The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1908-09-01
RAM SINCHAND
ENCEL SAHIB
Copyright. by shortstory Pub. Coz
By WILL KENYON

Ia AN~cSoA
sheep in the forepeak galley, and the
warm scent of fresh blood stirred up
pandemonium among the jungle folk
in the cages dashed to the deck by
the forehatches. The sea was q lake
of oil and barren OF a ripple, save
where the big twin screws threw
astern q long lane Of swirling, bub-
bling phosphorescent flame. 1t was
sitting hottie decks were like hot
plates-and there was scarcely enough
breeze to blow out a match as l joined
Max Schlieman in the bows.
It was Schlieman's business to ram
sack creation, poking into and out
OF more out-of-the-way corners OF the
earth than civilization dreams exist,
gathering wild beasts, u~nheard-of
birds known only to Audubon sOcie-
ties. and weird, uncanny A'freaks" for
American dealers. He was a strange
man. Q German, with odd tricks OF
speech and man surprising customs
borrowed from Hindoo and Mussul-
man. and the savage Of remote hill
countries. He was altogether impos-
sible from a civilized standpoint. but
his rich and varied experiences
dimmed the Arabian Nights for me.
Good" said Max, pointing with his
pipe to the cages below. Dose fell
lows are yelling fine down dere; raw
blood brings back dreams of liberty,
when they chase and make the Kill
themselves. Yell and scream, unhap-
py ones"
AS il in answer, the deep-throated
roare of Bengal tigers rose in unison
with the cat-like shrieks of leopards
from the far-of Himalayas; half q
thousand of the little monkeys that die
OF inconsistencies gibbered ~obscenely.
while q fiendish ourangoutang rat
tied the grating Of his cage and yelled
like a soul in torment. until the mighty
elephants rocked against their chains
and trumreted in fear. A loathsome
hyena laughed az q maniac.
twas a bizarre ensemble we looked
down upon in the thick tropical dusk.
The. 1.-THE, dark-skinned Lascars, naked
save for q breech-cloth, grimy with
coal dust or glistening with oil from
the engine; the huge elephants sway
ing 70 and fro in the gloom. he SER
penflnke trunks ceaselessly winnow-
ing wisps Of hay over their broad
backs; and the unseen children of for
est and jungle voicing their unrest
II was hot beyond belief, and the pace
OF the ship fouled the air with reek
OF wild beasts and the smell Of the
east! from the Lascars' foul kennel in
the forepeak.
"Lascars!" grunted Schlieman. 90
SATISFACTORILY at the half dozen naked
forms sprawled in the bows and sleep
ing peacefully through heat and up
roar: II belief . Lascar could sleep in
hell and hat sweet dreams. Ram
Singh! Ram Singh ho!" he shouted
above the din to his native helper.
turn Z hose on the hathis-elephants
Ito make them cool. Sol"
Gradually the uproar subsidized and
g4va place to the orderly. accustomed
n6iSes Of the night-the swish OF the
cisy sea on the forefoot, the mufled
tramp Of the engines. the changing
half-hourly note Of the ships bell. and
the monotopous foreign chatter Of the
LAskar crew. lay watching the heat
lightning play al around the horizon.
and must have been browsing. for
6chlieman's voice startled me.
LAST time / bring along some speci..
mems to New York." he said, "our nag
wns flying 1t half-mast. You see?-
somebody hat died. It IL too hot to
listen Why that soul few away. or will
I ten you Z tale which only we two
know. Ram Singh and 1? Listen. then.
my friend.
when l was collecting that time I
travel like the Wandering Jew. Colt
i'm Himmel! ! freese In the Hima-
Iayas. and nearly lose my life falling
from the Roof Of the World. to get
some NOW leopards; later / was roast
alive In jungies. All in the days
work. For Z year / barely exlsted-I
was Z pariah dog-and It was good to
come to Calcutta again. where l picked
~ little Ram Singh. Like It? Ny
friend, % soon as I leave Ne smell
Of tho east behind me ct Port Said, I
do not live until Il II In my nostrfls
again. Yes: I come back always to
answer the call. Europe and America
are too sanitary-too clean.
II loaded my cages and elephants on
Z German freighter at Calcutta. She
looked like Noah's Ark-if you belief
that extraordinary cruise-and you
would not suspect there vas $1,000
900 IN bsrlap. Jute, hides and precious
woods under her matches. / tear my
hair when I think Of such Z trip. It
Was 20 hot the decks were like stove
lids; and / sit still and see four tigers,
two leopards, Q white elephant
giant tusker-die en- route, to say nod
dlnes Of 100 monkeys. Monkeys. lid.
dls monkeys. drive me crazy. A.
xyots die Of cholera, 90 die Iiddle mon
koyu OF what books call nostalgia:
but It II what No know as heimweh-
hcmesickness. It 10 - deadly q
eobgA poison. only slower.
uef second of1cer. Engel, was I
-e ~ax6 = nf1sa hAad