Crawfordsville Weekly Journal, Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, 5 August 1898 — Page 7

THE PEOPLE OF THE MIST.

By H. EIDER HAQQ-AfTlD.

lOoDyricht. 1893, by tho Author.]

CHAPTER XXV]II.

Their position was terriblo. Soa had escaped, and Suii knew everything. Moreover, she was mad with hatred and long•lug for revenge on Leonard, Otter and in ft less degreo on Olfan, tho king. Had .they succeeded in revealing themselves* to tho people all would have gone well, for Otter and Juanna would certainly have been accepted as true gods, who had passed and repassed tiio gates of death scathless. •Uuti now lb was another matter. Son /"would tell tho truth to tho priests, who, oven if they were inclined to desert her father in his extremity, must strikofor their own sakes and for that of their order, which was tho most powerful among the ••People of tho Mist mid had nodesiro to bo placed under the yokoof secular authority.

It was clear to all of them that if they could not escape they must fall very shortly into tho hands of tho priests, who, knowing everything, would not dare to allow them to appeal to the army or to tho ^superstitions of the outside public. Tho only good card hey held was lie possession of the person of Nam, though it remained to bo seen how far this would help them.

To begin with, there are alwayssomo who "would bo glad to step in tho shoes of a •high priest also Nam had blundered so extensively in the. matter of the false gods that the greater part of tho fraternity, whom ho had involved in his mistakes, would not sorrow to see tho last of him.

These fact*, which wero perfectly well known to Olt'an and guessed at by liis companions, sharpened their sense of danger in which they had been placed by Soa's readiness and cunning. Indeed their escapo was a matter of lifo and death to them and many hundreds of their adherents. If once they could reach the templo and proclaim the roarisen gods to the people, all would go veil, for the army would suitico to keep the priests from using violence, but if they failed iu this their death warrant was already signed, for nouo of them would ever be heard of again.

No wonder, then, that they hurled themselves despairingly upon the stubborn doors. For an hour and moro they labored, but all iu vain. Tho massivo timbers of .hard wood, six inches or moro in thickness, could scarcely bo touched by their .knives and spears, nor might their united strength serve even to stir tho stone bolts and bars that held them fast, and they had nothing that could be used as a battcring ram. '•It is useless," said Leonard at last, throwing down his knife-in despair. '-This /vWood is like iron. It would tako us a week to cut through it." "Why not try fire, baas?" suggested Otter.

Accordingly they attempted to burn jciown tho doors, with the result that tho? nearly stifled themselves in the smoke mid fmndo but little impression upon the woodwork.

At length they gave up the experiment —it was a failure—and sat looking blankly at each other as they listened to certain sounds which reached them from tho passages without, telling them that their enemies were gathered there. "Has any one a suggestion to make?" said Leonard at last. ''If not, 1 think that this.game is about played." "Baas," answered Otter, "I have award to say. We can all go down through that hole by which 1 came up to you. The water dweller is dead. I slew him with my own hand, so there is nothing to fear from him. llencaUi the hole is a tunnel, and that tunnel leads to tho slope of tho mountain above. At tho top of the slope is an ice bridge by which men may reach a fair country if they have a mind to." "Then for heaven's sake, let us cross it," put in Juanna. "I have seen that bridge," said Olfan, while the captains stared wonderingly at the man whose might had prevailed ".against the ancient snake, "but never yet have I heard of the man who dared to set his foot upon it." ''It is dangerous, but it can bo crossed," replied Otter. "At the least, it is better to try it than to stay hero to be murdered *by the medicine men." •'I think that wo will go, Leonard," said Juanna. "If lam to die, I wish to do so in the open. Only what is to become of Nam? And perhaps Olfan and tho captains would prefer to stop here?" "Nam will go wilh us wherever we go," answered Leonard grimly. "Wo have a long score to settle with that gentleman.

As for Olfan and the captains, they must please themselves." "What will you do, Olfan?" asked Juanna, spoaking'to him for tho first time sinco the. scene in the other prison. "It seems, queen," he answered, with downcast eyes, "that I have sworn to defend you to the last, and this I will do tho more readily hecauso now my life is of little value. As for my brethren here, I think that, like you, they will choose to die in the open air rather than wait to bo murdered by tho priests."

The three captains nodded an assent to his words, and then they set to work. First they took food and drink, of which there was an ample supply in tho other cell, and hurriedly devouring somo of it disposed tho rest about their persons as best they could, for they foresaw that even if they succeeded in escaping it was likely that they would go hungry for many days .•Then Leonard wrapped Juanna in a goatskin cloak which ho took from one of the dead priests, placing the second cloak over his own shoulders, for ho knew that it would bo bitterly cold on tho mountains.

