Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-04-28
CHAPTER XVI
Az ENELEaa InIN.

chamber In the woods, Arthur Dunbar
thought, when he awolfc tho morning
after Aaron Cores untimely end; foi
how could the corpse have been re-
moved without his awalscning2 And
where had the Cingulcse girl betalter
hcrsclf2 Yes, he was alone; and the
object Of his sudden dcscrtion filed him
with surprise. That his young nurse
had left him forgood was sclf-npparcnt,
for she had tied the dog by piece OF
cord 10 the root Of u tree at the entrance
Of the rude apartment.
He was half glad TO be alone, yet re.
grctful that the opportunity had been
denied him Of making her understand
how grateful ho was for her tender
solicitudc, especially when he saw that
TO the last she had been mindful Of his
interests; for his lSnapsack, rifle and
ammunition were placed ready TO his
hand, and skin bag lay beside them
lllcd with dried meat and the heavy,
soddcn maize cakes, which did duty for
bread in that region. All these prepar-
atoms spoke ns plainly as words that
the unknown friends, who had been
playing special providence TO him, meant
him TO take his immediate departure.
His first act was ~ examine the out
side Of the dwelling which had so long
afforded him shelter lie found II to
be simply u cave in the solid rock,
partly natural, partly the work of man,
and doubtless ono Of the many little
temples Of Buddha, abandoned as n
place Of worship centuries ago, which
are 10 be found all over this interesting
country His next tas, was TO exam
inc Cores papers, the most valuable OF
which was chart and n long descrip-
ton Of the country he would have to
travel From this It appeared that he
was even now within few days march
Of the place whore Capt, Frank Archer
had carried the victim OF his trcachcry.
This was described as a ruined city.
Arthur Dunbar had read enough TO
know that there were hundreds of such
mysterious ruins scattered over the face
OF the country, even in neighborhoods
now almost inacccssiblc-citics OF re-
mote cras, displaying in their moldcr-
ing fragments relies of civilization far
In advance OF the barbarian inhabitants
scattered over the miserable villages In
the present day.
Needless e. relate Arthur's tramp
over the rough path through the woods,
Of the risks he ran and tho dangers ho
encountered
Behold him as he steps from the darl,
shadows Of the forest ono moonlight
night into the broad cSpansc Of love.
~ plain, and gazes awestruck at the
ruins Of a city, once magnificent whose
grandeur has vanished like tale that
Is told. The palaces have fallen, the
walls have tuttcrcd To their foundation,
the leopard crouchcs in tho porch of the
temple, the owl roosts In its easements,
tho jackal roams It's deserted streets.
Only the great granite slabs of Buddha,
mocking time, stand perfect In their lone.
lygrandeur. Gigantic idols, before whom
millions once bowed, vacantly stare at
the utter dcsolation. No man can say
what fate bcfcll those hosts Of heathens,
who, centuries before tho time OF
Christ, trod the streets of this once fair
city.
Arthur Dunbar gazed at the sight in
Hoi'lhl NNti lheu, gaining tine uOg 10
his side, he sought shelter under u
ruined gateway, to await the dawn Of
the day, which he knew would be so
fatcful TO him.
His hours Of precious sleep were
short. When the blazing sun dawncd,
he realized more fully the beauty Of his
surroundings. lie was on the verge of
plain studded with beautiful trees,
among which the palm lowered in
graceful majesty. Pcacocl,s spread
their gaudy plumage as they strutted
over the green turf pelicans iloated
like huge balls OF snow In the air, and
great white land cranes stood as still as
though they We're carved in marble.
But harlil the gurgling, sweet, soft
sounds Of the bulbul and tho grooming
melody Of the Jungle partridge,
But Duubars spirit was too vcXed foI
him to rcycl in the glory OF beautiful
sccnoryi for he fully realized the dan
gers Of his position.
Keeping under the shadows OF the
crumbling walls, he threaded his way
through the labyrinth Of ruins, his dog