SUALTS ROV AN EASTERN QUIIE k.

we knew, owing to its dithculty, At the far side of the hollow we found some rudely- carved steps, deeply worn, by which the people of the now silent city " had entered the temple which they had built for them.- sehves. Climbing these we passed through the gigantic ruin, and saw vast fragments of the roof Iving scattered among fallen idols, The wall beyvond was in ruins also, and we found a gap through which we went. The outer wall sull confronted us, but at last we reached o stone gateway through which the pilgrims, long before, had doubtless passed.

• Hassan,”

I said, “as WCe o wWCeTc climbing the stone steps, 1

CWHAT DID CTHEY INTEND To DU WITIH your”

saw the fakir and the Tindu start from a cave and come forth to watch us. Their plot has been foiled + what did they intend to do with you?” The Araly gazed at our torn gar- ments again and then responded ;- -

“Will the sahibs tell me how their sarb was rent? 7 We gave him a short account of what had happened, to which he replied @ -

“This 1s the explanation of what oceurs Into the silent city, which we have left, o

503

tigress entered and took up her abode. “The Hindus, surprised at this striange marvel, sought for its solution. They at last con- cluded that the god who rides upon the bull was angry with them, and called upon this fakir to help them. He declared that someone had polluted a temple, and that until somce stranger fell a vietim to the tigress the god would not e appeased !

His long beard, which ve o have seen, mdicated the vow he made to find the onc who should suffer. He o purposcly

pushed violently against me in the

street, and when 1 remonstrated he drew his sword. The rest ye saw, and I was to bhecome the

victim to the tigress when the sun had thrice streaked the castern sky.”

“Well, Hassan,” said Irank, as we found ourselves on the way once more to Conjeve, “don’t you think the adventure which we have had brought us more pleasurce than sitting under the veranda 27

“The sahibs are brave, and make light of the rescuc of Hassan, the dust beneath their feet, whom they saved from the tigress, now dead.”

“1 am sorry the brute 1s dead ! interposed Den- viers, as he listencd to the Arab’s remark., The Tatter turned his grive eves upon my companion and asked :--

“Why, salnb2”

My companion smiled at Hassan as he replied

“ Because might have taken it into her head

she

onc day that the fakir would furnish o tooth- some meal; and so have demolished him

accordingly, adorned with his yellow robe.” We reached the Hindu's house at which we were staying, and were glad to rest our- sclves after the events of the day, for the tigress had left some marks upon Denviers also, which from his conversation [ sul)- sequently discovered, while my own Injurics were much more severe than T had supposed at the time when the tiger attacked me. Vol iv —7 5.