New Britain herald., 1923-08-15

disguise himself as a Chinese inter-
prefer and accompany Armitage on
the expedition.
Il expect everybody here to remain
In their quarters after lights-out and
I've instructed the sentries to shoot
without question at anybody who is
found proving around after dark
Cur next move is to get on the track
of Chai-Hung with the least possible
delay. Get half-a dozen picked
men scouting for traces of the as
sassins and report to me as soon as
anything definite transpires.''
VERY good, tuan. And you"
II shall remain here"
There was a fallen tree trunk at
the edge of the clearing farthest from
the squatting bearers and Major
Armitage settled himself down at the
end which appeared to offer the most
shade. The interpreter glanced back
over his shoulder twice as he crossed
to the men, but the apostle of blood
and iron was pressing tobacco from
an oil-skin pouch into an exceedingly
new-looking briar and did not look
up vi
Pennington was frankly puzzled and
rot "a little perturbed as to the I'M
comfortable proximity of the agents
of Chat Hung. 1t was one thing
tracking down the bandit by his own
methods-and quite another securing
the country at the heels OF SO unrea-
sonable a leader as Armitage. The
yellow Seven were swarming some
where close at hand, taking advan
tage of the shelter the jungle offered
and picking off those who Jagged be-
hind. BY this method they were re-
ducing the strength of Armitage's
force.
Taking with him native sergeant,
he embarked upon a reconnaissance.
They were returning a couple OF
hours later through a narrow defie
between rocky banks half hidden by
ferns, when figure appeared on the
path not ten yards in front of them.
Pennington's hand swung round ito
his hip-pocket, but Sergeant Danudin
caught his arm.
"Bi-la. tuan. 1t Is Rabat-Pilai."
remington EtOpptu uNdu ~ ih'
tracks. The newcomer was he to
whom the man with the Chinese eyes
was wont to refer as his chief OF
staff; a short 1.-THE individual with
an eve and an ear missing and his
mouth slit on either side.
What is it, Rabat- Pilai?'
The creature saluted as he came
up,
.Great tuan, / have followed Chat |
Hung to this place. He has many OF
his men with him--and he has taken |
the white soldier with the glass eye.
Pennington started.
"You are sure of this?" he de-
manded
"Perfectly tuan. / came from the
direction Of the Tuan- Besar Varneys |
house-which is by the river, be-
cause of something that man had
told me. found the soldiers and |
the men who carried the barang;
after that 1 saw the white lord, who
was sitting on a tree. ! did not enter
the clearing, but skirted by way OF
the forest-and the thing happened |
Is i passed. A man dressed as you
are dressed spoke to the soldiers,
who followed him presently into the
Jungle. The white lord had fallen
asleep with his head in his hands
and Chai-H Hung came softly"
"How long ago was this? '
Ten minutes, perhaps, not more"
Pennington's eyes blazed.
Sergeant Danudin, round up those
men and follow. Bring all the pro-
visions you can lay your hands on.
What direction are they taking
Rabat?"
Due east, tuan. There are others
At certain points until the soldiers
found the path"
As Pennington followed upon the
heels of Rabat- Pilai, he found time
to be sorry for Major j. Lacy Armi-
tage and the inevitable failure of his
expedition; he was sorry, too, that
the man who preached efficiency ;
could not have been there at that ;
moment to appreciate the caliber of s
the network he himself was fast
drawing round Chai-Hung; little,
brown, inconspicuous mortals, each {
a special hatred for their s
quarry and assisted by jungle tele- ,
graph coded and adapted by Chinese
At a bend in the track Rabat- Pilai ,
touched Pennington gently. s
They are not far ahead, tuan. t
They are making for the house in +
the rocks, for Chat Hung is tired s
and his arm pains him."
They will not have killed the I
white man." =
Rabat-Pilai shook his head. i
s"Not yet-or they would have left
his body for Us to find"
The corners of Pennington's mouth