Chums No. 785, Vol. XVI — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

126 T yet feel at my throat. But i 4 : ’ that Fem should I wish to help thee? nae ae read lord's sake. What will he bring vw e' his head but evil should he keep or il hee here? I can set thee f a: one thing.” . platens om % _ that is?” “That thou trustest me fully, here? What is thy purpose?” Ase sy ka me ae ote Hal. They shook their heads. e cannot trus i ” aloe aon t thee, Doola Singh,” an- An expression of rage passed over t! i fl ae = he answered ahaice Popes As thou wilt. Unfold thy heart or not, re- member that it is in my pc ive | to Fe ates death.” ta eee ith the words he crossed the dungeon, and he must have pressed some spring whieh the boys could not perceive, for the heavy door rolled slowly back, revealing a very narrow Stairway of iron down which not more than one man could descend at a time. Doola Singh ssed through, and the door crashed heavily ehind him. “Trust you, you black scoundrel!” said Hal, aloud. “It is clear that he is a good deal worried @s to our mission here, and would give his eye- brows to learn the truth.” . “His head may depend upon it,” said Jeff. But you are right. I would sooner trust a boa-constrictor than——~’”’ “Hush ! ” Hal had caught sight of a strange thing happening. One of the stones of the walls was slowly swinging back. It was through this opening that Doola Singh must have entered; but now a much more unexpected visitor stepped through. Was it the Maharajah himself? The manner of his appearance was still more strange. In one hand he held a very long coil of light rope. In the other a couple of pistols. The inmates of the dungeon regarded him in growing amazement. He raised a hand to enjoin silence, then tossed the rope to the ground. His next action was to unwind his turban. Drawing his beard under his chin he covered it with both hands; then, ae close to the boys, he looked at them fixedly. eff felt himself turning pale with emotion. Was it possible—could it be Before he could put his astonishing thought into words, his brother broke the silence. “Father—is it—is it you?” T¥: : [emi Y boys!’’ said Captain 4 Dick Forsyth, gripping their hands. Still holding them, he went on quickly: “We have not a moment to lose. Listen carefully to what I have to tell you. I am sus- pected only by one in this accursed palace, but that one is dangerous. His name is Doola Singh. It was to lull his suspicions that I sent ou into this dungeon. e is for ever watching my movements. The real Maharajah, his master, lies in a worse dungeon even than this, and im- modiately beneath us. Who put him there? I did. Oy ’ « i admission to this palace three orto ad a Hindoo fortune-teller. From the first I observed the eG | resemblance between me and Shere Vihara. I saw that, if I allowed my beard to grow, the likeness would become yet more remar able. I did so, thou h with no clear intention in my mind at : e time. ‘The only other person who noticed this ae xe fact was Doola Singh, Shere Vihara’s a bi to watch me. Discovery seemed saat I meditated flight. But he must ted something of his suspicions One day the Mobarnjah octet oliow him. Unaccompanied ne cou uc = \soubling. to a own dungeon — ‘est in the palace. Watching me ere % he asked how I liked a Sud — flashed w me that he b ae ey es he that he Loew me for an enemy, & a was viaying with me! imminent, and have communaca to his master. . 2 or ae , = ] CHUMS. “TE had to act instantly, or I was lost. I turned upon him, and with a blow from my fist. between the eyes I knocked him senseless. As I stood looking down at him the idea of impersonating him occurred to me. I felt sure that, if I were only arrayed in his garments, no one without cause for suspicion would dis- cover the deception. In a few minutes I had elothed myself in his turban and robes, and closed the dungeon door upon him. With my own hands I have managed to secretly convey food and water to him since then. No one suspects that Shere Vihara is immured in one of his secret prisons. _“My stay at the palace had made me suffi- ciently acquainted with its routine, and the prince’s way of living, to help me to continue the deception. But I have always felt, while seeking for a means of getting away, that Doola Singh regards me with deep suspicion. Yet he dare not speak, for a word from me would cost him his head, Still, I soon perceived that any attempt on my part to leave the palace secretly would bring about my undoing. Now that you have come, however, I dare not delay one more hour. We must get away at once “Pool, thou art too late!” cried a mocking voice, The evil face of Doola Singh showed at an opening in the roof of the prison. It was instantly withdrawn. “He has heard everything!” cried the cap- tain. “Shere Vihara will be free in a few minutes!” “Tt is all over, then,” said Jeff, very pale. “But we will sell our lives dearly,” said Hal, and he picked up the revolvers. “Stop!” exclaimed Captain Forsyth. “We must abide by the plan I had in mind when I came here, only we have less time to act, that is all. Follow me!” He crawled through an opening in the wall. It led to another dungeon, similar to the first, save that in the centre of the damp floor was a circular flag to which a rusty iron ring was