Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1899-09-14
CHATTER XIII.

Silence had fallen upon the cemetery
of the elephants, when, for the second
time. 1t was broken by i%ntruders upon
the wierd and singular cene.
These intruders were George Nal
colin, Stop, Kazil and his subordinate
Hindoos.
George Malcol's curiosity Of the day
before. to see the place by moonlight.
could not be repressed. He also hoped
to hear the strange ceremonies of the
natives. and to assist, unseen himself.
in their mysterious rites. Only of his
purpose he determined to say nothing
at home until it was accomplished.
Therefore, he had enrolled Kazil as
guide. bidding him have horses in read
ipess, and, Mt . o'clock. feigning weari-
ness, he had hidden his father. brother
and the two young girls goodnight and
retired to his own room.
Then, rapidly changing his dress for
his hunting costume, and putting a
knife and revolver in his belt, he had
nolslessly left the house to rejoin Ka-
I'll and Stop, who awaited him at the
end of the shaded walk.
Kazil had taken the precaution to
bring two Hindoos. whom he believed
faithful as himself, explaining to the
young Englisman the necessity for
their presence in case of a night attack
upon the way.
AS they ~leisurely pursued their route
through the forest, they were passed
by a party Of men on horseback. riding
like the wind, but no presentiment
warned George Malcolm that his faith.
err, soon to be made a corpse, was
among them, bound and helpless.
A little later the chants of the initi-
ated fling out from the cemetery,
sounded ON the night. The words could
not be distinguished, but the vague and
confused harmony had a species of
savage grandeur.
These are fakirs, are they not, Ka-
Zip questioned George.
II think so. master"
Quickly. then! Let us hasten."
And giving Dial the rein, the bound
ed on. Soon he stopped, listening at
tentively. The sounds had ceased.
Have they gomez" he asked, In deep
disappointment. Gone just as we ar
rived. Truly, this Is unfortunate.
Where is the entrance to the GENE
tery:7
"A little more than a hundred feet
from here answered Kazil. "In that
great mass of black rock"
well, let Is go In"
And George was about to spur for
ward when Kazil laid his hand upon
Djalrs bride.
Il am your guide.' he said. "You
have confided yourself to my care. You
must remain here. / will go alone into
the cemetery, and If, without risking
your life. you may enter, l will return
for. you.'
"What matters danger?" cried George,
impatiently. ut attracts but never re-
pels me-
see you fall at my feet, strangled by
the iasso, or struck by a dagger thrust
from an unseen hand. Invisible senti-
nels guard the entrance to the GENE
terry during the rites Of the fakirs. and
punish with death the curiosity OF the
imprudent."
AS he could not enter without a
guide. George was compelled to resign
himself to Kazil's dictum, and let him
go on alone. At the end Of ten minutes
the boy returned.
"All Is safe. master. The cemetery
is deserted; the fakirs have disappear
ed. You "a enter"
Stop rubbed his hands in glee, but his
master could not repress q gesture of
disappointment.
"Ah. my chance Is gone!" he muir
INJURED. well, In the absence of the
fakirs, we must content ourselves with
the skeletons OF the elephants"
The horses were left In charge of one
OF the Hindoos. Tho second took a
torch from his saddle, and the three
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