And although I am their king, they would kill you. You see, kings aren't as powerful now as they used to be before the war.”

”So I understand,” agreed Ruth soberly. ”But who are you king of--or what?”

”I am King of the Pipes,” whispered the old man. ”You don't know what that means,” he added, scanning her puzzled face. ”No. And that's the secret. You cannot be told.”

”Oh,” murmured Ruth, somewhat amused, yet pitying his evident mental state.

”Hus.h.!.+” he said again. ”You are in danger. Go away from this place at once, and don't come here again. If my courtiers see you--Ha! Off with her head! I shall have to follow the kingly custom. It is not my fault,”

he added, in the same low tone, shaking his head mournfully. ”We kings have to lead our lives, you know.”

”It must be a dreadful life, if you have to order people's heads cut off when they have done you no harm,” Ruth ventured.

”But my people would not believe that you would do no harm,” he explained. ”I can see that you are quite harmless. But they have not the intelligence I possess. You understand?”

”Quite,” said Ruth. ”And I will go right away. Thank you for your kindness.”

”That is right, young woman. Go away. And do not return. It is not safe here.”

”Can't--can't I do anything for you?”

”Hus.h.!.+” warned the old man. ”No, I do not think you can. I do not care to divide my power with any consort. And, unless you are of n.o.ble blood I could not make you Queen of the Pipes. That would never do. Such a mesalliance would never do. My people would never stand for it--oh, never!”

”I quite understand that,” said Ruth, having difficulty to keep from smiling.

”Now go, young woman,” the man said pompously. ”And do not return.”

”I will obey you,” said Ruth soberly. ”If you are sure I cannot help you.”