The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1905-11-17

LhlO Aut uSdElS VI MS uedTeES. AAe
was foretelling the downfall Of the
British Raj.
Il glanced over my shoulder at Har.
old, and l saw that ne had grown
white, white to the lips, and that his
bridle-hand was trembling.
"A native in the crowd yelled some.
thing in raucous, falsetto voice, and
| caught the words at once.
Your fellows down country have
mutinied and killed their officers
2ried to Harold. Did you hear what
that man said?'
"'God help us, God help u.s. he ex
claimed in that same hoarse, tense
voice. Let us get Onto the fort-tc
the fort
"a great strapping Muhammadan, q
butcher in red turban, leaped from
the crowd and seized the rein Of Mrs
Harold's horse with one hand. The
other held a meat chopper. The horse
reared. I rose in my stirrups, raised
my loaded riding crop and brought the
butt down full between the fellows
eyes. He dropped like a log.
"'Get on to the fort, Harold, in Gods
name, and take the ladies with YOU
cried breathlessly, for now was lay
! ing about me with that heavy butt, and
the people, screaming with fear, were
tumbling over one another in theil
eagerness to get beyond the reach oil
my arm.
II caught a glimpse Of Mrs. Har
old's face, flushed with excitement, hel
eyes flashing with enthusiasm and
sort Of fierce delight.
"Oh, how splendid Of you'll SHE
cried. How splendid!' and then she
and Harold and his sister we're OIL, al
4 gallop up the hill toward the fort
Harold leading.
"The crowd had fallen back. befors
me, and I rode straight at the Muham
madam preacher. I hit him, as I hat
hit the butcher, full between the eyes
and felt the bone shatter beneath tint
blow.
"'You dogs!' 7 cried. You dogs WHIT
dare to bark because fools tell yor
that the Raj of the British is ended
get to your kennels like the whipped
ours you are. And when sense re
turneth to you, come to me at the for1
craving pardon, lest send word to the
government of the wickedness in youl
hearts, and the hide be stripped from
you in punishment. Coz
"And then, why then, and it brings
tears to my eyes when~I recall 1t, FOL
they are men, these Muhammadans o.
India, though like children they bi
easily led astray or Alright as ma
may chance to lead therl-tle GROVE
set up throaty shout, not of rage OF
defiance, but of approval and admira
t. IN.
"'It is we'll done!' cried many voices
1t is we'll done, and behold our Sahil
is man. Let the Raj stand or fal
elsewhere, here the Raj and our Sahil
are one; and see. the Sahib stands
while the fool who spoke vain things
lies yonder in the dust. 1t is in truth
well done
Il turned my horse slowly anG
walked him up the hill to the fort. Fol
me at that moment the world held only
one thing-Mrs. Harold's face-ant
that too said. 1t is well DONE and
think also thank you
"After that there came some anxious
times, but in the end mine was one Of
the districts. that had no mutiny his
tory. Harold's nerve had been shaken
by that scene in. the town, and the
worst of it was that he couldn't get i,
back and that. his wife saw it,.
AT last it was safe for them to leave,
md l thanked God for it,, though life
didn't seem to offer much to me when
she had gone, out. of. it,. Anyhow, /
new it. was the only thing for me, If
was to- avoid. making a. fool OF my
.;elf, and she-well, she was everything
hat a, woman ought to be-.
1.-THE, evening before they were to &c
away l came upon her sitting in the
veranda Of my bungalow-we had
moved, out of the fort. ages before. in
spite Of Harold's frenzied protests
and she began to speak of all, she was
pleased toAsay, they owed to me.
"Don't,' said. 1T is I who owe
a, debt-to, you. 1t is you who have
helped me, helped me to play tue man.
"T don't think you wanted much
help to do that she said very seriously.
"In a. moment we were on our feet,
facing one another, and her hands were
in mine. l knew then, l know now,
that L might have kissed her. Butt
would have hurt her.
"Instead I stopped and kissed her
hands.
"Goodbye and God keep you,' said,
and turning, left her.
"That, know now, was my greatest