The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-06-15
VOL. XXIV.-NO. 80.

place, and when the nights were hot he ha
his cot brought hither and here he slept.
This hall was chosen for Neranya's perma
nent abiding place; here was he to stay a
long as he might live, without ever glimps
of the face of nature or the glorious heavens
To one Of his restless, nervous, energetic, dis
contented nature the cruelty of such confne
ment was worse than death; but there wa
more yet of suffering in store for him, for a
the rajah's order there was constructed
small iron pen, in which Neranya was to b
kept. This pen was circular and about fou
feet in diameter. 1t was elevated on fou
slender iron posts, ten feetfrom the floor, ant
was placed half. f.way between the fountain anC
the balcony. Around the edge of the pei
was erected an iron railing, four feet high
but the top was left open for the convenienc,
of the servants whose duty it should be tC
care for him. These precautions for his safe
confinement we're taken at my suggestion, fol-
although the man was deprived Of all four O
his limbs, still feared that he might develoT
mischief. 1t was provided that the attendants
shoald reach his cage by means of movable
ladder. All these arrangements having been
made, and Neranya hoisted into his prison,
the rajah emerged upon the balcony to see
him, and the two deadly enemies faced each
other. The rsjahs stern face paled at the
hideous sight which met his gaze, but be had
soon recovered, and the old, hard, cruel,
sinister look returned. Neranya, by an
extraordinary motion, had wriggled himself
into an upright position, his back propped
against the railing His black hair and beard
had grown long, and they added to the natural
ferociiy Of his aspect. Upon seeing the rajah,
his eyes blazed with terrible light, his lips
parted, and he gasped for breath. His face
was white with rage and despair, and his thin
distended nostrils quivered.
The rsjah folded his arms and gazed down
upon the frightful wreck which he bad made
Neranya returned the gaze with blazing eyes.
Oh. the pathos Of that picture, the inhuman-
i,y of It, the deep and dismal tragedy of it
Who might look into that Wild, desperate
heart aud see and understand the frightful
tSrmOil there, the sarging, choking passions,
bat impotent ferocity, frantic thirst
for vengeance that would be deeper than
hell Neranya gazed, his shapeless body
heaving. his eyes sbIaze, and then, in strong,
clear voice which rang throughout the great
hnH ,-,,S -,.sd .,.saoh h. b,rlal - III
rsjah the most insulting defiance, the most
awful curses. He cursed the womb that con-
ceiyed him, the food that nourished him, she
wealth that brought him power cursed him
in the name Of Buddha and all the prophets,
in the name Of heaven and of hell, cursed him
by the sun, the moon, and the stars, by all
continents, oceans, mountains, and rivers, by
ail things living; cursed his head, his heart,
his eutrails; cursed him in furious outpour-
ing of uumeDtionable words; heaped insults
aud con,umely upon him; called him a knave,
a beast, fool, a liar, an Infamous and damn
able coward. Never had | heard such elo-
qaeaee Of defiance, curses and vituperation;
never bad heard so terrible denuneiation,
50 frightfal and impetuous au outflow Of in.
suits.
The rsjah heard j, all calmly, without the
Of muscle or the slightest change
Of eounsenance, and when the poor wretch
had exhausted bis strength aud fallen help
less aud silent TO the floor, the rsjah, with a
grim, cold smile. turned and strobe away.
The days passed. The rajah, not deferred
BY Neranya's curses often heaped upon him,
spent even more time than formerly in the
great hall, and slept there oftener at night, and
finally, Nerauya wearied Of cursing aud defy
ing him, aud maintained sulleu silence.
The man was study for me, and ! noticed
every change in his Aeeting moods. Generally
his condition was one Of miserable despair,
which he attempted bravely to conceal. Even
the boon Of suieide had been denied him,
for when be was erect the top of the rail was
a foot above bis head, and he could not throw
himself over it and crush his head on the
stone floor below; and when he had tried to
siarve himself, the attendants forced food
down his throat, so that he abandoned such
attempts.
At times bis eyes would blaze and his
breath would come in gasps, for imaginary
vengeance was working within him; but
steadily he became quieter and more tract
able, and was pleasant and responsive when
l eouversed with him. Whatever the tor.
lures the rajah bad decided upon, none had
as yet been ordered, and although Neranya
knew that they were in contemplation, he
never referred to them or complained Of his
lot.
The awful climax of this terrible situation
was reached one night, and even after this
lapse Of years can not approach descrip-
tiou Of it without a shudder.
Ii was hot night, and the rajah had gone
to sleep in the great hall of the palace, lying
on high cot. had been unable to sleep in
my apartment, and so | stole softly into the
ball through the heavily curtained entrance
at the end furthest from the balcony. As |
did so, heard a peculiar soft sound above
the patter of the fountain.
Neranya's cage was partly concealed from
my view by the spraying water, but | sus-
peeted that the unusual sound came from
him. Stealinga a little to one side and crouch
ing against the dark hangings of the wall, |
could family see him in the dim light which
illumined the hall, ard then | discovered
that my surmise was correct-Neranya was
- y.o,L Cur,nus IN laarn rnnra | sank into
a thick robe on the floor and watched him.
Ny sight was keen and my eyes soon became
accustomed to the faint, soft light.
To my great astonishment Neranya was
tearing off with his teeth the bag which
served as his outer garment. He did it eau
tiously, casting sharp glances frequently al
the rajah, who, sleeping Soundly on his cot
breathed heavily,
After starting a strip with his teeth, Ne
ranya would, by the same means, attach it tC
the railing of his cage and then wriggle away
much after the manner of caterpillar
crawling, and this would cause the strip tt
be torn out the full length of his garment
He repeated this operation with incredible
patience aud skill, until his entire carmen
had been torn into strips. Two or three h
tied together with his tongue, lips and teeth
and secured the ends in q similar way to th
railing, thus making a short swing on on
side. This done he tied the other strips to
gether, doubling some which were weak, an
in this way he made q rope several feet i