Lastly, they tied Nam's arms behind him and deprived him of his knife, so that tho old man might, work none of them a sudden injury in his rag9.

All being prepared, Otter mado his rope fast to tho staff and descended rapidly to tho cavo below. As his feet touched the ground tho priests began to batter upon the doors of the cell with beams of wood, or some such heavy instruments. "Quick, Juanna!" said Leonard. "Sit in this nooso and hold tho line. Wo will let you down. Hurry^Tlioso doors cannot stand for long."

Another minuto, and she was beside Otter, who stood beneath, a candlo in his hand. Then Leonard came down. "By tho way, Otter," ho raid, "havo you seen anything of the jewels that are Buppusod to be here?" "Thcro iy a bag yonder by the water dweller's bed, baas," answered the dwarf carelessly, "hut I did not troublo to look into it. What is tho uso of tho red stones to us now?" "None, but they may bo of use nfterward, if wo get away." "Yes, baas, if wo get away," answered Otter, bctbinklns himst-IX of tho ipt

bridge. Well, wo can pick It up as wo go along." Just thou Nam arrived, having been let down by Olfan and the captains, and stood glaring round him, not without awe, for neither he nor any of his brethren had ever dared to visit tho homo of tho snake god. Then tho captains descended, and last, of all came Olfan. "Wo nave little umu io spare, ueiivcrer," said tho king. "Tho door is falling.'' and as ho spoke they heard a great eras above. Otter jerked furiously at the rope, till by good luck one end of tho stake sid over the edgp of tho hole, and it foil among them. "No need to loavo this lino for them follow by," he said. "Besides it may ho useful." At that moment something appeared looking through the hole. It was tho head of one of tho pursuing priesLs. Nam saw it and took his opportunity. "Tho false gods escape by the tunnel to tlio mountains," ho screamed, "and with them tho falso kingl "Follow and fear not. The,water dweller is dead. Think not of me, Niim, but slay them."

With an oath Otter struck him heavily across the mouth,knocking him backward, but tho mischief was done, for a voice cricd iu answer: "Wo hear you. father, and will liiul ropes and follow."

Then they started. Ono moment they paused to look at tho huge bulk of the. dead crocodilo. "This dwarf is a grd in truth,'1 cried ono of tho captains, for no man could have wrought such a do"d." '"Forward," said Leonard. "We havo no time to lose."

Now they wero by thn crocodilo's bed and among tho broken bones of his victims. "Tho hag, Otter wlio'o is the bag?" asked Leonard. "Here, baas," answered tho dwarf, dragging it from the molderini* skeleton of the unlucky priest who, having offended the new found god, had been letdown through tho hole to lay it in its hiding place and to perish in the jaws of tho water dweller.

Leonard took tho bag, and opening its mouth, which was drawn tight with a running strip of hide, peeped into it whilo Otter held down the candlo that ho might 6eo. From its depths canio a glimmer of red and blue light that glowed liko the heart of somo dull lire. "It is tho treasure," ho said in a low tono of exultation. "At last tho luck has turned." "How much does it weigh?" said Juanna as they sped onward. "Some seven or eight pounds, I should say," he answered, still exultantly. "Seven or eight solid pounds of gems, the finest in the world." "Then give it me," she said. "I havo nothing else to carry. You may havo to use both your hands presently." "True," he answered and passed tho string of tho bag over her head.

Then they went on up the smooth sloping bed of tho stream, suffering little inconvenience, except from tho cold of tho water that llowed about their ankles. "Tho stream has risen somewhat, baas, sinco I passed it this morning. Doubtless this day's sun has melted some snow at its source. Tomorrow we might not have been able to travel this road." "Very likely," answered Leonard.

l,

I

told you that our luck had turned at last." Twenty minutes moro and they reached tho mouth of the tunnel, and passing betweon tho blocks of 'ice found themselves upou the mountain side but, as it chanced, tho faco of the moon was hidden by clouds, which is often the case in this country at tho beginning of tho spring season, for, whereas in winter tho days are almost invariably misty and the nights clear, in spring and summer these atmospheric conditions are frequently reversed. So gloomy was it indeed that it proved impossible to attempt tho ascent of the mountain until tho day broke, since to do so would bo to run the risk of losing themselves and very possibly ot breaking their necks among its numerous clefts and precipices.

