Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-09-17
A Four Footed Contest.

ka (thunder Spear) Tor size, strengIn
and ferocity. The white steed, were
he twenty fold the equine hero you
claim for him, Sahib Colonel, would
not evade his doom. He will 60
down like shot, and you will no
longer dispute my guardianship over
Mahala, the demure little Nautch
girl under your wing there
ssBut your excellency,' said the
officer addressed, elf the stallion
should win, the girl will go to Bombay
with me, according to your august
promise?''
The dusky potentate waved his
arm, whose jewel-stiffened sleeve
fairly blazed with the movement.
"You have my word, Sahib," was
his supercilious reply. 1.-The word
of Djainpudra Hassan, rajah of Nag
poor, is his bond"
ssCertainly," called out Maj. PoiH-
dexter, another relocated officer of
the group. sBut if you are so sure
of your tiger winning, excellency, /
will lay you an additional thousand
rupees on Nadgka, the mountain
stallion
The rajah inclined his head in as
sent, and the wager was duly regis
tered by an obsequious white robed
secretary at his elbow.
The arena was a deep walled cIrcu-
lar pit. about 100 feet in diameter,
and around this the tiers of seats,
with capacity of 5000 spectators,
rose so steeply as to give every one,
even the humblest, complete view
of the interior. and yet grant immun-
ity from the fercest wild beasts
spring.
In addition to the throng of person
al attendants surrounding the raJah
in the gorgeously tapestried state
compartment sacred to his accommo-
dation, there was group of English
officers, resplendent in their scarlet
uniforms.
The first one of these to whom the
raiah had addressed himslf was Colon
ell Mohun, and at his side was a sin
gularly beautiful young Hindu girl,
the Mahala referred to. Everything
was at stake with the poor child in
the unique combat that was about to
ensue. Mohun had found her with a
band of Chant dancing women of
Hindu gypsies of the Deccan, and Sc
cretly verified a rumor that she was
the last surviving child of Muley Has
san, half brother of the present rajah
of Nagpoor, who had, after usurping
the throne, foully murdered all the
other rightful heirs, many of whom
he had thrown as prey to his favorite
tigers. The rajah had only been pre-
vented from wrestling Mahala from
her self constituted protector through
a wholesome fear of the British con-
querors, but had at last exerted his
malign and still powerful insistence
to such an extent that the present
! contest had been agreed on as test
of the girls guardianship.
The rajah agreed to pit his cham
pion fighting tiger Djeridgowka
against a white stallion, likewise not
ed for his combative disposition, that
Col. Mohun had obtained from the
foot hills of the Western Giants
l justly celebrated for their fine cavalry
5 stock, much of which is blooded, ,witE
r pure Arabian ancestry.
Should the stallion win, Mahals
would be transferred to the protection
of powerful friends in Bombay, witt
fair prospect of one day recovering
at least a portion of her Inheritance
f Should the tiger come off the victor
s she was to be surrendered uncondi
tionally to her cruel and rapaciou
o kinsman, whose appalling characte
: was sufficient guarantee of the ter
? rible fate in that event awaiting her
There was sea like murmur of an
: ticipation, and all eyes were rlvete'
8 on one of two strong iron grating
that were side by side in the wall o
. the pit. on level with its stud
:. floor.
D An instant later it shot aside, an
1T there was an involuntary burst of ar
plause as the noble horse bounde
~ into view.
He was not large, but perfectl
% proportloned, with glistening coal
as of snowy satin, a name and ia
# that were of a light golden tingt
/? furnishing contrast as unique as
a was harmonious and beautiful. FIJI
L was in his eye, the rythm of activlt
t. and speed in his fine limbs, and as
: curveted snorting around the aren:
- If was noticed that his small hoo
: were shod with new and sharp ste
It. shoes, that fairly flashed like rul
- ming rivulet in the sunshine, with IL
10 graceful and airy movements th
y. scarcely seemed to touch the eartl
tn and yet were suggestive of fier'
er wariness and expectancy.
The rajah stroked his beard on
hu more and smiled again.
80 cit was notmentioned in the cor
bt pact that Nadgka should be shod
of said he. "Still, / waive the point
I can well afford to-
an Then he Strengthened himself wi
'ut cruelty gloatirg and exultant loo
'ut and there was fresh burst and mai
ot throated applause, not unmixed wi
terror, as the other grating shot ba
with a clang. and the vaunted mo