Nicholas Carter

“ Be careful, stranger, you walk a dangerous path! You have strange powers, as I have seen with my own eyes. Yet Calaman is cunning and will lay a trap for you. Even now you may be standing within reach of the claws of the Golden Scarab.”
“What is the Golden Scarab I have heard so much about?” asked the detective. “Surely a strong man like yourself, with a sword that no doubt you know how to wield, could kill it—that is, if there is such a thing as this Scarab, and it is not some fairy tale for children!” ”

“ Nash accepted his new responsibilities in a manner that won him instant favor, not alone from his superiors, but from the men under him—the motley siftings of many races. And in turn Nash interested himself in their welfare. Knowing that as a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, so he knew that a body of men, striving for one end, must, work collectively and without friction to reach that goal. ”

“ With Carter and you shut up in that dungeon, what chance would you have had of getting at me before that devilish beetle contrivance poisoned me to death?”
Jefferson Arnold shuddered. He knew too well how near he had come to losing his only son.
“You’re right there, Leslie,” he assented. “But what can we give to Slava? The man has more gold and silver and precious stones than he wants, as it is. I don’t know what we can give him that he would care for.” ”

“ With the death of Calaman, it seemed as if all the opposition to Slava melted away.
The followers of Calaman fled in all directions. They were chased ruthlessly by the ordinary people whom they had tyrannized over for years, and if there were some excessive cruelties by the indignant populace now that they held the upper hand, it is not a cause for much wonder.
“Say, chief,” whispered Patsy to Nick Carter, “have you found out what that big gold bug really is?”
“No, Patsy. I have been too busy helping Lord Slava. ”

“ By this time Nick Carter had drawn his automatic revolver and was pointing it at the head of the foremost of the two men who had held Leslie Arnold.
The fellow knew enough of the power of the mysterious “death stick” to be in dread even of a little one. As he saw the stern face behind the revolver and watched the gently moving finger on the trigger, his mouth opened in terror and he let his long spear fall to the ground. ”

“ The only chance of victory seemed to him to pick out some vulnerable spot under the thick scales, and to do that a weapon which could be handled at short range was essential.
The spear was that weapon. A rifle bullet would not do.
Nick Carter and his awe-inspiring foe were some thirty paces apart, each looking for a chance to rush in.
Suddenly the beetle charged upon its antagonist, its formidable horns raised to deal the death stroke. But Nick Carter had gauged the pace to an inch. ”

“ Jai Singh, with a bound, reached the opening of the tunnel and sprang into the arena, in front of the throne of Calaman.
“Who are you?” demanded the priest.
“I am Jai Singh, of the land below the hills,” was the haughty reply. “I am of high caste, and I am prepared to do battle with the Golden Scarab. I care not that the touch of his horns is death. I have death in my spear, and I will send it to the heart of this creature just as sure as we meet in combat.” ”

“ It isn’t like you to hold back when there is to be some fighting. Why do you oppose our going back to Shangore?”
“I do not oppose it, sahib,” replied Jai Singh, with dignity. “I need not tell that I am ready to fight. My spear is sharp and my arm strong. Besides, I have learned to use the revolver I carry in my sash. But I know of the danger that is behind the walls of Shangore, and it is not well that you should forget it, either.”
“We do not forget it,” put in Nick Carter. “But we have to bring Leslie Arnold away, and we must take whatever risks there are. ”

“ Hooker said to him one day: “Nash, you’re doing more work and better work with half the number of men than Macmillan did with a full crew—and in a third the time. There’s a hundred-dollar bonus coming to you for last month’s construction.”
The aqueduct being a municipal undertaking, the city of Los Angeles awarded a bonus each month to the foreman under whose direction more than the average amount of work was done. The thought that his gang had won out over all the others on the whole construction was a feather in Nash’s cap, and he felt as proud as though he had won a million. ”

