The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-05-28
PART III.

and its strange appearance, ne con-
tinued to wear the ring. He ereadily adj
mitted that il was clumsy. i think hs
even called il .devilish clumsy"-but he
didn't seem TO care 10 discuss il, and he
had evidently made up his mind to wear
IL, SO let him alone.
AS the days went by, and nothing
happened TO call attention TO it, i al
Aost ceased TO notice it, and / fancy
Dick did the same. For one thing, we
had plenty to do. As we advanced the
country became rather more open, but
the irregular forces of the burmese
cnemy--the only ones we had yet seen
appeared in greater numbers, making
1t dangerous To relax our vigilance eYen
for a moment. Ours was the flanking
company, and Dick and took it in turn
20 visit the sentries at night TO see that
III was safe, and the duty was harras-
4ing one after long days tramp.
There was no help for it, however, as
we had left young Maitland behind in
field hospital, and were, of course,
short-handed in consequence. And SO
the days of the advance march passed
by-and so the mystery of Agha's ring
faded from cur memories.
We had hoped and expected that tho
enemy would make some kind of stand
lbefore we reached Mandalay, but we
were disappointed. Whether it was
that, they had no regular forces, or that
the poor success of the irregular at
hacks upon our columns had discour-
n ht,t NJ
rate, we at last reached the famous
lgolden-roofed city without opposition.
Our regiment was at the head of the
column. and we were halted among tho
fringe Of monasteries, gardens and tenn
piles that surround the city on the east,
as it was not thought advisable to make
an actual entry that night in spite of
the deserted look of the place. Our
company took possession of the tenn
piles inclosure ofa large pagoda--one OF
those that give the city its charactcris-
tic and deceptive appearance of great
wealth from distance. The sunlight
nyas still blazing ON the glowing roofs
and piled-up masses of wonderfully
carved and tortured woodwork that
formed the roofs and pinnacles of the
temple buildings as we reached the
spot and gladly obeyed the command 10
halt after our hot days march. There
was no time to lose in making arrange
,nents for the night, and both Dick and
4 were kept hard at work for the next
hour in seeing to the men and taking
the precautions necessary TO prevent
a possible night attack by the enemy.
by the time we had finished it was
growing dark, and it was with an excfu-
nation of relief that we at last un-
buclxled our sword belts and threw
ourselves down on the seats which Bani
had managed to hunt up and place for
us in the portico chamber of the pa
CODA. After the first sensation of relief
was over, and had time to look around,
] must confess the place struck me as
having what Scotch people call an eerie
look about IL that was the reverse of
lcheerful. The chamber was large, ana
the glimmer of the solitary candle
which, stuck in the broken neck of
bottle, was all that our commissariat
'Hupplied by way of light, seemed rather
ito increase the impression of mystery
and gloom. The dark panels of teak
'!wood, carved and fretted in a thousand
strange though ingenious devices, low
cred black and threatening in the feeble
light. The more distant corners and
the wide abysses of the roof yawned
black and cavernous in the shadows.
~ glanced round uncomfortably for
lmoment, and then with resigned
.,shrug of my shoulders proceeded TO put
Unto practice the philosophy learned
during the last few weeks by lighting
llny pipe.
: The pipe had scarcely consented to
draw when our attendant made his APP
pearance at the door, bearing second
candle, and solemnly ushering in two
men carrying our supper with dignity
rather out of proportion to the simple,
mot TO say meager commissariat. We
were not disposed 10 be too critical,
however, and our interest, or, at least,
my own, in the proceedings was greatly
heightened by the sight of two bottles
of ale which Bani carried in the hand
not occupied by the one which did duty
as candlestick. Within five minutes
our siInplc ltdst nau Detn hpfeau, unu
the dim recesses of the vestibule echoed
back the laughter stimulated by the
"reminiscences stirred by the unwonted
luxury of "Bass" in the inner rccesses
of Burmah.
We had finished our supper, and again
the procession had cleared away what
was left and Dick and / had settled
down to the full enjoyment of an after
dinner smoke. II might have been that
we were tired. OF perhaps the place and
its surroundings had something TO do
with 1t, but gradually our conversa-
tion Jagged and lapsed into silence. My
own eyes, know, wandered dreamily
round the place and rested on the dim
shadows and half-seen carvings till
began to feel as II everything was un-
real ond visionary. More than once my
eyes came back to my companion, only
TO recognize the fact that. like my
self. he was affected by TIE atmosphere
of the spot. and once at least they rested