The Mysterious Shin Shira | Page 5

to show me some caves in the rocks which are not generally

discovered by visitors.
They were very fine caves, one of them being called The Princess's
Parlour; and while we were exploring this, I suddenly heard a roar as of
some mighty animal in terrible pain.
I turned to the guide with, I expect, rather a white face, for an
explanation.
He smiled at my alarm, however, and told me that it was "only the
Bellows," and suggested a visit to the spot whence the sound
proceeded.
We scrambled out of the cave and descended to the sands again, and
passing behind a tall rock called The Tower, we saw a curious sight.
From between two enormous boulders came at intervals a great cloud
of fine spray, which puffed up into the air for about twenty feet,
accompanied by the roaring noise that I had previously noticed. My
young guide explained to me that the noise and the spray were caused
by the air in the hollow between the two boulders being forcibly
expelled through a narrow slit in the rocks as each wave of the
incoming tide entered. Having made this quite clear to me, he took his
departure, warning me not to remain too long on the sands, as the tide
was coming in rather rapidly.
I sat for some time alone on the rocks, gazing with fascinated interest at
the curious effect produced by the clouds of spray coming from "the
Bellows," and was at last just turning to go when I started in surprise,
for there, sitting on another rock just behind me, was the little Yellow
Dwarf, Shin Shira, energetically fanning himself with the little yellow
fan which I had noticed at our previous meeting.
"Oh! it's you, is it?" he remarked, when he caught sight of my face. "I
thought I recognised the back view; you see it was the last I saw of you
when I paid you that visit in your study."
"And disappeared so very suddenly," I answered, going up and offering

my hand, for I was very pleased to see the little man again.
[Illustration]
"I was obliged to. You know of my unfortunate affliction in having to
appear or disappear whenever my fairy great-great-great-grandmother
wishes. He's safe enough, isn't he?" he added, inconsequently nodding
his head towards "the Bellows."
"Who is? What do you mean?" I inquired.
"The dragon, of course," said Shin Shira.
"The dragon!" I exclaimed.
"Certainly--you know that there's a dragon imprisoned behind those
rocks, don't you?"
I laughed.
"No," I said, "although I must admit that I was at first inclined to think
that something of the sort was concealed there. I've had it all explained
to me, though," and I proceeded to inform him of what the guide had
told me concerning the matter.
"Pooh! Rubbish! He doesn't know what he's talking about," said Shin
Shira contemptuously; "I'll tell you the real story of those rocks as it
occurred, let's see--about eight or nine hundred years ago. I remember
it quite well, for it was one of those occasions when I was most
distressed at having to disappear at what was for me the very worst
possible moment."
I settled myself comfortably on the rocks beside Shin Shira and
prepared to listen with great interest.
"Let's think for a moment," said the little Yellow Dwarf, looking about
him.
"It began--oh, yes! I know now. In that cave over yonder--I was eight

or nine hundred years younger then, and a very warm-blooded and
impressionable young fellow at that time; and I can remember being
struck with the extreme beauty of the charming Princess whom I
discovered in tears there when I suddenly appeared.
"The cave itself was hung about with the most beautiful silken curtains
and tapestries, and on the floor were spread rugs and carpets and
cushions of Oriental magnificence. Tiny tables, inlaid with ivory and
mother-of-pearl, were scattered about, on which were caskets filled
with beautiful jewels and rare curios from foreign lands.
"The Princess herself was reclining on one of the cushions, sobbing as
though her heart would break, and her beautiful hair was lying in
dishevelled glory about her shoulders.
"I was afraid of alarming her, so I coughed slightly to attract her
attention.
"She started up immediately with a look of terror, but was calmed in an
instant when she saw who it was.
"'Oh!' she cried, 'have you slain him? You must have done in order to
have reached here. Oh! have you come to save me?' and she looked at
me with wild, eager eyes.
"'Calm yourself, fair lady!' said I. 'What is it that alarms you? Be sure
that I will do all in my power to protect you from any evil that threatens
you.'
"'The Dragon!' gasped the