Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1899-10-12

The voice or JuDDee coHcluuSu'
sHear our vows and repulse not
them. nor thy children. Permit tnem
TO strike deep and often, and undei
their ~tireless hands let fresh ploou
fowl"
The terrible prayer was about 10 on
tine. when an unexpected noise maue
itself heard. A gong struck in the CEN
ter of the temple.
"Silencer' commanded Jubbee. Let
us listen"
The gong again sounded. The CHER
priestess bowed her head.
"You have heard the gongT' she sald.
'sThe sacred gong, whose mysterious
voice, twice repeated, announces TO us
that the masters of the first degree
cross the threshold Of the temple. we
must leave free to them the entrance
into the sanctuary. as the goddess COM
mands. Let us separate, my sisters,
without one backward glance"
She took from her belt a key, ana
with it opened the grating that shut or
one of the passages.
The priestesses arose, and, Dowlng
before the monument, passed, one ar
ter another around Jubbee, and slowly
went out. She followed last, closing
after her the grating.
The pagoda became solitary, and for
a few minutes a profound silence rest
ed in its vaulted depths.
Suddenly, one Of the hangings was
lifted. a pale head cautiously peered
through, until the child, Kazil, still tot
tering with weakness, was fully re-
yealed.
Come" he said, turning around
''come, we are alone!!"
George Malcolm and Stop, in their
turn, emerged from the dark passage.
let us hasten, MASTER" resumed
KaZil; "but be prudent. Here the dam
ger Is immense, and presents itself un-
der q thousand forms. On every side,
In these numberless galleries, the Brah-
Minis watch, relieved from hour to
hour by those who guard the relics OF
Bowhanie. Let one of these give the
alarm, and our ruin would be immedl-
ate and inevitable. The priestesses Of
Bowhanie watch day and night in the
temple, but, unless the sacred gong
had driven them away, / do not know
how we could have penetrated here"
1.-THE sacred gong, you sayW said
George. ''what does it announcer
'"rhe arrival of the chiefs, the initi-
ated, the masters"
George shivered.
Child" he continued, "who has I'M
folded to you the secrets of these un-
known races? Who has revealed to
you the mysteries of this temple?'
"Have l not already told your
Never
swell from my infancy, l have been
~consecrated to the goddess. / have
grown up among the priestesses in the
sacred heart of the temple. This is
why, master, / understand SO well it's
hidden places"
"Kazil," murmured George, ''you
well know that / have great confidence
in you, yet once you have betrayed
me-"
The child hung his head in silence.
He felt himself crushed by the weight
Of this reproach.
Have l not tonight to fear a trap?"
George asked.
The boy lifted his head and let his
eyes fearleSsly meet his masters.
Here is my hand" he said. ''Take
it. DO not let it go as long as we re-
main in this temple. You are armed!
If / have lied, kill me! shall not
complaint
these words We're pronounced sealed
them with such frankness that it was
impossible longer to preserve the shad-
ow of doubt.
let us GO on" he said. 81 believe
you"
And /, Also" added Stop. "Why, L
do not know, but l am full of conf
dence in this little Hindoo.'
Kazil thanked the valet by a grateful
glance. then listened attentiveiy.
Steps sounded ON the flags he MUIR
INJURED. THE echoes of the gallery re-
peat the sound. The chiefs approach.
Let US enter here
And he indicated, by a gesture, a
neighboring passage, hidden by a float
ing drapery.
but" cautioned George. "if they
come by that we shall be certainly sur
prised.''
There is nothing to fear" replied
the child. This dark gallery has no
entlet."
The noise drew nearer.
ENTER quicklyt' cried Kazil. lifting
the hanging, "and not a movement. MOI
81 word! Hold your breath. Let us
prevent, If possible, the beating of our
hearts. Come, come, Gomez
George and Stop followed the boy
but just as the curtain fell upon them,
the valet could not resist murmuring:
"Ah! by st. Dustan! it was time to
disappear"
For, with the utterance Of these
words, the key turned in the grating.
and a little group OF a dozen natives
emerged into the sanctuary.
The faces Of all these newcomers
were hidden by long wells, with OPEN
ings for the eyes, as in a mask. Among
them was n woman.
Three of these nocturnal visitors are
known to us. They were the Princess
Della, the Rajah Doorgal Sahib and
the Fakir Souniancy. The names of
the others do not interest US.
After having passed the grating
d. orgal stopped and threw about him
a menacing glance.
* thought 7 aeard voices" he said.
with vague uneasiness.
Those Of the priestesses, who have
abandoned the Sanctunrv RI To - an