Wichita eagle., 1888-08-30

horn over the sQueaktngs and clamoringS OF
the flies and kettle drums.
Another thousand on Nadgkaf" cried
Poindexter, excitedly futtering two fingers
at the potentate In betting book fashion. "a
whole lac of rupees, if 1 only had them!
What says your e1cellsncyr'
Djampudra-Hassa composed1y nodded his
assent, and the wager was recorded
SIT was Djeridgowak's first miscalculation;
his impotence overreached ITSELF" ne said,
stroking his beard once more. Watch him
nowl He viii make up for the faux pas, as
the French would say
Apparently but slightly injured by bis re-
pulse, though painting slightly, the tiger had
resumed his silent, watckful Greetings of the
arena, seemingly with 10 more want of con-
fidence in himself than If they had not been
in the least interrupted
But the stallion was now seen to have
changed his tactics SO far that, while resum-
ing his pivotal gyrations, his head, in lea of
his headquarters, were now presented to the
front
Another breathless interval Of suspense,
followed by fresh hurting spring on the
part of the tiger.
But IL was countered even mora cunningly
and effectively than before. Crouching and
gliding under the flying black and yellow
bulk, much as gaelic might crouchingly
evade a lanmergeyer's hurting swoop, out
few the glistening heels again at just the
right instant, this time bringing UP with a
tremendous impact on the monsters flank, SO
that when Djeridgow1ta's revolutions were
resumed, as they were Almost instantly it
was with a sullen, half gasp;ng air. and with
III -.
trifipS Injury to his hips.
.Another thousand to five hundred on tn
white stallionI" vociferated Poindexter yes
again over the many voiced applause. ''Is
it go, your excellencyi Or II 90 you three
to oneI"
The rajah's Oriental composure had deep
ened into something more than Oriental
guinness; and his cruel gaze roamed from
the tiger to the little begum-now radiant
with a smoldering fierceness Of dissatisfac-
ton; but he, nevertheless, inclined his head
majestically, and the third additional bet
was registered
But again and again was the tigers spring
repeated, and with no better success, save
that on one occasion one of his mighty fore
paws managed to fetch the brave steed long
raking stroke along the loins, ripping his
skin into strips and staining his silvery coat
with blood
It was now a foregone conclusion that
Nadgka would be the victor. The English
men roared themselves hoarse; even the ma
tives yelled their unrestrained delight, in
spite Of their royal masters frowning dis
pleasure; while little Mahala fairly clapped
her hands and bounded IN her seat at the side
of her stern visaged protector.
But Djeridgowka, though plainly dis
pirited, had as yet suffered no positively dis,
aiding injury. and it was quickly evident
that he intended to make one more supreme
effort TO retrieve the day.
Without the slightest warning, he sud
denly changed his tactics by swerving from
his prowling circuit, and running, instead Of
leaping directly toward the horses lowered
crest, until within a couple Of yards, and
then launching himself forward, ike the
Feritable thunderbolt for which he was
named, full at Nadgka's throat
But the stallion was not there to meet it,
having danced TO one side with the rapiditv
Of thought. Then, and before the tiger could
recover from the shock Of striking the oppo-
site wall of the pitt crash crash crash. sue
cessively were the steel shod, terrible heels
arrowy precision and bone crushing force.
And then the jungle monarch was seen run
ming whimperingly around the skirts of the
arena on three legs, and with bis jaw hope
lessly broken-conquered, defeated, and with
the sole object Of effectIng skulking escape
from his victorious foe.
The rajah made the sign by which his IA
vorits was permitted to make good his re
IL =
turned to go with his suite.
Zone moment, e1cellencyI" shouted NJ.
hala's protector. ''Deign, if you please, a
formally announce that the victory is witt
Nadgka, and my little friend here is to con
tinue undisturbed under my guardianship. =
The potentate did SO, with none of the hes
grace, it must be said, and then took his de
parture with as ouch haste as was consistent
with his august dignity.
It was none too soon
The white stallion, which had until that
moment remained proudly in the center Of
the pit, suddenly reared himself high in the
air, with flashing eyes and floating name,
and then fell upon his side-dead
Poor Nadgkai' commented Maj Poin-
dexter, laying his hand on Mohun's shoulder,
on which the little begun was now sobbing
as il her heart would break ''See, his entire
left ribs Were laid bare By that one stroke OF
Djeridgowka's paw. But never mind Mahala
is free from the rajah's clutches, and have
won pot Of his money"
And perhaps they didn't mind, at least not
greatly. Money had changed hands; Mahala,
the whilom NaUUch girl, was saved to become
q great magistrates wife in Bombay, and the
mother OF a child destined to depose the
usurping rajah Of Nagpoor, twenty years
later, and restore the risbtful dynasty; and
most decisive single combat had been molly
contested and heroically won.
But then the hero was only white stallion
only horse.-Nathan D. Uroer in Once a
Week