Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1901-08-17

servants, and they listened for moment
to the tumult. A pounding began on the
stockade, and voice called loudly:
Help! help master! The gates are
wide open and the elephant is within the
village He has killed Jafan and is at
lacking our homes"
"How came the gates opcn?" cried
Rampal Singh "Sahib, this is surely a
deed of treachery''
1--WE won't stop to talk of that now"
Quin exclaimed. Come, we must pro-
tect your people,
The zemindar was pale with fear and
his teeth were chattering, but he dared
not admit his cowardice to the English"
man. He shouldered his rife and fol-
lowed They unbarred the stockade
gate, slipped through, and pushed down
the street The din and clamor were
increasing, and by the faint glow of the
moon the terrified natives, men, women
and children, were seen fleeing for their
lives. Quin stopped abruptly.
Il must go back-I have forgotten my
cartridges" he said Il will catch you
up III moment.
With all speed he returned to the
house, and having found and strapped
on his bandolier, he was passing the
door of Rampal Singh's bed-chamber
when he heard within a soft footstep
and clinking, metallic noise. A shrewd
suspicion flashed upon him, and he
noiselessly entered the room. A small,
brass-bound chest, on the open lid OF
which ray of moonlight glimmered,
first attracted his attention. Then, de-
tecting a rustling sound behind him, he
swung around in time to see the sparkle
of an uplifted knife His quickness was
all that saved him from death. Then he
felt bony hand tighten on his throat.
Next moment Quin found himself pin
ned down in corner, and, losing his
grip on the hand in which his assailant
still retained the knife, he believed that
his last moment was near
But, just then, fortunately, three OF
the zemindar's servants dashed into the
apartment with light. There was a
brief outcry and scuf1e, which ended
with the Englishman's aid, in his enemy
being overpoWered and secured. 1t was
with no surprise that Quin recognized
the prisoner as Gooroo Khan, the zem-
indar's favorite and confidential servant.
Guard the scoundrel WE'LL he dl-
rected. "And pick up your masters
money from the floor"
With that he seized his rife and was
gone. Uproar pervaded the village, and
most of the people had sought shelter.
Only half dozen matchlocknen were
holding the ground halfway down the
street, and Rampal Singh was eXhorting
them to creep closer the fire.
Give me a chance" cried Quin.
AS he spoke, the matchlockmen, who
were not to be urged any further, let fly
a thunderous, staggering volley. The
next instant they had dropped their
weapons and scattered right and left
while Rampal Singh was scrambling
like a scared cat into the branches of a
peepul tree. The elephant, who had
probably been hit by one or more of the
musket balls, swung his trunk, blew a
defiant blast, and charged through the
drifting powder smoke. With steady
hand Quin fired two shots, but his light
rife failed to stop the brute, and he
turned and ran He slipped between
two huts, doubled back, and stopped in
joyous amazement at the sight of two
familiar fgures-Carruthers and the
shikaree, Naryan.
1t was not time for words. The new
arrivals were armed with heavy guns
and the one borne by the shikaree was
instantly transferred to Quin. The ele-
plant had halted to demolish hut, but
at once he discovered the men and gal
Hoped toward them with a scream of
rage.
Steady" said Quin. "It won't do to
miss
Carruthers fired but the report had
apparently no effect through the smoke
loomed the charging bulk of Infatuated
flesh and bone. Quin emptied his rifle,
and as he leaped out of the way he knew
that the bullet had gone home. With
the roar of the gun, the great brute stag
gered, dropped to his knees, and then
crashed over on one side.
Its lucky you arrived when you dld
with those pea-shooters,' said Ouin.
They were badly needed, old man."
Il knew they would be- Carruthers
replied, $50 I started as soon as l got
your message
Thus terminated the career of the
rogue elephant of Coorg. Gooroo Khan,
in due course received his just dues from
the law. confessing to his crime, in
which the Waterman was sharer. The
motive was the money paid to the zen-
indar by Quin, and it was to have been
stolen by Gooroo Khan during the panic
caused by the elephant, whom Jahan had
agreed to let into the village. The Graf
ty brute was doubtless waiting close out
side and dashed in so quickly when the
gates were opened that the unfortunate
but guilty man could not escape. AS for
Gooroo Khan, the credit for his undolng
rested with Quin.-WiIlidm Murray
Graydon, in Unique Monthly.