Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-11-06

on every hand. So certain was Hayle
that he had not been mistaken about
I've man he declared he had seen. that
he kept his eyes we'll open to guard
against surprise. He did not know
what clump of bamboo might contain
an enemy, and, in consequence, his
right hand was kept continually in his
pocket in order not to lose the grip
OF the revolver therein contained. At
last they reached the top Of the hill
and approached the open spot where
their camp was situated.
what did tell you?" said Kitwa-
ter, as he looked about the camp and
could discover no traces of their two
native servants. at was one Of our
proving rascals you saw, and when
he comes back III teach him to come
spying on US. If know anything Of
the rattan, he won't do it again"
Hxyle shrugged his shoulders. While
the fact that their servants were not
at the camp to anticipate their return
was certainly suspicious, he was still
as convinced as ever that the man he
had seen slipping through the ruins
was no Burman, but true son of the
celestial empire.
Worn out by the excitem Of the
day, Kitwater mathematical the scrv,
ants for not having been there to pre-
pare the evening meal, but while he
and Hayle wrangled, Mr.. Codd had as
usual taken the matter into his own
hands, and, picking up a cooking pot,
had set off in the direction Of the
stream, whence they drew their supply
of water. He had not proceeded very
Tar, however, before h. uttered q cry
and came running back to the camp.
here was scared expression upon
his face as he rcjoined his compan-
ions.
They've not run away" he cried,
pointing in The direction whence he
had come. "They're dead."
"Dead?" cried Kitwater and Hayle
together. Then the latter added:
what do you mean by that?"
What say" Codd replied. "They're
both lying in the jungle back there
with their throats cut"
Then I was right after ALL" Hayle
found time to put in. "Come, Kit, let
US go and see. There's more than we
bargained for at the back of al this"
They hurried with Codd to the spot
where he had discovered the bodies,
to find that his tale was too true.
Their two unfortunate servants were
ia ~ n .t+ ha IL -
the track, both dead and shockingly
mutilated. Kitwater knelt beside
them and examined them more closely.
Chinese he said. laconically. Then
after pause he continues: Its a
good thing for us we had the foresight
to take our rifles with us to-day. other
wise we should have lost them for a
certainty. Now We shall have to keep
our eyes open for trouble. 1t won't be
long in coming, mark my words"
You don't think they watched us at
work in that courtyard, do you?" asked
Hayle, anXiously. rs they returned to
the camp. "If that's so. they'll have
every atom of the remaining treasure,
and We shall be done for"
lie spoke as if until that moment
they had received nothing.
ITS just possible they may have
done so, of course" said Kitwater,
"but how are we to know? We could
nj prevent them, for we don't know
how many of them there may be. That
fellow you saw this evening may only
have been placed there TO spy upon
our movements. Confound it all,
wish we were a bigger party"
ITS no use wishing that" Hayle re-
turned, and then after a pause he
added: Fortunately We hold a good
many lives in our hands. and what's
more, we know the value Of our own.
The only thing we can do is TO watch,
watch, and watch, and, il we are taken
by surprise. we shall have nobody to
thank for il but ourselves. Now if
you'll stand sentry, Coddy and will
get tea"
They set to work. and the meal was
In due course served and eaten. Aft
erwards Codd went on Guard. being
relieved by Ilayle al midnight. Ever
since they had made the CHASTITY dis
covery in the jungle. the latter had
been more silent even than the gravity
Of the situation demanded. Now he
sat, nursing his rifle, listening t o the
mysterious voices of the jungle. and
thinking is if for dear life. Meanwhile
his companions slept soundly on. Sc
cure in the fact that he was watching
over them.
At last Hayle rose to his feet.
ITS my only chance he said TO
himself. a S he went softly across to
where Kitwater was lying. at must
be now or never"
Kneeling beside the sleeping man.
he felt for the packet OF precious
stones they had that day obtained.
Having found il he transferred it to
his own pocket, ard then returned to
his former position as quietly as he
had come. Then, having secured as
much of their store Of ammunition as
he could conveniently carry, together
with supply of food sufficient to last
him for several days, he deserted his
post, abandoned his friends and dis
appeared into the junglei
PART III.
The sun was slowly sinking behind
the dense wall of jungle which
hens in, on the southern side, the