The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-08-18

sentative of the new locomotion.
glanced round at the site of our now
deserted picnic camp by way of taking a
last farewell before leaving. There was
little left, indeed, even now, except tho
site, for already the little crowd of re-
tainers, conspicuous in their turbans
and white linen garments, had struck
the remaining tents and nearly COM
pleted the stowage of the thousand and
one pieces of baggage which go to make
up the strict essentials of all Indian
picnic. The place had been well chosen
and picturesque, and even now the open
glade where the giant teakwood trees
cast heavy shadows on the grass and the
level sunlight lay in flecks and splashes
Of gold, formed n scene to delight an
nstist. Four or five wagons, drawn by
pairs of mild-eyed zebu oxen, were re-
ceiving the last of their loads, and IL
was evident that in a few minutes more
the rear guard of the picnic party would
ha's, started, and the mountain glade
which had re-echoed to so much laugh
ter and been the witness TO so great an
amount of pleasure would be left TO its
solitude.
As my eve fingered over its last sur
vey OF the place something unconscious
ly led il upwards from the level Of the
camp 10 point on the hillside, where,
as ] remembered, a wcll-defned path
ran along the slope between clumps OF
tall bamboos and stately tobacco plants.
The nat baI koo,, favn,.;ta ono onl
perhaps II was this that led me TO glance
up Mt II for final farewell. AS did so,
however, ! was startled by the appari-
tion OF the head and shoulders of man
cautiously peering out from the screen
of shrubbery and leaves. It was no.
ticeable face, with pair of fiery bright
eyes that even in the distance cleaned
and spnrkled with what seemed to me
an expression Of deadly hatred, as he
watched the proceedings of the scrv-
ants, and then glanced quickly down the
road after the retreating party on
horseback. The face was n startling one
and It's expression made il still more i'm
pressive, and il was several minutes be-
fore l could shake Off the impression
that IL bodied no good 10 the party which
he watched so intently. He did not
seem 10 notice me. or perhaps he felt
sure he was concealed, Tor he remained
as II In thought for minute or two,
and then suddenly disappeared.
IL was not without a sense of vag,ie
uneasiness that mounted my bicy Gle
and followed the party, whose voices
and laughter could still be heard from
time TO time. although n bend i'm the
mountain road had hidden them from
sight. A minute or two of the familiar
exercise rcconciled me TO my choice OF
locomoticn, even at the expense OF com
pany. There was something I'm the
smooth. gliding motion, silent, easy and
eminently independent, that seemed
well suited 20 tho place: none OF the
heavy, numbering gait OF the elephunt:
no nervous starts like those Of high
spirited horse; perfect independence
md control. with an amount of exertion
hardly greater, while the freedom Of ac-
tion was all in favor OF the machine.
] had acon overtaken the others and
made one OF ths little cavalcade TINT
was making the most ~ the morning
hours TO diminish the march of forty
miles that lay between us and the can
toBments OF Boondewalla. Fortunately,
ttwsssl down hill. and the road, though