Part 15 (1/2)
”One of the brothers ,” the Fakir heard soh; I will return toto turn on his light the Fakir started for the rope-ladder; every few paces he paused to listen; he appeared extremely suspicious, for at times he would halt for three or fourhis revolver
At last he had nearly reached the ladder, when suddenly he saw a faint glie below, so, inch by inch, he approached the edge until he was able to peer down, and alht beloent out; but he had learnt le from below reached him, he quickly lowered the ladder and quietly slipped down
No sooner had he reached the bottoht for an instant, which revealed Toet the better of each other, the latter having a knife in his hand, but To it
In a rasp, and in a few seconds the an To him by the arm, led him to the cave-entrance
”Speak low, Tom,” said the Fakir in a low voice
”Marvellous! Is it you, Burton? I should never have known you in that get-up,” whispered the surprised Tom
”Seems like it But quick's the word, my boy We , and thiswho I a near him, and on no account must he learn that it is down, and that we are aware of its existence; as soon as we have him here I will return and place the ladder as I found it,” said Burton
”Ah, now I understand why you so proht when you had secured the knife,” said Tom ”But where shall you take the man? His comrades will hear about his capture if you take hi I wish them to learn About an hour's walk froht, I aed--in case I needed it--to use part of it as a teang I have a couple ofnear the mine now,” explained Burton
It was a difficult tramp they had with their prisoner They kept him blindfolded, and his hands bound; and each held hiround in the dark, for Burton would not risk using his laht, at that unusual hour, should attract the attention of the man's friends and cause them to try and discover what it ed their prisoner they started for the cao to that cave, To
”Oh, the word on that last piece of stone turns out to be 'cave,' and when thinking the ht of the place Mark had entered after the porcupine, so I spotted the place before dark, and then quietly left the ca expedition
Thatupon me just before you so opportunely appeared on the scene,” explained Toht--you were followed frouard over that entrance,” said Burton ”I branch off here, for I cannot enter the caain, and as a Fakir I do not wish to be seen near the ca I advise you to get all the rest you can, for I think I can promise you a very lively time before many hours are over”
As Burton went on alone, he eerous tussle, for they are not the class of ive in quietly”
CHAPTER V--A VALUABLE FIND IN THE TEMPLE OF ATLAS
”It's what I call a tall order, Burton,” exclai to the police officer's plan to raid the Cave of Hydas
”I aht o'clock, Burton, for it would be difficult to enter the cave and find our way about without your guidance It seeet one's head cracked in the dark,” reet in, but had I been caught last night you would have found a clue to ave you However, we are all here yet, and I expect we shall get the better of Appoyas and his gang if our plans work out properly, and if they don't, then, well--look out for yourselves,” said Burton, and he shrugged his shoulders
”What led you to suspect Appoyas, who you say is supposed to be one the wealthiest and e, Burton?” asked the Doctor
”Well, I saw hieneral description answers to the tall ht the other two in the e froe to a man, and this man took it to Appoyas, and finally my suspicions were confirmed when I heard Appoyas addressed by naht,” explained Burton
”Itto your own death-sentence!”