Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-08-15

suiuS tWanRed sharply. The animal
was almost directly under him nj tho
moment The arrow had pierced the
spinal cord. The second tiger stood
still for moment, shifting the air.
Then he uttered an appalling success
sion of short. sharp yells. tearing up
the ground with his claws. Suddenly
the air was filled with mighty clatter
or brass dishes, vigorously beaten. min
gied with shrill screenings from the
two women. This confused the tiger
and he half turned. presenting his side
to the hidden enemy in the tree. lie of
fered fair mark TO the skillfuI archer
who drew his bow with all his
strength. Again the string twanged.
and the arrow pierced the tigers siue
Just behind the shoulder blade
The animal turned and in his dying
Hgony-for. as 1t turned out. his wound
was mortal-he bounded toward the
only enemies he could see. the two vvo
men and the boy. He was received on
the point of Rebi's spear. The heroic
woman had planted the butt OF her
weapon on the ground and firmly
Grasped the shaft with both hands. and
she continued TO hold II with undaunt-
ed resolution. though the tiger In his
death struggle almost tore her TO pieces
with his claws.
Sitaram, ax i'm hand. when ne saw
the tiger charge, dropped from his
perch. But he was too late. His enc
my stretched out his great limbs. and
As Rcbi falling fainting with loss OF
blood. let 90 the shaft OF her spear and
sank on the ground. the tigers great
body lay stretched beside her
This, then" said .Sitaram. as ho and
Mana. after doing all they could TO stou
the tiow Of blood from Rebfs wounds.
were carrying her teuderly To the hut.
us the sacrifice the devi wanted 2
noN worthy sacrifice than the life of a
child Rajandra Lal shall have no
more OF my money or goods"
tajandra Lal is n liar and cheat"
sohbed Mana. IF Devi Bhowani B., in
deed powerful, she can take her own
FOR herself"
hey made the Injured woman as
comfortable Is they could. There was
no means of getting proper care ana
attendance for her. AMI prClahi> no
skill could have saved her. I.ui She
was happy. for she thought size had
given her life FOR her sister and he,
sisters child, and she died reioicin. in
thc thought
Sitaram had no time 10 indulge, in
sorrow. The two tigers must he skin
ned and their heads cut of. Thcv ,vern
young animals. aud the skins were
very fine. Then. at earliest dawn. he.
had 10 pack his spoils on his remaining
bullock and start for Birbhum. When
he got there. It -7as no easy matter.
between the treasury poems aud The
tahSildar, 10 get admission To the col
lector sahib. At last he was introduc-
eel. bullock and all. to n gentleman who
was just on the point Of mounting
his horse. To him Sitaram told his
story.
You killed two tigers last night. did
your cried the collector. Then you're
a lucky fellow to be alive 10 tell il. But
tell me the whole story" And he sat
down ON chair i'm the veranda to
listen
Your hOnOr's slave shot them with
arrows, for one OF them had killed YOUR
slaves best bullock the night before. -
answered Sitaram with many salaams
Here are the heads and the skins ."
Then he unrolled the two bundles and
spread the skins on the veranda.
Then the collector called Karin All
the tahsildar. and directed him to pav
Sitaram 10 rupees for each head, and
when the poor jangliwala saw the 20
bright silver pieces counted into his
hand he actually trembled. He had
never seen so much money In his life.
But that was not all. for the sahib had
been examining the skins, and he ask
ed what Sitaram Intended doing with
them, and when he heard that they
were to be offered TO some of the
chunars. who would probably buy
them for few rupees. he himself at
once offered to give - rupees for them.
and, as Sitaram could not go home that
night, for the sun was already low. he
was told to come to the treasury early
In the morning for his money. He did
so and was paid
Sitaram became a prosperous man
after that. He was rich, and old Ra-
Jandra Lars prophecy was SO far veri-
ned that he soon became the proud
posseSsor Of the best pair of plOw bul-
locks in the district. Mana and Ram
chand were loaded with silver bangles
and anklets. and the little hut in the
janSal was soon rcsplcndent with a
glittering array of the brazcn lotas and
dishes with which the prosperous In
dian raiat, when he can afford il. loves
TO ndOrn his home.
But the temple of Bhowani gained
nothing, though her priest did not fail
10 remind Sitaram of all he owed to
the devil. The truth is that the Indian
aboriginal had had his faith in and
fear of the malign deitieS whom his
people have added To the Indian Pan
theon weakened till il had almost
ceased to exist. Besides that. in Bir-
blum he had listened TO the preaching
Of a MusSulman. who said that the
Brahmans were naught and the gods
were less. but there was one great cod
who had sent his messenger. one Mo
hammed, TO declare that before him all
men. from the highest Brahman 10 the
lowest outcast. were alike. Ii was u
strange doctrine. and Sitaram half be
lleved ii. AT any rate. il was com
Portable doctrine. In spite of his skep-
ticiSm he proSpcred exceedingly. and I'm
fhGf ha xVoS halpaI mot lf,tln H.. sl,..