The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1911-08-31
cHAPrER XIV.
From q klIoh Place.

From q High Place.
| The passageway was long ana darh
and given to sudden curves and an
giles, penetrating. 1t seemed, the very
bowels of the Raj Mahal. 1t ended I'M
| expectedly 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 oy
several wideawske syces. dancing at
tendance upon \ pair OF blooded stall
lions Of the stud royal. who saddled.
bridled and hooded. paved and
champed impatiently In the center OF
the yard, making 1t echo with the
ringing of iron on stone and the jim
Cling OF their silver curb-chains.
Salig Singh paused. with q wave OF
his hand calling Ambers attention to
the superb brutes.
Thou cans. see, hazoor. that all Is
prepared"
For what?'
But Salig Singh merely smiled enig-
matically. and shaking patient head,
passed on.
A second arch gave upon corridor
which led upwards and presently
changed into a steep fight Of steps,
of ancient storm worn smooth and
grooved with the traffic Of generations
of naked feet At the top they turned
aside and passed through heavy
door which Salig Singh unlocked with
private key, into vast, vacant
room, with lofty ceiling supported
by huge. unwieldy pillars OF stone.
sculptured with all the loves and wars
Of Hindu mythology. At one end the
fitful, eerie fare of great bronze
brazier revealed the huge proportions
Of an ivory throne, gorgeous with
gems and cloth of gold, standing upon
dais and flanked by two motionless
figures which at first sight Amber took
to be pieces of statuary. But they
quickened, saluting with single
movement and 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 Ambers ear. that sitting
upon this throne, in this Hall OF Au-
dience, for generations thy forefathers
ruled this land, making and admins
tering It's laws, melting out justice
honored of all men--and served, my
lord for generations by my forebears,
the faithful stewards Of thy house;
even as would prove faithful"
Interesting" Amber interrupted,
brusquely, 'if true. Is this what you
wanted to show me-"
NAY, hazoor. not this alone. Come
The rajput led him out Of the hall
by way of a small doorway behind tho
throne, and after n little turning and
twisting through tortuous passages
they began to ascend again, and so
went on up. ever upwards, the flight Of
steps broken by other corridors, other
apartments. other galleries and gar
dens, until at length they emerged
into a 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 unsupported
pleasaunces, and lighted by low-swung
festoons of dim lamps, many-colored.
my lord" said the maharana. paus-
ing, "if thou wilt walt here for little,
permitting me to excuse myself"
"All right" Amber told him toler-
antly Kun along"
Sally Singh quietly effaced himself.
and the American watched him 20
with an inward chuckle. g. presume
I'll have to pay for my impudence III
tho 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 path In 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 cistern. But the rajput
was not there; and, presently, another
path tempting him to unlawful explo-
ration, he yielded and sauntered aim
lessly away. A sudden corner cloaked
with foliage brought him to little
open space, patch of lawn over
wa'cf canopy had been raised. Be-
neat. this, n woman sat alone. He
halted, thunderstruck.
simultaneously. with soft swish
of draperies. n clash OF jeweled brace
lets. dull and musical, and flash OF
coruscating color, the woman stood
before him. young, slender. graceful,
CARRIED in indescribable splendor--and
yelled
For the space Of three long breaths
the Virginian hesitated, unspeakably
amazed. Though she were yelled, It
were deep dishonor for woman of .
raiput's household to be seen by
stranger, 1t seemed inexplicable that
Sally Singh should have unwittlngl,
left him In any place where he might
encounter an inmate OF the zenana
Yet the maharana must have known
Amber made an irresolute
movement, as II to go But It was too
late.
| With murmur, inaudlble, and a
swift. infinitely alluring gesture. the
woman swept the veil away from her