The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1899-09-28

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 fiickered titfully over
the foothills, hooking 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 nightly boon to those who were
wont to assemble round the thana-
dars fire. There was always the pos
sibilty 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 ji?' inquir-
ed the thanadar.
"None, sahib, save that the great
frog In the well at Lal Kooah-who Is
as old as the we'll and wiser than most
men-gave voice just ere started, and
the bunnia said 1t was a sure sign Of
rain within two days, as the frogs
warning had never been known to
fail"
"Nana Debi send 1t be So" exclaimed
the little carrier. for my bullocks he
starved for the lack of green food, and
bhoosa (chaf) is past my means"
Thou shouldst not complain, Goor
Dutt," said Ram Deem, with smile.
Their very leanness 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, Nandha?"
"Those who. carry the queens mail
may not stop for fear. Nevertheless
fear rode with me a day and a night
after the death of Nandha."
at is great telling" said the little
carrier, nodding 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 Naini Tai
concerning the killing. and the outgo-
ing mail brought me word that the
sircar (government would send me
help. Ye know that a tiger kills not
two days In succession. So | had no
fear when | traversed the road to and
from Lal Kooah till the second day
after the Staying of Nandha. Ere
started on that morning the munshi
tolu me to drive to the dak bungalow
for a sahib who had been sent TO STAY
the slayer of men. Brothers, when
went to the dak bungalow there came
forth to me a man child-a Faringl-
whose chin was as smooth as the palm
of my hand.
81 would have laughed, but that
thought Of the tiger that l knew would
be waiting for us, and, taking pity on
him, said: The jungle hereabouts is
full of wild fowl. sahib, and 'twere
pity, when shikar is so plentiful, you
should waste this morning looking for
budmash tiger who will not come