Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1888-10-19
A Four-FoOted Contest.

"Dj ridgowka will kill the stallion at
the first spring." said the Il jim, in his
~ arrogant and hcartless way. There
Is no tiger of hill or Jungle that cln
comrars with my Diaridgowka (thun-
dcr spaaD for siz strength and lcroci-
ty. Tho white stccd, were ho twenty
old the equine hero you claim for him,
5 hiD Colonel, would not evado his
doom. IL will go down like shot,
and you will no longer dispute my
-u1r!ian hip ov Mihala, the dcmuro
htt,o N.utch girl under your wing
there"
"Bat your Exccilcncy," sail the
ollccr addressed, "if the stallion should
wiz, the girl will 20 to Bombay with
ne, &C 'rIil; to your august promisc2'
The du ky potcntlto waved his arm,
whose 'wcl-stilT,ncd sleeve fairy
ii zad with the movement.
"lou have my worl, Shib," was
his supcrciiiou, rcpy. "Thc word of
4
bjmpudra IL ,ssan, Rljah Of Nagpoor,
is his boad.
"CortiiaIy" called cut Major Poin-
dexter al other rcd coated officer Of the
group. "But if you are SO sure of your
tiger winning, Excoiency l will lay
you an additional thousand of rupees on
NaIgka, the mountain stallion"
The r Rjah inclined his head in assent
and the wager WIS duly registered by
au ob,equiou' whito-robed secretary at
his elbow.
The arena was deep walled circular
pit, about 100 feet in diameter, and
around this tho tiers of seats, with
capacity of 5000 spectators, rose so
steep'y as to gIvo every one, even the
humbIest, a complete view of the iuto-
rior, and yet grant immunity from the
ficrccst wild beasts spring.
la addition to the throng of personal
attendants surrounding the r i h in the
gorgcously taPsstried State can<~..sa
was group OF T. tglish officers, fosi5ss1''
dent in their scarlet uniforms.
The first one of these to whom the
Rajah had addressed himself was Col.
Mohuo, and at his side was a singuarly
beautiful young Hin loo girl, tho Ma
haa referred to. Everything W IS at
stake with the poor child ia tho unique
comblt that was about to ensuc. Mo
hun had found her with band of
Chant dancing women or Hndoo gyp-
sics of the ID ccau, and secretly
verili d a rumor that she was tho
last surviving child of Muley Ha'sau,
half brother OF the present r jah of
Nagpoor, who had, after usurplng the
throao, foully murdered all the other
rightGul heirs, many of whom he had
thrown as prey to his favorIto tig.
The R'jah had only been prevented
from Wrestling Mahda from her self
constituted protector through whole
some fear of the British conquerors,
but had at last cxerted his malign a1d
stil powerful insIstcnce to such ar cx-
tent that tho present contest had been
agreed on as test Of tho girls guard
ianship.
The Rajah agreed to pit his cham
pion fighting tiger Djeridg gowka against
white stallion, likewise noted fo7 his
combative disposition, that Col. Mohun
had obtained from the foot hills OF the
Western Chants, justly ce'obrated for
their fine cavalry stock, much of which
is blooled, with a pure Arabian anccs-
try.
Shouli the stallion win, Mlhala
would be transferred to the protection
of powerful friends in Bombay, with a
/ fair prospect of one day recovering at
least portion of her inheritance.
Should tho tiger come off tho victor,
she was to be surrendered uncondition-
ally to her cruel and rapacious kins-
man, whose appalling character was a
sufficient guarantee of tho terrible fate
/ in that event awaiting her.
There was sea-like murmur of an
ticipatiou, and all eyes wcro rivcte
on one or two strong iron gratings that
were side by side in the wall of tho pit,
on level with its sandy floor
An instant later it shot aside, and
there was an involuntary burst of ap-
plause as the noble horse bounded into
view.
He was not large, but perfectly pro-
portioned, with glistening coat, as Of
snowy satin, a maae and tail that were
of light golden tingo, furnishing a con-
trast as u Aquo as it was harmoniou,
and beautiful. Fire was in his eye, the
rhythm e spec and ac iv.,y in hi' fac
limbs, ant, as h curveted snorting
around the REM, it was noticed that
LIS small hoofs were shod with new and
sharp steel shoes, that fairly flashed
like a running rlvulet in the sunshine,
with the graceful and airy movements
that scarcely seemed to touch the earth,
and yet were suggestive of fierce wari-
ness and expectancy.
The Rajah stroked his beard once
moro aud smiled again.
at was not mentioned in the com
pact that Nadgka should be shod, .
said he. "StilI, waive tho point
can well afford TO-
Then he Strengthened himself with q
cru lily gloati1g and cxultaat look, and
there VS. a fresh burst Of many throat