After a minute's hasty discussion they set to work to fill up tho mouth of tho tunnel, or rather the cracks between tho blocks of ice that already encumbered it, with such material as lay at hand—namely, lumps of frozen snow, gravel and a few largo stones which they were fortunate enough to find in tho immediate vicinity, for the darkness rendered it impossiblo to search for these at a distance. Whilo they wero thus engaged they heard the voices of priests speaking on the farther side of their somewhat inefficient barrier and worked harder than ever, thinking that tho moment of attack had come.

To their astonishment, however, tho sound of voices died away. "Now whero have they gone," said Leonard—-'to climb tho cliff by another path and cut us off?" "I think not, deliverer," answered Olfan, "for I know of no such path. I think that they have gono to bring heavy beams by means of which they will batter down the ice wall." "Still there is such a path, king," said ono of the captains, "for I myself have often climbed it when I was young searching for snow flowers to bring to her whom I courted in those days." "Can you find it now, friend?" asked Olfan eagerly. "I do not forget a road that I havo trod," said the captain, "but it is one not easy, to follow." "Seo now, Shepherdess," said Olfan after thinking awhilo, "shall we take this man for a guide and return down the cliff to the city, for tliero, unless fate is against us, we may find friends among the soldiers and fight out this battle with the priests." "No, no," answered Juanna almost passionately. "I would rather die than go back to that dreadful city to bo murdored at last. Do you go if you will, Olfan, und leave us to tako our chanco." "That I cannot do, queen, for I am sworn to a certain service," ho said proudly. "But hearken, my frlond, follow this path of which you speak, if you can do so in tho darkness, and find help. Then return swiftly to this spot, whoro I and your two comrades will hold tho priests at bay. Perchance you will not find us living, but this I charge you—if wo are dead give it out that the gods havo left tho land bocause they were so evilly dealt with and rouso*up the people to fall upon tho priests and make an end of them once and forever, for thus only shall they win peaco and safety."

Making no reply, tho man shook Olfan and tho other two captains by tho hand, saluted Juanna and vanished into tho darkness. Then they all sat down in front of tho mouth of tho tunnel to wait und watch, and very glad were they of tho goatskin cloaks which had belonged to tho dead priests, for as tho night drew toward dawn tho cold bccamo so bitter that they could scarcely bear it, but wero obliged to rise and stamp-t and fro to keep their wet feet from .freezing. "Leonard," said Juanna, "you do not know what passed after Nam trapped you." And sho to,id him all that tale.

When she had finished, ho .ruse, aud-tak-

ing Olfan by tho hand said: "King, thank you. May fortuno deal as well with you as you have dealt with meandmino." "Say no more, deliverer," answered Olfan hastily. "1 have but done my duty and fulfilled my oath, though at times tho path of duty is hard for a man to follow." And ho looked toward Juanna and sighed. .Leonard sat (town anu was siient, oiu many a time both then and iu alier days did ho wonder at the nobleness of mind shown by this savage king, who, under circumstances so cruel, conquered his own passion and was willing to lay down lifo and throne together that ho might carry out. fiis vow to protect a stranger who had brought him so much pain and now left him forever with his successful rival.

At length, looking at tho mountain peak above them, they saw its snows begin to blush red with tho •joining of tho dawn, and just then also they heard many voices talking within the tunnel and caught, glimpses of lights flashing through tho openings in their rude fortifications. Tho priests, who no doubt had been delayed by tho procuring of tho timbers which wero to .serve as battering rams and tho labor necessary to drag them up the steep iuclinoof tho tunnel, had returned and in force. A few more minutes and a succession of dull thuds on tho farther sido of tho ico wall told tho little band of defenders that their cnemie,s wero at work. "Tho light grows quickly, deliverer," said Olfan quietly. "I think that now you may begin to ascend the mountain and tako no harm."' "What shall wo do with this manf" asked Leonard, pointing to Nam. "Kill him," said Otter. "No, not yet awhile," answered Olfan. "Tako this," and he handed Leonard the spear of the third captain, who had left it when ho started down tho mountain, fearing that it might cucumber him, "and drivo him along with you at its point. Should we be overpowered, you may buy your lives as tho price of his, but should wo hold them back and you escape then do with him what you will.'' "I know well what I would do," muttered Otter, glowering at the priest. "And now farewell," went on Olfan in tho samo calm voice. "Bring moro ice,, comrades, or stono if you can seo any. Tho wall cracks."

