The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-05-24


represented the walls, the huge square
pillars that stood I'm row after row till
they were lost in the dim obscurity,
the shadows overhead which seemed TO
represent the roof: all alike were
black. The faint light seemed to float
and cling round the pillars, but 1t
nowhere called forth a single sparkle
OF light from the dull, dead surface.
I hardly know how long we stood in
silence. but at least II must have been
for several minutes before Crawford
turned and grasping me by the arm
said in an eager whisper:
IT'S all right, Hall; there's no mis-
take about the place. See--that must
be Buddha himself"
He pointed, as he spoke, down one of
the long dim vistas between the black
pillars, which had so far escaped my
notice, and there family outlined
against the darkness, was something
gray and gigantic but yet human in
share. AS he spoke he moved down
the hall towards it, and, although 1
confess with a creeping sensation in
the region of my spine, l followed him.
We must have walked at least a hun
dred yards down the black avenue of
pillars before we reached IL, bat when
we did so there was no longer the
faintest doubt in my mind that our in
formation had been correct, and that
fortune had guided us to the spot indi-
Gated by tie Pail writing. 1t was a
huge figure which had evidently been
cut out of the solid black rock when
the temple hall was excavated. 1t was
seated on a great square block of stone,
In the usual crCss-legged attitude, and
looking upwards one could see the vast,
calm, expressionless features, and
higher still the point where the top
of the head Joined to and supported
the roof. Crawford. 1 could see, was
examining the figure carefully on every
side, but my ankle had grown painful,
and 1 contented myself with resting
against the pedestal and following his
motions with my eye. At last he join
ed me-
Look here, Hail." he said, "Ive
looked everywhere but / can see no
signs of any secret place for the treas
ure, and what is still more remarkable
] don't see any possible way for MOON
light to come in when the moons over
head. The only. thing to be done now
is to wait and see what happens at the
moment of full moon, and that will be
at nineteen minutes past twelve. In
the meantime / can see IL will be neces-
sary to take Semi into our confidence,
and 1 think it will be almost necessary
to fetch that little crowbar. You don't
mind my leaving you alone here, do
you, while fetch Semi? 1 fancy there's
just about time to do 1t, and in case
we're few minutes late you can mark
the exact spot"
YES" 1 said, little YEARLY "yet,
can do as much as that, no doubt, if
anything happens to point it out"
"Oh, come now," he replied with
rather an anxious laugh, whats the
use of swallowing a COW and choking
on the tail. 1 haven't a shadow of a
doubt about it now, and 1 don't be-
lieve you have either, It's that con-
founded ankle of yours that spoke
then"
1 felt that he was right, and I couldn't
| but feel that his proposal was the best
| that could be made under the circum-
stances, as could be of very little ac-
| tive service either in securing or car
| rying off any treasure there might be
| concealed. l therefore agreed heartily
| to do my best to trace and indications
| there might be of the hiding place
until Crawford returned with assist
ance, and, having carefully lighted
the lantern to show him the way he
| started.
1 need hardly say that should have
preferred Crawford's share of the busi-
ness had been in u condition to UNDER
take it, and 1t was with something very
like a shudder that I watched the light
| glimmering farther and farther away
till at last it disappeared through the
square opening of the doorway by
which we had entered, leaving me alone
in the desolate temple. For some Sec
onds could catch the faint echo of my
companions footsteps as he descended
the great staircase up which We had
toiled, and then they died away leav.
ing a deathly stiffness behind in which
the beating of my heart sounded like
a drum. How long should 1 have t.
wait for his return? This was the first
thought that filled my mind, though II
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