The Van Buren press., 1896-03-21
Singing out their animals, DR.. Wor-

most of them stampeding up the val.
ley, while three only-and one of these
evidently wounded badly-burst away
in the opposite direction. DR.. Worrall
followed by the two Hindoo servants,
rushed pell-mell over the powders in
the hope of heading the larger herd
at the neck of the hollow, and so OF
getting another shot at them. Louis,
on the other hand, elected to pursue
the bull he had wounded, which, from
its labored fight, 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 a run eastward.
"Look, sahibi" cried the shilarl,
pointing. "Yays make for the null
lah. 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, hastei"
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
500 feet sheer-over powders and 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 fi7c
minutes. Then he stopped dead, with
bfanched 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 wrathfully
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 Sival"
"Ah!" calculated Louis, finching be-
fore the black muzzle. "That's it, is
it? So 1t was you who were prying
round the tent last night; perhaps 1t
was you, too, who attempted to rob us
while we were asleep"
The toothl" repeated Chuta Sen
''Give me that and you go safe. If no,
then l shoot and take it,
The bantering tones in which Chute
Sen spoke told Louis that he had not
to 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 raiah 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
a 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. Y9u
shall have it if you put down that gun"
"No, no." replied Chuta Sen, warily.
''Throw it to my feet, so | can pick it
| 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 he
can"
every WE'LL" said Louis, biting his
| lip. Here it is"
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 iu
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 striv-
ings, now on the varge of the dizzy
height, and anon close pressed against
| the adamant face of the beetling crags.
lsSuddenly 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
bands. 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.
Taking up his gun, his face pallid
his eyes wide with horror, Louis fired
into Is air. After an interval he
slippeStn another cartridge and fired
| again. Soon he heard Dir. Worrall's
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 etll lay where it had
been flung. Have you any further
desire to retain this thing?"
81 never wish to set eyes on 1t again, y
returned Louis, firmly. i've had
| quite enough of it,"
"Then here it goes" and with that
| DIR. Worrall cast the sacred tooth
far out over the rocks; it fell with O
splash into the foaming torrent at their
base. Now, we'll look for Chuta Sens
/ body and carry il up to the nearest vii.