Leonard and Otter wrung tho king's hand in silence, but Juanna could not leavo him thus, for her heart was melted at tho thought of all his goodness. "Forgive me," she murmured, "that I havo brought- you grief, and as I foar death to follow grief." "Tho grief you could not help, queen, and bo sure shall welcome death if he should choose me. Go now, and happiness go with you May you escape in safety with tho bright pebbles which you desiro, and may you and your husband, tho deliverer, bo blessed for many years in each other's lovo, and when you grow old together from time to time talk kindly of that wild man who worshiped you when you wero young and laid down his life to save you."

Juanna listened, and the tears sprang to her eyes. Then of a sudden slio seized tho great man's hand and kissed it. "I am repaid, queen," he said, "and perchance your husband will iiot be jealous. Now go, and swiftly."

As he spoko a small portion of tho wall fell outward, and tho fierce face of a priest appeared at the opening. With a shout Olfan lifted his broad spear and thrust. The priest fell backward, and just then his companions arrived with stones and stopped the hole.

Then the three turned and fled up tho mountain side, Otter driving Nam before him with blows and curses, till at length tho old man fell and lay groaning on his faco. Nor could tho dwarf's blows, which were, not of tho softest, force him to rise. "Get up, you treacherous dog," said Leonard savagely, pricking him with the spear. "Then you must loose my arms, deliverer," answered the priest. "I am very weak, and I cannot travel up tho mountain with my hands bound behind mo. Surely you have nothing to fear from one aged and unarmed man." "Not much at present, I suppose," muttered Leonard, "though wo havo had enough to fear from you in the past," and taking his knife he cut looso tho lashings.

Whilo he .did so Juanna turned and looked behind her. Far below them she could seo the form of Olfan and his companions standing shoulder to shoulder, and even catch tho gleams of light reflecting upon their spears, for now tho 6i... was rising. Beneath them again she saw tho grass grown roots of that earthly hell, the city of the People of the Mist, and the endless plain beyond through which the river wandered like a silver serpent. There also was the farther portion of the huge wall of the temple built by unknown hands in long forgotten years, and rising abovo tho edge of that gap in the cliff through which she was looking appeared a black mass that she knew to be the head and shoulders of tho hideous colossus, on whose dizzy brow sho had sat in that strango hour when the shouting thousands thundered a welcome to her as their goddess, and whence her most beloved friend, Francisco, had been hurled to his cruel death. "Oh, what I havo suffered in that place!" she thought to herself." "How havo I lived through it, I wonder? And yet I havo won something," and sho glanced at Leonard, who was driving Nam toward her, ''and if only we survive and I am the means of enabling him to fulfill his vow and buy back his homo with these jewels I shall not regret all that I havo endured to win them. Yes, even when he is no longer so very much in love, ho must always bo grateful to me, for few women will havo done as much for their husbands."

Then Nam staggered past her, hissing curses, whilo tho untiring Otter rained blows upon his back, and losing sight of Olfan and his companions they went on in safety till they reached tho neck and saw the ico bridgo glittering beforo them und the wido fields of snow boyund.

CHAPTER XXIX.

"Which way are we to go now?" said Juanna. "Must we climb down this great gulf?" "No, Shepherdess," answered Otter. "Seo beforo you is a bridge." And he pointed to tho band of ico and rock which traversed tho wido ravine. "A bridge?" gashed Juanna. "Why, it. is Bl'ppery as a slido and steep as tho sido of the house. A fly could not keep its footing on it." "Look here, Otter," put in Leonard, "cither you aro joking, or you aro mad. How can we cross that place? Wo should be dashed to pifcees before we had gone ton yards." '"Thus, baas, wo must sit each of UB on ono of tho flat stones that lio round harot then tho stono will take us across of itself. Fknow, for I havo tried it." "Do you mean to tell mo that you hav« beon over ttoero oq a reek?" ."No. batrt, by.tj baYO. sgpt thrco_Btpnei

over. Two erossccrsaieiy. I watcnca encra go the who'ut way, and ono vanished 1n tho middle. I think that thcro is a bolo there, but we must risk that. If the stono is heavy enough, it will jump it if not, then we diiul go down tho liolo and bo no more troubled." "Great lieuvens!" said Leonard, wiping his forehead with tho back of his hand, "This is p"«' ctical tobogganing with a vengeance. Is tliero no other way?" "I can sc^ none, baas, except for tho birds, and I tliink wo had better stop talking and mak-4 ready, for the priests aro still behind Us. If you will watch on tho neck lieio sc '-iliat we are not surprised, I will seek stores to carry us." "How abcut this man?" said Leonard, pointing io Nam, who lay face downward on the snow', apparently in a dead faint. "Oh, wo must keep him awhilo, baas. He may be useful if those priests como. If not. 1 will talk with him beforo wo start. IIo is asleep and cannot- run aw, y."

