Evening star., 1934-08-06
CHAPTER xxxvr.

lnR n3adiy ~ the kK1ife Rans'
- fixing his throat.
Take him and bury him
HN was a traitor muttered tht
Yelled Man.
For almost q minute after he had
gone the circle sat gazing dunbfol1nd'
ed NJ three inches Of steel projecting
from the back Of the dead mans rech
as IL gilttered IN the n0w-risen moon
"He did well" Aaid BAHIA az last
Eve are his men. We have said II
The Place Of Fights adtoined ths
Palace Of the Mirror, to which IL wa
connected by underground passages
Nith its tiers Of gray-stone seats. ris-
ing one above the other In the man
ner OF a Roman aEnphithcater.
The tarnasha tshowD had been pro-
claimed by drum beat. and long before
dawn a stream Of eager men. women
and children had been moving to-
ward the two entrances Of the amphi-
theater.
The morning was sllitry and a haze
hung over the valley. From behind
THE inclosing mountains 10 the south
q mass OF livid cumulus cloud was
rolling up. the snow-capped peaks
showing tenseiy white against Il Nov
and again was 70 be heard the chok-
ing rumbling Of thunder.
The Older spectators shook their
heads ineasily as their hard, brown
eyes scanned those up-piled vaporoua
masses. There was q legend current
among them that many centuries be-
fore. on another such day as this, sim
liar p0rtents had heralded an earth
quake in which a hundred thousand
hillmen had been buried under the
riven hills.
The stands we're crowded and the
crowd Was becoming impatient. Sud-
denly clamorous upToar changed to
q shout Of applause, as the gigantic
black bearded figure OF the Cobra en-.
tered. Ten minutes later the panoe-
monium ended.
The Yelled Man had taken his seat
At the raising OF his black gloved
hand the great gates slowly opened
and q grim procession entered.
FL At its head were the three Britons--
llnchained Behind them clanked eight
manacled hillmen. on either side of
whom was line Of escorting guards
AS Gray came out into the sunlight q
deep "Aahl" of satisfaction went up
from 10000 throats. His splendid
physique and 6 feet Of height prom
ised good sport. He was holding one
of Diana's hands, who, bareheaded
and still in hillman's dress, seemed
almost diminutive beside him--tall
though she was.
His other arm was about the shoul-
ders OF q scarecrow, being with tan
Rled mass Of grayish hair and beard,
who stumbled as he walked. with his
arms crossed upon his breast and his
clawlike hands hidden in his arm
pits.
Can you see him. Gray?" asked the
blind Galbraith hoarsely. Tell me,
can you see him?"
But Colin was watching Diana'S face
with anguished intentness and did
not answer. Galbraith sank TO the
ground. Spectators thought he was
begging for mercy. But 1. 20 Just
and merciful God, let him come near
10 mel :" meant nothing TO them.
and they lost interest in the scene
when Gray lifted Galbraith to his
feet and patted him on the back.
The prisoners had now reached the
center of the arena and were ordered
to halt. Evidently some orders were
awaited.
The bank Of leaden clouds had now
spread upward toward the sun. and
a purplish gloom had succeeded the
bright sunlight Of few moments
before.
A quick. short trembling OF the
earth brought q seconds silence, and
then increased Babel. Bus the ex-
citement soon subsidized. Earthquakes
are common happenings in Yanistan.
1t was then that, for the last time
4 but one, Diana and Colin heard-as
clearly as If 1t were being broadcast
upon the ether-the voice of the
SwaStika Sadhu. It seemed to be
quite close to them.
"Chela that was!" it said. "ChaI-
lenge him to wrestlel Afterward,
pass through the door on the right
Of the gatesl :"
Then the bell-like tones faded away.
The eyes OF the lovers met.
"Will you, Colin?"
YES" said Gray tensely, ''if hen
come down."
Gray turned to Limbu.
II 60 to challenge the Khani" he
said.
Limbu-who had managed to get
himself chosen as one of the escort
thumbed the razor edge of his kukri
while he wore an ecstatic smile. What
o sahib he wasl What sahibl
A few yards from the wall Colin
stopped and, folding his arms, looked
up at the Cobra.
i call upon all to witness" he
shouted. that Alan Khan fears mel
His heart is Of glass. If what say