Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-06-23
DANGEROUS GROUND.
BY VI. Quad.

Copyrights 1901, by c. B. Lewis.)
When leave of absence, was granted me
tfter my first year at the military post
If Allahabad. l did not go up 20 the hills
with others seeking recreation, nor yet
into the jungles seeking big game. In a
Cautious way, so as not 10 expose myself
to rfdicule, ! had made inquiries and as
certained that Rajpoor Gyah, wei, brown
in connection with the occult. lived but 80
mile saway in a hat by himself AID was
willing TO take me as a pupil. Without a
word, to anybody but my native servant I
set out one morning and rode to the hut
and received a dignifed welcome. l must
tell you that Rajpoor Gyah was the most
wonderful magician, a great healer of the
sick and ailing, and that on several occas-
ions he had apparently died. been buried
for three days and then been resurrected
and brought back to life. He was not an
old man, but one of distinguished look
ana bearing, and the common people rev.
erenced him and believed that he could
do anything he willed. The British author
tiles had watched him closely for a year
or two, ready to pounce down upon him
should he utter words of sedition. but thus
far he had not meddled with politics in
any manner He was generally referred to
by the English as a iakir' and eharlatan,
but had a far higher estimate of him.
Rajpoor Gyah,s hut stood among the
hills Oh the edge of a jungle and was rot
an uncomfortable place. He had with him
many books and parchments relating 70
the mysteries of life. and death, and ,tks-
wise many relics and souvenirs from var
ious temples and forgotten cities. ! felt
at home with the man, and yet In n sense
] feared him.. Now and then he looked at
me IL a way that took all by will W
away. and ! realized that he had but 10
speak and ! should be compelled to obey.
Up 10 that little or nothing was known OF
hypnotism, but there were people who
could magnetic by merely rubbing the
forehead. Nothing worthy OF note hap
pened for the first three days. Then, af-
ter cur humble breakfast, Rajpoor Gyah
put his hand on my shoulder and looked
into my eyes and said;
Brother. go forth and find me a cobra
and bring it here. that ! may see what
soul has passed into it"
/ had a natural horror of serpents. and
II was only with a great effort that 1
could approach a dead one, but I set out
on my mission without the slightest re-
luctance. The mans will had ovcrpower-,
ed mine. Hal lie told me to walk :hleysh
IRE l should nave d,,ne So. l Sc; out and
wandered about, and after a time l espied
a cobra summing itself on a rock. l walked
straight up TO the horrid thing and picked
Il up in my hands. IL writhed and Missed,
but did not strike me. Carrying it coiled
about my right arm. l arrived at the hut,
and Rajpoor Gyah took It from me and
sat down and sang &c il in a low voice.
The serpent grew quiet and stretched IL
sels out at our feet. and by and By the
man said to me:
III vas a serpent before. 1t is a serpent
now. We Will let /, GO away"
After three or four minutes the cobra
became more active and went craving
away, and l felt so weak and lethargic
that ] fell upon a couch and was present
~ asleep. II was afternoon when ! awoke
and found Rajpoor Gyah bending over me
and touching my face with his soft fingers
When | sat NJ he said.
Come ard walk with me and Will
show you a tigers path. Tonight you
viii go into the jungle and find a tiger
and bring him 10 me. and you shall hear
~ converse together.
We walked for two or three miles. ana
A. We walked Rajpoor Gyah pointed cut
misshapen trees and told me that the spir-
iss-cf bad men had passed into them and
made them THAT they were. BY and By
re came to a path used By animals as
they pissed from me jungle 70 the stream
and back. and the man aid:
sLeck well about YOU that you may md
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