Then Leonard went, to tho top of tho .neck, which was distant some HO yards, and Otter began to search for stones suitable for his purpose.

As for Juanna, sho turned her back to the ice bridgo, at which she scarcely dared to look, and sat herself upon a rock. In doing so tho jewels in the bag struck against her kneo and jingled, and tho thought camo into her mind that sho would examino them whilo sho waited, partly because sho desired to distract, her thoughts from tho vision of tho terrible ordeal which lay beforo her, and partly to gratify a not unnatural curiosity. Opening the mouth of tho bag, she thrust her fingers into it, and ono by one drew out the biggest gems which wero jumbled together there, placing them on tho rock besido her. In less than a minuto sho was feasting her eyes upon such a collection of priceless jewels as had never beforo gladdened tho sight of any whilo woman, even in her wildest dreams. Indeed till now Juanna had not thought it possible that stones so splendid could exist on tho hither side of the walls of heaven.

First there wero great sapphires roughly squared and two enormous round star rubies. These had formed tho eyes of tho colossus, which wero removed on tho morrow of their arrival, the star rubies representing the blood red pupils. Then them was a heart shaped ruby of perfect color and without Haw, almost us largo as a jackdaw's egg, which, on tho days of sacrifice, had adorned tho breasts of tho chief priests of tho Peoplo of tho Mist for many generations. Next camo the greatest wonders of this troasuro—two marvelous stones, ono a sapphiro and ono a ruby— fashioned respectively into models of tho statuo of tho dwarf and of tho hideous shape of tho water dweller. Then tliero were others, dozens of them, somo rudely cut and somo as they camo from tho mines, but every ono of them singled out for its remarkable size, ilawlessuess or its perfect fire and beauty.

Juanna arranged them in rows and stared at them with ecstasy—and whero is tho woman who would not havo dono so?— till in contemplating them sho forgot tho present terrors of her position, forgot everything except tho gorgeous loveliness and infinite valuo of the wealth of gems which she had been tho means of winning for Leonard.

Among other things that passed from her mind at this moment was the presence of Nam, who, overcome by rago and exhaustion, lay in a seeming faint upon tho snow within 13 paces of her. Sho never saw him lift his head aiul look at her with an expression as cold and cruel as that which Otter had seen in the eyes of tho water dweller when ho lifted his head from its bed of rock. Sho never saw him roll slowly over and over across tho snow toward her, pausing a littlo whilo between each turn of his body, for now she was occupied in replacing tho jewels ono by ono into their bag of leather.

At last all were in, and with a sigh, for it was painful to lose sight of objects so beautiful, Juanna drew tho mouth of tho bag tight anu prepared to place it pround her neck.

At this moment it was that a hand, withered and lean with age, passed beneath her eyes and swiftly as tho snatch of an eagle's talon seized the bag and rent it from her grasp. She sprang up, with a cry of dismay, and well might she bo dismayed, for there, running from her with incredible speed, was Nam, tho jewels in his hand. Otter and Leonard heard her cry, and thinking that the priest was escaping sped to cut him off. But ho had no idea of escape—at least not of such escapo as they expected. Some 40 yards from whero Juanna had been sitting a little promontory of rock jutted out over the unclimbablo gulf below them, and toward this spot Nam directed his steps. Running along tho ridge, he halted at its end. Indeed ho must do so unless ho would fall 1,000 feet or moro to the bottom of tho ravino beneath. Then ho turned and faced his pursuers, who by now had reached tho edgo of tho cliff. "Come ono step nearer," he cried, "and I let this bag fall whence you never shall recover it, for no foot can tread theso walls of rock, and there is water at tho bottom of the gulf."