“ Lord Slava pointed out of the doorway, and the others all stared out, with strange feelings of mingled interest and indignation, as they thought of the attempt that was [12] to be made on the lives of Leslie Arnold and themselves.
It was a wonderful sight, regarded purely in the light of a spectacle.
They found themselves looking into an immense circular amphitheater of soft sand. It measured some five hundred feet across, and was surrounded on all sides by tier upon tier of stone seats, as symmetrically made as if each had been the work of a finished artist. ”

“ He has injured us enough to give us cause for battle.”
Lord Slava took no notice of the detective’s words. He seemed to be thinking of other days, and as if he had forgotten where he was or to whom he was talking.
“In years gone by,” he went on, “we were a fighting race, ruled over by princes, and we cut out a path for ourselves with our swords and spears. This was the way it was for generations. Then, little by little, the priests gained power, and we of the Golden Scarab fell more and more under their domination, until now no man dares call his life his own.” ”

“ Hooker laughed mirthlessly. “What did I suggest?”
“Why, you said——” the other began.
“Don’t you know, on jobs of this kind, Sigsbee, that a dozen accidents happen every day? Do you know that we’ll average a dozen deaths a month right here in this camp? A steam shovel breaks, or some chain slips, or maybe there’s a rock slide. If you say the word, I’m sure Martin could arrange everything.”
“That would be very well,” Sigsbee said, weighing the matter calmly, “if we were positive of two things: That Nash is not a spotter, and that he alone knows of our affairs.” ”

“ If the discontent should rise to a head, it would be difficult to deal with them.”
“This does not concern me,” broke in Nick Carter. “What are you going to do with us now?”
“Those other empty recesses on the wall are for certain nobles who will die this afternoon, and for you, my stranger guests. It will be an honor to you, and especially to the dark men you have with you. But you do not belong to Bolongu, and the people will be told that you are all noble in your own countries.” ”

“ No man can reach you in this tunnel. I will see to that. But when you hear the trumpets that will open the festival, then keep well back, where the shadows are deep, and do not speak overloud.”
“Who is there to hear us if we do speak?” asked Nick, somewhat puzzled.
“There are seats right over your head. Calaman’s throne is immediately above where you are standing. The walls are thick, but it might chance that he would hear you if you raised your voice even for a word or two.” ”

“ For a minute Nash stared at the writing, his thoughts galloping far away—far beyond the miles of mountain ranges, beyond the limitless stretch of prairie, where, for the moment, he lived over again that black hour in the bunk house. Mentally he recalled the shouts, the questioning voices, the sharp crack of a revolver fired in the closed room. Then the mêlée of fists—the still, deathlike face of the man on the floor——
Nash drew in a deep breath and passed a quick hand across his eyes. “What a small world it is, after all!” ”

“ During all this period, devoting every thought to his work, Nash was irritated by Hooker’s peculiar manner—his sly questioning, veiled suggestions, and his continual drunken sprees. While no liquor was allowed in any of the camps, the foreman kept his own cabin well stocked, and when a man wanted a drink he knew just where to get it.
Realizing the exposure which would surely come, Nash spoke to the foreman about it, but gained nothing more than a wink and a slap on the back.
“What the devil, Nash!” he would say. “A man’s got to have a little recreation. ”

“ Four times the man dodged around the great ring, his uncanny foe close behind him. Although he was making a better showing against the Scarab than most persons ever had, it was evidently only a question of how long he could hold out.
At last he tripped over a sharp rock that he had hurled at his enemy only just before. Down he went, and the blood flowed from a gash in his foot where he had struck the edge of the stone.
In a flash the Golden Scarab was upon him. Before he could scramble to his feet, the two great horns were flung wide and came together with a clash. ”

“ Finally, with a shrug of indifference, the stranger turned back to the machine.
“I’m in a big hurry, Hooker,” he snapped. “I want to see you right away. Can you spare me a little time?”
“Of course,” the foreman replied dully, as if his mind was a dozen miles away from the subject.
Realizing that he was the unwelcome third party, Nash whirled about and went back to his shack. The moment he was out of hearing, the foreman and the stranger left the machine standing in the road and walked across to Hooker’s cabin. ”

