Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-08-31
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eve will see when the hour arrives.
I promise nothing. Be my escort,
without condition, or yield the post Of
honor to Rajah Doorgal Sahib, who
knows me we'll, and that which I can
do in the hour of peril"
"Your will shall be done, madame,
whatever it may be-" quickly replied
George; "but 1 yield my place to
nonew
Djella turned and beckoned one Of
the Wallets to approach.
Bring DALI" she commanded. "sir
George" she resumed. "you are, pre-
sumo, a skillful horseman?'
"Skillful. madame. 1 do not affirm F;
but fearless-yes."
"You are to ride Dali. He is the
| swiftest horse in my stables-the only
one who can keep pace with Baronct,
my pure-blooded favorite. He does
| not leap over obstacles. He takes
them on the wing. Only he is devil.
l warn you to be on your guard
The servant. leading a most superb
| steed, at this moment returned.
| George was a connoisseur. He gave
| to the noble animal q look full of en-
thusiasm.
| His skin shone like satin, its jetty
blackness forming strong contrast to
his saddle and bride, of real morocco,
embroidered in gold.
Elbow do you find him?" asked the
princess.
Magnificent! Without exception, he
is the most superb type of his race
that have ever SEEM
Saying this, George had dismounted
and approached Dali.
| Seeing his advance, the latter, who
was perfectly calm, turned his intelli-
| gent head toward him, dilated his nos
| trils and began paving the earth with
his hoof.
| Selling the reins and gathering them
| in his left hand, which he rested on
| the name, he placed the other on the
| ponmel, and sought to put his foot in
the stirrup.
"Take carer cried the princess.
At the same instant. Dali made a
bound so abrupt that he dragged ten
| feet his would-be rider. A second and
a third attempt produced like result.
| A new horsenlan would have been
discouraged, but George was master of
his art. Making a leap, as the horse
jumped for the fourth time, he put
himself in the saddle without touching
the stirrup.
All, however, was not ended. Dali
had not vet acknowledged himself con-
quered, and between him and his rider
began a struggle as frightful as it was
short.
Excited with anger, neighing in rage,
now rearing back upon his launches
until it seemed he must fall backward.
now pirouetting as a leaf driven by the
storm. now kicking vigorously, it APP
peared he must unseat his burden and
hurl him twenty feet over his head.
But George appeared less man than
centaur. Throughout it all he re-
remained in the saddle puiet, firm, smil
ing, adapting himself without effort to
the enraged efforts of the diabolical
beast
Djella. corquering her irrepressible
emotion, watched the contest with an
agitation which undoubtedly would
have been remarked but that the at
tention of all was captivated by the
struggle.
At last the powerful force Of intelli-
gence triumphed. Dali understood
that he had found his master, and, lit
tie by little, his resistance weakened,
until, white with foam, and quivering
with shame. he docilely obeyed the
pressure of the rein, and, directed by a
mastery hand, stood before the Prin-
cess Della.
Immediately loud applause greeted
| the victor.
George, smiling, bowed his aclSnowl-
edgments, but a vivid blush rose to
Djella's pale cheeks, and her great
black ewes SDarkled
''You see, princess" said George,
| "Djali and 1 had a little misunder-
standing, but we are now agreed, and
| he is gentle as lamb"
II see, Sir George, that you are a
| daring and skillful horseman," an
swered Djella. "Djali has found his
master. To separate you henceforth is
| impossible. Dali will re-enter my
stables nevermore. I beg you to ac-
| cept him.
"But, princess" answered George,
in embarrassment.
ooh" cried Djella, che is yours!
If you refuse, one of my people shall
receive orders to shoot him in the
headv'
II accept, then, and am indeed, CRATE
full for so royal a gift"
| ''Now, gentlemen" resumed the
princess, Exchange, I beg you, youf
wearied steeds for fresh mounts, and
let us be off. Time passes, and the
panthers await us. Remember, Sir
George, during the day you are my es-
J cort'
Five minutes more and all the guests
were in saddle, and blast from the
trumpet had given the signal for de.
parture, the princess and Sir George
leading the way.
For two hours neither tiger nor pan.
Their was to be seen-nothing but
/! troops of gazelles. But even these the
hunters did not spare.
Djella appeared seized with a very
high fever Of destruction. She car
ried. hung to her saddle, a small gun
revolver, made for her expressly by
the most skillful armorer Of London
and each time that a gazelle passed
her she let her reins fall on her horses
neck, seized the gun, adjusted anc
fired, with incompatible accuracy, the
poor little animal falling, mortallJ
wounded, to the earth.
George, while filled with admiration
for her skill, yet revolted at hel
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