The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-06-14

had not known exactly where the cave
was. but he knew all that the cave
contained.
When they came to Il Cmballa shifted
the tang of sulphur became evident bota
in his nose and on his tongue He
understood. 1t was simply IA small
mineral spring in which sulphur pre-
dominated. He came out with some
water cupped in his hands. He drank
and showed them that 1t was harmless.
Besides, he was holy man, and his
presence made Intellectual all evil spirits
which might roam within the cave.
Torches were lighted and the cave was
entered. There were many side pas
sages. and within these the astute I'm
balla saw the true reason for the curse
of the Mohammedans-gu and powder.
hundreds and hundreds of pounds Of
black destruction!
A lower gallery. the mouth OF which
lay under a slab OF rock, led Ia the pit
wherein rested the filigree basket. '''
For a time tmballa acted like a mad
man. He sang, chanted, dug his hands
into the gold and stones, choked, sohbed.
Here was true kingshp; the private
treasures Of a dozen decades all his for
the taking. He forgot his enemies and
their nearness as the fortune revealed
itself to him.
AS his men at length staggered ont Of
the lower gallery with the basket slung
upon an improvised litter he espcd his
enemies marching up the hill Back
into the cave again. Tmballa cursed
and bit his nails. He was unarmcd, as
were his men. and he had not time Ia
search among the smuggled arms to
find his need.
Heaven born" spoke up the man
who had known where the cave was,
there is an exit on the other side, We
can go through that without yond"r
peop.e noticing us"
"A fortune for each Of you when you
put this on the slOop."
Back through the cave they rushed
torches fiaring. Once bearer stumbled
over a powder can and the torch holder
all but SPRAYED over him. Imhalla's
hair stood on end. Fear impe.led the
men toward the exit.
There Is powder enough here tn blow
up all OF Hiud. Masten!"
At the mouth of the exit the men
with the torches, finding no further
need Of them. carclessly flung them
aside.
Fools roarcd Tmhalla, you have
destroyed u.s."
He fled. The bearers followed with the
| burden. Down the side Of the pr"mon-
tory they slid Under a projecting ledge
| they passed sweating with terror
Suddenly the whole island rocked, An
explosion followed that was heard half
a hundred miles away. where the gun
boat Of the British Raj patrollcd the
| shores.
! Rocks, trees, sand filled the air and
small fires broke out here and there
The bulk of the damage. however, was
done to the far side Of the promontory
not where the frightened Umba,h stood
A twisted rifle barrel fell at his feet
ITO the sloop." he yelled. 1T is az
Overt"
On the far side the other treasur
seekers stood huddled together, scare.
knowing which way to turn. The
miracle of it was that none of them WA
hurt. Perhaps quarter Of an hour
passed before their faculties awoke,
Look" cried Kathlyn, pointing sea
ward.
What she saw was Umballa setting
adrift the boats which had brought
them from the mainland.
Came second explosion far NOR"
furious than the first. In the down
ward rush Kath!yn stumbled and fell
the debris falling all about her.
Continued ncr' SunddyD
Copyright. 1914. bv Harold MucGrdth.