The morning call., 1893-08-06

"ou"0.cu what lie was guns 7, r0a
walked slowly round it, making Iaree
circle. The dead leaves CRACKED pene ,s;i,,
ms feet as be brought each 1 100. n Lea ~
down upon the dry earth. ms was o4
frlghten the snakes away. ios. ~ n ~ 0a
him in the darkness, but coi.iu "a "a. VIC ns
lamp bo6bing about on me o'ii nai Iiu. hv v
though he were eXaminnLu s. t he retnrned I
the aid of its light. Wheh no
handed him my empty cur. .,or.uba
"Plentv of rubbish over there. ns r..
marked. 81 send SWEEPER 10 clear away
"Oh On and eat your rice ana doh
bother about that tree. repiieo i"ip"-
tiently. T, v.s vorr
iitfIa IT'D of robbers or wild animals as
II nod been in my own drawing-room.
Tho oniat Of the evening was only broken
bv the wblrring and grinding OF the elcadas
in the Jungle beyond the hanyan. 6v ana
nv the iackal would don0tiess rise ms
oe,anch6ly wall in his traditional cry OF
5aa6 Hindoo-o-o. But he was very
fen,;liar neiphbor Dy this time. L had
iearnad to sieep peacefully through his
nnnrmIous cry of "Wbere! where. where.
Hnfsss indeed. he chose to look for MS
dead Hjnd0o under my bed, which had
nanpened once on the journey; then L
arose in murderous wrath, anu Hung
slipper at his sinking form Us he sheaAeu
off 10 his companions.
read on. absorbed in the love troubles
of the heroine without needing the time.
Suddenly a sharp scream startled me; 1t
more than startled me-fOr moment it
terrified me. Ii was like nothing else
than the agonizing cry Of woman under
going the process Of having her throat cut
in slow, deliberate inches. In another
second | laughed. 1t was bird, kind of
uight-iar, commonly known as the devil
bird | have heard it once before: and,
having heard il, it was impossible to forget
the tendish cry as it rent the air. The bird
Tonight had uttered his discordant note in
the banyan tree.
listened for the answering call of its
mate. From the distance came the res pom
sve shrek. a heavy Tapping of wing
told me that the CHASTITY owl had gone TO
ioiu its companion. Isincerely hoped that
TIE two would find pressing business in
the opposite direction and not trouble the
neighborhond of the bungalow again with
playful limitations Of the cries of murdered
women.
There was stir among my servants and
folio overs.
| could easily guess at the terror which
had struck their hearts. Tn,them it would
be the malignant call Of the tree spirit.
| cot up and entered the house 10 per-
form my toilet. In spite OF open doors
and windows the rooms felt hot and III
ventilated, and how the place smelt OF
bats! 1t must have been years since the
walls adj known the cleansing whitswash
er's brush. The rafters and beams which
supported the matched roof were coated
with dust. and huge bats fiuttered among
the ragged reeds OF the thatch.
| hurriedly put myself into my night
garments and my flannel dressing gown.
then turning down my lamp L went out
into the cool, fresh veranda and crept be-
meath the mosquito curtains. My little son
was sleeping soundly. The ayah's mat
and pillow lay on the floor at the foot OF
the cot. As soon as she had finished her
chat with the cook and the butler round
the camp fire she would come to bed.
Perfectly easy in my mind. l lay down
aud gaZed out at the bright star-ilt sky.
The moon would not rise till midnight.
Fow beautiful il wasl There was large
planet. as white and steady In its light as
q small moon. Illuminating patch OF sky
seea through the foliage of the banyaD.
The network of branches aud leaves re-
minded me OF gigantic lacework. aud the
many stems which supported the wonder
fut canopy seemed like crowd OF slender,
iong-iim bed giants shelterlng beneath It,
Surely that was FREELY fitting over the
carpet of dry, crisp leaves. No; its flight
was too steady, 100 systematic. 1t could
be nothing but lantern carried by a
mans hand. Yes. There was the sound
&C
and TIE whispering of several voices.
What could my men be about? Surely.
David was not so foolish as 10 extempOrze
gang of sweepers at this time Of night 10
clear away the rubbish And what a dust
he would raise. STUPID fellow. If l had
rot changed into my nightcloihes | would
go and order them all TO their beds.
Harkl What was that? The cry of a
fowl.
'CiacEl cluck. cak! ca !" It's fright
ened cry was stifed by strong hand.
The beauty Of nature was marred by
death. The stars no longer seemed so
pure and lovely; the night wind was soft
and balmy no more.
Another cry. "Ba'a, ba'a| A blow.
Again death marred the repose of the
Night.
I shuddered. The poor goat which had
Just suffered was probably to provide me
with sc-calied mutton Tomorrow. 1t was
really to- bad of David TO allow these
creatures TO be slaughtered before my
eyes. One must eat 10 live, but l had
often told the cook that all signs Of his
dstestabie work must be scrupulonsly
hidden from me and the children.
Tne lights multiplied; more lamps gim-
mered under the tree and fire was being
n de.
This was intolerable. 1t was the last
straw 10 my endurance. The night breeze
set In from that direction and should get
all tie abomiuable smoke.
/ Hnse from my bed, put on my slippers,
and went down the broad veranda steps.
| ecu see quite a number of men grouped
by tie tree. They We're not cooking their
evening meal, fer that had been disposed
OF leBg ago round the campfires. Cook
was not 70 blame. that was quite certain
these people were my cartmen, and the
far lF 81 the men who had charge of my
( bungalow
Iiresome, provoking creatures! They
were odIns heather function and were
wafsl ping The tree devil. Such being the
ease, i was impossible to stop them OF in
! ferlsTe with them in any way. | must
make Z MS mind to an hours wakefuI-
ness, and think myself fortunate if everv-
| thing became quiet again at the end of
that time. The Shrek Of the night lar lad
reused l1em &c this sudden activity in re-
igious eeregI9ny To them 1t was the
angry cry Of the devil.
j moved into the shade and stood agains
! one OF the outstanding stems which sup
ported huge spreading limb overhead |
could see without being seen.
There was small Gevii-s.one-a shape
less mass of black gneiss--set up against
the parent trunk Of the tree Before il
was erected low platform of brick and
mud-the WORK Of bygone generations of
worshiDers On this platform burned
some small lamps. merely tanning wicks
OF cotton floating pa pans of oil. Immedi-
I 4. - T. To-, H.,