The Washington times., 1911-07-31


: of the animals, came In and touched
foreheads with dirty-looking Tibe
, tan who came forward to meet him.
few carefully chosen words were ut
tered, and the twain went sat to-
Gether. '
: Through an opening, ! perceived
that they were holding an earnest
conversation, and that from time Z
time they looked about as If dread
ing to be overheard. This went or
: for twenty minutes, after which they
returned to the house separately
In the, night I was awakened from
} a sound sleep by a strange believing
was sure 1t came from the cattle
4 lying beside me. Snatching a horn
lantern from the wall, We crept out
into the darkness, making our way
as quickly as possible into the pens.
Here the widest confusion greeted
US. The ponies were huddled into
corner. their heads Jammed against
the heavy stonework Of the inclosure,
| while their heels presented hyins
| battery toward the open space with
in, where the, yaks were believing
and charging Hereby.
There was the quick sound of re.
treating footsteps as we entered, but
no one was visible. ~,
fculty, and led them back to their
| quarters where we shut them In.
| Then. after yelling for help and
searching the premises. we found To-
! ko sleeping in an open loft, quite too
| soundly, we thought, to be genuine.
It was all we could do to wake him.
He said he had heard nothing.
Gwynne called him a liar, which
he didn't seem to understand as well
as the kick that followed, which
brought him to his senses and started
him to work upon the cattle. 1t was
nearly daybreak before we got them
back in their stalls again, and neither
Gwynne nor / could sleep another
wink.
There was no question of its being
plot to stampede the animals and
make away with them. 1t was evident
that the light of our lantern frightened
off the thieves, and that we had come
Upon them in the nick of time. 1 had
no doubt that Gwynne would dis
charge the fellow on the spot, but he
didn't
we can't spare him." he said; but
the road. for they'll be sure to waylay
us. and make off with the yaks, II
we don't. It will be at our next
camp. while the beasts are grazing
and we are busy eating. The scoun-
drels know every trail in the noun
tains and will get out of reach before
we can saddle the ponies"
We always kept the ponies tether-
ed. The yaks were allowed to Craze
at will.
After breakfast. we started off with
out allowing Toxic to suspect our
conviction that he was a thief, mere
ly accusing him Of laziness In not
getting up when he heard the
no more of the supposed accom-
plice before starting confirmed us In
our suspicion that the fellow had gone
ahead TO meet us at a more convenient
rendezvous. And 1t came, though not
at the next stopping place.
Four marches from the chaidarn found
US IN gloomy gorge, with night ap-
preaching. Although still careful, It is
possible we had relaxed q little in our
watchfulness, as nothing had happened
when we expected II would. We had
Just finished tea, and were spread out
upon the ground with our pipes, when
observed Toxic lift his head suddenly
and look down the trail. l was at once
reminded of our danger, and drew
Gwynne's attention to the coolies be-
havior. We both listened, and fixed our
eyes upon the yaks. They had wandered
farther than usual. Gwynne called to
Toxic, who pretended not 70 hear.
The next instant there was A flendish
veil, and some half-dozen Goloks rush.
ed between us and the cattle, waving
red rags and shouting Ba-ta! Ba-ta! as
the beasts upon run.
There was no chance to act. The
thing was all done in a minute. Our
yaks, Toxic. and the bandits had all dis
and we were left stranded with our
baggage and ponies. without guide or
means of transportation. 1t was all so
sudden there had not even been time
TO ..fL fire a gun gun: .,. ,,s..
ponies!" said Gwynne, glancing around
hastily at the little Tibetan horses, their
heads lifted in amazement at what had
"Or the luggage" 1 answered.
Gwynne was thinking. Then he look
ed up at the sky as he answered:
We must follow them-but how? 1t
Will soon be night, and it's all we can
do by day. to keep on the trail. Those
CHAT and hide. 1t will be impossible to |
trace. them through the darkness
and"
Still more difficult to recover the
remembering that the men were armed |
and would doubtless be Joined by 9TH
ers. Our ignorance Of the country, the |
darkness. together with the fact that |
we were largely outnumbered, and that |
we should probably run into an ambus- |
cade, made the situation difficult Open
battle was hopeless.
Stratagem was the only course !
looked for a minute at Gwynne's nose,
and felt more hopeful The fellow was |
persistent, resourceful. Every
feature and line in his face showed that
ne would never give up the yaks.
Suddenly, with a new light in his
eyes, he turned to me and saidl
ahead. I'll follow. but don't wait Take
small bag of 10 and some tinder. Kin
lie fire directly in the path as soon
IS it is too dark to see, and stay there
Ill I come. Mind, now, not a word"
-! knew him too we'll to argue-be-
;'des, it was his expedition. In five
/ was on the road. Two or
hree more, and Gwynne was lost to
light
This was on the 18th of July. I shud-
Tered when I remembered how much
IF the six months had already passed,
low little we had accomplished, and
low much there remained to do.
Continuation of This Story VIII
Be Found In Tomorrow,s