The Old Man of the Mountain

he first to bre

ay," he suggested. "By the time we'

sed, and the me

and look for the

iddance," Mack

ainst wild beasts. Come along! We three will go with Sher Jang back into the scrub and be

through the scrub until daylight was almost gone. No trace of the Chin

ave missed the track. But where can they have gone? Tibet is still very

t friends in this neigh

ie replied. "They're gone, and for my

their carriers, and not saying a word," Forrester remarked.

ur guard," said Mackenzie. "It's not very likely they're in l

e history of that one-armed fel

ched a broad and densely wooded valley. On the farther side the ground rose steeply to the foot-hills of the snow

rrester said, as they halted on

is to make straight for the north. The falls must be part of a river, and when we get a bit higher we may s

said Mackenzie. "I'm beginning to

However, we'll go through with it. The first thing n

of the ground was so irregular that they dared not take a step without first probing the bushes for a foothold. Every few yards there was the risk of a sprain

apidly as possible in order to fix their camp before the rain began. Late in the afternoon, Sher Jang sudd

eabout, sahib," he

lated. "Now, perhaps, we will fin

id Jackson. "We don't want to

side of which a number of small, dark-skinned, half-naked people were gathered about cooking-pots. Behind them, a line of grass huts stood at the fringe of the woodland. Forrester called a halt at the edge of the clearing, intending to discover from his Naga carriers whether they

His action had an effect exactly the contrary of what he intended. At the first sight of him the little men uttered a wild

k," said Jackson. "Evidently they h

o?" Forrester as

ng his burden, stepped forth into the clearing, and shouted "He-hoh! He-huh!" in a tone that might have been heard half a mile away. Some t

ng his hand in the direction of his employers. What he said they did not know, nor did Sher Jang, though he could speak to him in his own tongue; but it was clear that h

ed, provided the strangers would remain on the opposite side. Some of them plucked up courage to cross the clearing and watch the erection of the tent, and the other movements of the white men; and, find

ted. It was a strange scene in that forest glade, illuminated by the camp fires on opposite sides. The three white men sat in front of the tent, their followers ranging themselves on the wings. A few yards in front of them the chief men of the village crouched in a half circle. Behind stood the rest of the community, young and old, gazing wide-eyed over t

waterfall hereabout

but it is nothing to the fall yonder in the mountains, where

y ever be

y have seen

ther men live in

oke a few words to his companions. Then he admitt

ver been there, the

ve never

en enemies

as the others. The reply came at last that the me

? What is the Eye?

is the

n started backward, spreading his arms. A second and a louder rumble followed, and then a lightning flash. The man and his companions b

y say?" Forr

" Sher Jang replied, aft

ucceeding clap, and sheets of lightning moment by

s which the white men, though they did not understand the words, recognised as appeals for mercy. The little spokesman addressed

e say?" For

aks! He

be the voice of an angry

our Nagas aren't afraid, and t

the untutored savage who is likely to cherish such a superstition. Anyhow, it's clear that

ains of north-eastern India, had brought oil-skins and rubber sheeting; but even these did not avail to protect them thoroughly from the terrific downpour. Their native followers sought a partial shelter in the forest, where they remaine

e villagers had regained their courage, and crowded about the travellers with the same curiosity as they had shown t

guide us to the fall," Forrester remarked, watch

ared to go there, because of the E

t direction," said Forrester. "If they bring

to our Nagas?" said Ma

easiness, and they glanced at their employers with

about guiding us at

uipage, the villager agreed to guide the party in the direction of the waterfall. Part of the payment was handed over at once, and the customary preparations for marching were made

mean?" Forrester

o no farther, sahib,"

at's the matt

enzie added. "Tell them they'll

er Jang threatened them with the loss of their pay, one of them blurted out that

in exasperation. "What has upse

Sher Jang replied, after

Eye a

olloguing about just now,

g," said Forrester. "There is no eye that can do

villagers who stood looking on. Two of these ran

ll see, sahib," S

uppose," said Forrester. "We shall have

l tendance. His right arm was missing, and his eyes had the dull, pathetic, wistful look of the half-witted. His guides broug

ye! Th

s pointed to him with wild excitement, c

his youth, and was one of a war party who, many years before, had ventured beyond the great waterfall. Of them all, only he had returned, without his right arm. When his people asked him what had happened to his companions, and how he had lost his arm,

e story seemed incredible, yet t

ever been beyond the fall

ed. He was fair of skin like these lords, and wore clothes like them. There were two who went, but only one returned. Some of our peop

ittle men?" Fo

is hand about four feet from the ground to indicate the

men paid the villagers for timber cut in the forest. This timber was conveyed to a certain spot some distance short of

the white man seen

his hands with f

go on, and get to the bottom of this mystery. It's horr

uncanny beyond," Macken

d Forrester. "There's nothing for it but to forge ahead, and tackle them if there's the ghost of a cha

going on," sa

I don't suppose the little men, whoever th