Evening star., 1896-08-22

HEE V e. Sr<sSs=a j
1t Wns the Face Again.
of the arch. 1t was the face again-the
very same face which had fascinated me
with the malignant gaze 1t had fixed on our
last nights encampment from the hillside
some hours before. The thought flashed
through my mind with an Irresistible con-
victlon; The face was the same-the same
marked features, the same eager, cleaning
eyes. the very same deadly fierce express
sion which had startled me in the morning
1t flashed out upon me from the shadows
cast by the crumbling gateway for an in
slant, and in the same instant 1t was gone.
More startled now than / should have
cared to own, l leaped from my machine
and shouted welcome to the others of
our party. who We're now beginning to
straggle by twos and threes from the
jungle. My victory was acknowledged by
the rest, and We proceeded to explore the
Old building. To my surprise, there was
not a sign of the man whose face 1 had
just Seen-he had utterly disappeared. The
fort seemed to afford no place where he
could lie concealed and 1t was with a
sense of uneasy astonishment that l failed
disposed to laugh at what they called my
apparition. and even identified it with the
old Mahratta chief who had built the fort
l couldn't laugh myself out Of the idea.
which 1t cost me. and. after spending a
few minutes in convincing myself that the
man was really gone. remounted and re-
turned by the way had come.
Col. Maitland had stayed. with the more
matured portion OF our party, at the spot
selected for the luncheon. and there 1 found
rim. seated on a camp STOOL and watching.
with all the interest of a well-seasoned
East Indian. the preparation for the meal.
Back first. Hall?'' he exclaimed as
rode up to where ne sat under the ample
shade OF the wide-spreading tree. You
made short work of the fort. then" I had
\ 1l-.EI Il
venture so 1 at once explained to him what
1 had seen. mentioning the apparent iden-
t!ty of the men 1 had noticed.
You think he was the same man. Mr..
Hall. do you?" he said.
well, sir. 1 hardly like to say so. it
seems 50 unlikely, but 1 confess l do think
So"
The colonel looked thoughtfully around
most likely it's a mere coincidence. but
have just been hearing that the neighbor-
hood has been getting bad reputation
lately, and 1T may be as we'll to keep to-
gether. Would you mind warning the party
up at the fort that they had better hurry
back for luncheon? Don't alarm the ladies,
of course. but get them to come"
The colonefs manner impressed me, and
in another half minute I was retracing the
path 1 had already travelled a few minutes
PART II.
It was with a sense Of relief, which, in
spite OF tie shadowy nature OF my
grounds for anxiety, was considerable,
that saw the whole party safely collected
at the pleasant picnic meal which had been
prepared under the widespreading shade Of
the great tanyan tree. 1 fancied I could
make out a corresponding look Of relief on
the colonePs face, and detected him more
than once in a quick. alert glance around
him, but 1 was conscious that this might
fancy that the old fellow was chuckling
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 pic
mic. Whatever effect my story might have
had on the coloners mind. 1t was by no
means apparent in his actions. for he GER
tainly didn't attempt to cut short the time
allotted for the midday halt. Looking at
him, as 1 confess 1 did from time to time.
1t seemed to me that he had quite resumed
came to the conclusion that had made
rather a fool Of myself by speaking to him
at all.
Our halt must have lasted nearly three
hours. and the heavy. still atmosphere Of
the afternoon had fully reconciled US to
the pleasant idleness of the moment, when
the arrival of the wagons we had left be-
hind in the morning served as reminder
that the afternoon was slipping away. The
word was given to start once more, and by
the time the tops of the slowly moving
wagons haG disappeared round the first
bend in the read below US We were nearly
ready to follow them. The ladies were
about to mount their horses, and fancied
I could observe a few uneasy slances cast
at my bicy Gle. as II they were uncertain
how far Its rear neighborhood would be
conducive to the good behavior Of the ami
mails. 1t was annoying, but there was no
help for It, and making virtue OF neces-
sity mounted and prepared to act as an
advance guard. My annoyance was little
more than mome3tary, for there is some
thing in the motion Of my wheel that al
ways seems to soothe my nerves, and be-
fore half q minute had passed found my
self spinning smoothly down the long and
gentle slope. at the further end of which 1
could see. through the vista Of sunlight
and shadow. the hooded OK wagons that
contained the main part Of the by no
means inconsiderable baggage Of our party.
1t was pleasant to glide swiftly, yet with
out an effort, over the elastic turf check
hanging trees. and to see the long success
sicn Of gorgeous tropical plants and shrubs
that hedged in the sloping road on one
side. confronted by the abrupt masses OF
rock that rose. wreathed in creepers and
gemmed with flowers on the other. There
was no need Of exertion, for after the first
few moments the incline was more than
sufficient to insure speed. so that I had am
pie leisure to look about me as I went
Even now the thought Of my apparition
was partly present in my mind, although
as I swept past the spot where the hill
path to the old fort Joined the road on
which I was travelling. had the pleasant
impression that I was leaving 1t behind,
In spite of this. I was conscious that II
was to the upper side Of the road that my
eyes turned invo!untarily, and that I
SC, nned with quick. sharp glances the hol-
lows that opened among the rocks, and the
clrmps Of iuxuriant vegetation as swept
past them on my downward course. Sud-
denly. just as was smiling at myself for
my action. 1 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 a dozen yards in front
the same figure I had seen twice before
sprang out Of the bushes on the very edge Of
the rocky WALL which at that spot rose per-
haps twenty-five feet above the road. He
had gun In his hand. and tied to the