Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-02-13

him outside the gate and departed with an
escort OF twelve men. also riding cameis.
| There is some other road up that noun
tain Quatermsin." said Ragnall. "A camel
could sooner pass through the eye of a
needle than through that dreadful cave.
even II II were empty"
Probably" answered, but as we don't
know where IL Is, and I dare say II
| our heads on the matter The cave IL our
only road, which means that there IN no
| road"
That evening at supper we discovered
| that Hans was missing also that he had
| got possession Of my keys and broken into
| a box containing liquor, for there II stood
open in the cooking-hut with the keys in
| the lock.
| ''He has gone on the drink" I said to
Ragnall. "and upon my soul don't wonder
at 1t; for sixpence I would follow his
| example"
| Then we went to bed Next morning we
| breakfasted rather late, since when one
has nothing to do there is no object in
| getting up early. As I was preparing to
go to the cookhouse to boil some eggs,
TO our astonshment Hans appeared with
a kettle OF coffee.
Hans" said, "you are thief"
| "Yes, Baas." answered Hans.
| You have been at the gin box and talk
| ing that poison"
"Yes, Baas. I have been taking poison.
Also l took walk and all is right now.
The Baas must not be angry, for It is very
dull doing nothing here. viii the Baases
| eat porridge as we'll as eggs?"
As It was no use scolding him I said
| that we would. Moreover. there was some
! thing about his manner which made me
suspicious, for really he did not look like
a person who has just been very drunk
After we had finished breakfast he came
| mo Having
his pipe he asked suddenly:
Would the Baases like to walk through
that cave tonight? If so. there will be
no trouble"
what do you mean?" asked. suspect.
ing that he was still drunk.
II mean, Baas, that the Dweller n-the-
| cave is fast asleep.
How do you know that, Hans?"
Because 1 am the nurse who put hin
| to sleep, Baas though he kicked and cried
great deal. He is asleep: he will wake
no more Baas, ! have killed the Father
of Serpents."
Hans" 1 said. now am sure that yo,
are still drunk, although you do not show 4
outside"
Hans" added Ragnall, to whom I hat
translated as much of this as he did no
understand, 'it is too early In the day I,
tell good stories. How could you possibl!
have killed that serpent without a gun
for you took none with you, or with 4
either for that matter?"
will the Baases come and take a wall
through the cave?" asked Hans with
snigger.
mot till I am quite sure that you ar
sober i replied: then, remembering Ger
tain other events in this worthys career
added Hans, IL you do not tell us tn
story at once l will beat you
There isn't much story Baas" reptile,
Hans between long sucks at his pipe, whcl
had nearly gone out. because the thin
was so easy. The Baas is very clever an,
so Is the Lord Baas, why then can the,
never see the stones that lie under thei
noses? 1t is because their eyes are alway
fixed upon the mountains between thi
world and the next. But the poor Hotten
tot, who looks at the ground to be sure tina
he does not stumble, ah he sees the stones
: CONTINUED TOMORROW