Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-03-05

the hope of heading the larger herd
at the neck of the hollow, and so o.
getting another shot at them. Louis
on the other hand, elected to pursue
the bull he had wounded, which, from
| its 1abored flight. 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, sahib:" cried the shikari,
pointing. "Yaks make for the null.
lah. We cut off corner this way"
The terrified brutes had, indeed,
veered from their original track, aud
were now plunging full tilt toward a
deep ravine that cut into the mountains
to the north. Following his compan-
ions lead, Louis bounded up the rug
ged slope, from which a narrow shelf
of bare rock presently branched off
round the crown of the precipitous
gorge.
us this our path % exclaimed Louis,
hesitating.
Eyes, sahib," returned Chuta Sen,
who, hampered with the gun, had once
more taken up the rear. 'Yaks soon
pass below. Haste, sahib, haste!"
Louis needed no urging. Down the
steep he went-recklessly enough, con-
sidering that but six feet Of stony ledge
separated him from the brink of a gull
300 feet sheer-over powders and tus-
socks of coarse growth, where slip
of the foot would have been fatal.
Down, down now 1eaping, now
scrambling on all fours-for fully fire
minutes. Then he stopped dead, with
Dlanched 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. eve
can't get any farther. Let US go back,
or we shall miss the
AS he spoke he turned wrathfuily
upon the 1shikari. The words chokei
in his throat. Half dozen PAGES be
hind him stood Chuta Sen-half smil.
ing, half scornful, wholly self-pos-
sessed-the loaded gun held at the 'spre-
sent
''Feringhee," he said, a metallic rim"
in his voice, II want the tooth-the
sacred tooth of Siva!"
"Ah!" CALCULATED Louis, f1inching be-
fore the black muzzle. That's it, is
it? So it was you who were pryinc
round the tent last night; perhaps it
was you, too, who attempted to rob us
while we were asleep"
''The TOOTH" repeated Chuta sez
''Give me that and you go safe. If no.
then shoot and take it
'It will be bad for you if you do"
said Louis, assuming the air of conf
dence he little felt. 1.-THE noise of the
shot will bring my friends upon yo1 .
and your life will pay"
Before they reach here" interrupted
the shikari, quickly, Il shall be away
away. 1 tell the whole story, and then
they, not [, have to rum
The bantering tones in which Chute
Sen spoke told Louis that he had not
to deal with religious zealot-indeed,
the mere fact of the mans RETAINING
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 DR.. Worran, who at that
moment was probably miles away; and
yet Louis did not relish yielding up his
possessions without even the show OF
a struggle. Only one course remained
he must temporize with the fellow
on1 +;
Look here he said, pulling the
wedge of green jade from his pocket.
1.-THE things of no value to me. Yoa
shall have it if you put down that gun"
'No, no. replied Chuta Sen, wariIy.
Throw it to my feet, so can pick it
up. The sahib must not move till j
reach the top of the rocks, or I fire.
There cast the gun over the edge, and
then the sahib may catch me-if he
can
VERY WELL" said Louis, biting hi.
lip. Here it isl
The piece of jade dropped couple
of feet in front of the willy hillsman.
AS he crooked his back in order to seiza
it, the gun in his right hand was neces-
sarily depressed for an istant, and il
that instant Louis had flung himself
upon the bent figure. The weapon fell
with clatter to the earth, and the two
men grappled in fierce conflict.
To and fro they swayed in mad >stris.
ings, now on the varge of the dizzy
height, and anon close pressed against
the adamant face of the beetling crags.
Suddenly the 1.-THE shikari shook HIM
self free. With snarl of hatred, the
light of murder in his eyes, he rushed
afresh upon Louis with outstretehed
hands. The other sprang aside deity.
and Chuta Sen, unable to check his
own impetus, was launched over the
edge of the narrow platform into space.
There came the hiss of the falling body
"a long-drawn wail-a sickening thud
and silence.
Taking up his gun, his face pallid.
his eyes wide with horror, Louis fired
into the air. After an interval he
slipped in another cartridge and fired
again. Soon he heard DR.. WorralPs
cries, and presently that gentleman.
with his attendants, appeared upon the
spot. Louis related what had occurred.
81 was afraid of something of this
Sort" said the doctor, picking up the
jade tooth, which still lay where it had
desire to retain this thing?"
81 never wish TO set eyes on 1t again"
returned Louis, firmly. "Pve had
quite enough of it"
ssThen here it goes" and with that