Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-06-25

horses bride lifted his hand as he had
done before and pointed ahead.
Look. sahib.' he cried. Look
Nicholson made no sign. He retained
his easy attitude. one hand loosely hold
ing the reins, the other with the riding
whip resting negligently on his hip. There
was no change in his bronZed face-his
eyes took in the scene which an abrupt
turn in the road revealed to him with a
steadfast calm, though his pulses had be-
gun to beat furiously. 1t was as though
a painter with two strokes of a mighty
brush had smeared the square before the
temple with a great moving stain. Only
one narrow white line reached up to the
temple doorway. On either side. right up
to the gopuras and stretching far away
down the branching paths a living mass
stood and waited. their faces turned to-
ward him. Pilgrims they might have
been. but he saw in the foremost row men
with their dark hands clasped over the
muzzles of their rifles. and every here and
there the sunlight flashed back a reflec-
ton from the cold steel at their sides.
They made no sound as he rode between
them; only a soft shutting behind him
told him that the human wall was closing
in. He did not turn. His eyes passed
calmly over the watching faces. and the
hands that played at their dagger hits
fell away, as though the piercing gaze
had paralyzed them Thus he reached
the temple. where he dismounted.
No one had told him. but he well under
stood that this was his destination, and
with a firm step passed into the inner
court. For an instant the sudden change
from brilliant daylight to an almost COM
plete darkness dazzled him. He saw
nothing but a moving shadow intermin-
gled with points of fire that glowed stead
lily in two long rows up to the altar,
where fell a single ray of golden sun
shine. Helmet i'm hand, he moved slowly
forward. every nerve strung taut with
suspense. AS his eyes grew accustomed
to the curious half light. he saw that the
unreal shadows were men grouped on
either side behind rows OF torch bearers.
The red flare fell on their fixed, unmOved
faces, and threw weird shadows back
ward and forward among the massive
pillars. whose capitals faded into the in
tensified gloom overhead. There was no
other movement, no other sound save
Nicholson's own footsteps. which echoed
loud and threatening in that petrified 81
lence. On the altar itself holy lamp
burned steadily. and behind. half oblit
Grated by lonely. upright figure. the
great three-headed god stretched out
ghostlike arms into the sunshine that de-
scended in narrow ladder of pure light
to mingle with the altar fire.
Nicholson moved on. At the altar steps
he came to a halt and waited. The figure
did not stir nor seem to he aware of his
presence. A torch bearer knelt on the
lower step. and the fiery DETECTION threw
into plastic relief the set and pitiless
features beneath the jeweled turban. Gone
was the old simplicity. The hands that
lay clasped one upon the other on the
splendid scimitar were loaded with gems.
and from the turban single diamond
sparkled starlike in the changing light.
splendid and romantic figure, truly:
harlnOniZing with and dominating over
the mysterious background. But it was
not the splendor, nor even the stern
tragedy written on the worn and haggard
face. which caused Nicholson to feel a
cold hand grasp at his bold self-confi-
dence. 1t was the sudden intuitive realiza-
ton that here the battle began. He was
no longer the master personality tower
ing over hydra-headed multitude. Here
II was a man against man, will against
will. despair against despair
Hail, Rajah Sahib.'' he said in Hindu
stani. Hair
His voice had echoed into silence before
Nehal Singh moved. Then he lifted his
hand in greeting.
You know me- Nicholson went on,
drawing nearer. II am Nicholson, Capt.
Nicholson of the-Gurkhas"
II do not know you There was a
pitiless finality in the few words and in
the gesture which accompanied them.
Nicholson lifted his head to the light.
"Nehal Singh, you lie. l was and am
your friend"
He heard a stir behind him, and his in
stinct. doubly sharpened. felt how dozen
hands had flown to their weapons. Then
again there was silence. His eyes had
not flinched In their challenge.
Il have no friends among traitors and
towards"
The insult left Nicholson calm Some
thing in the tone In which the words were
uttered, something that rang more like
broken-hearted despair than contempt,
touched him profoundly.
Thou hast the power to say SO, rajah,"
he answered, quietly. Il am alone and
unarmed."
The reproach went home to it's mark
He saw the rajahs hand tighten on the
sword hilt and q deeper shadow pass over
the handsome features.
Thou art right Nehal Singh said. Il
have misused my power and that l will
not do. Whilst thou art here thou needst
fear neither insult nor danger"
II fear neither was the answer. A
bitter, scornful smile lifted the corners
of the set lips.
so thou sayest." Then with a gesture
of impatience. he went on: Thou hast
sought me here and It is well. / also
have sought thee, for I have a message
that thou shalt carry from me to thy peo-
pie. Wilt thou bear it?'
Bear it thyself, rajah. to the people
with whom thou hast lived in honor and
friendship
I'm deceit and treachery." Nehal Singh
retorted. frowning. But enough of that.
Wilt thou bear my message?'