The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-03-19

for political reasons living in magnifi-
cent se1ni-captiVity, on his parole to
the British government not to leave
the neighborhood Of Calcutta.
So, while his majesty of Behar re
sided in a fine palace facing the river
and surrounded by a lordly' park, in
which the most beautiful flowers were
grown for his pleasure, and a snake
mound, together 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 king s
northern gate, and in the midst of a
two-acre compound rank with over
grown vegetation. Two other crea-
lures of widely different characteristics
made UP Soils family circle-a lean,
humble COW, for the greater part teth-
cred out in the compound, and mon
ster 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 incarnate 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 We're night upon star
walton.
Often had Soil gazed with awe upon
their great neighbor, the King of Be
har. as he occasionally drove forth, a
blaze of jewels. for a turn in the Cal
cutta madam; but only once had the
eyes of the king fallen upon Soil.
"Doab, who is that girl?" demanded
the King Of Behar Of a handsome har-
kara (footman), standing upon the
splashboard Of the equippage, as it
swept past the hut on the occasion.
who is that girl over yonder?"
The harkari purposely looked in the
wrong direction and replied that he did
H. Tr5+ +1,af 1,a &c In
der the feet of the great king to do his
bidding.
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. DO
you hear me, DOab?"
Doab at once intimated the kings
command should be obeyed. but as he
did so a frown clouded the brow of his
usually placid countenance. For some
minutes Soil stood watching her royal
neighbors progress, until. as he passed
out of view, she TURNED to enter the
hut, when a voice at hand stayed her
footsteps.
Soil! Rullo, Soil, thereI'
"Ah. sahib," quickly responded the
girl, as she caught sight of the cap
tain's steward of one of the ships lying
at Garden Beach, who had approached
the hut unobserved.
How about that washing that was
10 have been on board today?" demand
ed the steward. I'VE sail at noon tomor-
row. and it is now o'clock
1T shall be ready in time. sahih.'
Not ready YETI
Il will see" replied the girl, turning
Sharply toward the door of the hut.
Then she gave vent to little cry and
started back; for with a loud hiss a
long, dark object glided away from un
der her feet and cOiled itself in an atti-
tude of aggressive defense.
My God, a cobrar' exclaimed the
steward, as ne dashed forward, and
aimed blow with his cane at the SER
penis uplifted head.
The blow fell but not where it was
intended, for the girl threw out her
arms and, interposing her own person,
received il instead, while the snake
made off unframed.
why, what did you do that for?"
lsked the steward. as he stared with
the utmost establishment at the trem
bling Hindu maid.
''Oh, you must not strike him. she
cried in terror. You must not, indeed.
He is silva, the terrible god. If You
would have struck him. he would have
killed us all TIE lives up in the thatch
of the roof
do -rou mean 10 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 apol-
ogy for the cobra's act. Il had for
gotten to give it him. If you had struck
silva it would have been terrible"
Il hope ] didn't hurt YOU said the
steward, in a tone of real concern.
"Oh, no. replied the girl. and she
thereupon ran inside, and shortly re-
turned TO say that the captain sahib's
clothes would surely be on board the
ship early next morning.
'All right, Soli," replied the steward.
But look here; you take my advice
and kill that snake, god or no god, the
next time you see him, or he'll kill you;
that's truth"
In return Soil looked graveIy out
through her large, dark eyes. but said
nothing.
well, I'm damned" soliIoquized the
steward. as he cautiously picked his
way out through the rank grass of the