Leonard and Otter stopped, trembling for the fato of the jewels. "Listen, deliverer," cried Nam. "You camo to this land to seek theso trinkets, is it not so? And now you have found them and would be gono with them? But beforo you go you would kill me for vengeance's sake beeauso I havo shown you to bo cheats and havo sought to offer you up to those gods whom you havo blasphemod, but tho red stones you desiro.aro iu my hands, and if I unclasp my fingers they will be lost to you and all tho world forever. Say, now, if I bring them back to you in safety, will you swear to give mo my lifo and suffer mo to go my ways in peace?" "Yes, wo will swear it," answered Leonard, who could not conceal tho anguish of his anxiety. "Como back, Nam, and you shall depart unharmed, but if you let the stones fall then you shall follow thom." "You swear it?" said tho priest contemptuously. You are como to this, that you will sacrifice your revengo to satisfy your greed. O wliito man, with a noblo heart! Now I will o'crmatch you, for I, who am not noble, will sacrifice my lifo to disappoint you of your desires. What! Shall tho ancient holy trcasuroof tho Peoplo of tho Mist be stolen by two whito thieves and their black hound? Never! I would havo killed you all had time been granted to me, 'but in tui't I failed, and I am glad that I have failed, for now I will deal you a bitterer blow than any death. May tho enrso of Jal and Aca eloavo to you, you dogs without a kennel! May you live outcasts and dio in the dirt, and may your fathers and your mothers and your children spit upon your bones as I dol Farewell!" and shaking his disengaged hand at thorn he spat toward them, •then, with a sudden motion, hurled liimeelf backward off tho point of rock and vanished into spate, bearing tho treasure with hiai.

For awhilo tho three stood nghast and stared at each other and tho point of rock which had been occupied by ho venerable form of tho Into high priest. Then .Juanna sank upon tho snow, sobbing. "It is my fault," sho wailed, "all my fault. Just now I was boasting to myself that I had won wealth for you, anil I havo lost everything. And wo havo suffered for nothing, and, Leonard, you aro a beggar. Oh, it is too much, too much!" "Go out there, Otter," said Leonard in hoarse voice, pointing to tho place whcnco Nam had hurled himself, "and sea whether there is any chanco of our being able to ciimb down into tho gulf."

Tho dwarf obeyed and presently returned, shaking his head. "It is impossible, baas," ho said. "Tho walls of rock are sheer as though they had been cut with a knife. Moreover, tliero is water ot tho "bottom of them, as tho old wizard said, for I can hear tho sour.d ot it. Uh, baas, baas, why did you not kill him at first or let mo kill him afterward? Surely I told you that he would bring evil on us. Well, they aro gono, and wo can never find them again, so lot us save our lives if wo may, for, alter all, these aro more to us than tho bright stones. Como now and help mo, baas, for I have found two flat rocks that will serve our turn, a big ono for you and tho Shepherdess, sinco doubtless sho will fear to make this journey alono, and a smaller one for myself."

Leonard followed him without a word. Ho was too heartbroken to-spealc, while Juanna roso and returned to tho spot whero Nam had robbed her. Looking up presently, her eyes still blurred with tears, sho saw Leonard and tho dwarf laboriously pushing two heavy stones across tho snow toward her. "Now, deliverer," ho said, "when I nm safo across, all that you must do is to lio flat upon the stono, both of yon, and to push a littlo with tho spear. Then before you know it you will bo by my sido." "All right," said Leonard doubtfully. "Well, I suppose that you had belter start. Waiting won't niako tho matter any easier." "Yes, baas, I will go now. Ah, lit Mo did I think that I should over bo called on to take such a rido as this. Well, it. will bo something to mako songs about afterward."

And Otter laid himself faco downward on tho stone with a littlo laugh, though Leonard noticed that, however bravo his spirit might, be, ho could not prevent his flesh from revealing its natural woaknoss, for it quivered pitifully. "Now, baas," he said, gripping tho edges of tho stono with his large hands, "when I give tho word to you, push gently, and then you will seo how a black bird can fly. Put your head lower, baas."

Leonard obeyed, und the dwarf whispered in his oar: "I only want to say, baas, in caso wo should not meet again, for accidents will happen even on tho safest roads, that I am sorry that I mado such a pig of myself yonder. It was so dull down thciu that hole of a palace, and the fog mado mo seo all things wrong. Moreover, drink and a wifo havo corrupted many abetter man. Don't answer, baas, but push, for I am growing afraid."

Placing his hand at tho back of tho stone, Leonard gave it a gentle shove. It began to move, very slowly at first, then more fast and faster yet, till it was rushing over the smooth ice pathway with a whirring sound like that produced by tho flight of a bird. Presently it had reached tho bottom of the first long slopo and was climbing the gentle rise opposite so slowly that for awhilo Leonard thought that it was going to stop. It crossed its brow, however, ana vanished for a few seconds into a dip, where the watchers could not sco it then it appeared again at the head of the second and longest slopo, of which tho angle was very steep. Down this it rushed like an arrow from a bow till it rcachcd tho narrow waist of the bridge, of which tho general conformation boro somo resemblance to that of a dotid wasp lying on its back. Indeed, from whero Leonard and Juanna stood, tho span of ic.o at this point seemed to be no thicker than a silver thread, whilo Otter and stone might havo been a ily upon the thread. Now of a sudden Leonard distinctly saw the rock sledge and its living burden, which just then was traveling its swiftest, move upward as though it iiad leaped info the air, and then continue its course up the rising plane, which represented the throat of tho wasp, till at length it stopped.

