Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1889-08-03

Haw the Haaor OF the Idoi Was Defended
ny Its Faithful Priests.

ny IT'S Faithful Priests
Many years ago was quartered at
Fnzarabad. an important military sta
tion about one hundred and fifty miles
from the Madras coast Unfortunate.
ly. ut the time was there. gambling
and betting were much in vogue. and
many men plunged and came 10 grief
over their debts Of honor. or all that
gay company. nobody was more popu-
lar and betier-likcd hy both men aud
women than young fitzroy; but. un-
fortunately. he lost money at tho
races. tried Ia recover himself at the
whist table. but failed, got into tie
hand~ Of the Marwarrees. and goi |
deeper aud deeper into the mire OF |
debt Al length he told the narrator
that he intended ~ go to England 10
raise mcney. ''wnl You come away
with me?" he asked. tive out THAI
we have taken ten days leave for some
shooting. and see me down 10 the
coast II go OF alols'. shall be
stopped by those cursed Marwarrees.
After some hesitation | agreed He
sent IN his application for leave To
out that was going on u ten days
shooting expedition.
A week later. with couple OF ton
gas we had started on our long and
wearying journey TO the coast, where
my poor voung friend hoped to pick
up u steamer 10 take him TO Europa
On the second day we met crowds OF
people trampiug along. In reply TO
our inquiries we were told they were
all returning from the great festival Of
Juggcrnan,. held al Puri. now only
some three days journey from where
we were. The tongawalla kept US in
terestcd with a graphic description OF
the festival and OF the great god,
! which was especially remarkable for
the wonderful jewels il possessed
two emerald eyes of inestimable value.
its lips formed of the finest rubbies In
the world. aud necklace OF priceless
pearls. he sun was sinking as at
last we neared the town of Puri. and
we could see the pinnacles Of the tenn
plcs rise ahcve the trees which SUR
rounded the place. Half mile the
Travellers Bungalc. where we
intended putting up for the
night. A more uncomiorta-
BILE meal never ate than
the dinner which was served up 10 us
that evening. aud ] was quite thankful
when tbs poor lad said he was dead
beat and would go OFT to bed My own
] al. Ill .xf ha
:. bungalow. and took my pipe and sal
= Emoking in the veranda The moon
was just rising when | thought saw
the figure of European stealing along
!, the wall Of the compound. Strange.
= thought and wondered what otheI
European there could be here at the
= sane time. An idea struck me. aud
! went across 10 my companions room.
: There was nobody In IL. the bed was
!, undisturbed. / threw down my pipe
and rushed out into the moonlight
few seconds later | was out in tn
road, and turned instinctively in tb,
direction Of the temple.
could not see the young officer; bu
as ran ON until reached the wall Of tn
temple compound-an enormous coun
- ty-yard OF paved stone. on which wer
ne lying a number of priests, their whit
~ garments wrapped round their head
CT and bodies. In the backgroun
n was placed temple after temple. but !
'h the very center stood one solitar
~ shrine raised on three seperate flight
~ OF steps. and inside / could see th
in great black god raised on three othe
- smaller flights of colored marble step
The moonbeams shone directly on th
W god and lit up the emerald eye an
y ruby lips. while the pearl necklaC
y, glowed on his huge black bosom. 1
w my unutterable horror saw my eou
ns panion walking right across the cour
- yard. My tongue Glove TO the ro'
y OF ms mouth. dared not shout eve
:, II could have raised my voice.
'sn rhaHtly horror took hold of me as II
=" idea struck me that In his madness II
:, poor friend intended TO save his hon,
"a by the greater dishonor OF robbing u
idol. Speechless | saw him mou
=. step after step, and the ne
= moment saw him enter Il
=, sacred shrine ross the thresho
OF which no nthcr foot but that of Il
-. Brahmin has ever passed. Nine ste
"a, led up To the god. He paused. tri,
M to shout. but no sound would com
~ lie raised his hand as II TO tear of u
=, pearl necklace. Ii WAS still above
u. reach Ills foot then touched the Sc
- enth Oh. God, eau ! ever forget Il
,,s sight? In the moonlight flashed o
:. two arms covered with hundred
=. nay. two hundred daggers, al
/. a claspcd the daring youth TO q
~ black gods breast AT the sar
=, moment the sound OF a gong broke q
,h- stiffness of the night and IN one m
n ment the priests had cast OF their CO
-. erings and were rushing TO the shrin
an Two minutes later | saw the amaz
"a and Mortified priests carrying out I
no lifs;ess body OF the dishonored u
ma glishman. and turned and fed.
tha Times OF India.
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