The Meeker herald., 1892-11-05
THE NUWAB'S TREASURE

built felt like leading footing
party through its gardens to the
underground treasure. and when
walked through the Sheitaupara. OF
Devils Quarter OF the city. and
caught sight OF the malicious ewes
looking at me from beneath black
brows fel. my blood run cold. for
believed that in short time we
would feel tho knives OF these dark
faced demons in our vitals
A few days before tho outbreak ut
Meerut whore the Sepoys opened the
rebellion by numbering the white
officers of the native regiment the
old nuwab died. l don't know what
hasteued his death. but it was said
that cobra DIT him on the arm aud
sent him out of the world before he
could add his name to the black
rascals who were about to render the
names of Cawnporo and Lucknow the
most famous rs well as the darkest in
history.
Ono afternoon Casey. dare devil
young fellow who had run away from
home to take service with us in the
Punjab. camc to me ana proposed a
scheme which could have found birth
in no other head than his. This was
secret visit to the palace and trip
to the underground region. provided
we could reach it.
You don't propose to steal any Of
the treasure. do YOU Jack" | asked.
Not much; ring or so for the
girls at home and maybe a charm for
myself when i shall have served out
my time-something tho treasurer OF
the nuwab's household won't miss.
II you don't want to go. Tom, FL get
Murray or Hinton"
l told him that sooner than SEQ him
entrust his secret to those fellows
would join him. and we concluded to
make the attempt that very night
We met no one, or else the palace
was deserted. for it was rumored that
the servants had killed themselves
after the death OF their master, and
keeping on. we came at last to n door
set in the wall, which Casey said was
the way TO the underground vaults.
In short time we were beneath
the palace OF the nuwab. and | leaned
against wall of solid stone while my
companion inspected tho map with a
match in one hand. Not sound
came TO our ears and felt uncanny
for l knew that death would be our
portion IL we were seen by the merci-
less natives.
This is the way" cried Casey.
Don't you see the strange trail on
tho floor here as II II serpent had worn
1t smooth by crawling along the flags?
All We have TO do is to follow this
trail and We will open our eyes to
the greatest treasure outside the royal
palaces of Delhi
Casey led me on and on down
passage which seemed endless, but ut
last we game to an open door SO low
that we had TO stoop to enter tho
chamber beyond. Here | straight
ened and looked at my comrade.
For the life OF me | could not have
found my way out II | had been com
pelled to beat n retreat The walls
were dry. even hot rs il some unseen
fire ragged beyond them, and when
touched them turned to Casey and
declared that We were approaching
the Internal regions but he laughed
and pushed on.
Atlnst we stood in n chamber which
the torch of Casey revealed in n man
nor that drew II startled cry from my
throat. We had reached the main
treasure. house of the nuwab!
r Gems glittered everywhere; they
, lay on the floor in indiscriminate con-
fusion - necklaces rings Indian
brooches daggers with jeweled hilts
and swords tipped with diamonds that
were enough TO have illuminated n
great room. Besides there were
\ drinking cups adorned with eiii2ies OF
N tho native gods and goddesses Brah-
ma, silva Nishuu-the whole cata-
logue was there and not one seemed
missing. down to tho smallest and
7 host insignificant deity of. tho dark
kinned race.
All at once Casey's torch went out
ia we were left in ,tter darkness,
10 light was distinguished without
parent cause, and | felt my heart
me up in my throat as l thought of
nc devil magic connected with the
w Sident
SWEasey struck another match. but it
-Neuld not burn. and in this way VIC
exhausted every ono we had. throwing
them on the floor with curses as we
> deplored our failure.
I'VE must get back"' L cried.
There is some power at work here
and We will find ourselves in trap
unless wo make tracks for the outer
rooms.
My God! the door is closed and
We are already shut in"
These words went to my heart like
q sentence OF death. They fell from
Casey's lips and started toward MIN
In the dark. stumbling over heap oil
regalia only to find his words true
the door was shut and immovable!
Suddenly my hand came in contact
with something which sent thrill o.
horror through every nerve. l die
not have to think the second time tc
guess what had touched III thai
stygian gloom. for tho contact was
squite enough. / had simply laid my
hand on the body OF a boa!
For some time leaned against the
wall. deprived OF the power of speech
! wondered where the serpent was
and how near TO my body was mis- dis
gushing head. and the folds which car
crush stag to death in an instant.
My God. l have touched snake
rang out the voice OF Casey and
felt him reel against me in tho dark
No wonder the old nuwab used Il
eey that his treasure couldn't D.
a lad