Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-07-31
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A Dangerous Man.

Copyright, 1907, by G.. ID. Daniels.l


Nepal India. had heard of the strange
doings of Ram Lal up in the Hirra-
laya mountains to the north. Ever
since the great mutiny the British in
India have been vigilant to suppress
;ay at.ve seeking to be conspicuous
il way to appeal to popular super
stition Queer tales were told abos:t
Ram I4al. He had suddenly appeared
among the people, coming from no one
knew where, and he had performed
miracles. He had made 5000 peoE4e
believe that he was god.
When things began to get bit seti-
Gus, the colonel dispatched a detacb-
ment of cavalry with orders to bring
Ram Lal into Ghoorka. He did not
run away when he heard Of their coa-
ing. On the contrary, he met the rid
ers two miles out of the hill town
where he made his headquarters ard
waited for them on the banks Of a
creek. 1t was midsummer, and the
bed of the stream was almost dry.
Ram Lal took his station on q knoll a
few yards away from the stream, aud
as the cavalry came up to cross he
stopped them with wave of his hand
and said:
you have come for me. Your sahsb
colonel says that / am fraud and a
cheat, and you would take me TO
Ghoorka and expose me. Very well, l
will CO."
When Ram Lal was brought out the
colonel said to him:
81 have heard about you and your
doings. You are a fraud and an i'm
poster. Your so called magic is all
nonsense, and am going to expose you
here and now and then have you whip
ped off the grounds"
"It shall be as the sahib colonel
Wishes" was the humble reply.
A fine big horse bought for the artil-
lery six months before had been found
utterly useless, owing to his vicious
temper. He could not be harnessed,
and he could not be saddled. He had
killed two men and injured three. No
one would have him at any price, and
while waiting on red tape to dispose of
the animal somehow he was kept chain
addressed Ram Lal the horse was
brought out. There were ropes around
his neck and four men hanging to the
free ends. The horse reared, kicked.
squealed and flung himself about, and,
pointing TO him, the colonel said:
IF you are magician you can quiet
that beast"
"Ram Lal called out some strange
words, and the horse dropped to his
four feet and whined and stood with
ears working. The men were hidden
to let him loose, and at nod from tie
colonel they complied.
"Ho, you, come to me!' called Ram
Lal, and the horse slowly advanced
shoulder. He whispered some words
il his ear, and he lay down. He beck
oned to a boy and tossed him upon
the animals back, and the lad rode
about for five minutes.
II have told him to make you no
more trouble" said the man to the
colonel, land he will not. He will be
the most obedient of horses In the fu-
ture"
There were murmurs Of establishment
and admiration from the soldiers and
the natives, and the colonel ground his
teeth with vexation. Instead of dis
grazing Ram Lal he had been made
an object Of ridicule. The major at
the post had an English bulldog that
had to be kept chained up most Of the
time. He would permit few native
servants to approach him, but the
presence Of stranger would make him
furious. He was brought out and halt
ed for a couple Of minutes within ten
feet Of the magician. He few into q
passion at once. Indeed, the man pro-
voked him by gestures and taunts.
When the chain was slipped, every liv-
ing man on the ground expected to see
the native torn to pieces. The dog
sprang forward with good intent, but
of sudden the man was not there.
1t seemed as II the earth had swallow
ed him at gulp. The dog ran about
looking for him for a moment and then
dropped his tail and began to whine.
Then Ram Lal was seen again. He
took the dog by the tail and dragged
him around. He stood with his foot
on him. He beat him with stick
and sent him to his kennel in abject
fear.
There was great shout of admira-
ton, and the colonel became white
faced with anger. In voice vibrating
with passion he ordered a sergeant's
guard to load their carbines and step
to the front. Then, turning to Ram
Lal, he said:
"You who can do such great things
should not fear the bullets Of my
troopers"
Surely, no." was the reply.
81 shall order these men to fire on
you"
Every we'll"
The troopers were making ready
when the colonel was suddenly missed
Thousands had seen him standing
there. and now thousands looked for