The Washington times., 1911-08-15

OF the river worked upon my nerves so
that found it difficult to heed
Gwynne's injunction.
The sound of the chanting voices had
mer of light remained. 1 strained my
eyes. There was nothing but thick
blackness on every side, and the deaf
ening roar of the torrent. From time
to time strange voices seemed to rise
out of the depths, but when l directed
my attention to them the sound ceased.
But always it came from the same
place-from out the black caldron
where the river lost itself.
Absurd that human beings could
nave found their way to the bottom Of
such well, and live. concluded that
II must be an echo that came up from
the depth and went wandering through
the galleries-the gurgling or regurgi-
tation of the water imprisoned in
some rock-cleft beneath. Yet, every
time 1t happened l was startled, for
could not quite make 1t fit the theory.
Once, twice, it took on the likeness of
music-or thought so.
L could not even guess the hour OF
night, knowing as / did that the pass
age OF time Is misleading under such
conditions; but 1t seemed interminable.
and sat down again, trying to hnd
comfort in Gwypne's caution to keep
my nerve, but II was hard work.
1t seemed as II / had been there for
louder and Enthusiastically human. star
tied, l sprang to my feet. The sound
Of music, spasmodic and desultory NUT
terings, had changed to that OF panic
deadly Nearer and still nearer came
the shrieks, the groans. the yells Of
despair.
Human suueals came out Of the
blackness-yet more like beasts than
men. They were running toward me,
these unknown dwellers of the cave.
The tramp of many feet proclaimed 1t.
Then came a shimmering light, fol-
lowed by the torches Of the pundits.
They were returning pell-mell at break
neck speed. 1 recognized them in an
instant. What had happened?
Stepping behind the rock projection,
was a human stampede in which human
terror outstripped that Of the beast.
Few Of the torches were alight. many
having gone out in the wind. Cries of
alarm, means Of despair, filled the cav
ern passages like the breath of
thousand madmen poured into some
gigantic trumpet. On-on they sped.
1t was impossible to guess the cause:
but was thankful when they had
rassed. leaving me once more alone in
the darkness.
Then out OF the gloom a nebulous COL
umn of light from the same direction
Slowly 1t was advancing as II followed
the flying forms Of the pundits. 7 did
the cause Of the stampede. for an in
stant later recognized the Ya-ti ghost
The same flowing robes Of white. the
same inscrutable face, the same ma
iestic height and form. the identical
thing that had brought back the yaks
from the valley.
Shrinking still farther behind my
screen, l watched this marvellous object
as 1t came toward me. For the second
time I felt that indescribable horror Of
the supernatural. and sympathized with
the lamas. The very fact Of their alarm
filled me with greater terror and made
me wish that l had Joined them. But
II was too late now. I must stand my
ground and survive or perish. l must
take whatever came.
But the phantom moved more slowly
and less directly. SwayinE gently from
side to side-turning. bending. STOPPING
as If in search Of some hiding lama~I
had ample time to nurse my fears and
realize that l should probably be dis
covered in another minute.
Crouched still lower to the wall, but
at that instant the spirit OF the Ya-ti
whistled, and knew the tune.
A Continuation of This Story VIII
BE Found In TOmOrrOw's
Issue of The Times.