The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1896-02-28

INTO run eastward.
"Look, sahib!" cried the shikarl,
pointing. "Yaks make for the null
lab. We cut off corner this way"
''Is 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 gulf
300 feet sheer-over powders ard tus-
socks of coarse growth, where a slip
of the foot would have been fatal
Down, down = now leaping, now
scrambling on all fours-for fully FIVE
minutes. Then he stopped dead, with
0lanched face. Before him and to his
right yawned cavernous depths; Gil
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. "W.
can't get any farther. Let us go back,
or we shall miss the"
AS he spoke he turned wrathfuilv
upon the shikari. The words choked
in his throat. Half a dozen PAGES be-
hind him stood Chuta Sen-half smil-
ing, half scornful, wholly self-pos-
sessed-the loaded gun held at the ''pre-
sent"
'Feringhee," he said, a metallic ring
in his voice, 81 want the tooth-the
sacred tooth of Siva!"
"Ahl" 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 Sen.
"Give me that and you go safe. If no,
then | shoot and take it,
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 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 that
moment was probably miles away; and
yet 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. You
shall have it if you put down that gun
mo, no." replied Chuta Sen, warily
Throw it to my feet, so 1 can pick it
up. The sahib must not move till l
reach the top of the rocks, or l fire.
There cast the gun over the edge, and
then the sahib may catch me-if he
can"
Every WE'LL" said Louis, biting his
lip. "Here it isl
The piece of jade dropped a couple
of feet in front of the willy hillsman.
AS he crooked his back in order to seize
it, the gun in 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 a clatter to the earth, and the two
men grappled in fierce conflict.
To and fro they swayed in mad striv-
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 outstretched
hands. The other sprang aside deftly.
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.
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.. 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. ''Have you any further
desire to retain this thing?"
81 never wish to set eyes on 1t again.
returned Louis, firmly. 1--WE had
quite enough of it,"
''Then here it goes" and with that
DR.. Worrall cast the sacred tooth"
far out over the rocks; it fell with a
splash into the foaming torrent at their
base. Nov, We'll look for Chuta Sens
body and carry it up toBhe nearest viii
lage. He stumbled over the cliff, that
is ALL You understand? At the same
time, Louis, in case ugly rumors should
arise, I think it would be well to ter
inmate our hunting expedition at
once"
And that is precisely what was done.
-Leslie's Pleasant Hours.