The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-02-26
HOW RAMA KILLED
THE ELK

TAR up the Ceylon mountain, where
the village huts crowded together,
the little naked children, open
mouthed and wondering, chartered and
admired respectfully around the camp
and in the glow of the camp fire.
About it lay the dOres, the masters,
all young men, laughing and hearty,
with short pipes in their teeth. Be
tween their legs, listening gravely,
lolled the veteran hunters, the leaders
of the pack, the wiry, low-running,
clear-throated beagles. Back in the
shadows, with proud disregard of the
village and the villagers, the dogboys
and the horseboys tended their
charges, ate their rice and talked of the
elk of the mountains.
There were swift runners to follow
the horses, each with his bright, shin
ing hunting blade secure in its sheath,
each in the livery of bis master. Some
wore snowy headcloths and some caps
of the skin of the panther. Black and
brown were their faces and their lean
limbs, bare from the knee, with feet
impervious to thorn or flint stone.
Suddenly from the mountain ridges
there rang cry.
To their feet leaped the white men;
to their legs jumped the beagles; the
attendants ceased their work and their
chatter; even the naked children for
got their awe and listened. 1t came
again from the distance-the bark of a
great bull elk calling for a mate.
The hearts of the young men
thrilled; the swarthy beaters and fol-
lowers squatted down again, polishing
with renewed ardor the weapons of the
masters; the dogs whined restlessly in
their leashes, and the pet veterans
licked the masters faces, eager then
and there, by the white moonlight, to
follow the chase.
"A grand fellow by his bark" said
McNaughton, chief of the hunt. He
should give us a run if we can fasten
on his scent tomorrow"
"Over Malulla way" said young
Prior, of the bank, that is where, l
judge, and bad country, too"
81 believe you" said another. Look
out for troopers tomorrow, if we have
run. The place is full of jungle patch
es and little rocky streams and dry gull
ies-lots of Jumping"
YEA" said McNaughton, "and don't
forget that precipice where the Malulla
lake lies. We must head him off from
there, or he's lost to us. A man down
Badulla way, old Merriman, was telling
me of hunt years ago where the elk
took the leap, plunged into the lake
and swan safely away"
Then to the well-cleaned huts of the
well-paid villagers the hunters betook
themselves, and the attendants rolled
themselves up by the dogs and horses
and silence fell upon the camp.
Rama lay awake and apart from the
other servants-Rama, dogboy and
swift runner, with proud heart, now
very sore. All the evening he had re-
manned by himself lying in the long
grass, sullenly watching the freight
play on the faces of the masters.
mama was ii newcomer 10 McNduQh-
tons tea estate. Black, with bright
eyes, straight, swife of foot and strong
of wrist, McNaughtOn had soon noticed
and admired him as one athlete ad-
mires 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 chance
to show his strength and skill, and 10!
the chance had come, and he was dis
graced. On the setting out of this.
Rama's first elk hunt, misfortune had
befallen him. The masters favorite
horse had strained its shoulder at ex-
ercise-and Rama was blamed. Also a
young beagle had strayed and been
lost, and Rama was blamed. More. on
arrival at the camp, the master found
he had forgotten his field glasses, and
again Rama was blamed. The master
had even said that Rama was unworthy
go 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 a bitter heart, for he Ad-