The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-08-14

caught. q,
The natives fled incontinently. So
did Bala Khan's camel men.
Death II you novel" snarled the
chief. "Ah, you gave US bad opium,
and We dropped like logs! Swine!"
He raised his rifle threateningly.
Wait minute said Bruce coolly.
What you want is money"
"Ay, money! Ten thousand rupees!n
ut shall be given you II you let US
go. You will conduct US over the hills
to the sea, and there the money will
be given you"
The chief laughed long and loudly.
What! Am l goat to put my head
inside the tigers jaws?' Nay, | li.all
hold you here for ransom. Let theIa
bring gold. Now, take hold.p indicat.
ing the trap cage. I'VE shall take this
fine man eater along with US. I am
speaking to you, white men, and you,
pig of Hindu! Chalu! will kill
anyone who falters. Opium. All, yes!
You shall pay. for, my headache and the
sickness Of my comrades. Chalu! And
yon white woman; she shall give a
ransom of her own!"
The village jutted out into the des.
ert after the fashion OF peninsula.
On the west of 1t lay another stretch
of sand. They followed the verdure
till they reached tho base of the rocky
hills, which were barren of any yege.
tation; huge jumbles Of granite tho
color Of porphyry. During the night
they made about ten miles, and at
dawn were smothered by one of those
raging sandstorms, prevalent in this
latitude. They had to abandon the
trap cage and seek shelter in near.
by cave. Here they remained huddled
together till the storm died away.
1T has blown itself OUT comment
ed the chief. Then he spoke to Rama.
bal "Who is this MANI" with nod
toward the colonel.
"He is an American"
He came for Allana?"
Yes" said Ramabai, unsusplclous
ly.
"Ha! Then that great prince did not
lle.'
What prlnce?" cried Ramabai. now
alarmed.
1.-THE Prince Durga Ram. Three fat
bags of silver, he said, would he pay
for the white hunter with tho white
hair. 1t is the will of Allah!"
The colonel's head sank upon his
knees. Kathlyn .patted his shoulder.
Father, tell YOU mind not the
mouthings Of vile guru. We shall
soon be free"
Kit, this time, II return to Alfalfa,
I shall die. feel 1t in my bones"
"AndlI say mol"
The chief turned to Ramabai. "You
and the woman with you shall this day
seek two camels of the five you Dor.
rowed from Bala Khan. You will
journey at once to Alfalfa. But do not
waste your time in stopping to &C.
quaint Bala Khan. At the first sign OF
armed men each of those left shall die
in yonder tiger cage"
1--WE refused"
Then be the first to taste the tigers
fangs!"
The chief called to his men to seize
Ramabai and Pundita, when Kathlyn
interfered.
Go. Ramabai; 1t is useless to fight
against these men who mean all they
say. and who are as cruel as the tiger
himself"
ut shall be as the memsahib says"
replied Ramabai, resignedly.
One morning Umballa entered the
Judgment hall Of the palace, disturbed
in mind. Anonymous notes, bidding
him not to prosecute Ramabai and his
wife further, on pain Of DEATH He
had found these notes at the door Of
bis zenana, in his stables. on his pil.
lows. In his heart he had sworn tho
death Of Ramabai; but here was
phase upon which he had set no cal.
culation. Had there not been unrest
abroad he would have scorned to pay
any attention to these warnings; bu.
this Ramabai-may he burn in hell!-
was power with the populace, with
low and high castles alike, and for the
first time, now that he gave the matter
careful thought, his own future did
not look particularly clear. More than
ever he must plan with circumspec.
ton. He must trap Ramabai, openly.
lawfully, in the matter of sedition.
Imagine his establishment when. a
few minutes after his arrival, Ramabaf
and Pundita demanded audience, tho
one straight Of back and proud Of look,
the other serene and tranquil! Umbal.
10 felt a wave of blind hatred surge
over him, but he gave no sign. Rama.
bal stated his case briefly. Colonel
Hare and his daughter. were being
held prisoners for ransom. Three
bags of silver-something like Ave
thousand rupees-were demanded by |
the captors.
The Council looked toward UmbaIla.
who nodded, having in mind the part
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