Chums No. 785, Vol. XVI — page 5: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

™ Merely imagination,” said Jelf calmly. “¥ tell you my back is broken! I—— heavens!” The exclamation was warranted. They had both -been standing in the circle of firelight, clutching their revolvers, looking round for their mysterious enemy. Suddenly Jeff was jerked off the ground, A howl of terror left his lips as he hung, suspended, five feet above earth! To Hal the mystery was immediately cleared up. It was an immense python which, concealed in the tree over the fire, had reached its great head down and struck the blows. And now it had thrown its coils about Jeff’s body. Hal dashed forward. He saw the firelight shine on those enormous coils, thick as a man’s thigh, and gorgeously coloured; then he fired three shots at the flat head. He could not miss at such close quarters. The reptile’s coils unloosed, and its prey dropped limply to the ground. For a few seconds the python thrashed the branches in its agony, then the long body hung stiff and motionless. Jeff crawled to his feet, dazed by the narrow- ness of his escape, and breathless from the effects of the great pressure round his body. “Are you hurt?” said Hal, anxiously. “No—not much—if my ribs are sound and my heart isn’t squeezed out of shape, But—but what a pity you had to fire. The sound may draw someone——” “Hark!” whispered Hal again. I. “Wo should be watching us?” “I don’t know, but I wish to goodness there hadn’t been any need to fire off that pistol, Do you know, Jeff,” added Hal, as they re- sumed their places by the fire, “if Shere Vihara is the monster of cruelty they say he is, we can’t play a too wary game? I have heard some fearful tales about him.” “He is rich, even for a native prince,” replied Jeff, poking the fire with a boot heel. “There is a famous curtam which divides two chambers in his palace, and which consists of gold threads of infinite fineness upon which are strung re- splendent jewels. What do you think of that? What a place to loot! Some years back a British Tommy got the idea into his head that knew how to secure one or two of the Maharajah’s diamonds, A servant got him into the palace one night. He was missed for a week; then a native passing by a dry well heard groans coming out of it. He gave information at the barracks within a mile of the spot, and help was immediately forthcoming. The man was lifted out, nearly dead. He said eventu- ally that he had fallen into the hole, but it was strongly suspected that he had been flung down there to die by inches by Shere Vihara’s orders. If the pater has fallen into the power of this fiend——- Hullo! what——” Hal had made a spring of great suddenness and agility into a black patch of shadow, and in a moment he and something else were rolling over and over upon the ground. Jeff rushed to his aid, and together they managed to over- come a Hindoo, naked save for a loin cloth, and his body smeared with cocoanui oil. “T was certain someone was on our track,” panted Hal. “What do you want, you beggar? Answer, or I'll blow your brains out!” — The speaker, of course, had no intention of keeping his word, and the Hindoo knew it apparently, for he maintained a sullen silence. “We must let him go,” whispered Jeff. “He won't come near us again.” “We shall know you next time we see you, my fciend,” said Hal, warningly. He released his hold, and the fellow, jumping up, vanished in the darkness. An hour tater the brothers stretched them- : out by the fire, and the only other dis- nce that happened was a wild buffalo who went crashing through the swamp brake with t ss hanging to his withers They had travelled far that day and slept 1¢ into the mext. Many hours of it had “i when they had completed the morning -al, and they were consulting as to the nature their next move when a distant trumpeting d sounds of a considerable commotion reached their ears “Kt i und ji he a tic » procession of some sort,” said Jeff, 1s coming this way, too, We must ” not be seen ‘By George!” Hal exclaimed. “It must be CHUMS, Shere Vihara himself! There are three elephants with howdahs, and men in ‘em, One is gor- geously caparisoned.” “An early a tiger hunt,” said Jeff. “Keep back, for goodness sake.” A crowd of beaters came before the elephants, which