Leonard looked at his watch. Tho time occupied by the transit was just. 52 seconds, and the distance could not havo beon much less than half a mile. "Sco," ho cried to Juanna, who all this while had sat with her hand beforo her eyes to shut out tho vision of the dwarf's dreadful progress, "he has crossed safely!" and he pointed to a figure that appeared to bo dancing with glee upon tho breast of tho snow slope.

As ho spoko a faint sound reached their cars, for in those immense silences sound can travel fan. In was Otter shouting, and his words seemed to be, "Como oil, baas it is easy!" "I am giad he is safe," said Juanna faintly, "but now wo must follow him. Tako my handkerchief, Leonard, and lie it over my eyos, please, for I cannot bear to look. Oh, tho idol's head was nothing to this!"

Leonard obeyed he:-, bidding her not to bo nl'raid. As they como to tho r.tono Leonard heard a sou id behind him of footsie) muffled by the snow, and glancing round saw Soa rushing toward them,

almost

naked, a spear wound in her side and the light of madness shining in her eyes. "Got back," he said sternly, "or"—

And ho lifted tho great spear. "O Shepherdess," sho wailed, "tako me with you, Shepherdess, for I cannot livo without you." "Tell her to go away," said Juanna, recognizing the voice. "I never want to seo her any more." "Then you can die, Soa," answered Leonard. "Stay. How is it gone yonder? Speak truly, 'or tliero is an end." "I know not, deliverer. When 1 left, OUan and his brother sti.ilheld tho mouth of tho tunnel and wero still unhurt, but the captain was dead. I'slipped past them and got this as 1 went." And sho pointed to the gash in her side. "It lio can bold out a littlo longer, help may reach him," muttered Leonard. Then, without moro words, ho laid himself and Juamw faco downward on the broad stono. "Now, Juanna," he said, "wo tire going to start. Grip fasst'with your right handand seo that you do not let go c.i' tho edgo of tho stone, or wo shall both slip off it." "Oh, tako me with yon, Shepherdess, tako mo with you, and I will bo wicked no more, but serve you as of old!" shrilled tho voice of Soa rn so despairing a cry that tho rocks raflg." "Hold fast," said Leonard through his set teeth as di.songaging ins rigiit hand from about Juanna's waist lie seized tho Juindlu of the spear and pressed its broad

blarto against, a KnoDot rock benino mem. Now the stone, that was balanced on tho very verge of tho declivity, trembled beneath them, and now slowly and majestically, as a ship starting from her slip?) when the launchitig cord is severed, it began to move down tho icy way.

For the first second it scarcely seemed to stir then tho motion gR-w palpable, and Leonard heard a sound behind liiin and felt his left foot clasped bv a human hand. There was a jerk that nearly dragged them oft their sledge, but ho held fast to the front edge of tho stone, and chough ho could still feel tho hand upon his anklo tho strain bocamo almost imperceptible.

CHAPTER XXX.

Lifting his head cautiously, Leonard looked over his shoulder, and the, mystery was explained. In her madness and tho fury of her lovo for the mistress whom sho had outraged and betrayed, Soa had striven to throw herself upou tho stono with them so soon as sho saw it commence to move, but, loo late, for feeling herself slipping forward sho had grasped despairingly at tlio first thing that camo to her ha:d, which chanced"' to bo Leonard's ankle. Now she must accompany them upon '.voir awesome journey, only, whilo they rodo upon tho stono, she was dragged nfSer them upon her breast.

A Hash of pity p-.-vod through Leonard's brain as ho realized her fearful plight. Thoti for awhilo ho forgot nil about her, Binoo his attention was amply occupied with his own and Juanna's peril. Now they wero rushing down tho long slopo with an ever increasing velocity, and row tlioy breasted tho first rise, during tlm Inst ten yards of which, as in tho caso of OUCT, tho pace of the stono slowed down so moch in proportion to the progressive exhaustion of its momentum that Leonarft thought they were coming to a standstill. Then it was that ho kickcd out viciously, striving to free himself from tho weight: of Soa, which threatened to bring then to a common ruin, but she clung to him liko an ivy to a tree, and ho desisted from his efforts lest lie should causo thoir sledgo to alter its course.

