The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-19
THE WILL OF SAVA.
An East India story of Sacred
Cobra.
BY Michael Clifford White.

Soil was Hindu maiden of fifteen sum-
mers who lived next door to the King of
Behar, at Garden Beach, between two
and three miles down the Hugh river
from Calcutta
From this IL must not be inferred that
she was in any sense an important per-
sonage, being but dhobin, or wash-grl,
of the lowest caste of Hndus; while her
neighbor was great Indian prince, for
political reasons living in magnificent
semi-captivty, on his parole to the Brit
ish government not to leave the neigh
borhood of Calcutta.
So, while his majesty of Behar resided in
fine palace facing the river, and sur
rounded by a lordly park in which the
most beautiful flowers were grown for
his pleasure, and a snake-mound, togeth-
er with a menagerie of wild beasts kept
for his amusement. Soil lived with her
father and ten little brothers and sisters
in a dilapidated matched hut just outside
the kings northern gate, and in the midst
of two-acre compound rank with over
grown vegetation. Two other creatures of
widely different characteristics made up
Soils family circle-a lean, humble COW,
for the greater part tethered out in the
compound; and a monster cobra snake,
that unlimited, had taken up his abode
in the matched roof of the hut, and who
being regarded by the family as the in
carnate spirit of Silva the terrible god
of the lowest caste of Hindus, was fed
on milk and eggs at all costs, even when
the rest of the household were nigh upon
starvation.
Often had Soil gazed with awe upon
their great neighbor, the King of Behar,
as he occasionally drove forth, blaze
of jewels, for a turn i'm the Calcutta mai
dan; but only once had the eyes of the
king fallen upon Soil.
'Doab, who is that grip demanded the
King of Behar of a handsome barbara
(footman) standing upon the splashboard
of the equippage, as it swept past the hut
on the occasion. Who is that girl over
yonder?''
The barbara purposely looked in the
wrong direction and replied that he did
not know, but that he was as dust under
the feet of the great king to do his bid
ding.
"Then find out" peremptorily ordered
the king, for the girls slender form and
| graceful pose had pleased his royal fancy.
Find out" said the king. "D'you hear
me Doab?"
Doab at once minated that the kings
command should be obeyed; but as he did
placid countenance. For some minutes
Soil stood watching her royal neighbours
| progress, until as ne passed out of view,
she turned to enter the hut, when voice.
at hand stayed her footsteps.
Soil! Hullo, Soil, there!"
"Ah, sahib," quickly responded the girl,
as she caught sight of the captains stew
ard of one of the ships lying at Garden
Beach, who had approached the hut unob-
| served.
How about that washing that was to
have been on board to-day?" demanded
the steward. 1--WE sail at noon to-mor-
row. and it's now O'clock"
1T shall be ready in time, sahib."
Not ready YETI"
81 will See" replied the girl, turning
sharply toward the door Of the hut. Then
| she gave vent to a little cry and started
| back: for with a loud hiss a long, dark
object glided away from under her feet
| and coiled itself in an attitude of aggress-
| i've defense.
MY God, a cobraw exclaimed the stew
ard as he dashed forward. and aimed a
| blow with his cane al the serpents up
lifted head.
The blow fell, but not where it was in
tended, for the girl threw out her arms
| and Interposing her own person. received
1t instead, while the snake made off I'M
| harmed.
! 'Whyl What did you do that for?"
| asked the steward, as he stared with the
utmost establishment at the trembling Hin
| du maid
"Oh, you must not strike him." she
! cried in terror. You must not, indeed.
He Is silva, the terrible god. If you had
struck him, he would have killed US all.
He lives up in the thatch of the roof"
DO you mean to say you let that reptile
hang around your house?' asked the
| amazed steward.
"He was only waiting for his milk"
replied the girl as If making an apology
for the cobra's act II had forgotten to
| give it him. If you had struck silva it
would have been terrible"
IL hope 1 didn't hurt you" said the
steward, in a tone Of real concern.
"Oh. no." replied the Girl, and she there
upon ran inside, and shortly returned TO
say-that the captain sahib's clothes
would surely be on board the ship early
| the next morning.
IAN right. SOIL" replied the steward.
! "But look here; you take my advice and
! kin that snake, god or no god, the next
! time YOU see him, or he'll kill you; that's
In return. Soil looked gravely out
through her large dark eyes, but said
nothing.
"WeIl. I'm damned" soliloquized the
steward. as he cautiously picked his way
ont through the rank grass of the little
| compound. whoever would have thought
of keeping a pet cobra on the estate?
| These 'Indoos are rum lot. III be hanged
| If they amt"
| Two or three hours later the King of
Rehar again passed by Solre little hut, as
he approached his own domain.
mind. DoaD," said he to the barbara.
Mind you see about that girl yonder.
Doab intmated that the will Of the
Light OF the Universe should be In that,
as in all other respects. promptly obeyed.
! But the same dark look crossed his face