Evening star., 1898-08-20

lying in the lap OF grassy hills fragrant
with pink lotus blossom and wild roses.
the huts OF the miners and the white tents
of British soldiery. and here and there
golden-domed temple or pagoda erected to
the memory Of native dead. The mines
formerly yielded their precious stones to
King Theebaw, but after the overthrow of
that despotic monarch they became crown
property and were subsequently worked
under the supervision of English officials.
In the past many a convoy Of Tubies, in
transit between the MINIS and Mandalay.
had fallen into the hands of dacoits; and,
under the new regime. these robbers of the
jungle had not hesitated to attack the Brit
lsh soldiers who took the place of Thee
baB's men.
However, a couple Of severe defeats had
a Saiutary effect on the dacoits. and at the
time the fol owing narrative opens-which
was two after the annexation of
Burmah-tht e had been no trouble for six
months. So Captain jerome. who had been
sent TO the mines 10 escort the periodical
crop OF rubleS down country, felt that he
had a light task before him. He was to
start for Mandalay the next morning, A
distance of seventy miles, over a rude trail
that traversed almost entirely a wooded
country.
But that afternoon Observation-Disclosures
nauve-a fair type of the Burmese peas
antry-preSented himself 70 the captain with
a startling story He had learned, he said,
that band of dacoits We're aware of the
convoy OF rubies at a certain point in the
forest some twenty miles from the mines
AS the Informant was clearly what ne pur-
ported TO be, and as previous cases were
on record in which natives had betrayed the
oacoits for the hope of sain, full credence
was attached to the mans statement He
was We'll rewarded and permitted to go.
MeanWhlle Captain Jerome. after an hour
OF brain-racking thought, hit upon what he
conceived to be a happy idea.
Ny chance has come, he said to him
"a no mos of II
seant Ward shall slip quietly off with the
rubles during the night taking the Jungle
trail southwest 10 the Irawaddy, where ne
VIII md a barge TO take him down to Man
dalay- And III carry out my original plan.
starting at daybreak with q larger force of
men and a dummy lot of rubies. Wen be
ready for the dacoits when they turn I'D
ana they II get such lesson a. they have
never had before
The ruse was carried out precisely as ar
ranged After nightfall two heavy chests
the one loaded with rubies and the other
with earth and stones-were placed in SEN
afste bullock carts. An hour before day-
Dreak SeTgt Ward and ten men, with the
cart containing the box of rubies slipped
noisefeSsiy out of the camp and marched
away ON foot to the southwest In the
gray light of dawn the second party with
lhe other bullock cart, began their Journey
ms consisted of Capt. jerome and twenty
fve men, sll armed to the teeth They set
on ostentatiously, to the notes of bugles,
IN the presence of numerous On1ookersS Tor
IL was expedient that their Departure sbo1I5
De witnessed by any dacoit spies who might
be lurking in the village or its vicinity
among these who watched Capt. Jern.ne's
party vanish in the forest was Matthew
Quin- He was encamped al the mouth of
the valley with his assistant. Carruthers a
lot OF hired Burmese and some cages of
wild beasts which he had caught in the hills
farther north He intended shortly to move
on TO the ancient and deserted town of
Pagan, near the Irrawaddy. 1t had not
been inhabited for hundreds of years and
a NJ
1ungle-a place of uncanny reputation
summed by natives and as yet unexplored
by the antquary. 1t was said to be infest-
60 with uSer-cats, and order for a num-
Der OF these savage and scarce creatures
had much To do with the presence of KarI
Hanrachs agent in Burmah.
Quin was aware of what had occurred on
the previous day, and he ha learned from
capt jerome Of the latters clever trick
After seeing the party Off, he returned to
MS camp He and Carruthers breakfasted
lelsureiy, and then, they had nothing
particular III hand, they stretched them
selves on the shady side Of the tent and lit
their pipes An hour later Carru1hers sud-
oenly sprang to his feet in excitement
I've got it, ne cried.
Got whatg" Quin asked.
tudt native who came n yesterday with
the news Of the dacoits - his face was
familiar. and I've been puzzling about il
ever since And now l remetnber, An Off
Ger at Mandalay showed me a snapshot
he took Of TWO dacoits at close quarters
The one was old Tharadeen, and the ether
was the identical CHAP who brought the in
formation to Capt. Jerome
by JOvei are YOU sure of tLiso- OK
claimed Quin
Dead certain; never forget a face"
~ was Qu1n turn to become excited.
i believe you are right" he cried II see
II ait-the dastardly trickl Tharadeen is
the worst of the dacoits in Burmah and he
Purposeiy sent this fellow with false in
formation He shrewdiy calculated that
capt Jerome would send the rubies to-
ward the river, where the Jungle is dense
And there the real attack will be made
The dacoits viii ambuscad Ward and his
escort and carr off the rubIes The other
party won't be molested. By Iovei what $
TO be done about it?''
Nothing. I'm afraid" replied Carruthers
Its too late"
If you had only told me beforep'
How could l. when l didn't know NY
self?"
Well. it can't be helped now" said
QulR I may be on the wrong tack. but
it's ten TO one the other way. We must
save those rubies, Carruthers. If it's a pos
sIble thing"
I'm with you. But how are we going
TO do it?'
How, indeed II would be of little use
to overtake Captain Jerome's party for
that oThcer might not credit the story: and
even If he did il would be too late for him
TO intercept Wards little force by a rapid
march across country. 1t was doubtful
where the dacoits would attack-whe,her
near the HiiilSS or near the lrrdwaddy. And
the few soldiers left at Mosok' being posted
on duty at scattered points. were not avail
able Qain weighed the situation briefly,
and then formed 4 resolve with his usual
promptitude.
There is only one chance" he said
y" ard party have little more than two
hoars start, and by rapid marching we
may catch up in time. Tharadeen's strong
hotd IS said 60 lie across the Irrawaddy
SO ne VIII likely attack near the river We
will take ten Of my fellows with us and the
rest can break camp later in the day, come
on with the animals and the baggage. and
join Us al Pagan. We are going there any
way, you know
The Burmans are afraid of the place
said Carruthers.
Yes. it's their coufounded superstition.
I'll knock 1t out OF them when the time
comes Move lively, now. for every minute
Is precious Put some food up in portable
shape. and overhaul the firearms IN do
the rest
Ine camp was in an isolated position and
Could not be seen from the village There
being remote possibility that his suspi-
cions were baseless Quin concluded to say
nothing to the officer in rharoa 90 ,Ia