The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-05-10

ter about which ! had come. He was
gloomy and silent. Finding he could
not be persuaded to talk, / gave over
the business for the day and took my
leave. But before left the place | met
Ram Abadhur, the half-easte court in
terpreter, and learned the cause OF the
Rajah's depression.
ut is the tiger that disturbs his
hlghness." Ram Abadhur said. He
has appeared in the jungle about Nah
rabad. and there Is much talk Of him
among the people He is man-eater,
but that is nothing Strange reports
have come to the palace that the beast
Is in the likeness Of a tiger pictured on
the flag Of the old Kehab kings, and
the story has spread that he is the re-
incarnation OF Raj Kehab. His COM
ing. Ii is whispered. means some mis-
fortune TO the relgning family--a death.
or il even might be that which his
highness most breads lthis Is very
secret. sahib). the return OF the old
ruling family TO the throne"
Through many traditions | knew Raj
Kehab. the mighty founder Of the
royal family that had ruled Budhra-
pore for q thousand years, up TO the
time. half a century before, when the
East India Company Installed IN power
the new dynasty. which began with the
present Rajahs grandfather. and |
had seen In the Viceroy's palace at
Calcutta. kept as relic the flag which
from the time OF Rai kehab down to
the last king descended from him had
been the emblem Of the Kehab dy-
nasty. Its design was tiger worked
in white embroidery upon a dark-green
ground.
rode home. and at the bungalow
found Khatra Ahab, the shikari, await
Ing me IN the compound. He was
master OF his craft. He knew the
habits Of all the jungle beasts and
could read the tokens Of their goings
and comlngs as surely rs the white
man reads the business signs IN the
city streets. Before | had time 20
speak with him ] was hailed from the
verandah by Captain Bent Murdoch.
Chief Of the Budhrapore police, who
had ridden with his orderly from Ca
ramhat that morning. After bidding
him welcome 1 questioned Khatra as
to the truth OF the report Of a man
eating tiger in the Nahvabad jungle.
II have seen him. the shilsari an
swered. Watching from tree, I
saw him pass not twenty PAGES away.
On that day he carried or my cousins
wife from the rice iield He had feast
ed and had no need TO Kill. but he
looked at me. Sahih. his colorl |
swear by Krlshna, he was white. And
hls eyesl The color Of d tigers eyes
in daylight is yellow. but his were rcd
--as red as the blood smears on his
jowls. When ! saw his tracks knew
them. for had seen them before.
Sahib. II is useless to follow him. for
he is ghost tiger. His lair Is In the
haunted city OF Nahrabadn
"Then to Sahrabad we win go for
him." exclaimed Captain Murdoch.
who was famous as a hunter OF big
game Ghost or no ghost. white or
striped, wen wait for him there to-
night If lead fails Wen try silver
bullet. | suppose, major, you can lend
me n gunw
Two. If you WISH" returned.
"Khatra. you know the tigers path.
You will guide us this afternoon to
where We shall watch tonight by the
Nahrabad ruins"
The shikar tried 10 object, but
overruled his objections, and he un-
willingly agreed to be our guide. The
details having been arranged. had
time to talk with Murdoch. For sew
eral months he had been unusually
busy suppressing the dacoits who. at
the beginning of the year, had started
their annual carnival Of robbery and
murder in the Rajah's domininons.
He had broken up the principal band
and. so far as could be known. those
Of the outlaws who had not been
killed outright were in Jail awaiting
the trials which would determine
whether they should be hanged or
sent to penal servitude in the Anda-
mans. One only had escaped. Nadraj.
their chief, and no search could dis
cover his hiding place.
"His death or capture would be
worth more than that Of all the rest
Of the band" Murdoch said. There
won't be an end of dacoity in Budhra-
pore so long as he is alive"
Everybody in Budhrapore knew of
Nadraj, and most people. native or
European, had cause to dread him. A
high-born Hindu. fanaticalIy hating
everything associated with the English
rule in India, his crimes aud cruelties
had been inspired as much by hatred
and revenge as by desire of plumber.
Native mothers stilled their children
with the threat OF his name AS he
was utterly desperate. even the Rajah
himself, who favored the English,
could not be safe from the chance Of
assassination while Nadraj was at
large
II can't think where be can be con.