The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1896-03-12

y
most of them stampeding up the val
ley, while three only--and one Of these
evidently wounded badly-burst away
in the opposite direction. DR.. Worral1
followed by the two Hindoo servants,
rushed pell-mel over the bowlders In
the hope of heading the larger herd
at the neck Of the hollow, and 80 Of
getting another shot at them. Louis,
on the other hand, elected to pursue
the bull he had wounded, which, from
it's labored fight, he saw must soon
drop Of exhaustion. Handing his gun
to Chuta Sen, and ordering that worthy
to keep close at his heels, he broke out
into run eastward.
"Look, sahibi" cried the shikari,
pointing. "Yaks make for the null,
llah. We cut off corner this way"
"Is this our path?" exclaimed Louis,
hesitating.
"Yes, sahib," returned Chuta Sen,
who, hampered with the gun, had once
more taken up the rear. "Yalss soon
pass below. Haste, sahib, hastei"
Louis needed no urging. Down tho
steep he ent-recklessly enough, con-
isidering that but six feet of stony ledge
separated him from the brink of gulf
300 feet sheer-over powders and tus-
socks ofT coarse growth, where a slip
Of the foot would have been fatal
Down, down now leaping, now
scran bling on all fours--for fully five
minutes. Then he stopped dead, with
blanched face. Before him and to his
right yawned cavernous depths; on
his left hand was the perpendicular
face of the mountain. The cliff path
had ended.
what do you mean by choosing
this route?" cried Louis, angrily. 1--WE
can't get any farther. Let us go back,
or we shall miss the"
AS he spoke he turned wrathfuily
upon the shikari. The words choked
in his throat. Half a dozen PAGES be-
hind him stood Chuta Sen-ha]f smil-
ing, half scornful, wholly self-pos-
eessed--the loaded gun held at the "pre-
sent"
"Feringhee," he said, metallic ring.
in his voice, II want the tooth-the
sacred tooth of Siva!"
"Ah!" CALCULATED Louis. finching be-
fore the black muzzle. "That's it, is
| 1t? So it was you who were prying
round the tent last night; perhaps it
was you, too, who attempted to rob us
| while we were asleep"
''The tooth!" repeated Chuta Sen.
"Give me that and you go safe. If no.
then shoot and take it,
| The bantering tones in which Chuta
SEN spoke told Louis that he had not
to deal with q religious zealot-indeed,
the mere fact of the mans refraining
from killing him without scruple made
that point sufficiently certain. No;
clearly the shikari had in his mind the
reward offered by the rajah to the re
storer of the purloined tooth. This
knowledge inspired Louis with some
degree of hope. 1t would be idle to ex
pect aid from DIR. Worrall, who at thai
moment was probably miles away; ant
yet Louis did not relish yielding up hi,
possessions without even the show O
struggle. Only one course remained
he must temporize with the fellow
and If possible outwit him.
"Look here" he said, pulling tn
wedge of green jade from his pocket
''The things of no value to me. Yo,
shall have it if you put down that gun
"No, no." replied Chuta Sen, warily
"Throw it to my feet, SO can pick i
up. The sahib must not move till
reach the top of the rocks, or 1 fire
There cast the gun over the edge, ant
then the sahib may catch me-R h
can" .'>-'
every WE'LL" said Louis, biting hi
lip. "Here it is"
The piece of jade dropped a coupl
of feet in front of the willy hillsmar
AS he crooked his back in order to seiz
it, the gun in his right hand was neces
sarily depressed for an istant, and il
that instant Louis had flung himsel
upon the bent figure. The weapon fel
with q clatter to the earth, and the tw
men grappled in fierce conflict.
To and fro they swayed in mad stri,
ings, now on the varge of the dizz
height, and anon close pressed agains
the adamant face of the beetling crag:
Suddenly the 1.-THE shiliari shook him
self free. With snarl of hatred, tn
light of murder in his eyes, he rushe
afresh upon Louis with outstretche
hands. The other sprang aside deftly
and Chuta Sen, unable to check hi
own impetus, was launched over th
edge of the narrow platform into spact
There came the hiss of the falling bod
/. "a long-drawn wail--a sickening thu
and silence.
Taking up his gun, his face pallic
his eyes wide with horror, Louis fire
into the air. After an interval b
slipped in another cartridge and fire
again. Soon he heard DR.. Worrall
cries, and presently that gentleman
with his attendants, appeared upon th
. spot. Louis related what had occurret
'I was afraid of something of thi
, Sort" said the doctor, picking up th
jade tooth, which still lay where it ha
, been flung. Have you any furthe
| docfr,o tO retaiu this thing"