The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-08-19
PART Ii.

"a Il, H.
spite of the shadowy nature of my
grounds for anxiety, was considerable,
that saw the whole party safely col
lccted at the pleasant picnic meal which
had been prepared under the wide
spreading shade Of the great banyan
tree. / fancied could make out a cor
responding look of relief on the
colonel's face, and detected him more
than once in a quick, alert glance
around him, but was conscious that
this might have been a mistake, and
could even fancy that the old fellow was
chuckllng inwardly over my credulity
IN being so easily alarmed. At any
rate, nothing of an alarming character
happened, and the luncheon, with its
luxurious leisure, was the counterpart
of those we had enjoyed throughout the
days of our mountain picnic. Whatever
effect my story might have had on the
cuiUnel's mind, IL was by no means APP
parent in his actions, for he certainly
didn't attempt TO cut short the time
allotted for the midday halt. Looking
at him, as / confess did from time TO
time, il seemed to me that he had quite
resumed bis ordinary easy-going man
ner, and came TO the conclusion that
had made rather fool of myself by
speaking to him at oil.
Our halt must have lasted nearly
three hours, and the heavy, still atmos-
phere of the afternoon had fully recon-
ciled us to the pleasant idleness of the
moment, when the arrival of the wagons
we had left behind in the morning
served as a reminder that the after
noon was slipping away. The word
was given to start once more, and by the
time the tops of the slowly-moving
wagons had disappeared round the first
bend In the road below us we were
nearly ready to follow them. The ladies
were about to mount their horses, and L
fancied could observe few uneasy
glances cast at my bicycle, as If they
were uncertain how far its near neigh
borhood would be conducive to the good
behavior of the animals. II was annoy
ing. but there was no help for II, and
making virtue OF necessity mounted
and prepared to act as an advance
guard. My annoyance was little more
than momentary, for there is something
In the motion of my wheel that always
seems TO soothe my nerves, and before
half minute had passed found my
self spinning smoothly down the long
and gentle slope at the further end OF
which / could see, through the vista Of
sunlight and shadow, the hooded OK
wagons that contained the main part of
the by no means inconsiderable bag
gage of our party.
II was pleasant to glide swiftly. yet
without an effort, over the elastic turf
checkered by the light and shade of the
overhnnging trees, and to see the long
succession OF gorgeous tropical plants
and shrubs that hedged In the sfopfng
road on one side, confronted by the
abrupt masses Of rock that rose,
vreathed in creepers and gemmed with
eovers, on the other. There was no
heed of exertion, for after the first few
moments the incline was more than
sufficient to insure speed, so that had
ample leisure to look about me as 1
went. Even now the thought of my ap.
partition was partly present in my mind,
although, as / swept past the spot
where the hill path TO the old fort joined
the road on which was travelling, i had
the pleasant impression that was leav-
ing IL behind. In spite of this, l was
conscious that IL was to the upper side
Of the road that my eyes turned invol-
nntariIy, and that / scanned with quick,
sharp glances the hollows that opeled
among the rocks, and the clumps of lux
uriant vegetation as swept past them
en- my downward course. Suddenly,
Just az l was smiling at myself for my
action, saw him again. This time there
could be no mistake. He had not seen
me coming, / feel sure, and of course
my wheel made no sound on the soft
path, but suddenly, within dozen yards
in front. the same figure / had seen
twice before, sprang out of the bushes
on the very edge of the rocky wall, which
Mt that spot rose perhaps twenty-five
feet abovs the road. He had a gun in his
land, and tied to the muzzle was his
foosened turban which he waved three
times over his head-he was still in the
sery act of waving itwhen l swept past
Ut his feet. His eyes were fixed on some
roint further down the road as did so,
and even then l don't think he would
have been aware of my presence. What
lid 1t mean? looked over my shoulder
md saw our party-some thirty in all,
,f whom ten were ladies-cantering
Town the road three or four hundred
fards behind. / could imagine heard
heir laughter as they came on.
There was danger-danger of some
sind, was sure-in the action l had