Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-25

angle of the building. But Dulla Dad
held on without a pause until the moment
when it seemed that he intended to dash
| the boat bows first against the stone
then. with a final dexterous twist of the
paddle. he swung at a sharp angle and
simultaneously checked the speed. Under
scant momentum they slid from moon
light and the clean air of night into a
close we'll between two walls, and then
suddenly beneath an arch and into a
cavernOuS chamber filled with the soft
murmufing of water-and with darkness.
Here the air was sluggish and heavy
ing 1t. seeing nothing save the spectral
CLEAN of moonlight reflected inwards.
hearing nothing save the uncanny tapping
and purring of the ripples. it was not
easy to forget the tales men told of
palace corruption and crime-of lovers
who had stolen thus secretly to meet
their mistresses. and who had met. In
stead, death: of assAssins who had
skulked by such stealthy ways to earn
blood-money; of spies, of "a treacherous
legion who had gained entry to the palace
by such ways as this-perhaps had &C
complished their intent and returned to
tell the tale, perhaps had been found In
the dawn-light. floating out there on the
lake with drawn wan faces upturned to
the pallid skies. 80 49,
'Haz0or!'
1t was Dulla Dads voice, sleek with
fawning For all the responsiveness of the
accents Amber was not sorry to hear
them. At least the native was human
and this experience wasn't, hardly.
He leaned toward the man, eyes
aching with the futile strain of striving
to penetrate the blackness. He could see
nothing more definite than shadows. The
boat was resting motionless on the tide
as II suspended in an abyss of night,
fathomless and empty.
well, what now?" he demanded, harsh
ly. BE careful, Dulla Dad!'
still my lord distrusts me? There is
naught to fear. none here to lift hand
against you. Your servant lives but to
serve you in all loyalty
'Indeed?"
MY lord may trust me-.
''It seems to me 1 have-too far"
MY lord will not forget?'
BE sure of that, Dulla Dad.
Well. what are you waiting for?"
1--WE are arrived, hazoor." said the
native, calmly. IF you will be pleased
to step ashore, having care lest you over
turn the boat. the steps are on your left
where? $50 Oh!'' Amber's tentative
hand cropping in obscurity. fell upon a
slab of stone. smooth and slippery, out
solid. "You mean here?"
AYE, hazoor.'
II am to wait to conduct you back to
your place of rest
"Um-m. You are. chg" Amber. doubt
full, tried the stone again: it was sub
Stantial enough, only the boat rockeo. ne
struck a match; the short-lived flame az
forded him a feeble. unsatisfactory I'm
preston of a long, narrow. vaulted cham
Der. whereof the floor was half water.
half stone There was landing to the
left, rather narrow ledge, with low,
heavy door, bossed with iron, in the wall
beyond.
Shaking his head, he lifted himself eau
tiousy out of the boat. You stay right
there. Dulla Dad he warned the native,
until 1 see what happens. If l catch
you trying to get away-the boatll show
up nicely against the opening. you know
I'll give you cause for repentance.
81 am here, hazoor. Turn you and
knock upon the door thus'-rapping the
gunwale of the boat-"thrice.
: Amber obeyed. wrought up now to SO
high a pitch of excitement and suspense
that he could hardly have Withdrawn had
he wished to and been able to force Dulla
Dad to heed him. AS che knuckled the
third signal the door swung slowly In
ward. disclosing. in a dim glow Of light,
stone walls-a bare stone chamber IL
lumined by a single iron lamp Hanging
in chains from the ceiling. Across the
room dark entry opened upon pas
sageway equally dark
ITO be continued tomorrow