On tho very top of the riso tho motion of tho stono decreased almost to not iness, then littlo by littlo increased moro as they traversed a short, sharp dip, tho smuo in which they had lost sip' !. at. Otter, to be succeeded by a gentlo riso. S« far, though exciting and novel, their journey had been comparatively safo, fov thcr path was bioad and tho ioo perfectly smooth. Its terrors were to come. Looking forward, Leonard saw that thoy wero at tho commencement of a deelino so stoop that, oven had it offered a good foothold, human beings could scarcely havo stood upon it, and measuring 400 or fiOO yards in length. As yet tho ionIJtie of ico was 50 paces or moro in width, but it narrowed rapidly as it, fell till at length near tho opposito shore of tho ravino it fined away to a point liko that of a great whito necdiw and then seemed to break off altogether.

Now they wore well under way, and now they sped down tho sleep green i•••- aft a paeo that can hardy he imagined, though perhaps it is sometimes equaled by an eaglo falling on its prey from some vast height of air. Indeed it is possiblo that tho sensations of an eaglo making i-.iB headlong descent and those of Leonard may havo been very similar, with the important exception that tho bird feels no fear, whereas absolute terror aro tho only words whorowith to dcscribo tho mental state of tho man. So si'nooth was tho ico and so precipitous its pitch that ho felt as. though he wero falling through space, -tnsupported by anything, for traveling at that spocd the friction of tho stono was imperceptible. Only tho air shrieked a9 thoy clovo it, and Juanna's long trove*, torn by it from their fastenings, streamed out behind her liko a veil.

Down they went, still down, half—t wothirds of tho distance was covered ho lookod again and saw tho horror that lay before them. Already tho bridge was narrow, barely tho width of a small room. A hundred yards farther on it tailored to so fino a point that the stono would altnnr.t covcrits breadth, and beneath it., on either side, was that unmeasured gulf wh rein Nam was lost with the jewels. Nor was this all, for at its narrowest it was bio'ccn away for spaou of 10 or 12 feet, to continue on tho farther sido of tho gap, for a few yards at a somewhat lower level, and then run upward at a stoop incline to the breast of snow whoro Otter sat. in safety.

On thoy whizzed, ico l.-. tieatli ihem and beforo thom, and ico ill Leonard's heart, for ho wan frozen with fear. His e,-ifh had left him because of the rush of their progress, but his senses remained painfully acute. Involuntarily lie glanced ovi tho edgo of the ston-, saw the sheer depths below him and found himself wondering what was the law that kept tlioir sledgo upou this ribbon of ico when it seemed so, easy for it to whirl off into space.

Now the gap was immediately in front of th'in. "God help us!" lio murmured, or rat In thought, for tliero was no !'-no for wonts, and they had left the rood of ice and were Hying through tho air although the stone which carried thom wero a living thing that, seeing the peril, had gathered up its energies and sprung forward for its lifo.

W !i happened? Leonard never knew for (v iiain, and Otter swore that his :ie ,rt came and stood before his eyes so th-.t ho cou not see. Before they touched tho further point of ico—whilo they wero intho air indeed—they, or rather Leonard, heard a hideous scream and felt a je SO violent that his hold of the stono was cned, anil it passed from beneath them. Then came a shock, less violent toon might havo beon expected, and, lo! f'icywere spinning onward down the polished surface of the ice, whilo tho slono that bad borno them sped on in front like a horso: that has thrown its rider.

Leonard felt tho rubbingof the Ico burn him liko hot iron. IIo felt that his .-i-iklo was freed from the hand that had lieid it then for some minutes ho felt no more, for his senses left him. When thoy returned, it was to hear tho voice of O.tcr crying: "Lio still, baas do not stir for your lifo. I come."

TO HE CONTINUED

Niagara Pall*, New York, via the Wataal,

AiiKUHt 4, 18U8.

On the ab'jve date the Wabash will run a Niagara Fails special train leaving1 Lafayette at 2:20 p.'in,, arriving at Niagara Falls at 3 a. m. m-xt d«y. Rate 00. Return limit, daya. Train will bo composed of first a)- a equipment, Wagner sleepers,

W'pJ^o.i

dining cars and a limited number of free reclining- chair cars. This fcrVu will run via Detroit over the new

.^:-

visi-Hi of the Wabash into Niarraru Falls and will be in charge of a competent Wabash passenger representative, who will ea^a for ev wait of its patrons. Call on any a.'" nt of tho Wabash or THOS. FOU.KN, C. S. CHANK, Passenger Agent, «. 1\ i-L'i- A., Lafayette, Ina.

St. Louis.