The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-06-17

breakfast, had come Rampal Slngh anC
 his guest The Hindoo was squatted or
 the ground sucking the stem of his
 cheery-wood pipe. Near by, with his
 hands in the pockets of his linen jack
 ct, lounged Matthew Quin. Both were
 fixedly regarding couple of half
 grown panthers-superb specimens of
 their kind-that were chained to rings
 set in the wall.
 q will give you 250 rupees for the
 pair" declared Quin. There was nc
 answer. 1.-Two hundred and seventy
 i've he added. "Three hundred. It
 is a tempting price,"
 The zemindar wagged his gray beard
 negatively. You have not money
 enough to buy my partners, he said.
 Quin lit his pie with a show of in-
 difference, to hide his disappointment.
 Flow shall I persuade the old chap?''
 he reflected, as he sauntered toward the pretty beasts. The bounded the
 lengthen of their tether, snarling and splitting.
 "Be careful, sahib," warned the Hin doc, rising. Come, ct me take you over the village while the air cool and refreshing"
 A sudden clamor broke on their ears. Alarmed by the excited shouting and outcry, they ran down the little street of huts and gardens. As they drew near the end of the street they saw two grass cutters, who had gone forth to their daily labors dash panting and breathess through the open gateway. Close behind them loomed huge, gray form, and the next instant, barely in time, dozen hands had shut and barred the massive timber gate.
 While the terrified grass cutters were striving to tell of their pursuit and narrow escape. Quin and the zemindar mounted a lookout platform to the left of the gateway Almost directly be- meath them, in the act of charging the gates, stood a male elephant of mon- strous size, with long yellow tusks. At sight of the two heads theb rute lifted its trunk and uttered a believing scream of rage. Then, instead of at tacking, he turned and plunged into the dense thickets of timber and vege- tation that bordered the path A clanking noise accompanied his retreat, and 1t could be seen, as he vanished, that rusty shackle and yard of chain were attached to his left hind foot.
 By love, it's the mad elephant the killing rogue-from Mysore!" cried Quin.
 "The sahib is right!" walled Rampal Singh. Alas, what misfortune has come upon my people!'
 YT1l.. aT ,;rr;,, ally the property of the government, had been at large for five years, de- stroying houses crops and numerous lives.
 He will give up no rest" bemoaned Hampal Singh. He did not go far, sahib-the crashing of the undergrowth ceased almost at once. He is just in- side the jungle, waiting for victims. The evil beast! He will turk about here for weeks for months. Brahma, preserve us!"
 An idea had taken root in Quin's mind when he descended from the platform with the zemindar, who the natives, bade Jahan ordefs that no person should pass out of the village that day. Then he tot tered back to his house, and sunk into a heap of cushions.
 You must have the brute killed" Quin, as he puffed compla- gently at his pipe.
 Soul of Brahma!' cried Rampal Singh ''How is it to be done? My men are armed only with matchlocks, And they are towards. Quin, sahib, you are a mighty shikaree-rid me of this pest"
 For consideration, yes"
 q will sel you the partners for 300 | 
 ''Not much, you won't. I'll tell you what I will do, though. I'll give you L5o rupees for your pets and agree to shot the rogue elephant in the bar yain''
 After some haggling the crafty old | Hindoo accepted the offer.
 A few minutes later, Naryan, the | native shikaree who eflad accompanied | Quin to Harikar, was smuzzled over l he rear wall of the village. He was he bearer of a letter addressed to Car 'uthers, and his instructions were to | hasten with all speed to the camp.
 Darkness fell, and by degrees the | people dwindled away to their beds, eaving Jahan, the watchman, to keep | onely vigil by the light of his flaming | ire. This was a matter of course. Iates and walls were much too strong o be forced by even made elephant, Ind Rampal Singh and his guest, loubly protected within the stockade, vent to sleep with untroubled minds.
 The night wore on peacefully until bout ? o'clock, when of a sudden he silence was shattered by single, ,lood- curdling scream of anguish luin, reused from slumber, seized his fife and hurried to the veranda. He everal of the servants, and they lis ened for a moment to the tumult. A began on the stockade, and a -oice called loudly:
 "Help! help! master! The gates are vide open and the elephant is within he village. He has killed Jahan, and 5 attacking our homes."
 "How came the gates open?" cried lampal Singh. "Sahib, this is surely eed of treachery."
 "We won't stop to talk of that now" ,uin exclaimed. Come, we must pro- act our people"
 The Zemindar was pale with fear arf is teeth were chattering, but he dared ot admit his cowardice to the English nan. He shouldered his rife and fol- owed. They unbarred the stockade ate s1ipned through and pushed down |