The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-10-20
[u]0w MIE WAS =,
uu AVENGED =,
A Young Hunter Aston
ishes a Native by His
Bravery and the Ac-
curacy Of His Aim.
By c. W.
Doyle.

The travellers from beyond Morada-
bad having reached Kaladoongie were
discovered to be men of consequence
by the thanadar and were invited by
him to join the circle of the great
round his fire on the evening of their
arrival. 1t was very warm, and the
dismal silence was only accented by the
distant howl of lonely jackal. The
sheet lightning fickered fitfully over
the foothills, mocking the gasping Te-
raj with it's faint promise of a COM
ing change.
The conversation round the fire flag
ged, and the hookah passed languidly
from hand to hand. Those present
would have retired to sleep had sleep
been possible, but as that was a con-
summation not easily attained at this
season of the year they preferred their
present miseries to those that come in
the wakeful night watches when the
Terai is athirst. Ram Deems arrival
was a nightly boon to those who were
wont to assemble round the thana-
dar's fire. There was always the pos
sibility of his having news, and, be-
sides, men seemed to acquire fresh
vitality from contact with his vigorous
personality. The strangers were es-
pecially grateful for his arrival, and
when he had taken his usual place be-
side the fire the hookah was at once
passed to him.
"Any tidings coach wan jiY' inquir-
ed the thanadar.
"None, sahib, save that the great
frog in the well at Lal Kooah-who Is
as old as the well and wiser than most
the bunnia said it was sure sign OF
rain within two days, as the frogs
warning had never been known to
| fail"
"Nana Debi send it be so." exclaimed
the little carrier, "for my bullocks be
starved for the lack of green food, anf
bhOosa (chaff) is past my means"
"Thou shouldst not complain, Gool
Dutt," said Ram Deen, with a smile
'Their very leanness is thy passpor
through the jungle. Fatter kline hat
been devoured and their driver will
them long ere this"
Hint of danger that might be en-
countered in the jungle having thu
been given, one of the strangers wal
moved to ask concerning the lam'
tiger of Huldwani, part of who's,
biography they had heard from Ran
Deem at Lal Kooah on the previous
day.
"Coach wan il, vast thou not afrai,
to carry the mail after the Staying o
thy hostler, Nandha?'
'"Those who carry the queens mai
may not stop for fear. Nevertheless
fear rode with me a day and nigh
after the death of Nandha."
at is great telling" said the littl
carrier, nOdding at the wayfarers
| while Ram Deen ''drank tobacco"
When Ram Deen had passed tn
hookah to his neighbor, he went Oh
Brothers, on the day that Nandh
was carried off by the tiger | sen
word to the postmaster of Naini Tia
concerning the killing, and the outgt
ing mail brought me word that th
sircar (gOvernment would send m
help. Ye know that a tiger kills nc
two days in succession. So had n
fear when l traversed the road to an
from Lal Kooah till the second da
after the Staying of Nandha. Ere
started on that morning the munsl
tolu me to drive to the dak bungalo7
for a sahib who had been sent to sla
the slayer of men. Brothers, when
went to the dak bungalow there cam
forth to me man child-a Faringi-
whose chin was as smooth as the pail
of my hand.
81 would have laughed. but that
thought of the tiger that knew woul
be waiting for us, and, taking pity Q
him, said: The jungle hereabouts
full of wild fowl. sahib. and 'twel
pity, when shikar is so plentiful, yo
should waste this morning looking fl
budmash tiger who will not con
forth for two days as yet He answe
ed me never a word, but went into Il
dak bungalow for something he ha
forgotten, and while he was gone b
! butler spake to me. saying: 'Coat
wan, make no mistake; thy life d
pends upon thy doing the sahib's bi
ding He is very Rustum, and
knoweth not fear, for all he is
young He is a man after my ov
heart, then, sirdar; but, mashallah,
. would he had beard! | replied.
d "PreSentlv the yOung Sahib can