The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-28
PART III,

PART II.
The light nickered up from pile of
blazing logs and branches. and showed
it to be the center of a tiny clearing
wherein sat company of old men
five, Esdaile counted-pufiing their
huukas with their faces lit up by the
fire. Very venerable old men, white
bearded, grave-eyed all, and respecta-
hle, middle-clas Mohammedans. to
judge by their dress. They had their
blankets wrapped well about them, and
were squatting there uncOncerned
enough, while the blue hookah smoke
driftcd above them, and the warmth
from the logs cOmforted their old bones.
Esdaile took more careful survey and
recognized two of them, with Il start
of surprise. as prominent men of the
city of Ramnaga, seven miles down the
river. one was reported to be the old
est inhabitant, Il retired merchant of
the name of Valid Ali, we'll known as
n peaceful and puhlic-spirited Mussul-
man. He lived in II ramshackle 'koti'
ON the outskirts of the town. The other
was = man with whom E,sdaile had
once seen him riding in RamnaSa. and
Of whom he had heard some talk as
one of the veterans of the old army. He
had a reputation of having been a
brilliant and gallant soldier i'm his time.
Both, however, were extremely OLD, ana
the present generation took but small
account of them. The other three gray
boards We're unknown to the watcher.
Valid Ali withdrew his lips from the
hOukahs mouth and looked about him
with an air of authority. He was
withered ard wrinkled with years, and
his face wore a look of keen intelli-
gence About him. as about the others.
there was a singular air of vitality
that struck Esdaile as curious. Evi-
IDENTIFY the hand of time had been iald
very lightly upon them. There was not
a sign of senlity or decay in the alert
aspect of the party.
pile up the fire, my brother. We
need warmth in the darkness of this
Jungle: If ii We're not that walls have
ears | would have called you together
i'm the city. And now to serious discus
sion, for the night is far advanced
one of the three unknown shuffied
up with a grunt and pulled the lire
together. Then, as he squatted on his
launches again,he addressed WaJid All
with querulous accent:
1T is always discussion. nothing ttir-
ther. Are we to deliberate through
cvntury-we have the key to so much
within our grasp
The leader turned upon him fierc"ly,
and Esdaie saw his eyes flash with
anger.
Have I chosen you graybeards only
to find that you are still beset by the
fuilics of youth? You will take the bit
between your teeth, Wizir-un- din. like
Il hcadstrong colt? We you say! But
for me YOU would be rotting in your
grave at this moment, ungrateful dog
that you are! 1t is / that have labored
and travelled of this secret of ours for
So long. 1t is but patience ask OF you.
Patience who but a fool could not
abide in patience once the fear of death
was banished from his thoughts? 1t
is The flight of time that makes men
unable to brook delay. and that Is no
longer anything to you"
That is true enough, my father
said the other rather sulkily. You for
get, however. We owe indeed much to
you. but our friend Jan Khan here.
also a little. But for him your dis
Covery had been as water poured into
sand. You may give man this 'dewai'
OF yours that will keep from him all
mortal diseases-Allah be witness it Is
a marvellous thing.-but without money
to make life sweet he would be as well
I'm the grave when he had lived his al
lotei span. Jan Khan tells us of the
treasure that only needs a couple of
hours work to unfold. and yet you hold
US back and bid us let it be. Is it that
you are afraid of the blood that has
been spilled upon it?''
"Ay. that is well spoken" broke in
q third speaker. Jan Khan did much;
h. fought. he went through much blood
shed, and at the risk of his life he
marked down the hiding place of the
Gwalior treasurer. And now, when we