Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-08-17

age on the bank, that my line was too
| short to. be carried far enough into the
stream, and was turning away disap-
pointed in the hope of my days sport,
when I spied small canoe, such as
the fishermen construct in a few
hours, by following with fire the trunk
Of a tree, tied to stake on the shore.
| determined to make use Of the boat
it's paddle was lying in the bottom
and have my sport, and return it unin-
iured.
"The river, as it runs here the length
of the forest of Ramgawth, is of i'm
mense width. The branches Of the
trees, whose seed was sown, it is said
by the god Vishnu himself, ten thou
sand years ago, form from one bank to
the other colossal arch, beneath
which the sacred river flows. 1t is SUI
perb, but terrible; but all this
thought nothing Of, as each time that I
threw my line into the water drew
out fish, until at the end Of two or
three hours grew tired, and my string
of fish being full, concluded to stop.
II was putting my line in order,
when 1 felt sudden shock, which al
most threw me overheard. I looked to
see against what object the current
had forced me, when saw glisten in
the water brown mass 1 supposed to
be the trunk of q dead tree. My illu-
sion was short, for now saw the sup
posed tree had life.
''The water spouted under the large
paws, ending in hooked talons, and a
hideous head, as long as my arm from
the shoulder, gaping from end to end,
and filled with sharp and two-edged
teeth, lifted itself above the side Of
my boat, and fixed on me it's great,
green eyes, with an expression l shall
never forget.
/! ut was the most terrible, the most
ferocious, the most frightful Of the in
habitants Of the Gauges. Il was Il
crocodile. l am not often afraid. mas
ter, and although 1 was but child, I
had before faced danger; but I will
confess, at this terrible moment, my
bravery and my courage deserted me,
yet did not entirely lose my presence
of mind.
II was unarmed, and resolved to
seek safety in fight. Catching up the
paddle, 1 directed the canoe, with all
my strength, toward the shore. The
crocodile pursued me. l redoubled my
efforts, when a second shock paralyZed
my arm.
The monster had seized and crushed
the paddle in his teeth. l was now
helpless, and could only await death
in perfect powerlessness. I knelt in
the canoe and prayed Vishnu, who is
the good god. and enemy of silva.
suddenly the monster dived and dis
appeared. 1 believed myself saved,
and 1 began my thanksgiving to Wish
nu, when, returning to the charge, with
one blow of his tail he sent the boat
into the air in fragments, and left ne
struggling in the Gauges.
s'I swim and dive like a fish, and for
a time l eluded his efforts to seize me,
uttering piercing cries the while, al
| though hopeless Of rescue. The croco-
| dile disappointed at this new delay,
began revolving about me, eXhaling a
fetid odor and striking the water with
it's gigantic tail. 1 was growing dizzy
and blind, when, through cloud, as it
! were, 1 heard a voice:
Courage. my child!-courage! I am
here. 1 will rescue your
''The idea that 1 was not alone gave
me new strength. I looked, and saw,
on the left shore, a man on horseback,
squirting his horse, against his will, in
to the water. The horse was black and
covered with white foam. He was
! afraid, and resisted, rearing backward,
until it seemed he must overthrow both
himself and his rider.
| The struggle lasted several seconds,
but it was the man who conquered.
The beast. directed by hand of iron,
began swimming rapidly toward me.
In one hand the rider held a pistol. A
dagger was between his teeth.
'The crocodile, seeing his new prey
advance forsook me and turned to-
ward them. will not describe the
splendid fight that followed. 1t was
! ended by the horseman sending ball
into the eye of the monster, when ]
lost consciousness and sank under the
| waters, to be rescued by his strong
arm.
"You are saved, poor child" he MUIR
INJURED. Fear nothing more and come
| with me.''
! "And, holding me before him on his
| saddle, we once more, in safety, re-
| gained the shore"
! For a moment KaZil was silent, wip-
| ing a tear from his long lashes. Then
! he Added:
| "Master, the cavalier who risked his
| NE lOi IL pOOI, uuhuOWu Cullu, w uo Ue-
longed neither to his race, caste or re-
lgion, is named Sir John Malcolm. 1t
was your father"
My noble father!" murmured Sir
George. "Ah, he is, indeed, a hero,
vet so simple in his heroism that ac-
tions, however sublime, great and Chi
valric. appear simple when he accom-.
plishes them
! s.You understand now that I love
! him." Kazil continued; "and not he
alone. but all those who are near and
dear to him."
! .'Kazil. are your parents living"
asked the Englishman.
/ .sNo; am an orphan, and quite alone
: in the world
"Alcre? Then, if you wish it," said
! Sir George, kindly; "you shall remain
always with me-"
Kazil hung his head, and did not an
swer.
.'The idea is distasteful to your"
"No-oh, nor
"What. then"'
.To give myself wholly to you," re
piled the child, Il must be Free"
"And you are not?"