New Britain herald., 1924-01-07

prehensible English: but during my tourney l had been considering Il from every angle, and l had recent!
 come to the conclusion that the en- ] trance to this mysterious place was
 in some way concealed by water. l And now, gentlemen, l must re- | late a discovery which I had made in i the act of removing Fadi's clothing. l Upon his right forearm was branded 1 a mark resembling the apparation
 which I had witnesses in the night, namely a little torch, or fiambeau,
 surmounted by a tongue of fire. "The plateau upon which l stood
 was one of a series of giant steps. and on the west was sheer descent to a dense jungle, where banks of rotten vegetation, sun-dried, upon the top, lay heaped about the tree stems. Dragging the heavy body of Nadi to the brink of this precipice. top pled ii over. swaying dizsiy as l watched it crash down into the poi sonous undergrowth two hundred feet below.
 "I made a rough cache. where l stored the bulk of my provisions; and, selecting only such articles ss l thought necessary for my purpose, I set out again northward, guided by the sound or falling water.
 At midday the heat grew SO great that a halt became imperative. The path was still clearly diseernible; and in little cave beside it, which af- forded grateful shelter from tho mer- ciless rays of the sun, l unfastened my bundle and prepared to take a frugal lunch.
 T was so employed gentlemen. when heard the sound of approach ing footsteps on the path behind me the path which had recently tra- versed.
 Hastily concealing my bundle, l slipped into some dense undergrowth by the entrance to the cave. and crouched there, waiting and watching. I had not waited very long before a yellow-robed mendicant passed hy, carrying bundle not unlike my own, whereby concluded that he had come some distance.
 "I gave him helf an hours start and then resumed my march. 1T he could travel beneath noon-day sun. so could ].
 Tn this fashion I presently came out upon larger and higher pla- tcau. carpcted with a uniform. stunt ed undergrowth. and extending. as fiat as n table. 10 the very edge of sheer prccipice, which rose from fl 10 a height of three or four hundred gnarlcd. naked rock, showing no Ncstige Of vegitation.
 By this time the sound Of falling water had become very loud, and as emerged from the gorge through which tho path ran on to this plateau saw. on the further side Of this tableland, the yellow robe Of the mem dicant. Iie was walking straight for the face of the precipice. and straight for the spot at which, from Assure in the rock. q little stream lcapt out to fall shccrly ten or fifteen feet into n winding channel. along which it bubbled away westward, doubtless to form a greater waterfall beyond.
 "rhe mendicant was fully half a mile away from me. but in that clear tropical air was plainly visible: and. fearing that be might look around. ! stepped back into the comparative shadow of the gorge and watched.
 'Gentlemcn. 1 saw a strange thing. Placing his bundle upon his head he walked squsrely into the face Of the 2 aterfall and disappeared"
 CHAPTER NNNII. story of the Cny or Fire tContinut.Ib
 Quitting air. must pass through water The meaning or those words became apparent enough. l stood at the foot or the waterfall. looking up at the Assure from which it issued.
 Although the fact had been most ' artislically d~sguise1. could not ioubt that this assure was artificial.
 "A great deal of mist arose from l.. But I could sfe that. beyond a 1ucking. I had little 10 fear. and ,tcpping down into the bed of thn . little stream which frothed and bubbicd pleasantly atort my bare cgs. ! snpt my bundle or ms had as the mendicsnt rad done. and plunged 1 trough thc waterfall. into piace of 1 delicious cooirtss.
 f1-o.tautrad in CtfF Nrgf Iestf4