Evening star., 1934-08-08
rHAPrFR xxxyIrI

N coming up behind tht
w Cobra, he 1T oncs realized
v v what was to happen. but
the sight Of that frail,
stumbling figure. ita lean neck
wtrp4etzed forward aa IL striving TO
pierce the srnpsnetrAnle ven OF blind
meas, held him SpellDound. He knev
that any sign or word OF warning
from him would merely hasten what
must. nos. inevitably come TO paS1--
besides depriving the doomed Gal
bfafth Of a long prayed-for revenge.
what was best he had allowed 20
happen,
Nov there was not second 10 oe
lost II Diana and he were 70 escape
with their lives. Already hfllmen
from the lower tiers OF seats we're
droppsng into the arena and running
toward him. leaping side Jagged
EAaure which had opened in the
ground. as they advanced.
Come on. Dit" he shouted.
As they passed the Cobra's body.
Gray stopped quickly and plucked
the stabbing knife from the body Of
oalbraith.
Onward. toward the gates.
Once again the powers seemed 70
be aiding them. The darkness had
increased 10 a twilight gloom A
high wind caused the dense clouds
Of sand and dust from falling masonry
TO envelope them In a sheItering OBJ
scurtty
As they got to the gates Gray
glanced back
"Rhubberdar. Limbul" he shouted
warningiy.
Three Of their purmers were gain
ang on the Gurkha, who, redoubling
his speed, took a short half circle,
and. hurting his body round, faced
them.
What followed happened in three
seconds.
A circle OF dull silver light ringed
LImbu's head. and, one after an
other. three bodies fell to the sand.
One OF the hiilmen's whirling swords
encountering the heavy blade cf the
kukri, was shattered even as the
swordsman's head dropped sideways.
Pushing Diana before him, Gray
thrust the Cobra's stabbing knife
OF his torn riding breeches, and
grasping the bars OF one OF the heavy
gates, with a mighty effort he closed
1t, the bolt dropping into its socket
as he did SO.
The next moment Limbu was by his
side, and the second shut and locked.
Follow me. sahibl" painted the
orderly, making as II to start run
ming down one Of the four corridors
converging on to the gateway.
''No-not that wayl" roared Gray,
remembering the warning of the
voice he and Diana had heard as
they entered the fatefgl arena.
Spearlike Jets Of orange colored
fame were squirting behind them.
They were being fired at.
Lie fat, Di," he cried, hurting
himself at a small iron door.
With shaking fingers he fumbled
for the means of opening 1t. Ordi-
narily, no man could, in the circum-
stances, have found them so quickly
--if at all, but two thin. cool hands
seemed TO guide his, as he twisted at
two hexagonal iron knobs. praying
the while that the door might not
be jammed. Already the great gates
were heaving inward toward them,
the earthquake having demolished
one OF the pillars.
Now, Dbl" he shouted, as the
emall door swung open.
she was at his side before he could
finish the sentence. There was nc
sign OF the little Gurkha.
'Limbul" he shouted, with all the
strength of his lungs. But his voice
was smothered in shattering peal
OF thunder.
Gray could not bring himself to
leave the little Gurkha TO his fate.
Dianas touch on his arm told him
she understood, that she wished him
to 60.
A blaze Of forked lightning showed
him q squat, sturdy form, standing
astride two dead bodies. Just inside
the leaning gates. Half dozen other
hillmen had forced their way be-
tween the shattered pillar and the
wall, and were pressing him hard
Whipping out the Cobra's knife,
Gray buried it in one who was aim
ing point blank at the Gurkha from
the side.
Then. reaching out his left hand
he gripped Limbu's shoulder and
drew him backward.
Inch by inch, the two men re-
treated. hacking and stabbing at the
howling group Of maddened hillmen
as they went.
quick - jump Backward" he
cried, and with q quick pull drew
Limbu after him into temporary
safety.
AS the door was slammed, Colin
slid to the ground.
Where did this pitch h-dark passage
lead 70. Gray wondered?
Diana seemed to divine his
thoughts.
"n we can't get out, we'll die to-
gether. Colinl I'm not afraid"
Il know" he whispered. Their lips
met.
Kneeiing beside him, Diana stroked
his face, speaking TO him with all
guished tenderness, every word of
which seemed to give him new life
and strength.