The daily Alaskan., 1905-06-20
THE COLONIES
 VALET


 cause that was the fashion. and he ex, pected the fellow to asssSsinate him some day, because that was the custom of native valets. He thought the event might happen the first year, then the second, the third. and when four years had gone by and no attempt had been made on his life he called Nizam to him one day and said;
 "How Is 1t that you have let me live on so longT
 May the sahIb colonel live for a thousand years" was the reply of the san with the impressive face who stood before hlm In crlnging attitude.
 That's all gammon, Nlzam, and you know it Like all other Hindoos, you have a deadly hatred of the English. You wish for nothing so much as an other rebellion and a chance tO cut our throats. Do not speak the truthT'
 Great and powerful are the English, and their rule Is merciful and full of justice"
 "An sheer hypocrisy on your part, NJ Eam. You'd Ike to put your knife into dozen of us today. You have now been with me four years"
 -Four long and happy years, sahib colonel and it would break my heart to have you send me away"
 More rot. There has not been a week in the four years that have not Knocked you about. I am quick tem- pered. and strike first and talk after ward. have cufted and kicked you, and have had you whipped, and I'm not fool enough to think you have pass cd 1t all by"
 "In my heart there Is nothing but love for the sahib colonel" replied the valet
 "An right, NlEam. You won't tell the truth. and can't make you, and so we will let this subject drop, Take a pointer from me, however. When you set out to Kill me make quick job Of It. If you don't Tn have you roasted over a slow fire"
 Nlzam went away 10 his room to ponder. It was true that he hungered for the coloners death. He would have given everything but his own life to bring It about It was true that for four years he had been ready for any opportunity and had never been with out poison. but he feared the white men. They could trace the most sub tie polsons. and they were always sus- plclous. He knew of several valets who had Killed their sahibs, and each and every one had been found out and punished, no matter how sharp they were. He had often wondered lf the sahlb colonel suspected his feelings, and now that he knew he did he might be taken out and shot any day. The Hlndco's alarm lasted for a month. Then he began to pluck up heart again.
 The simplest and easiest weapon at hand was one he had never thought of, and the idea came to him Ike a flash one day. An hour later he was acting on 1t. Two days later one Of the beg gars visiting the compound to ask for food carried a basket. When finding himself alone with Nizam he said:
 There in the basket you will find a cobra fresh from the jungle, and the slightest scratch from hls fongs means death. Let him be turned loose in the sahib colouers room, and he win do the rest. When serpents are found ev- erywhere, who can say that you had anything to do with thisy
 There were guests at the mess that night, with much drinking and speech making. and the colonel came in late and staggering under his load of wine He was not so far gone, however, but that he remcmbered certain things and while being put 10 bed he sleepily said:
 "Nizam. you liar and hypocrite, you know you'd like to murder me, but you haven't the nerve. You are cowarl. You haven't the courage of woman. I'm drunk tonight and shall sleep like a log. but shall have po fear Of You,
 Il shall watch over the sahih colonel as a mother over her child" replied the valet as he turned his face aside Co hi1e a smile.
 Half an hour later the basket was upset lu the colouciS chamber and tAe aiSSiug and angry cobra turned loose. He would find the sleeper within ten minutes and bury his faugs in his flesh, NizGm sat down in his own room Co snioy tho sensation. In the course or au hour he would go out on tho vcrGn- n and push one of the screens aside and give the cobra a chance to escape.
 It might he said he had been care ca about o screen or they might say
 lat the &, .ih colonel had h,Illc~Sl .rs-o3 after being left for the night
 hcsc w- bright waAD, aa} 't
 rs..c fu'l at0 Niz2U's room. TNyyN -c~, neither scrccns rNg r,aFs o fcs0
 ggt Tb, natives yt lD ..G care ra.
 h.r .5r bcat nor insects, AS tAc valet sat C-orchcJ on his hagB hes wonder
 ss eul lis,cU.Ug and smiling. s5uc. A'r- came vy3cg-luc over the sin or
 sc window anl dvopHcl to the floor