The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-28
SAVED BY A JACKAL.
A Story Of India I'm the Time of the Great
Rebellion of the Sepoys.

Story Of India in the Time of the Great
Rebellion of the Sepoys.
New York SUM-
"Jackals are at once the bane and the blessing
OF India said gentleman, whose face, either
through disorganized liver or from quarter
OF century of steady curry eating under an
Eastern sun, or in consequence of both, had ac-
CURED rich yellow hue. They Danish sleep
with their nightly bowling and sometimes they
carry off a child but they are the scavergers Of
the plans, which, think, would hardly be hah-
liable without them. Let me tell you curious
story about one of the brutes saving child:
had better state at once to check undue
sympathy. that the jackal when he rescued Lal
ShokrG, acted purely as an involuntary agent
LOT ne certainly intended to eat her. The ittle
girls real name, given to her in England a year
previously was Mabel Stern Her father, Col
stern, whose regiment was in India was on
leave OF absence In his native land when little
Mabel was born, and three months later rumors
OF the coming mutiny in India began
to be heard. Col Stern was or
his wife. who insisted on accompanying him, his
infant daughter and an ayah, or native nurse,
obtained with some difficulty in London, he
turned his face Eastward. When he stepped
ashore in Calcutta the country was in flame Of
instruction, and the colonel learned that his
regiment, composed of sepoys recruited chiefly
in the Northwest. had been among the first to
turn the arms they had obtained and the arts
against their teachers He was ordered to do
general duty with the forces besieging Delhi,
and. still accompanied by his wife and child,
though the ayah refused to go any further, he
went up the country.
''The last scenes of the mutiny were being
played Their horrors, and those that preceded
them, are too we'll known to need description.
Col. Stern and his little family, with another
ayah, were living In bungalow, Indian
house, few miles from Delhi, and keeping q
careful watch at night time, for parties of dis
banded mutineers were sill proving about,
actuated by one prevailing purpose to murder
white men, women and children whenever they
could Go so with fair chance of escaping with
their lives. The Colonel was an old Indian
campaigner, and was apprehensve Of an at
tack. 1t came at last in broad daylight, and
when the master of the house and his wife were
absent III the city for an hour, and nobody was
in the bungalow except the ayah and the child.
When the Colonel and Mrs. Stern returned
Mabel was gone and the ayah, who seemed
half distracted, told the story in her native
tongue:
They came, Mem Sahib, she said, exctedly
addressing Mrs. Stern so quickly that heard
no noise until they were in the room. Where is
the Sahib LosueP said one of them. / told
them the Colonel had gone out and would not be
back before night They wanted to know where
the Mems was told them you were with
him. Great Allah! said the leader, 'robody
left to kiliP Then dirty little fellow, who
lives by robbery, and mutinied, but never fought,
said:
g There is still the chokrn'
Oh Mem-Sahib put my forehead to the
ground to them. said xiii me, but spare
the chokrtn" At last they said should not see
the baby die The leader asked what her name
was and said, Mabel Stern.
"'That will not do, said the man. she must
not meet Allah with such a that The
country is still red with blood Let us call her
La! Chockr@" (Red Girl. Then they took her
away
''Mrs. Stern shrieked and rushed toward tho
door, The Colonel stopped her.
What will they do with our babyf he asked,
the ayah.
''The woman bowed her head sorrowfully.
''Sahib,' she said. i know them we'll The.
leader will take her home; and let her lie an,
hour with his own little girl. have seen her
a child year old with great scar her fore
head. This child will thus get all the good for
tune that might have come to yours had she
lived Then he will take her to the river, and
leave her lying on pillow on the shore until the
tide rises. 1t will be full at 8 o'clock
g. There may be time yet said the Colonel.
looking at his watch. Mabel, you must stay
here. Ayah. do you know where the leaders
bungalow is"
.''Yes. Sahib,' she said, 4 will show you. IT,
is only half mile away, and, perhaps, many
men will not be there. Take your pistol, and
come
1.-THE Colonel followed her. pistol in hand
But they had not gone quarter of a mile before.
both stopped as they heard the noise made by
some animal approaching them. Then, under
the bright moonlight, and only few yards
away, a great gaunt jacka passed them going
at a labored trot and carrying something heavy
in his mouth. Both saw plainly what it was--a
native child-with great its forehead.
1.-The Colonel raised his pistol. and was about
to FIRE at the brute, when the ayah stopped him
with hasty grasp on his arm.
"Stay, Sahib,' she whispered That is the
leaders child. The jackal may have taken
yours first and then gono back for the other.
Let us follow him. He is not going fast
Acting on her advice, they followed until
they saw the jackal stop and drop his burden
under tree. The next moment he fed snarl
ing like hunted cur, into the jungle and tho
Colonel lifted his daughter, fast asleep and
quite unframed. from the side of the Hindoo
baby just laid down! While Mabel had been
transferring her fortunes to the leaders child,
and the family were waiting patiently at the
rear Of the bungalow for the completion of the
operation, the jackal, coward ard sneak-thief
of the wilderness, had carried off the white baby.
and deferred his supper until he had returned
for the black one.
IA year afterward Col Stern and his vito
stood at the window Of their home in England,
smillnGly watching two children on the grass
below. One was Mabel Stern. and the other
was dusky little girl with a scar OH her foro
head and faithful and remarkably intelligent
ayah was taking of them both"