500 1111

watchimg him,” said Denviers. * At present the crush 15 50 mtense that 1 cannot get my hand down to touch the handle of my sword. | wish he would look this way for a minute, 1t would put new spirit into him to see us, for | have no doubt our brave guide thinks he is Ieft to the merey of the relentless mobh.”

SUTHE CoMBA L.

“What o splendid thrust 7 T exelanmed, as o Hassan, parrving a blow aimed at his head, narrowly missed piercing his enemy's chest. Tt was strange how much we had

become attached to Hassan, for, in spite of

his passion for committing small depredations from us on cvery possible opportunity, our autde presented o combimation of qualities rarclv met with in the LEast. Certainly the pluck which he displaved on this occasion was something for any Fnglishman to admire, and as 1 Tooked into my companion’s face while he fumed at our helplessness, T osaw the glances of admiration which he bestowed on the Arab. The cries of the frenzied throng grew fiercer, for they saw that, having at first acted on the defensive, Hassan now bhegan to press the fakir considerably, whon he wounded, indeed; several times 1 quick SUCCTSSIon.,

Our guide was not destined; however, to win the combat, for one of the Hindus bolder than the rest suddenly darted upon him from one side, and 1 the momentary surprise which this brought to Hassan, he clanced aside. In a second, the sword which he held was wrenched from his hand and fell on the ground, while the Hindu, slipping oftt the cloth which formed his turban, bound Hassan as tne fakir held hin.

STRAN I

P2 S Al e XTI

MWAGALINT.

There was a Toud erv of satisfaction from the hindus as they saw this, and o moment atterwards they attempted to - throw them-

SL‘]\'(‘S upon e the defence- less Aval. The fTakir however, waved them olf, and then called sonme-

thing out, the purport of which we did not under- stand. The surgimg crowd immediately took up the Cry, while, sceuring the advantage of the rush, we pushed and clbowed our way to within A few vards of TTassan, where we were agam completely hindered rom advancing, The Arab glanced towards us:and struggeled to free his arms, bhut i vain: and then we saw the fakir and the Hindua foreibly drag our guide through the gap in the broken wall which we had already observed.

Denviers managed to unsheath his sword, and as he did so the crowd drew hack for @ moment, then turned furiously upon us. We had reached the gap in the mterval, and, dashing aside a scowling Thindu who ven- Ltured to bar the entrance, we darted through i, and found ourselves inoa o small paved cowrt, at the end of which was o dwelling, one storv - herght and evidenth huilt Tong before, Tor the chunam which had been used to plaster it over lay scattered about i, We pushed through the @dr7s, and beat violently on the door. No answer was returned, and we thercupon burst it m, to find oursclyes confronted by the fakn !

I

Wiy do the Fermghees foree their way mto my abode unmvited 27 he asked, as he turncd his evil-looking tface towards us.

• Where is the man whom you just dragged

through the gap m the outer wall of the temple which 1s apparently beyond here?” said - Denviers, answering the first question

e ,-/ “‘, ) (' " Z ’{“i.’.(.)?' :

\ AR "