The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-12-23
THE LOST OPAL
OF MYSORE.
BY WILLIAM MURRAY GRAYDON.
Graydon.
CHAPTER VIII.

IN WHICH "A THRILLING TRIUMPH
TURNS TO BLACK DESPAIR.
AT this critical moment Paltu's prompt
ness and ready wits saved himself and
companions from a terrible fate. Quick
as flash the little Hindoo snatched Up
a loaded revolver and thrust it at Pink.
The latter let go OF the handle to seize
the weapon, at the same time pushing
Myles to one side.
BY this time one Of the troopers had
hold of the slab, and the other was maxi
ing ready for a deadly stroke with his
tulwar.
The blow fell, but Pink cleverly lodged
IL. Then, in rapid succession he emptied
three chambers of the revolver point
blank.
The stunning reports put out the match,
and nlled the passage with smoke. Above
the thunderous echoes were heard two
loud spiaches as the dead or dying rum
ans reeled off the platform.
The outer vault was; now SWarming with
troopers, and their fierce yellS made the
boys Shudder.
Pink grabbed the iron handle, set his
teeth nard, and threw all his strength in
10 one mighty effort.
With a harsh creaking the ponderous
slab started to move. Thudi it swung
sullenly shut. and instantly the wild up
roar on the other side faded to a low, in
distinct hum.
Pink dropped Imply back, exhausted
\ and painting, but he instantly struggled
his knees, and called boarsely 1or a
light.
Jack quickly struck match, and crept
Forward. The flame revealed two mas
'sive vertical bolts on the face of the slab,
and under each, in the floor of the pas
sage, was d deep socket
The bolts were warped and rusty, but
Flnk attacked them with a spade, and
soon drove them home.
Safe, at last, lads" he cried. "a 'un-
ored men won't open that slab now. I'm
glad the blocdy part of the work is over''
the troopers" said Jack "In never for
get the races of those last two"
"A little more and they would have
1t ''ad TO be-" Pink muttered. 1T was
their lives or ours. And now we must be
off, lads. The air in ere amt any too
The boys were eager to ask more ques-
tions, but Pink was already crawling
deeper into the passage on hands and
keep match burning, Jack" he di-
rected, land don't lose the box. 1t never
entered my stupid cad to bring lam
At distarce of ten feet from the slab
the low corridor terminated in a small
square chamber, from which a fight of
stone steps assembled inco gloomy black
ness.
\ Pink led the way up very slowly. so
that Jack, who was next him, could east
~ manage the supply of light.
81 SIiOIl lHl6TNdlS the steps TWISTED and
zIgzagged in a most bewildering manner,
and the higher the party mounted the
purer and cooler they found the air Their
Ts0Inira ton was aroused by the strength
Aand solidity of the stonework and by the
Y intricate planning Of the cavernous pas
lsage.
Suddenly they saw a glfmmer of gray
light overhead. and a lew more steps
brought them 10 an arched exit from the
barrier.
Passing through they found themselves
en- small projecting balcony surrounded
by low parapet.
For several minutes they stood in mute
wonder ard delight. Beneath them the
great barrier dropped sheer seventy feet
to the ground, while Its summit was thir-
ty feet overhead.
To right and left the grim mountain
walls seemed to pierce the sky as they
cOnverged far in the distance. Between
them lay the continuation of the gorge
which Tippoo Sahib had SO effectively
haired TO nan and beast. From such a
height, and in the murlIy light, the mar
row strip Of forest resembled a long,
black ribbon.
Il wonder If the troopers have gone"
said Myles. I'D like to have a peep down
the other side of the barrier
is there no way by which they can cut
around and get at us?'' inquired Jack.
miles on foot, and over the toughest kind
Of country" Pink replied, land / 'ardly
fear they'll try. that, since they've got
dead and wounded to care for. If 1 'ad
aimed little better Mogul Mir would
ave q bullet through is cart instead of
is arm"
And how about the opal?" exclaimed
Myles. II hope we don't have to go down
there after it." pointing into the valley.
But we do, lad,' said Pink quietly.
That's why 1 brought the rope along
And how will we get back? We can't
shin up a 70-foot rope
I'VE could if we lad to- answered Pink,
''but it would be 'ardly safe to return
through the barrier. We might lind the
troopers waiting for us outside the graf
ing.
''Our best plan is this, lads he added:
We'll get the opal and then push on
through the gorge and the mountains to
the coast. That's about fifty miles, and
when we strike q seaport we can tele-
graph 10 Alysore."
Just the thing" exclaimed Myles,
We'll try to hit Mangalore and come
home from there on horses. It's mill