Guy Boothby

“ The darkness prevented our pursuers from seeing the direction we had taken, while the noise of the wind effectually deadened any sound we might make that would otherwise have betrayed our whereabouts.
For upwards of an hour we sped along the bottom of the valley in this fashion, paying no heed where we went and caring for nothing but to put as big a distance as possible between ourselves and our pursuers. At last I could go no farther, so I stopped and threw myself upon the ground. Nikola immediately came to a standstill, glanced round him and then sat down beside me. ”

“ Here, to our surprise, the country began to slope downwards again into a second valley. From the skirt of the timber where we stood for nearly a mile it was all open, with not a bush or a rock to serve as cover. We were in a pretty fix. We could not wheel round on our pursuers, to turn to either hand would be equally as bad, while to go on would only be to show ourselves in the open, and after that to be run to earth like foxes in the second valley. But there was no time to stop and think, so for good or ill we took to our heels again and set off down the slope. ”

“ Then Nikola fired—I felt the bullet whiz past my ear—and before I could think the great beast had fallen back upon the ground and was twisting and twining in his death agony.
“Quick!” cried Nikola springing to his feet once more. “There's not a moment to be lost. Throw the dogs into the stream.”
Without wasting time we set to work, and in less than half a minute all three animals had disappeared into the river. ”

“ Throwing up my arms I clutched at it, but the stone was slippery and I missed my hold. I tried again with the same result. Then just as I was on the very brink of the precipice my fingers caught in a projecting ledge and I was able to stay myself. The weight of the water upon my back was enormous, but with the strength of a dozen men I clung on and little by little lifted myself up. I was fighting for dear life, for Gladys, for all that made life worth living, and that gave me superhuman strength. At last I managed to lift myself sufficiently on to the rock to get a purchase with my knees. ”

“ If the worst came to the worst, and we could reach the timber at the bottom, there would be nothing for it but to climb a tree there and sell our lives as dearly as possible with our revolvers.
Putting on a final spurt we gained the wood and plunged into the undergrowth. The nearest dog—there were three of these gigantic brutes—was scarcely twenty yards behind us. Suddenly Nikola, who was a yard or so ahead, stopped as if shot, threw up his arms and fell straight backwards. Seeing him do this I stopped too, but only just in the nick of time. ”

“ Below us was a small copse of mountain pines and across the valley a cliff, not unlike that down which we had climbed to reach the monastery. We had also discarded our monkish robes and, for greater security, had buried them in a safe place beneath a tree. In our new rig, with the tall felt hats upon our heads, we might very well have passed for typical Thibetans.
Feeling that our present hiding-place was not likely to be discovered we laid ourselves down to sleep. ”

“ As the last went over the side we heard the foremost of our pursuers enter the wood. Another moment and we should have been too late.
“There's nothing for it,” cried Nikola, “but for us to follow the dogs' example. They'll hunt about wondering which way the brutes have gone, and by that time we ought to be some distance down stream.”
“Come on then,” I said, and without more deliberation took a header from where I stood. It was a nasty dive, but not so unpleasant as our position would have been upon the bank. ”

“ One caution before I go—figure for the future as a European, and keep your eyes wide open for treachery. The society has branches everywhere, and by this time I expect they will have been warned. Remember they will be sure to try to get back the things we've taken and to punish us for our intrusion. I thank you for your companionship, and for the loyalty you have extended to me through out our journey. I could have wished for no better companion.—Yours,
Nikola. ”

“ We live our own lives, and we are as happy as any two mortals in similar circumstances can expect to be. I love and honour my wife above all living women, and if for that reason alone I shall never regret the circumstances that brought about my meeting with that extraordinary individual, Dr. Nikola. ”

“ When I did it was to look across at the right-hand bank. There stood Nikola waving to me. Cheered by his presence I began to cast about me for a means of reaching him, but the prospect was by no means a cheerful one. Several rocks there certainly were, and near the bank they were close enough to each other to enable an active man to jump from one to the other. ”

“ I queried, looking anxiously up the dark valley through which we had come.
“By no means,” he answered. “Remember we are still hemmed in by the precipices, and at most we cannot be more than five miles from the doors. We shall have to proceed very warily for the next week or so, and to do that we must make the most of every minute of darkness.”
We were both silent for a little while. I was occupied with my own thoughts, Nikola in distributing more comfortably about his person the parchments, etc., he had brought away with him. ”

“ A week later I bade my hospitable hosts, who had engaged a boat and trustworthy crew for me, good-bye, and set off on my long down-river journey. I reached I-chang, where I was to abandon my boat and engage a passage to Shanghai, safely and without any further adventure.
On learning that there would not be a river steamer leaving until the following day I went ashore, discovered an inn and engaged a room. But though I waited all the evening and as late as I could next day, Nikola did not put in an appearance. At four o'clock I boarded the steamer Kiang-Yung and in due course reached Shanghai. ”

“ If we had run fast before we literally flew now. The dogs were gaining on us at every stride, and unless something unexpected turned up very soon to save us we could look upon ourselves in the light of men as good as dead. Only fifty yards now separated us from the cover that bounded the moor, if I may so describe it, on the other side. ”

“ In New York things became even more dangerous than in England, and four distinct attempts were made upon my life. We accordingly crossed the continent to San Francisco, only to leave it in a hurry four days later. ”

“ Seating ourselves in the shelter of a large rock, we set to work and stowed away as much of the food as we could possibly consume. Then dividing the clothing in two bundles we set off across the valley in an easterly direction. ”

“ He's a beggar to stick, and when he gets an opportunity he'll strike. Be advised by me, take time by the forelock and clear out of England while you have the chance. They want the things we took and they want revenge. ”

“ To get both they'll follow us to the ends of the earth.”
“And now one very important question: have the things you took proved of sufficient value to repay you for all your trouble and expense?”
“Of more than sufficient value. In less than a year I shall enlighten this old country I think in a way it will not forget.” ”

“ After your little experiment on the top of the falls you became seriously ill with rheumatic fever. A nice business I had conveying you down stream on a raft, but, as you see, I accomplished it and got you into the French mission at Ya-Chow-Fu safely. ”