The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1915-06-19

this orderr lie snapped his fingers.
Il want that treasure, and you win tell
me where It 10 before am done with
you. You will tell me on your knees.
gladly! Now. men! There 10 q long
journey before us."
The colonel. Kathlyn and Winnie
were forced into one howdah, while
Umballa mounted the other. As for
the ouasi-mahouts. they were not par
ticulariy happy behind the ears of the
elephants. who. with that keen appre-
citation Of their kind. understood In
stinctively that they had to do with
novices. But for the promise OF gold
that dangled before their eyes. threats
Of violent death could not have forced
these men upon the elephants.
They started east. and the jungle
closed In behin& them.
As for Umballa, he cared not what
became Of the other prisoners.
They were being held captive In one
Of the village ,huts. The chief had
pleaded in vain. He was djshonored.
for they had made him break his word
to the white people. So be It, Sooner
or later the glitter of gold would leave
their eyes and they would come to
him and beg for pardon.
Moonlight. The village slept. Two
fishermen sat before the hut combining
the prisoners. on guard. An elephant
squealed In the distance. Out of the
shadow q sleek leopard. then another
The guards jumped to their feet and
scrambled away for dear life to the
nearest hut. crying the alarm. Bruce
opened the door. which had no lock.
and peered forth. 1t was natural that
the leOpards should give their immedi
ate attention to the two men In fight.
Bruce. realizing what had happened.
called softly to Ramabai and Pundita;
and the three Of them stole out into
the night. toward the camp. Bruce did
not expect to ind anyone there. What
he wanted was to arm himself and to
examine the boulder.
Meantime. Ahmed returned with the
truant elephant to find nothing but dis.
order and evidences of q struggle, A
tent was overturned, the long grass
trampled. and the colonel's sola-topee
hat lay crumpled near Kathlyn's tent
"Ai. all" he walled. But. being a
philosopher. his wailing was of short
duration. He ran to the boulder and
examined 1t carefully. It had not been
touched. That was we'll. At least that
meant that his sahib and memsahih
lived treasure! He spat out curse
and threw his rife to his shoulder
But his rage turned to Joy as he dis
covered who the arrivals were.
Bruce Sahib!"
Yes. Ahmed. Umballa got the best
Of US. We were tricked by the truant
elephant He has taken Kathlyn bach
to Alfalfa"
And SO shall we return!"
Ahmed called to his weary men
His idea was to all the elephant saddle
bags with the gold and stones. leave
1t In trust with Bala Khan, who should
in truth this time take his tulwar dowr
from the wall He divided his men, one
i company to guard and the other Il
labor. 1t took half an hour to pusl
back the boulder and dig up the bias
ket. After this was done Bruce anG
Ramabai and Ahmed the indefatigabls
carried the gold and precious stone
to the especially made saddlebags. AL
told. 1t took fully an hour to complete
the work.
With water and food, and vel
armed. they began the journey bacl
to Alfalfa, q formidable cortege ant
in no tender mood. They proceeded II
forced marches, snatching what sleel
they could during the preparation o
the meals.
Many q time the impulse came Il
Bruce to pluck the shining metal ant
sparkling stones from the saddlebagi
and toss them out into the Jungle, t.
be lost till the crack Of doom. Their,
were also moments when he felt moth
ing but hatred toward the father Of thu
girl he loved. For these trinkets Kath
lyn had gone through tortures Al
frightful almost as those in the day.
Of the inquisition. Upon one thing hi
and Ahmed had agreed. despite Rama
bats wild protest, they would leav,
the treasure with Bala Khan and follow
his army to the walls Of Alfalfa. l
harm befell any Of their loved onei
not one stone should remain upon an
other. And Bruce declared that h,
would seek Umballa to the ends Of tn
earth for the infinite pleasure Of ia
king his black throat in his two handl
and squeezing the life out Of 1t.
Eventually and without mishap the,
came to the walled city of the desert
Bala Khan's stronghold. Bala Khan O
necessity was always ready. alwayi
prepared. Before night Of the day o
their arrival an army was gathered
within the city. fierce eyed. lear
Joined men who asked nothing better
than to 90 to paradise, where they hat
but to select what houri they woult
and be happy eternally. For Bali
Khan's army was wholly Mohamme
dan: and 30 long since was 1t they hat
fought that they romped toward AL
laha with the spirit and effervsscenc,