Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-01-11

tory Of rock Jutted out over the unclimba- ble gulf below them, and toward this spot Nam directed his steps. Running along the ridge, he halted at its end. Indeed he must do so unless Ee would fall 1000 feet or moro to the bottom of tho ravine be- meath. Then he turned and faced his pur- suers, who by now had reached the edge of the cliff
 Come one step nearer" !" he cried, sand | let this bag fall whence you never shall recover it, for no foot can tread these walls of rock, and there is water at the bottom of the gulf"
 Leonard and Otter stopped, trembling for the fate of the jewels.
 "Listen, aeliverer, 7" cried Nam. ''You came to this land to seek these trinkets, is 1t not sof And now you have found them and would be gone with themi But before you go you would kill me for vengeance's sake because I have shown you to be cheats and have sought to offer you up to those gods whom you have blasphemed, but the red stones you desire are in my hands, and if I unclasp my fingers they will be lost to you and all the world for ever. Say, now, if I bring them back to you in safety, will Sou swear to give me my life and suffer me to go my ways in peaces"
 "Yes, we will swear it." answared Leonard, who could not conceal the an- guish of his anxiety. Come back, Nam, and you shall depart unharmed, but If you let the stones fall then you shall fol low them."
 You swear ity" said the priest con temptuously. "You are come to this, that you will sacrifice your revenge to satisfy your greed. O white man, with a noble heart! Now will o'ermatch you, for I, who am not noble, will sacrifice my life to disappoint you of your desires. Whatl Shall the ancient holy treasure of the Peo- | pie of the Mist be stolen by two white thieves and their black houndp Neverl l would have killed you all had time been granted to me, but in that failed, and l am glad that have failed, for now will deal you bitterer blow than any death May the curse of Jal and Aca cleave to you, you dogs without a kennell May you live outcasts and die in the dirt, and may your fathers and your mothers and your children spit upon your bones as dol Farewellr' and shaking his disen- gagged hand at them he spat toward them, then, with a sudden motion, hurled him. self backward of the point of rock and vanished into space, bearing the treasure | with him.
 For awhile the three stood aghast and stared at each other and the point of rock which had beep occupied by the venerable form of the late high priest. Then Juanna sank upon the snow, sobbing
 Ut is my fault" she walled, all my fault. Just now l was boasting to myself that I had won wealth for you, and I have lost everything. And we have suffered for nothing. and, Leonard, you are began. Oh, 1t is too much, too muehr'
 "Go out there, Otter" said Leonard in hoarse voice, pointing to the place whence Nam had hurled himself, and see wheth- CT there is any chance of our being able to climb down into the gulf"
 The dwarf obeyed and presently re- ! turned, shaking his head. It Is impossi- blc baas," he said. The walls of rock are sheer as though they had been cut with a knife. Moreover, there is water at the bottom of them, as the old wizard said, for can hear the sound of it. Oh, baas, baas, why did you not kill him at first or let me kill him afterward? Surely told you that he would bring evil on us. We'll, | they are gone, and we can never find them | again, so let us save our lives If we may, l for, after all, these are more to us than the | bright stones. Come now and help me, baas, for I have found two flat rocks that will serve our turn, a big one for you and the Shepherdess sinco doubtless she will fear to make this journey alone, and a smaller one for myself"
 Leonard followed him without a word.
 He was too heartbroken to speak, while l Juanna rose and returned to the spot where Nam had robbed her. Looking up presently, her eyes still blurred with tears, | she saw Leonard and the dwarf laborlously pushing two heavy stones across the snow | toward her
 | Now, deliverer, ' he said, when am safe across, all that you must do is to lie flat upon the stone, both of you, and to push little with the spear. Then before you know it you will be by my side
 All right" said Leonard doubtfully. Well. l suppose that you had better start. Waiting won't make the matter any easier"
 "Yes, baas, will go now. An, little did think that I should ever be called on to take such a ride as this. We'll, 1t will be something to make songs about after. ward"
 And Otter laid himself face downward on the stone with Q little laugh, though Leonard noticed that, however bravo his spirit might be, he could not prevent his flesh from revealing its natural weakness, for it quivered pitifully.
 Now, baas, he said, gripping the edges of the stone with his large hands, when I give the word to you, push gently, and then you will sec how black bird can fly. Put your head lower, baas'
 Leonard obeyed, and the dwarf whisper ! ed in his ear
 II only want to say, baas, in case we should not meet again, for accidents win happen even on the safest roads, that nm sorry that mado such a pig of myself l yondor It was so duh down there in that l hn1a oF oYH ff,s,f fnr 1I, I all things wrong. Moreover, drink and a wife have corrupted many better man. Don't answer, bhas. but push. for I Gfn growing afraid"
 Placing his hand at the back of the stone, Eeonard gave it 6 gentIe Shove. Il began to move, very slowly at first, then moro fast and faster yet, till 1t was rush 1 ing over the smooth ice pathway with e whirring sound like that produced by the flight of bird. Presently it had reached the bottom of the first long slope and was climbing the gentle rise opposite SO slowly that for awhile Leonard thought that it was going to stop. It crossed its brow, however, and vanished for Q few seconds into dip, where tho watchers could not see 1t; then it appeared again at tho head of the second and longest slope, of which tho angle was very steep. Down this it rushed like an arrow from a bow till it reached the narrow waist of the bridge, oi which tho general conformation bore some resemblance to that of a dead wasp lying on its back. Indeed, from where Leonard and Juanna stood the span of Ice at this ! point seemed to be no thicker than a sil- 1 yer thread, while Otter and stone might have been fly upon tho thread. Now oi sudden Leonard distinctly saw the rock sledge and Its living burden, which just then was travelling its swiftest, move up. ward as though 1t had leaped into the air, and then continue its course up the rising 1 plane, which represented the throat of the wasp, till at length 1t stopped. Leonard looked at his watch. The time occupied by tho transit was just 69 sec. onds, and the distance could not have been much less than half mile