attached. Exerting a strength born of the dire need of the occasion, the captain wrenched > away the stone, disclosing what looked like a blac it. Peering down, the boys saw what seemed a dull light shining upon water. “Tt is our only chance,” said the officer, swiftly. “This tower of the palace is built on either bank of a river. That is the river which you perceive down there. A deep dive—very deep, it is true. One by one we must take it. You, Hal, shall go first. Strike out with all your strength, and do not rise until you feel you are clear of the tower, or you will be drowned like a rat in a trap. nce free of the masonry, and you will be all right, for the river has shelving, high banks, and is not uarded. I shall fasten this cord round your ody. If you land safely, give it three jerks, and I will draw it up. If, after forty seconds, you do not give the meres I shall know that you are drowning under the tower, and we will pull you in. Now—go!” Hal stood for a moment poised on the edge of the circular pit. His courage sank as he looked into the abyss from which the lapping of the deep water issued; then he set his teeth, and down he went into the darkness. A terrible pause ensued. Unless Hal suc- ceeded in swimming under the tower, the party would be lost. Then, to the great relief of the others, the cord was jerked violently three times. The slack rope was at once drawn in. Captain Forsyth turned to Jeff, round whose middle he tied the cord, “Go!” he ordered, At that moment the noise of a great tumult in the palace penetrated even to the dungeon. The worst had happened. The Maharajah was free, and was coming to take his revenge. “You will not have time! I will stay with you!” cried Jeff. “Over with you!” shouted the captain; and Jeff dived. Holding the other end of the cord, the officer waited in an agony for the signal which was to tell him that the swimmer was safe. It did not come. The captain poe Was Jeff struggling for air down in those black depths? Hie was on the point of hauling in the rope when it was jerked three times. “Thank heaven!” said Captain Forsyth. In another moment he would have dived in himself, but at that instant a furious uproar ng out in the neighbouring dungeon, at crossed the. officer's face. One ve out above the others in threatent was that of Doola Singh. ‘Captain waited just three seconds—he would no more, but they were enough. W like a tiger Doola Singh leaped into geon, and his — spring took him str the captain’s throat. i He a met by & pistol ball, and } backwards, uttering a terrible cry. The moment and the officer had dived. ‘ea The black water closed over his head. and down he went, then struck out w strength. Once he rose, but found hin imprisoned. He dived a second time, { when his heart was almost bursting, he brown blur of light filtering down He shot to the surface clear of the find Hal and Jeff waiting to help him Only a minute’s breathing time was - then the three entered the water once A strong current took them swiftly awa was falling; they heard the sounds 0 in the far distance, but they succeeded ing the jungle, and plunged into its but concealing depths. The Maharajah of Pumpore never set the prisoners again. 5 Tastont: he + ee on received from the Br Government a sternly-worded hint that little conspiracy which he had been to bring to a head had been discove that he must at once drop such dange or be prepared to give an account of Shere Vihara writhed under that ra knuckles, and it was certainly a very for Captain Forsyth and his young! at the time, they were entirely safe Mabarajah’s clutches. J Cured Them. Tue party of youths, whose enthusi new crazes had led them to discard hats, down the street followed by the gaze other pedestrians. Their hair was as close cropped as had been in prison, and although the frightfully hot, they defied it to do its we “Well, I declare,” said an old lady, angry tone, “I dont care what they ye or ‘ow bad they’ve been, it’s a di nation to make them boys from the Ref go bareheaded on a hot summer day And maybe some of them have done i but are only orphans.” And then five shame-faced youths slu an adjacent hatter’s shop and ordered ¢¢ for their heads. Py ““Who’s e’?” A van gentleman in morning attire, like a country squire, was aceosted by armed beggar. He looked the latter o then kindly said: “How did you lose your arm, my m “Well, it’s like this, sir,” was the “The last time I went to sea, we was ¢a in a cyclone off Cape ’Orn. ship 3 over on her beam-ends, so the cap’en, *¢ me and Jim to go out on the keelhaul the bo’sprit, an’ ter splice boom to the mainmast. I was a-’an, the top-gallant rattlins, when Jim sud go “is end, an’ I was pitched fort: the hold, an’ broke my arm.” : The gentleman laughed, but gay nothing, and said as he went on his” “That’s a capital yarn, You ought been a sailor.” The discomfited beggar watched terrogator with a malevolent ex sion saw a crossing-sweeper touch fia ‘ politely to him. Going up 1 the sweeper aiterw one-armed swindler said: “Who's ’e, when ’e’s at ’ome?” “Him!” replied the sweeper. “Don know ,, Who that is? Why, that’s A dar “Were you carefully brought up, my asked the merchant at the appleant situation, (ae _ “Please, sir, yes, sir; I came up i> ‘ sir,” said the respectful youth. ed