when the chief bonze died, the ruler
of Siam, after much hesitation, gave the coveted office to Yu Chan.
Judge, then, of the fierce hatred which this roused in Klan Hua's
breast, and ye will understand the reason of the plot which he formed
against the one who held the position he so much desired."

"Never mind about the quarrels of these estimable bonzes, Hassan,"
interrupted Denviers. "Go on and tell us of these hill-men, or you won't
get that yarn finished before they return, in which case we may never
have the chance to hear the end of it."

"The sahib is always impatient," answered the Arab gravely; then he
continued, quite heedless of Denviers' suggestion: "On the nights when
the ruler went not to Klan Hua's cell, the latter gathered there several
of the other bonzes, and they sat darkly plotting till morning came.
Then they crept stealthily back to their own cells, to shift their eyes
nervously each time that the stern glance of Yu Chan fell upon them, as
he seemed to read there their guilty secret.

"They planned to poison him, but he left the tampered food untasted.
Then they drew lots to assassinate him as he slept, but the one whose
tablet was marked with a poniard was found lifeless the next day, with
his weapon still clutched in his stiffened fingers, and none knew how he
died. That day the eyes of Yu Chan grew sterner set than ever, as he
gazed searchingly into the face of each bonze as they passed in a long
procession before him, while the conspirators grew livid with fear and
baffled rage at the cold smile with which he seemed to mock at the
failure of their schemes. Then they made one last effort a few days
after, and ye shall hear how it ended.

"The stately Meinam, which glitters before us under the midnight sky,
yearly overflows and renders the earth about it productive. Far as the
history of Siam is recorded in the traditions of the race, it has been
the custom to perform a strange ceremony, intended to impress the common
people with awe for the ruler. Even now the King of Siam, he who sends
the silver tree to China in token of subjection, still adheres to it,
and on the day when the waters of the Meinam have reached their highest
point he sends a royal barge down the swollen waters manned by a hundred
bonzes, who command the turbid stream to rise no higher. So then it
happened that the rise of the river took place, and Klan Hua, who was
learned in such things, counted to the hour when the barge