The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-12-04

the western hills. Then 1t was that Lalla-
ice Rao met with him. "They call me the
enemy of thy people," said he, "but all
men are the friends of one who is in
trouble; follow me-" And the chief gave
him food and shelter, and guided him into
the right way. Was not that well done,
brothers."
"Harkr" cried a third, "here they
COME
A distant sound of wild Eastern music
foated through the hot, still air, and up
the winding street came marching a long
train of soldiers, whose crimson turbans
and gay dresses, and glittering spearhead
and breastplates of polished steel, made a
gallant show in the midday sunshine.
High above them all, on a black horse,
to the saddle of which he was tightly
bound with strong ropes Of dried grass,
appeared a tall and powerful man, whose
thick black beard was just beginning to
turn gray. His dark face, firm and massive
as If carved in granite, changed a
whit at the haunting shouts which broke
from every mouth as he went by; for
this man was none other than Lallaiee
Rao himself.
Winding slowly through the narrow,
crowded streets, the professions at length
reached the place, under the marble porch
of which, with his guards around him, sat
the Emperor Akbar, a ~fine-looking man
of middle-age, with an eye as bright as
the diamond in his snow-white turban.
He listened in silence while the officer
in charge of Lallajee Rao, coming forward
with a bow, made his report of the prison
er's capture. AS the last word was
uttered, the Emperor waved lis hand,
and instantly Lallajee, still bound hand
and foot, was dragged from his horse, and
laid on the ground, face upward.
Then a solemn hush fell over the great
Multitude, as if every one were holding
his breath in expectation Of something
strange and terrible.
All at once the crowd parted, and a
huge elephant, with a native mahout
(driver) perched on its neck, was seen
coming slowly up to the spot where the
prisoner lay, the Hindoo custom being
that men condemned to die shonld be
tranpled to death by elephants.
Lallajee's stern eyes looked tearlessly
at the moving mountain as it approached
him, nor could the countless spectators
who were watching him so keenly see the
slightest change in his iron face.
But just as the huge forefoot was raised
to crush out his life, he started suddenly,
cast a keen glance up at the elephant, and
shouted "Dekho chat; L.allajee Raol'
(Look out, brother; It's Lallajee Roa.)
At the sound of his voice, the elephant
started in it's turn, drew back It's uplifted
foot, and bent down as If to look closer
into his face. Then it uttered a wild cry,
half snort n half scream; whisked down
its driver as if he had been a doll, and
taking up Lallajee in its trunk, set him
upon it's neck in the drivers place.
A murmur Of establishment ran through
the crowd, and the Emperor himself rose
to his feet in undisguised excitement.
Bring that man here!' cried he to
his guards.
But before they could obey, Lallajee
Rao (who bound though he was, pre-
served his seat on the elephants neck
with wonderful skilD uttered a peculiar
cry, and instantly the mighty beast moved
forward with him right up to the spot
where Akbar was standing.
"What means all this ?" asked the En-
peror.
"It means, - answered the chief, that
it was [ who caught this elephant and
tanned him, and that although they say
he has no reason, he is more merciful
than some men who have"
Akbar bit his lip and was silent.
"You shall see how we'll he under
stands my ORDERS" said Lallajee. "Here,
Sup-amani, salute Lallajee Raol'
The elephant bowed it's head and waved
its trunk in the air.
"Salute the Emperor Akbar!"
But the elephant remained immovable.
"Do you hear ?" cried Lallaiee again.
Salute the Emperor Akbar!'
This time the beast answered him with
a snort, and tapped it's huge ears as if to
from it.
The Emperor laughed.
Brave as a lion himself, he could see
and admire the courage of the prisoner.
and his heart was touched by the ele-
plants grateful remembrance of it's old
friend.
at is WELL" said he, in clear, COM
handing tones of one accustomed to be
obeyed. "Lallajee Rao, thou art a war
rior, and I speak to thee as one warrior
speaks to another. If [ spare thy life,
wilt thou be true to me henceforth p"
mo man ever yet said that L~allaiee
breaks his word. Henceforth I will be
true to thee, on the faith of a warrior"
was the reply.
$50 be it." r%ejoined Akbar. "From
this day thou art the captain of my guard,
and none but myself shall ride the ele-
plant that has spared thy life"
And the Emperor kept his word