The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-12-31
oned; and the slave I have had whipped
for coWardice.

of gesture that made it intensely inter-
esting. We asked ii we could get a
glimpse of the demented Bahram. In
response the Rajah led us through long
winding alley of blossoming oleanders
and into part of the garden which we
had never before visited. The terrace
at this point overlooked the inclosure in
which the stables stood and commanded
at the same time q view Of one of the
busiest thoroughfares of Masulipatam,
which at one point adjolncd the stable
grounds.
Moving restlessly up and down beside
the narrow strip of bamboo fence which
separated him from the street, we saw
the wretched horse; and the Rajah's face
grew even more detected as we watched.
The passers-by seemed awed by the mad
animal, for they kept crowding to the
other side of the street and cycling sus-
piciously the frail barriers of the bamboo
gate. Ever and anon Bahram would toss
his head back convulsively over his
shoulders, as if some insect were sting
ing the base of his brain. Then he
would jump up and down two or three
times and press close against the fence
in his mad hunger to get at the passing
throng. He was never for an instant
still.
"It is bad case," said the Rajah
sadly, "and in all probability incurable.
That breed is liable to be affected thus in
our climate. There is a chance of his
recovery if he is left undistured; but
that place is not good for him. The
crowds excite him, and l know not how
to remove him alive"
"Why not lasso hlm2"suggested Jack.
The Rajah did not understand.
81 mean," continued Jack, "why
couldn't some fellows go into the pad
dock on elephants, and throw a moose
over his head and upset him, and then
throw another over his hind legs, and SO
get him all tangled up so he'd be help
lcss9 Then he could be carried off some
where and kept cool till his senses came
back to him."
The Rajah's woebegone face lit up at
Jacks proposal.
"Certainly, we might try some such
scheme" he responded. Then we held
an earnest consultation as to ways and
means. AS Jack had very definite idea
of Just how the thing should be managed,
and understood the nice art of throwing
lasso, the Rajah committed the matter
to his hands. It was decided that, while
E;ahram's attention was taken up with
the crowds at the street quite, we should
enter the inclosure from the rear, on
elephants, and proceed to put the horse
into strait jacket.
Hardly had we re.entered the palace
to perfect our arrangements for the at
tack, when our ears we're shocked by
terrible outcry which arose in the street.
AS we started out to see what was the
matter, we were met by the tidings we
had been drcading. The mad brute had
broken through the bamboo gate, and
was running amuck through the crowded
street. Having our revolvers in our
belts, Jack and rushed forth barehead-
ed, jumped on our horses, and galloped
toward the scene of terror. The Rajah
picked up his boar spear and made after
us with dignifed alacrity, at the same
time, in tone they dared not disobcy,
ordering his attendants to follow.
AS we dashed down sideway and
emerged upon the chief street, the
cries and shrieks became appal-
ling. Poor <wretches wild with
terror met us in throngs, while others on
either hand assailed with prayers and
blows the doors of the dwellings closed
against them. We saw the mad horse
darting from side to side, his ears flat on
his neck, his great mouth wide open.
With his cleaning blood red coat he
looked like an incarnate fury. We had
to see him catch now one flying wretch,
now another, crushing their necks with
his mighty teeth and dropping them life
less in the gutter. His mood seemed one
of mingled rage and delight. Presently,
in attacking tall and athletic porter,
he missed his accustomed hold, and the
doomed man grappled with him magni-
fcently. Upon this the brute sprang
high into the air and deliberately fell Oh
his victim. Then we were upon him.
The Rajah, eager and on blooded
steed, had distanced his attendants and
was now abreast OF me, but we had both
been so hindcred by fugitives that Jack
had got little to the front. As the mad
horse caught sight of him he left his last
victim ard rushed to the encounter.
Drawing his heavy revolver from his
belt. and refining in his horse, Jack took
a cool aim, and fired. His horse swerved
at the flash, and the ball, though it
struck, failed of its full effect. Jack
fired again instantly, at the same time
spurring sharply to one side. This side
movement doubtless saved his life, for
Bahram, who was now upon him, only
succeeded in grasping him by the boot.
The stirrup protected the foot from being
mangled. The brute made fine effort to
pull Jack out of the saddle, but failed a
the first attempt. Ere he could accom-
plish his desi gu the Rajah and I had
come up.
"Keep your grip" I yelled to Jack,
and the beast dropped his hold and made
lunge at me. At that very instant my
revolver was fairly in his ear-yet that
dignified old Rajah, whom we had never
credited with such nerve, got in his
work ahead of ME. He had dropped his
boar spear in the crowd, but his long,
thin, curved sword, ere my cartridge
cracked, slid softly across the brute's
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