Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-25

ne tednsU plCk III the SdOuic, HioPpcu ehe
perspiration from his brow and said petu-
lantly to his travelling companion:
"On!y an hour yet till darkness. and Fal-
sabad sixteen miles away. We must put up
for the night presently, worse luck"
1T can't be helped" replied Matthew
Quin. in philosophical tone. THE heat
was against US. and we slept too long at
noon. not to speak of the time we wasted
trying to get a shot at that leopard. We
can't push on, you think?'
Not in this beastly jungle. The path is
too uncertain" the captain answered, short
ly. Our fellows are giving a mess dinner
tonight, and / wanted particularly to be
there"
They'll have to do without YOU" said
Quin. Il suppose We must make the best
of the situation Any villages near at
hand?"
NO; but there's dak bungalow a couple
of miles ahead" was the reply, "if it's not
gone to ruins since 1 saw it a month ago.
1t had no caretaker then; the last man was
eaten by tiger"
The government has probably filed the
place by this time suggested Quin; land
anyway a dak bungalow is better than
bed under the sky"
The captain did not respond. and the two
urged their jaded horses on in silence. A
lean. mud-colored dog. with a head sug-
SeSllVe OF a bloodhound trOtted languidly
alongside A few yards in the rear. mount
ed on a wiry pony, followed a keen-faced,
half-naked Hindoo of uncertain age. This
was Golab Singh, a shikaree who had been
in Quins employ for the past six weeks
1t was the close of sultry day in the dry
season, and the locality was a vast and
lonely jungle in the district of Oudh which
forms part of the northwest provinces of
India That morning Captain Medhurst
who was returning from a furlough to his
military duties at Faisabad, had met and
Joined company with Quin at thesvillage of
Gonda, since the destination of both was
the same. For three months Karl Ham
rach's interchangeable agent had been trap
ping wild beasts and serpents in the hills
oehind Gonda. and now he was on the way
10 Falsabad to arrange for transported ton
DOWN country by rail. The caravan of
boxes and cages, in charge of the faithful
Carruthers. was to follow in the course of
few days.
The unseen sun dropped lower and lower,
the shadows deepened on the narrow.
grass-grown bridle track and in the fast
nesses of the n atted jungle to right and
Ieit the brooding calm began TO change to
the unrest of the coming night. In the dis
tance providing animals, reused from sleep
1aintly gave cry. Nearer TO the highway a
breeze stirred the foliage and strange rus
thng sounds Were heard in the thickets.
Al iast' when the brief period of twilight
was nearly over, welcome sight doomed
several hu-drei yards ahead-a low thatch
ed building standing by the edge of the
roao III was the dak bur galow a type of
many erected by the government in lonely
DISTRICTS Tor the protection of travellers
ihey are comfortably furnished, and each
Is IN charge of a native caretaker who re-
eeivss trifiing wage for his solitary work
inviting place eh?''
AS ne spoke. the dog prcked up its ears
DrlstIed ftom head 10 tail and uttered a
ras2ins growl.
Does he scent some animaI2r asked
Quin. feeling for his revolver
Not a bit of it, replied the CAPTAIN.
He smells a HiEdoo Rim is as coed as
a bloodhound for tracking nigeers. he has
strain OF that breeding in him Wen
ind caretaker yOnder"
You are right" Quin answered. II see
SOMEBODY moving by the door. That's a
fine dog. and valuable one
- on may wei! say that" was the replv
mp mas given me timely warning of dan
ger more than once. and l wouldn't part
with him for his weight in gold But II j.
a false alarm this time
He quieted the hound by a few words.
ana a moment later the little party pulled
up before the OAK bungalow. Sure enough
the caretaker was in waiting-a bent gray
bearded old man, yet with eyes like a
hawk and a Strong face that age had not
uiinmed He salaamed to the Englishmen
shrank alrsost impercepubly from their in
qulsitlFe chances, and assured them in flow
cry language that nothing was lacking
be pleased to enter?
Ram Das. sahib.'
Well, We shan't need you Ram Das.
NY companion has a servant who will
look after our wants. If the beds are
ready that is enough You can go. STAY.
here Is rupee for you"
The caretaker's left hand was partIv
concealed in the folds Of his tunic' and
ne picked up the coin with the right. mean
while darting swift look at Golab Singh.
saddle to pay heed to his low-caste country
man Then the old Hindoo saIaamed again
and vanished around the corner of the
bungalow, no doubt bound for his own liz
tie hut In the rear. Golab Singh glanced
after him In time to see only a pair of lean.
brown legs.
"A fne-looking man the caretsker" said
Quin. as he dismounted.
rather out OF the common" assented
the captain. Fallen in caste, / suppose
But these fellows are invariably a nuisance
and don't care TO have him about He'll
make himself scarce till morning, and then
come whining for rupees when we are
ready TO start. Golab Singh.'
1es, sahib."
Take the horses to the stable wonder.
then see that the beds are clean, and pre-
pare supper
Accustomed to exercise control. Capt.
Mednurst had taken upon himself that
day the command of Quin's servant The
latter led away the horses and the En-
glshmen entered the bungalow. finding it
In good order. They took possession of the
inner room. which contained a couple of
beds. table with lamp and three easy
chairs. The outer room was furnished
little less comfortably.
A hearty supper. washed down with
bottle of excellent wine, put the captain
In better spirits. and made Quin feel con-
tent with himself and the world. The ia
BILE cleared, they drew their chairs close
TO the warmth of the lamp and lighted
their pipes. In the outer room, the door of
which was open. Golab Singh squatted
drowsily on rug. Rip was sleeping at
his masters feet pricking up his ears now
and then 10 listen TO the sounds that came
htfully from the dark, surrounding Jungle
Captain Medhurst tried to carry on a con-
versation, but with poor results. Qun was
absorbed in the columns of a Lucknow pa
per. ten weeks old more, which some
passing traveller had thoughtfully left be-
hind him in the bungalow.
BY Jove, here's a queer thingr' he ex-
claimed suddenly.
What is it?' asked the captain.
About Mana Sahib, the fiend of Gavin
pore"
You had not heard Of the matter be-
fore?'
Not word 1 have been cut of from
civilization for three months"
We'll, it's all rot-nothing but a cunniIH
He, went on the captain laughing