The Morgantown monitor. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1863-1864, 1863-07-18
THE HEROES of HINDOOSTAN;
The Day of RetributiOn.

On toe banks Of the Ganges, IN
the strictest bonds of amity, lived
Akajah and Sammael, descended
from the blood royal. the pride of
Hindocstan, and the terror of her en-
emies. Together they resided to
gether they roamed the forest, tam
ing the ferecious tiger, and subject
ing to their skill the furious lion
and together they fought the lawless
bands that annually descended the
mountains, to plunder the defence
less husbandman, and trembling
shepherd before them fled the ma
rauaers with terror. lDseparable
and invinciblc, they feared no one;
for no one they injured they were
respected by the virtuous, who regar-
ded them as their protectors ; they
were hated by the vicious, for to them
were they inexorable.
To destroy this conDexion, or SOW
dissention between them, had long
been the aim of a neighbering Ra-
iah, on whose territories they resi-
ded; but vain had hitherto been his
endeavors. Chance at length seem
ed to favor him with one opportuni-
ty, which, with the malignity of a
demon, he eagerly embraced.
The annual purifcatlon ofthe Hin
docs had commenced the men had
bathed in the sacred waters of the
Ganges received absolution, and re-
tired, when the Tehoudar proclaim
ed, with a loud voice, accompanied
by the sonorous gong, that the fe-
male purifcation was about to com
mence, and commanded all the male
sex to retire from the hallowed spot,
under penalty of a cruel death
Three times was the proclamation re-
iterated and none but females re-
mained. In solemn step, and with
reverential awe, the lovely group ad-
vanced, headed by the beautiful
Anime, the Rajah's niece, whose ia
ther he had murdered, and whose
throne he had usurped. Already
had the High Priest bestowed his
benediction; already had the nymphs
laid aside their milk-white robes,
and we're about to enter the sacred
bath, when a hideous overgrown IT,
ger sprans furious from the wood,
and fastened with avidity on the COM
panions of Anime. Terror and dis
may instantly prevailed nothing
was heard but the loud shriekS and
groans of the agoaized females; the
gong ceased to sound, and the priests
precipitately fled to a place Of shell
ter; whilst the fair assemblage OF
beauteous Hindoos were pent by the
monster in a nook of land which pro-
iected into deep part Of the river.
In this dreadful state of suspense,
their piercing outcries attracted the
notice of the two friends on their re-
turn from hunting; and learning the
cause from a fugitive priest, they
hurried with the speed of lightning
to the relief of their fair countrywo-
men. 10 an instant they alighted
from their coursers: and whilst Aka
iah plunged his javelin in the side,
the daring Sammael severed the head
from the monsters huge carcass
They then, knowing the prohibition,
remounted, and quickly fled.
For this trespass they were, how
ever, summoned before the Grand
Divan Of the Raiah. The court was
unusually crowded, and the prison
ers were brought forth.
A death-like silence prevailed,
when the High Priest, rising from
his seat, accused the heroes of sacrl-
lege, infdelity, and apostacy. The
other priests, to cloak their cowar-
dice, joined in the accusation and
sentence of death was pronounced
on the undaunted friends, amid a
general nurmer of disapprobatlon.
The Raiah would not hear anything
in their defence, and ordered them
to be led to immediate execution
but the executioner was fed and be-
ing of the blood royal, no inferior
class could, agreeable to the inviola-
BILE laws Of Hindostan, spill their
blood. In this dilemma, the Rajah,
pretending to relent. caused it to be
made k1own, that the one which
would shoot three arrows at, and at
forwards behead the other, should
receive free pardon. With an avid
Ity not to be expressed, Akajah em-
braced the offer; was unbound, and
received his arms. He bent his bow,
and, with a poisoned arrow, SEEM
iDgly prepared to murder his friend;
when turning towards the Rajah, be
thus addressed him:
"'Prince tbs at your command my
bow is bent; at your command must
this arrow fly, and rid the world
"Shoot - cried the Rajah, inter-
rupting him with impatience.
At that instant, having secretly
taken aim, he let fly, and the Rajah
fell lifeless on the throne.
With eagerness the guards rushed
forward to seize Akajah bat per
ceiving the Rajah already dead, they
shrank back dismayed whilst Aka