The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-11-30

Naughton's tea estate. Black. with
brighteyes, straight, swift of foot and
strong of wrist, McNaughton had
soon noticed and admired him as one
athlete admires the sinews of a rival
So Rama did not work in the field
long, but was brought to the kennels
and the stables and, trained by the
wealthy master to ride, to shoot and
TO carry his masters second gun.
Rama was soon longing for a
chance to show his strength and skill
and 10! the chance had come, and he
was disgraced. On the setting out of
this, Rama's first elk hunt, misfortune
had befallen him. The masters ia
vorite horse had strained it's shoulder
at exercise-and Rama was blamed.
Also, a young beagle had strayed and
been lost, and Rama was blamed.
| More on arrival at the camp, the mas
ter found he had forgotten his field
glasses, and again Rama was blamed,
The master had even said that Rama
was unworthy to follow the chase and
must go back to the lines and work
In the field with the dumb coolies
Therefore Rama lay in the dew wet
grass with bitter heart, for he adj
mired and worshipped the master.
and it is hard to be thrust back by
those whom we love.
When the sky in the east grew sud-
denly gray, and quickly changed to
pink and gold, off rode the huntsmen
Behind and beside them ran the gam
boiling beagles. On foot came beat
ers, horse-boys. dog-boys, and a very
few bearing rifles In the island Of
spices-Ceylon-on must no more
shoot an elk than one would shoot
fox, but run him fairly down with dog
and horse, and the keen hunting knife
10 win the horns
They were we'll in the wild MaIulla
country before the sun was hot.
Tickets Of jungle were there, and
rocky brooks and gullies deep and
stony.
Ills somewhere here he lies; twas
from here we heard his bark I'll
swear It," growled McNaughton.
AS he spoke--near by a densely
tangled thicket that no dog larger than
beagle could worry Throughout
Yorke, the veteran of many hunts. gave
tongue, barking as a terrier at a rat
hole.
An angry, roaring, barking cry! The
thicket is burst, on the other side and
out runs the great elk, with spreading
horns thrown high and furious eye.
The keepers called to the dogs, and
at last old Yorke burst out and rush
ed on the quarry The elk made to
throw him high on his antlers, but
wary Yorke leaped aside. Then, be-
wildered by the uproar, the great
beast turned and dashed away.
Among the first behind him was the
swift runner Rama.
The elk went straight away over
mountain shoulders; he crossed big
bouldered brooks with a rush and
bound. He scrambled down Jungle
covered ravines, deep and rocky. and
dashed up the other side. He climbed
the mountain, but the veteran heaters
were already there with waving arms
to head him off.
With set hps-no yelling now-the
horsemen followed. And ever at his
heels the beagles and the swifter deer
hounds yelped and snapped.
Twice he plunged into deep jungle
and lay in the depths painting, but the
eager beagles worried him out. From
the second thicket he fled, wearied
McNaughton had watched that thicket
closely.
Back us lies the MalulIa Lake" he
had he spoken when the jungle opened
and out came the wiid-eyed elk and
charged the crowd
Clean through them all he burst.
Young Prior's horse SHE'D and threw
him. The servants howled in dismay
and scattered. The elk rushed right
through and was again away
I'VE have lost him!"
Head him off"
Hes making straight for the lakel"
But the dogs and McNaughton fol-
lowed, and, as swift as a horse on that
uneven, stony ground, ran Rama
Rama the swiftest Of runners.
Straight for sthe lake went the quar-
ry, straight for the precipice where no
horse or dog could follow.
At the edge the beast faltered and
turned at bay. The dogs sprang on
him, and he tossed them high I'm the
air. McNaughton saw hope and ieaped
from his horse. drawing his long knife,
making ready for the dangerous at
tack.
But the elk suddenly turned and
leaped, and a great plunge followed
the leap. The dogs yelped dismally on
the brink. The heaters walled, But. al
most ~ quick az the elk, Rama diyee.
McNaughtOn looked over, silent.
breathless The dog boys cried out IN
nmazemenL Tbs elk was swimming.
Rama diVed deep and caue W. The
ali 49, hfFa and arcaNn s0laGlV Tor him