Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-07-20

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" NFW1 EHa5 ant occupation of
S-Gszs=A.e44. L..A stringing into gar
lands the thick yell
low and white champao blossoms that
strewed the ground, under the broad
leaved tree near the lentena hedge,
was startled by an angry trumpet, and
looked in the direction of Shere BAHIA
dur.
"He is must" said one to the other
in an awe-struck whisper; and then, a
sudden terror seizing them, they
bounded like little brown apes, silently
and swiftly into a gap in the hedge
and vanished.
There were 100 evil desires Kissing
in Shere Bahadur's heart, as he swayed
to and fro under the huge peepul tree
to which he was chained. IndIgnity
upon indignity had been heaped upon
him. 1t was mere accident that
Aladdin, the mahout who had attended
him for twenty years, was dead. How
on earth was Shere Bahadur to know
that his skull was so thin? He had
merely tapped it with his trunk in a
moment of petulance, and the head of
Aladdin had cracked in like the shell
of an egg. Shere Bahadur was re-
duced to the ranks. For weeks he
had to carry tho fodder supply of the
Maharaj's stables, like an ordinary
beast of burden; and low-caste slave,
fool to boot, had been put to attend
on him. 1t was not to be borne.
Shere Bahadur clanked his chains
angrily, and, ever and anon. flung
whisps of straw, twigs and dust on his
broad back and mottled forehead. He,
n Kemeriah, of Kemeriahs, to be
treated thus He was no longer the
stately beast that bore the yellow-aud-
silver howdah of the Maharaj Adhirai
in solemn procession-who put aside,
with gentle sweep OF his trunk, the
children who crowded the narrow
streets of Kalesar. No; it was differ.
ent now. He was felon and an out
cast, bound like n thief. Something
had given way in his brain, and Shero
Bahadur was mad. The flies lowered
on the sore part over his left ear,
where the long peak of the driving
iron had burrowed in, and, with n
+ trumpet of rage, the elephant blew a
cloud of dust into the air, and strained
himself backward.
Click Click The cast-iron links
of the big chain that bound him
snapped, and Shere Bahadur was free.
He cautiously moved his pillar,like
legs backwards and forwards to salts
fly himself of the fact, and then, with
the broad fans of his ears spread out,
I stood for moment still as stone
High up amongst the leaves the green
pigeons whistled softly to each other,
and gray squirrel was engaged in
hot dispute with bluejay over treas
ure trove, found in hollow of one of
the long branches that, python.like,
twined and twisted overhead. Far
away, tier upon tier of purple hills
rose, and beyond them white line of
snow.capped peaks stood out against
the sapphire of the sky. Hathni
Khund was there, the deep pool OF
Jumna, where, thirty years before,
5here Badadur had splashed and
;wum. 1t was there that he fought
md defeated the hoary tusker of the
lerd-the one tusked giant who had
oullied and tyranized over his tribe
,or time beyond Shere Bahadur's
memory.
Perhaps thought of that big fight
stirred him; perhaps the breeze
brought him tho sweet scent of the
young grass in the glens. At any
cate, with quick, impatient flap O
lis ears, Shere Bahadur turned anC
faced the hills. As he did so hi.
bwinkling red eyes caught sight of the
Kalesar state troops, on their parade
ground, barely quarter of mile
from where he stood.
The fat little Maharaj was there
standing near the saluting point
Close to him was the Vizier, with the
court; and last, but not least, q know
ing little fox TERROR dug up the earth
with his fore paws, scattering it about,
regardless of the august presence.
The Maharaj was proud of his
troops. He had raised them himself
in an outburst of loyalty, the day af.
ter birthday gazette, in which His
Highness Sri Ranabir Pertab Sing,
Mahnraj Adhirai of Kalesar, had been
admitted companion of an exalted
order. The Star of India glittered on
the podgy little prince. He was
dreaming of a glorious day when he -
he himself-would lead the victoriou,
levy through Khyber, first in the field
against the Russ, when murmur that
swelled to a cry of fear rose from the
ranks, and the troops melted away be
fore their king. Rifles and accouter
ments were flung aside, there was @
wild stampede, and the gorgeously at