New-York tribune., 1903-01-04


pense and the longing are very cruel She
looked up through the trees at the deep sky and
seu IahtIS; me stais tldt IL o b i
near me sometimes; think it now. 1t must be
the sight of you again, and the recalling, by
your voice, of SO many dear, happy memories:
l wish you thought that L right but shall
convince you some day, Charles And then We
Ernest and I-shall not forget your many kind
nesses and al your friendship.
She arose. Mrs Roebuck was saying good
night. Mrs. Champneys held out her hand, and
did not seem to notice that Hollands eyes were
mis-y Good night she said. Send salaam
to my tent when the elephants are ready"
The shouts of the KnowIes's children dinned
in Hollands ears while he dressed next morning,
and he knew before he came out of his tent that
they and Mrs. Champneys were not to be
baked of their expedition. After all, he found
that he had exaggerated the painfulness of it in
his overnight mood. The elephants swung out
of the camp into the crisp air, their shadows
very long before them. with the chatter of their
young freight checking the sad memories stirred
by the scene of Lnstocks death. The childrens
laughter flied up the time 1t took to cover the
long four miles between the camp and the Fair,
and when the party neared the bathing place
there was SO much to catch the eye in the
tented city that Holland was able to hope MIS-
Champneys had scarcely seen the cross among
the tussocks, they had been obliged to
pass by it
They plunged into the bazaar. and were soon
drifting with the stream OF humanity that
surged past the booths dazzling in its silver
bangles and many coIored tinselled fnery, as far
as eye could see. There were the tones OF
thirty thousand babbling voices, the cries of
sWeetmeat vendors and cloth and brassware
merchants, the laughter of men and women
making holiday. and occasionally the drone ana
the minor chords of some native musicians. or
the peremptory tlud Of snake charmers drum
\ spray OF human beings tossed upon the edge
of the river, bathing drinking. sousing naked
brown babies, filling, in d thousand picturesque
attitudes under a brilliant sun their iotahs or
their water pots. Here was a forest OF bullock
Charles gay with crimson trapplngs: there a
of ekkas pony cartsl, more fantastic IN
shape and equally CANDY. \ lutte tWanged INSIDE
the mustard colored screen that MD company
Of mummers: the outskirts of the fair were busy
with the unlading Of camels and the scufffe of
little mouse colored ponies tripping In with
bundles on their backs The children who were
able from their perch 10 take in the whole hat
landscape at a glance. feasted their eyes and
chattered each other.
Holland leaned forward from the tail seat,
the place of sacrifice On his pad, and pointed out
objects Of interest to Mrs. ChampEeys over
her shoulder Pig and wild fowl We're
the population here month ago. he SAID
They viii be able to return 10 their homes
three weeks hence But now - He swept his
arm OF. including the whole antlike swarm OF
HindoCs in his gesture.
1t is religious custom that has brought the
people here. l SUPPOSE" said Mrs thampneys
They bathe in the river, yes, and incidentally
do some trafficking and merrymaking. Holland
answered. They Will dip tremendously at
moonset on Thursday, and the mothers OF SICK
children. the men with enemies VINO Stalk
abroad the childless wives. the blind, will hope
and pray, doubt, for their hearts desires
1t is a peaceable, self-contalned crowd, taxing
II All around: the disa greea BILE element lies in
few Jealous fakiTs. VINO breed strife and street
riots when they get the chance
He plunged into the story Of the Green ana
Yellow rivals painting the battle for the cher-
ished position with a humorous touch yet re-
fiecting a little gravely as he laughed that the
Yellow Fakir's anger had had an om1nously un-
restrained frenzy in it. Such men had been
smitten mad with rage before now, and had run
amuck like IA ibid dogs; if a man ran arnuck IN
that unarmed, congested throng, there would be
panic and trouble not easily stamped out u! tHe
heel of the law.
The elephant lurched round a corner. The
hum of the crowd they encountered beyond II
was a semi-tone lower than the one through
which they had rolled. Hollands trained ears
noted the difference, and he leaned st1ll fufther
forward. Stop, mahout! he SAID
There were a thousand backs turned TO theH1
a thousand heads shifting below them Before
the human barrier the sun poured upon an open
match with a ragged wall of canvas propped on
poles behind it, and coppersmiths wares Hash
ing and blazing beyond. a figure, cross Legged
like Buddha, and like the god pass1onIess ana
inrperturbable, squatted upon the sand IN the
r7-GItftude's view. Another ash sneared hgure
rocked and capered toward it. ShrlH spurts OF
enumeration came from the dancing man, and
penetrated the comments and the murmurs or
the spectators ..
"Ha," Holland said The brutes are at II
again The Yellow Fakir has come back to
face his rival But it won't do. Excuse me a
minute Mrs Champneys; l must stop this
Where on earth is the inspector? And not
constable in sight, of course!
He slipped nmbly down the tail OF the ele-
Dhant and scattered the crowd with his on
slaught from the rear. A lane opened before
him. Mrs Champneys his sun hat beat
though the puggarees and saw them close up
again after he had passed. She sat still, ex-
pIaining the excitement TO the children, and
waited his return.