River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-03-05


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
lab. We cut off corner this way"
The terrified brutes had. indeed
vcered from their original track. aid
were now plunging full tils toward
deep ravine that cut into the mountains
TO the north. Following his compan.
ions lead, Louis bounded up the rug
ged slope, from which narrow shelf
of bare rock presently branched of
round the crown of the PERCEPTIONS
gorge.
'.Is this our path?" exclaimed Lcu,s.
hesitating.
"Xes. sahib." returned Chuta Sen,
who, hampered with tn, gun. had once
more taken up the rear. "Yaks soon
pass below Haste, sahib, hastei''
Louis needed no urging. Down the
steep he went-recklessly enough, c IN
sideriDg that but six feet of stony le>. &c
separated him from the brink of gull
| 600 feet sheer-over powders and tus-
socks of coarse growth, where Slip
Of the foot would have been fatal
Down. down now ieaping. now
scrambiing on all fours-for fully five
minutes. Then he stopped dead, with
olanched 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 ronte?" cried Louis. angrily. "we
can't get any farther. Let us go back,
OF we shall miss the"
AS he spoke he turned wrathfuiIy
upon the shikari. The words choked
in his throat. Half a dozen PAGES be-
hind him stood Chuta Sen--half sruil-
ing, half scornful, wholly self-pos-
sessed-the loaded gun held at the ''pre-
sent"
"Feringhee." he said, metallic ring
in his voice, IL want the tooth-the
sacred tooth of Siva!"
"Ah!" calculated Louis, fiinching be-
fore the black muzzle. That's ii. is
it? So il was you who were pryin.-
round the tent last night; perhaps il
was YOU, too, who attempted to rob us
while we were asleep"
"The TOOTH" repeated Chuta Ser.
Give me that and you go safe. If no.
then / shoot and take it,
at will be bad for you if you do"
said Louis. assuming the air of conf
dence he little felt. THE noise of the
shot will bring my friends upon you
and your life will pay"
Before they reach here" INTERRUPTED
the shikari, quickly, II shall be away
away. l tell the whole story, and then
they, not I. have to run"
The bantering tones in which Chuta
Sen spoke told Louis that he had not
70 deal with a 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. II would be idle to ex
Pect aid from DIR WOrral., who at that
moment was probably miles away; anil
get Louis did not relish yielding up his
possessions without even the show OF
struggle. Only one course remained
he must temPorize with the fellow.
and if possible outwit him.
Look here" he said, pulling the
wedge of green Jade from his pocket
The things of NO value to me. Yoa
shall have il if you put down that gun
NO, no" replied Chuta Sen, warily
Throw ii to my feet, so can pick il
up The sahib must not move till
reach the top of the rocks, or | fire
There ! cast the gun over the edge. and
then the sahib may catch me-if ne
can
Very well,' said Louis, biting his
| lip. Here it isl
The piece of jade dropped couple
of feet iu front of the willy hillsman.
As he crooked his back i'm order TO seize
il. the gun i'm his right hand was neces /.
sarily depressed for an istant, and in
that instant Louis had flung himself
upon the bent figure. The weapon fell
with clatter 10 the earth, and the two
men grappled in fierce conflict.
To and fro they swayed in mad y
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 fire. With q snarl of hatred, the
light az murder iu his eyes, he rushed
afrest upon Louis with outstretched
hands. Tn other sprang aside deity.
and Chuts Sen. unable to check his
own imp tus. was launched over the
edge of tire 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
I again. Soon he heard DIR. WOrralrs
cries. and presently that gentleman,
with his attendants, appeared upon the
spot. Louis related what had occurred.
Il was AFRAID of something of this
sort" said the doctor. picking up the
jade tooth, which still lay where it had
been flung. "IIavc you any further
desire to retain this thing?"
II never wish TO set eyes on II again, y
returned Louis. firmly. 1--WE had
quite enough of it,"
Then here it goes" and with that
DIR. Worrall cast the sacred tooth"
far out over the rocks; il fell with a
splash into the foaming torrent at their
base. "Now, Wen look for Chuta Sens
body aud carry it up 10 the nearest viii
lage. He stumbled over the cliff. that
is all. You understand? At the same
time, Louis. in case ugly rumors should
arise, think il would be well to ter
inmate our hunting expedition at
once"
And that is precisely what was done.
I-Leslie's Pleasant Hours.
| a FUNNY BATTLE.
/ One Woman Against Company of
Trained Soldiers.
NJ Paul Dcrol. iede a French DOet