The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1899-09-13
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OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES ss ssssAAAx
Tho travellers from beyond Morada-
bad having reached kaludoongie 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 a lonely Jackal. Tho
sheet lightning fllckercd 1tfully over
the foothills mocking the gasping Te-
raj with Its faint promise of n 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 rs that WAS Il con
summation not easily attained Mt this
season of the year they preferred their
present mlserles To those that come In
the wa1cfui night watches when the
Terai is athirst. Ram Deems arrival
was Il nightly boon To those who were
wont 10 assemble round the thana-
daf's fire. There was always the pos.
sibllty of his having news, aud, he
vitality from contact with his vigorous
personality. The strangers were cs.
peclally grateful for his arrival, and
when he had taken his usual place be-
side the fire the hooklh was ut once
passed TO him.
"Any tidings coach wan jlY' inquir-
ed the thanadar.
"Noue, sahib, save that the great
frog In the well Mt Lnl kooah-who IL
| as old as the well and wiser than most
men--gave voice Just ere started, and
the bunnla said 1t was n sure sign Of
rain within two days, AZ tho frogs
warning had never been known TO
fall"
"Nana Debi send 1t be So" exclaimed
the little carrier, "for my bullocks be
starved for the lack of green food, and
bhoosa {chaff) Is past my means"
Thou shouldst not complain, GoOr
Dutt," said Ram Deem. with smile.
"Their very leanncss Is thy passport
through the jungle. Fatter kline had
been devoured and their driver with
them long ere this"
Hint OF danger that might be en-
countered In the jungle having thus
been given. one OF the strangers was
moved to ask concerning the lame
tiger of Huldwanl, part Of whose
biography they had heard from Ram
Deem at Lal Kooah on the previous
day.
Coach wan il, vast thou not afraid
to carry the mail after the staying OF
thy hostler. NandhaF'
'Those who carry the queens mail
may not stop for fear. Nevertheless
fear rode with me n day and night
after the death of Nandha."
ut is n great telling" said the little
carrier. noddlng at the wayfarers,
while Ram Deem drank tobacco"
When Ram Deem had passed the
hookah to his neighbor, he went on:
Brothers, on the day that Nandha
was carried off by the tiger | sent
word to the postmaster OF Nalnl Tai
concerning the killing. and the outgo-
Ing mail brought me word that the
sircar (governmcnU would send me
help. Ye know that n tiger kills not
two days In succession. SO | had no
fear when 1 travcrsed the road to and
from Lal Kooah TIL the second day
after the Staying Of Nandha. Ere |
started on that morning the munshi
told me to drive to the dak bungalow
Tor sahib who had been sent to STAY
the slayer of men. Brothers, when
went to the dak bungalow there came
forth to me man child-a Faringi-
whose chin was as smooth as the palm
of my hand.
u would have laughed, but that
thought OF the tiger that knew would
be waiting for MS, and, taking pity on
him, | said. THE jungle hereabouts is
full Of wild fowl, sahib, and 'twere
pity, when shiliar Is so plentiful, you
should waste this morning looking for
budmash tiger who will not come
forth for two days as yet lie answer
ed me never n word, but went Into the
dak bungalow for something he had
forgotten, and while he was gone his
butler spnke to me, saying: Coach
wan, make no mistake; thy life de-
ponds upon thy doing the sahib's bid
ding. He Is n very Rustum, and he
knoweth not fear. for all he Is so
young He Is n man after my own
heart, then, sirdar; but. mashallah.
would he had n beardn replied
presently the young sahlb came
forth with an empty bottle In one
hand and gun In the other. Throw
Ing the fsottle into the air, he shattered
1t with bullet ere 1t reached the
ground. Startled by the report, a
Jackal fled from the rear OF the cook
house toward the jungle, and the sahib
stopped its flight with another bullet.
Then, replenishing his gun, he took his
seat beside me on the mail cart, say
Ing, BLOW on thy bugle coach wan.
and announce our coming to Shere
Bahadoor, his majesty the tiger
1T was a brave jawan (youth),
brothers, but he was very young, and
belize lie had a mother, so | swore In
my beard to save him whatever might
befall. As we proceeded he questioned
me concerning tho killing Of Nandha