The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-04-24

than score of persons men, women and children, stood round an object in their midst, all talking excitedly to each other, and everybody at once. It was a buffalo they were looking at, and the interest and excitement arose from its having sustained a severe injury. There was gaping wound on its hind leg, it's hook sinew having been cut through. The great, ungainly brute, though so seriously hurt. stood patient and quiet, looking about with a heavy stupid air.
 Among the crowd surrounding the buffalo was a young girl, whose light color, clean bright clothes, and prOfllsion of jewelry, showed her to be of superior caste and position to the others She was Nallee, the daughter of Raman Um- miyan. the p"Sdri or village priest of Pandyan She was q handsome girl, about fifteen years old; tall, slender and graceful with regular features, large, dark eyes, finely arched eyebrows and small sensitive mouth She was engaged in washing the blood and dirt from the butfalo's wound It was evident, from the remarks addressed to her by the by islanders, condoling with her or offering advice, that her father was the owner of the wounded animal.
 It is no use, child" said an old man who had been examining the wound. He will never blow again. The sinrw is cut through, and he will be lame for life. :"
 Ap-pah! What will father say when he comes home?" exclaimed Nallee
 An, there will be breaking of pots then, no doubt,' replied the old man. Where was the beast found?' he added
 Suriyan found him standing in the river, helpless this afternoon, and drove him home on three legs replied Nallec
 Perhaps he cut himself on the sharp rocks in the rivcr,' suggested by stander.
 No, mol" said the old man. "The cut was made by knife; and we would not have t. go far to find the owner of the knife, he added muttcring
 You are right enough, father, whis- pcrcd the other, who had heard the old man S remark.
 We know very we'll who did this, and the pusari will know tool There will be trouble when he comes home. An, here he comes!'
 As he spoke man emerged from the jungle and entered the village, and sec ing the crowd, walked hastily toward it.. It was Raman Cmmiyan the village priest He was a tall spare man, clad in q single yellow garment Several strings of sacred yellow beads encirclcl his neck; and his forehead, breast and shoulders were smeared with conSc- cratcd ashes. His face indicated man of strong passions, His keen. clos,- set eyes, deeply lined forehead thin, sensitive nostrilS, hard, straight mouth, and other strongly marked features l showed him to be of an irritable, quar- rclsomc disposition. As he advanced, the little crowd round the wounded buff falo opened and made way for him
 What is this? What k the matter with it2 he exclaimed as he glanced at the animal.
 See, father replied Nallce, pointing to the wound. "Suriyan found it at the river and has just driven it here" ! For moment the pusari bent and looked Ut thewound; then he burst into a furious rage. Striking tho end of his stick heavily on the ground, he ex- | clallneu naSSl0llatelN II k Ivan Elll- van who has done this!
 The pusari and the man he spoke of were fellow villagers and deadly enc- mics. The fcud between them had arisen from quarrel about field which both men claimed. On going olaw the pusari had won the case, and the other consequently hated him with a deep and deadly hatred. Ivan Eluvan was a man of a cruel, malignant, cunning na- ture, and never lost an opportunity of ! lnluring or haraSslng his enemy The ! quarrel was now some years old but his i hatred was just as bitter as eyer. Many a time had the ptisai had cause to re- gret having incurred his neighbor's ill- will. He was not equal to him in auda- city and cunning. and was also much poorer man. He had brought many actions against his enemy, but the lat l ter's kecner brain and longer purse had almost always enabled him to get the better of his adversary. The object of each man Was to drive the other out of the village; but the interests of both of them in the village were too great to permit either to leave, so they lived on within stones throw of one another, l deadly enemies, always on the watch to iniure each other in every possible way.
 An, ah! shouted the pusari, geStic- ulating fufouSly with his stick. :" l will have vengeance for it swear by Pu- liya will not rest till have repaid him with interest though it cost me my last rupee! How long, he continued, turn ing tcrcely to the villagers. who stood 1 round silent but sympathizing-" how long are We to bear with this man? He is a wild beast, as cruel and dangerous as the tiercest brute in these .iungles He will stand at nothing to gratity his hate. He has robbed me and slandcred me and brought false cases against me; and now see the brutal way he has in iured this poor brute of mine, He will ] try to murder me next. But will have vengeance; will complain to the head man.
 Not much use in that, im Ca tern, of respecD remarked the old man who l had before Spokan