The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-10

The Mana did not urge the invitation.
He insisted however. that the tiger was
Jacks rightful bag and he promised TO
send the skin OF the animal to Ca.wrpore.
BY this time Joel Spanish had found
and brought up the horses, and the rum
away elephant had been persuaded by
his rnahout to wade out Of the river.
There was a brief leavetaklng, and then
the Mana and his companions climbed
into the llowdah, and the two elephants
trottcd Off. Some OF the heaters fol-
lowed, and others remained to attend TO
the tiger.
The Hindoo girl glanced back with q
look of ardent admiiia ton In her black
eyes that brought blush to Jacks
cheeks. But she had made no impression
on the young officer. nor did ne Know
her name or that of her father, Whlch
he could not help thinking was strange
omission. -,
Can you tell me who that chap wasi"
no asked q little later when he ana MS
servant were riding along the river road.
II would glve something to know.
"Ho was a stranger to me, sir" joel
.Spanish replied, with momentary hesi-
tatlon. HE Is doubtless visiting AZ
Bithoor, and he certainly does not come
from these parts
II am convinced that he Is man OF
high rank"
very likely BIZ. l i' N>', 80,
tains many illustrious guests who come
from great distances to enjoy his prince
ly hospitality
"Well, / shall probably learn his name
some day." said Jack. ut has been q
most eyentful morning, Spanish BY
Jove, to think that 1 have bagged my
first tiger! / hope they wont damage
the skin" 49,
In Cawnpore that night. at most OF the
Jack Tanc's adventure was the chief top
10 of conversation, He himself was din
ing with his colonel, whom no had known
since his boyhood days and who fad
been n friend Of his fathers before MIN.
Colonel Erlton was one OF the very lew
EiElishmen In India at that period VINO
was not to be luled into false sense OF
&c c,,rity-who vaguely felt that the signs
of the times, so carelessly disregarded IN
high and influential quarters. pointed to
widespread and cunning plot tosteIea
by the native potentates and soWn IN 'he
ranks of the Sepoy army. to overthrow
the British rule. a. ~
But he found none to agree WIN MS
views, and frequent rebuffs had taught
him to hold his tongue and keep his eyes
and ears open.
The colonel drew the whole story from
jack and questioned him closely about the
mysterious Hlndoo. Flo pondered long,
but could make no satisfactory guess at
the Identity Of Nana's guest,
However, when the ruby ring was shown
to him and he had examined the curious
on the stone under strong light,
a conviction that was more q certainty
than a suspicion dawned on his mind.
IT don't like the looks of It, he reflect
ed. "Ho is clearly paying a secret Visit TO
Bithoor: he purposely withheld his iden-
ttty There are too many strangers there
nowadays. should be laughed TO scorn
lf I Imputed Ill faith to the Mana, and yet
have reason to suspect him. And what
a striking coincidence that the ra1ah
should BIO unwittingly placed under
debt of gratitude to young Fanel But II
may be all for the best VINO KNOW
this will remove the curse or me
purple god which overclouds his future!
The colonel was silent for time, MS
back In the memories OF the
aim mast Then he reused himself and re
turned the ring to the young subaltern.
"Do not part with this" he said grave
y, "Take the utmost care Of It. It may
do you q good turn"
II might believe so II was the least
bit superstitious," jack answered Lightly.
CHAPTER II.
A FOOLS PARADISE.
On Friday, the 9Th OF May, 1857, those
who we're responsible for the govern
ment of India, as well as the great ma
jorty of English civilians and military
men, we're still blind to the mutterings
OF the coming storm, were still living IN
that fools paradise from which they
were to BIO awakened when It was too
late.
The case Of mutinous conduct in the
native army which had occurred IN
various parts of the country were re-
garded MS of little Importance Even
tho affair at Meerut, on the 9Th. when
eighty-nye Sepoys OF the light cavalry re-
fused to accept the new creased carriages
on the grounds that they would lose caste
by biting the ends off. was treated as q
purely local piece OF discomfort. me
existence of conspiracy. and the identi-
ty of tho chief conspirators themselves.
were things scarcely dreamed OF.
India was terribly unprepared for an
instruction. For q thousand miles UP
from Calcutta, to the borders OF the
Punjaub, there were only few British
regiments scattered at wide intervals;
In all the provinces. and at most of the
towns and stations. the garrisons con-
sisted Of native troops Differed by Eng
lishmen; numerous English women and
children living In Isolated places, the
families of soldiers and magistrates,
planters and collectors, We're at the mer-
cy OF tho insIdious foe.
On fiat Sth day of May The sun, rs
IL rose higher over tne lanQ, witnessed
the same scenes OF toll and pleasure.
the going forth of every man to his ac-
customed vocation. In observation-disclosures
the Bengal fusiliers had been transferred
from cawnpore the preceding March. in
Delhi and Lucknow. Agra and Allahabad.
iifo rolled on az usual.
But the thunder was in the over-charged
air; the lightning was ready to flash and
strike,
AS the sentinel at the town cato was
beating the hour of 10 that morning on
his hrazen ghurry. or gong. chandra
Shlgh, ra1ar OF Jha!apur, stood on one
OF the projecting balconies of his palace.
which might as aptly be called a for
tress-
IT lowered from the broad, fiat sum
nit OF great rock, 100 feet high. and
dominated the landscape for many miles
around. On three Sides of the rock was
a precipice, and on the fourth 1t sloped
away gradually to the plain.
The balcony faced TO tho west and
one could almost see where Delhi and
Meerut lay, the former thirty-six miles
to tho southwest, the latter eighteen
miles to the northwest. A row Of can
non gllttered like gold in one OF the
paved courts, and in another troop OF
0attva cavalry yucra