The Huttig news., 1911-07-22

Nath had little patience. When he 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 WithiS a quar- ter of an hour they were careering through the city of tents on the park ed plain before the southern wall. In five minutes more they drew up at the main city gate to barley with the Quarter Guard.
 Here they suffered an exasperating delay. It appeared that the gates were shut at sundown, 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 sev- 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 sent to advise the travellers that the tonga would be permitted to enter with the under standing that the unaccredited Eng lishman (meaning Amber) would 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- of the city before them was dwarfed by dull and thunderous detonation of cannon from a terrace of the pal alec. The tonga ponies reared and plunged. Ram Nath mastering them with much difficulty Sorhia was startled, and Amber himself stirred uneasily on his perch.
 What now?" he grumbled. You'd think we were visitors of state and had to be durbarredi"
 Far up on the heights a second red flame stabbed the night, and again the thunder pealed Thereafter gun after gun beloved at imperative. stately intervals
 Fifteen" Amber announced after time. Isn't this something ex traordinary, Miss Farrell?"
 Perhaps" she suggested, there's a 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?"
 T don't" she replied simply. "Can you?"
 He was dumb. Could 1t be possible that this imperial greeting was in tended for the man supposed to be the Maharana of Khandawar-Har Oval Rutton? He glanced sharply at the girl, but her face was shadowed: :: and he believed she suspected noth- ing
 great hush had fallen. replacing the rolling thunder of the state ord. nance Even the voice of the city seemed moderate, subdued Tn si ence the massive gates studded with sharp-toothed elephant-spikes swung open
 With grurS, Ram Nath cracked his wbiplash and the tonga sped into the city Amber bent forward
 Whats the name of that gate, Ram Nath-if you happen to know?"
 That said the tonga-wallah in a level voice. "is known as the Gateway of Swords. sahib." He added in his own good time: But not the Gate vay of Swords
 Amber failed to educe from him any satisfactory explanation of this orphic itterance.