The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1911-09-21
With no other word Salig Singh
turned and strobe down the corridor
CHAPTER XIV.
From a t{idh Place.

! tAU gwen " sudden CURVES anu HH
giles, penetrating. it seemed the very
bowels of the Raj Mahal. 1t ended IN
/ eXpeCtcdly in a low arch through
which the two men passed into an
| open courtyard, apparently given over
entirely to stables. Despite the late
ness Of the hour it was tenanted by
several wideawake syces, dancing at
tendance upon pair of blOoded stall
lions Of the stud royal who saddied,
bridled and hooded, paved and
champed impationtly in the center OF
the yard, making it echo with the
ringing Of iron on stone and the jim
Cling of their silver curb-chains.
Salig Singh paused. with wave OF
his hand calling AEaber's attention to
the superb hrutcs.
Thou canst see. hazoor, that all is
prepared"
For what?"
But SaHg Singh merely smiled enig-
matically, and shaking a patient head,
passed on.
A second arch gave upon a corridor
which led upwards and presently
changed into a steep fight OF steps,
OF ancient storm worn smooth and
grooyod with the traffic Of generations
Of naked feet At tn top they turned
aside and passed through heavy
door which SalE Singh unlocked with
a private key. into a vast, vacant
room, with a lofty ceiling supported
by huge, unwieldy pillars OF stone,
sculpturcd with all the loves and wars
OF Hindu mythology. At one end the
itful, eerie flare OF a great bronze
brazicr revealed the huge proportions
Of an ivory throne, gorgeous with
gems and cloth OF gold, standing upon
a dais and fankcd by two motionless
figures which at first sight Amber took
to be pieces Of statuary. But they
quickenod. salutinG with single
movement and q flash of steel, as the
maharana drew nearer, and so proved
themselves troopers of the state,
standing guard with naked swords.
There is no need, perhaps, to tell
thee hazoor." Salig Singh muttered
bending to Amber's ear, that sitting
upon this throne, in this Hall Of Au
clehce' Tor generations tiny lcrelatheIS
ruled mis- Iahd' maElhs ana aaIllnls'
teTIHg It's laws melting out justice
AonoFed OF all Heh-ahd served my
IoIa' Tor generations by my IoreoearS'
the faithful stewards OF thy house;
even as would prove faithful
'Intercating,' Amber interrupted,
hrusqneIy, II true. Is tins what you
wanted 10 snow me:
Nay hazoor' not THIS alone. Come.
The raJput LED nam out OF the nan
by way OF a small doorway behind the
throne, and after a little turning and
twisting through tortuouS passages
they began to ascend again and so
went en- UP ever upwards. the fight OF
/ steps broken by other corridors, other
/ apartments. other galleries and gar
dCns, until ar length they emerged
into garden LAID out in the very top
most court OF all-the Hottest spot IN
all kuttarpur.
1t was very beautiful garden,
jungle OF exotic plants and shrubs
threaded by narrow walks that led
TO secluded hooks and unsusDected
pleasaunces, and lighted BY low-swung
festoons of dim lamps, many-colored.
My lord said the maharana, paus-
ing, If thou wilt wait here for little,
permitting me to excuse myself"
All right Amber told him toler-
antly. Run along"
Saig Singh quietly offaced himself,
and the American watched him go
with an inward chuckle. Il presume
| I'll have to pay for my impudence in
the end, he thought; but it's costing
/ Salig Singh a good deal to hold him
self in" He moved away from the els
/ tern. idling down a Path in a direction
opposite that taken by Salig Singh.
An abrupt turn brought him to the
/ outer wall. and he stopped to gaze.
leaning upon the low marble balus-
/ trade.
/ Amber turned away to rejoin Salig
| Singh by the cfstern. But the raiput
was not there: and, presently. another
path tempting him to unlawful explo-
ration, he Welded and sauntered aim
/ lesely away. \ sudden corner cloaked