The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1911-10-19

NANSiAJ Sill AANSo Al o4AtRte h0tlAc unJ
Il will break out afresh. You must
believe mel know"
Night overlook the tonga when II
was close upon Kuttarpur. swooping
down upon the world like blanket
Of darkness, at the moment that the
final relay Of ponies was being hitch
ed in.
With fresh ponies the tonga took
the road with wild initial rush
soon TO be moderated. when 1t began
to climb the last steep grade to the
pass that gives access to Kuttarpur
from the south. For an hour the road
toiled up and ever upward; steep
cliffs Of rock crowded H. threatening
to push It over into black abysses, or
to choke Il on between towering.
formidable walls. 1t swerved sud-
denly into broad, clear space. The
tonga paused. Voluntarily Ram Nath
spoke for almost the first time since
morning.
"Kuttarpur," he said, with wave
OF his whip.
Aloof. austere and naughty, the City
Of Swords sits in the mouth Of q ra-
vine 30 narrow that wall no more
than 100 yards In length Is sufficient
to seal its southerly approach. Be
meath this wall. to one side Of the
city gate, river flows from the lake
that is Kuttarpur's chiefest beauty.
| Northwards the palace Of Khandae
wars kings stands, exquisite, rare
and marvellous, unlike any other
building in the world. White, all
white, from the lake that washes its
lowest walls to the crenellated rim
of It's highest roof, 1t sweeps Upward
in breath-taking steps and wide ter
races to the crest Of the western hill.
into which 1t burrows, from which Il
springs; vast enigma propounded
In white marble without note Of
color awe where the foliage Of hid
den garden peeps over the edge Of .
jealous screena hundred imposing
mansions merged into one monstrous
and imperial maze.
But for moment were they per-
mitted to gaze In wonderment; Ram
Nath had little patience. When be
chose to, he applied his whip, and the
ponies stretched out, the tonga plung-
ing on their heels down the steep hill.
side, like an ungoverned, ungovern-
able thing, maddened. Within quar-
ter Of an hour they were careering
through the city Of tents on the park
ed plain before the southern wall. In
Ave minutes more they drew up at the
main city gate to parley with the
Quarter Guard.
Here they suffered an exasperating
delay. It appeared that the gates
were shut at shutdown, in Difference
to custom immemorial. Between that
hour and sunrise none were permitted
TO pass either in or out without the
express sanction Of the State. The
commander Of the guard instituted
an impudent catechism, In response to
which Ram Nath discovered the sew
eral identities and estates Of his
charges. The commander received
the information with impartial eQua-
nimity and retired within the city to
confer with his superiors. After some
time a trooper was gent to advise the
travellers that the tonga would be
permitted to enter with the under
standing that the unaccredited Eng
lishman (meaning Amberl you'd con-
sent to lodge for the night in no other
spot than the State resthouse beyond
the northern limits Of the city.
| Abruptly the peace of the night was
shattered, and the hum OF the en-
campment behind them with the roar
Of the city before them was dwarfed.
by dull and thunderous detonation
Of cannon from terrace Of the pal
alec. The tonga ponies reared and
plunged, Ram Nath mastering them
with much difficulty. Sophia was
startled, and Amber himself stirred
uneasily on his perch.
what nowT he grumbled. YOU'D
think we were visitors Of state and
had to be durbarred!"
Far up on the heights a second red
flame stabbed the night, and again
the thunder peaIed. Thereafter gun
after gun beloved at imperative.
stately intervals.
i Fifteen" Amber announced after
time. isn't this something en-
traordinary, Miss Farrell"
Perhaps" she suggested. there's
native potentate arriving at the
northern gate. They're very pune
tilious about their salutes. you
know"
Another crash silenced her Am
Der continued to count "Twenty-one,
he said when it seemed that there was
to be no more cannonading Isn't
that royal salute?"
YES" said the girl; -four more
guns than the Maharana Of Khanda-
war himself is entitled to-"
How do you explain it?"
II don't" she replied simply. Can