crashed their way through every obstacle. An occasional cobra darted from before them, and a tribe of grey apes flew up into a tall tree with chattering cries of rage. ‘ The foremost elephant held what was evi- dently the prince. thick black beard adorned his chin, and in the turban, which was rolled low down over his forehead, gleamed a mag- nificent ruby. Suddenly, without the least warning, a full- grown tiger broke like a bolt from the cane- brake and hurled itself at the Maharajah’s elephant. The latter gave back with a sort of scream, lifting its trunk high in air to avoid those tearing claws. Its rider acted with splendid presence of mind. Down came his rifle, and a bullet shattered one of the tiger's shoulders. The yellow beast dropped back, snarling frightfully, and retreating into the dry grass until it was within half a dozen yards of the mt Tux dungeon was lighted by a sin; quite tepoad Seatti. 7 It was an vot nc, an evil-look green walls and scampered over its reeking stones. “What do = think of it?” groaned Hal. “TY think that his Highness the Maharaj of Pumpore is the most ungrateful rascal ever crawled,” answered Jeff, moodily. — “TI don’t know. He wouldn't have qucaleset us to this place but for Doola Singh. It ia my opinion that Doola Singh is one of his spies, and that he has been tracking us for some time to learn something about us. He may have heard us mention our father’s name, and that, of course, would put Shere Vihara on his guard—if he has incurred any guilt ia that direction, which Heaven forbid!” “My opinion exactly,” replied Jeff. “The only—— Hullo!” The exclamation was caused B. oN ‘‘THE MAN WAS LIFTED OUT, NEARLY DRAD.” concealed youngsters, who by no means relished this unexpected turn of affairs. The procession halted, everyone seeming to await the prince’s orders. They were unusual. At a word to his mahout, or driver, the elephant kneeled, and the Maharajah dismounted. Holding his weapon in readiness, he advanced slowly into the brake. The boys searcely dared to breathe. Then, with a nerve-shattering roar, the yellow brute rose at its enemy. Bang! went the rifle, but failed to stop the charge. ‘The prince leaped aside, cn and fell. In a moment the tiger was upon him. Jeff and Hal acted simultancously—without thought. Leapizig out, they placed their re- volyers almost against the struggling brute, and shot it through the head. It expired immediately. Shere Vihara rose to his feet, his gaze fixed upon the boys in an expression of the utmost astonishment, His attendants had come hurry- ing up and stood about the youngsters, At that moment a man came running, up, broke through the throng, and advanced Soparts the Maharajah, flinging himself at the prince's feet. Hal and his brother exchanged glances. The man was the fellow whom they had caught spying. He said a few words to Shere Vihara, on whom, now that he had risen, he fixed a bold gaze that was almost insolent. The . prince listened. His brow grew dark; his eyes flashed. In a low, stern voice he answered; by a falling piece of paper that fluttered ar in Pom rek eyes and dvapped at his feet, Jeff picked it up. It contained a m which the boys managed to translate into: “Have courage. A friend is looking after your safety.” “That is encouraging,” said Hal. “But what friend can we — in a place like this?” “He stands before you, sahib,” answered @ quiet voics, The boys spun round in astonishment. Doola Singh was regarding them with a calm smile. “Where on earth, did you spring from?* gasped Jeff, for the doa tye tata had remained closed. “There is not a room in this palace that has not its secret entrance,” replied Doola Singh. “But to none are they known save to my master and lord, and to me—his guardian and adviser.” Recovering from their surprise, the boys wers now filled with deep distrust and suspicion. “You call yourself our friend,” said Jeff. “How can that be when, by aden) advice, his 8 ge has placed us here? Speak the truth, and deny it not: thou hast followed us—perhaps for many days, to spy upon us.” “Tt is true.” “a And he, oe keis is ‘Listen to my words. paper t fingers I sent, I repeat the words I athe there—I am your friend. You surprised me at and the grip of your ra ~ aa, v¢ J NS IW IND tO . things rustled up and down its” = i aie he