“ Calaman glanced at the millionaire with a scowl that promised no good to that impetuous gentleman. Then he turned again to Nick Carter, with a cunning smile, as he fingered his long gray beard.
“I know I made some such promise,” he purred, smiling. “And, behold, I am keeping my word to the letter. I promised you free entrance to the city—and you are here. I promised to entertain you as my guests, and I sent you food and wine and the choicest tobacco to smoke.”
“That’s true enough,” muttered Jefferson. “He’s as cunning as a rat. ”

“ There is no escape. They pick out the most powerful of the nobles—those who have the ear of the people—as well as the common malefactors. Last year Prince Tillo, my uncle, was one of the victims. The only reason I myself have escaped is that I am one of Calaman’s officers.”
“That’s lucky for you.”
“Perhaps!” replied Slava, with a shrug. “But now word has gone around that there is to be a great killing. In addition to you strangers and the other white prisoner you have come here to carry away, they have seized my brother and seven others of the chief nobles of the land. ”

“ There was a roar from the multitude as the opposite gates were flung open with a clang.
The man in the middle of the arena seemed to wilt, as he hugged himself and stared around for a way of escape.
There was no hope for him.
From the gateway a great, nondescript creature, like a beetle enlarged hundreds of times, and enveloped in a glistening armor of red and black, worked its way out. It moved over to its intended victim with a sideways motion, varied by little darts straight forward. ”

“ Warned of his coming, Nash attempted to arouse Hooker, but failed absolutely. The foreman was dead to the world. Nash was always a quick thinker, but at this particular instant his brain worked at double time.
The inspector always examined the books of the camp, checked off the supplies, the pay roll, and the expense account, taking duplicate copies into Los Angeles. Hooker had always attended to this, being in full charge of the camp. Now, with the foreman in a drunken sleep, there was but one thing to do—and Nash set out to accomplish it. ”

“ Nick Carter was pumping fresh cartridges into his own magazine as he spoke. There should be no chance of his being caught with an unloaded rifle while he had ammunition within reach, at all events.
“I can manage it,” grunted Chick, as he took careful aim. “I’m glad I’ve always kept up swinging-target practice. At some of those shooting galleries in New York they have me barred out,” he added, with a grin.
“Wait a moment!” roared Calaman. “I’ll come away while you are using your death sticks. They might go the wrong way.”
“There’s no danger if you don’t move,” Nick Carter called back to him. ”

“ He pushed aside two or three of the soldiers, and the next minute had his paws on Nick Carter’s shoulders and was licking his face.
It was Captain!
“All right, old man!” exclaimed Nick. “I know you mean well, but keep away from my cheek, will you? Down, Captain!”
The great bloodhound dropped to the sand at once, while the detective patted his head with an affection that Captain understood even better than words.
“Look, chief!” cried Patsy Garvan. “They are setting all the prisoners free!” ”

“ But the people, I believe, are on our side, if we can stop the first rush.”
“We shall have to stop it,” was Nick Carter’s remark.
“I believe we can, with your help, stranger. With your strange weapons—your death sticks—we might turn the tide in our favor. We might even slay the Golden Scarab itself. In that case, the whole nation would thank you.”
“This Golden Scarab is alive, then?”
“Yes.”
“Big?”
“Very.”
“Where did it come from?”
“I don’t know. Nobody does—except Calaman and those who are very near to him. The creature is seen only once a year at the festival. ”

“ The priest was really afraid that this tall, supple Hindu, with his spear, might prove victor in a contest with the Golden Scarab, and he dared not take the chance.
Half a dozen soldiers jumped into the arena and cautiously approached Jai Singh.
“Stand back!” he warned them, flourishing his spear. “I am here, standing on my rights, and I will not move.” Then, to Calaman: “You have promised that if any champion beats the Scarab, he can claim any reward he wants. Isn’t that so?”
“It is the rule,” answered Calaman coldly. “But it does not concern you.” Then, to his soldiers: “Seize him, guards! ”