Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-08-10
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head of bull upon u roughly -chiseled
dish, whose sight struck fresh terror to
Stops cowardly heart.
The place in which they found them
selves had something the appearance
of an inner chapel chad they been in
Christian landD; but here at least they
We're secure from the fierce onslaught
Of the elements, and Kazil, with won
derful ingenuity, gathered materials to
light and make fire, which soon sent
its ruddy glow to lend fantastic shad-
ows OH the walls and to dry their drip
ping garments.
Again Kazil disappeared, this time
returning with some cushions he had
taken from the palanquin, stretching
item upon the ground, that his young
master might rest in comfort.
MASTER he said, 'the storm will
last throughout the night. When you
have quite dried your clothes. throw
yourself down here, and you will sleep
until daylight
"Thank you, my child! But you, so
young, and after so wearisome a
march-you will be exhausted
KaZil smiled proudly.
"Fear not for me,' he answered. 81
am but a child, but have strength
and will. I may neither eat nor drink
if need be- for more than day. march
the tempest. and my body will not
weaken. Your father has seen my
strength If YOU will ask if Eazil
speaks the truth, he will tell you
you love my father?'
"Do love him? owe him even life.
He saved me from death in the most
horrible form. 1 owe him the air l
breathe. l love him. and 1 will love
YOU. master, because you are his son.
If ever you need my blood, will give
if for you as freely as 1 would shed it
for him-as | would sacrifice it for
your brother, Sir Edward
The Englishman caught the boys
hands and tightly pressed them.
Brave child! You love my father
and my brother. Then shall love
you"
A tear rolled down Kazil's bronzed
cheek, but already Stop had stretched
himself upon the ground, not without
many muttered curse at the hard and
unyielding substance.
what will you do, Kazil?" asked
the master.
Il shall watch" was the simple re
ply.
You are, then, made of marble?"
"Yes.''
"Ah. we'll, so be it! The warmth sue
ceeding the rain has given me almost
a fever. will gladly rest for an hour
or twO.'
And With these words. the traveller
extended himself upon the cushions
and was soon asleep, though not be-
fore Stops snorings could be distinctly
heard.
Kazil. his arms lrossed over his
chest. leaned his back against the wall,
before the opening which gave access
to the ccnsecrated hall, and began to
hum, in low and almost indistinct
voice, some verses of Hindoo song.
Again, at these intervals. the boot of
the owl was, repeated quite near at
hand, but low, and as if suppressed.
Kazil trembled. His songs ceased on
his lips. He listened intently, while
his eager and fixed gaze appeared to
mutely question the silence and the
shadow.
The mysterious cry of the bird was
not again heard, nothing came to dissi-
pate the external darkness; but with
in the vaulted room something strange
and full of mystery was about to be
revealed.
One of the bas-reliefs. that which
represented the sixteenth incarnation
Of the god Vishnu, suddenly, without
the slightest sound, slid back upon it's
invisible grooves, leaving in it's place
q square and yawnng aperture. This
aperture was directly opposite the
cushions on which the weary traveller
slept
For some seconds it remained black
and empty; then, instantly, it served
to frame a vision most strange and un-
expected. The head Of woman-a
! head young and pale, of dazzling but
sinister beauty, appeared at the open
ing.
The head was crowned by a diadem
of jetty braids, wound round and
round about it in superb luXuriance,
and in whose thick masses glistened
sequins Of gold. The lips were carna-
ton hue. The eyes. black and very
large, threw magnetic glances toward
the silent sleeper, as if they could not
withdraw their gaze.
Soon the purple pupils dilated and
distended, in the darkness, with an in
ner light, such as one sees in the black
diamond; her lips, half-parted in a
marvellous smile, which unveiled the
exquisite whiteness of her teeth, like
faultless pearls hidden in a casket of
wet coral.
Thus TRANSPORTED, the head was Of
regal beauty, indescribable by the pen
Of any writer, and before whose volup-
tuous splendOr the brush Of even a
great artist might fall dismayed.
Surely, spirit or mortal, she to whom
belonged this radiant beauty must be
goddess OF queen.
Kazil, always attentive, but always
motionless, had not raised his eyes to-
ward the vanished bas-relief, and, con-
sequently, had seen nothing.
After a long and almost ecstatic con-
temptation, the head vanished but still
the aperture remained. Doubtless the
exquisite and Incompatible vision
would reappear. All was not finished.
One of the slabs from the floor Of the
chamber suddenly replaced itself, and
seemed to sing into black, unknown
abyss.
The child was about to utter cry,
but his voice failed him. The .bronzed
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