It had been three days in the jungle since my men had left me. But I knew the temple was there, in the jungles of Siam, and eventually I was standing on the stones of its entryway.

The cavern where the Buddha was supposed to be was there...

...but I wasn't very happy to see it.

The horrible slithering carpet of reptilian life sent a shudder down my spine. I hate 'em. Hate 'em!

For a moment, I almost hoped that the Jade Buddha wasn't there. But there it was, in amongst its scaly guardians.


I pulled out my whip...

AND SNAPPED!

The snakes bolted away from the Buddha, and I saw I'd scored a bullseye!

I flipped my wrist, putting more loops around the Buddha...

...and jerked it back toward me!

Forty-seven pounds of jade Buddha slammed into my chest, I thought I was going to fumble it for a moment, but got a grip, and held it lkike a baby.

The smiling Buddha held his prize above his head: a sign of very good luck. For the college's Siamese Collection, it wasd very good news indeed. All I had to do was get it home...

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