The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-04-18

pastime Tor me, though I went at it in a business way"
g. am glad Of that. There IS nothing to regret In
leaving this part of the world, Yet the colonel sighed.
And Kathlyn heard that sigh, and ~intuitively under
stood. The fligree basket Of gems. OF ouch was the
minds of men.
But the colonel was taken i'll that night, and IL was a
week before he left his 5eE and another before he was
considered strong enough to attempt the journey. Bala
Khan proved to be q fine host, for he loved men of deeds
and this white haired old man was che Of the right
kidney. He must be strong ere he took the long journey
over the hot sands to the sea.
A spy of Umballah's watched and waited to carry the
news to his master, the day his masters enemies departed
from the haven Of Bala Khan's walled citv.
When the day came the khan insisted that his guests
should use his own camels and servNl Is, anu upon Rama
bats return the elephants would be turned over to him
for his journey back to Alfalfa. Thus, one bright morn.
ing, the caravan set forth for what was believed to be the
last journey.
And Umbalahs spy FASTENED away.
All day long they wound in and out, over and down the
rolling mounds Of sand, pausing only once, somewhere
near 4 o'clock, when hey Cismounted for a space to enjoy
a bite to eat and a dish OF tea. Their on again, through
the night, making about sixty rules in all At dawn they
came upon a we'll, and ZERO they decided to rest till sun.
set. Beyond the, wall, some twenty-five miles, lay the low
mountain range over which they must pass to the sea.
At the foot of these hills stood q small village, which they
reached about 10 o'clock that night.
They found the village vide awake. The pariah dogs
were bowling. And on making inquiries it was learned
that a tiger had been providing about for three or four
nights, and that they had set . trap cage for the brute.
The colonel and Bruce at once assumed charge. The old
zest returned with all its rigor and allurement. Even
Kathlyn and Pundita decided to join the expedition,
though Pundita knew nothing Of arms.
N,u &b;v vSIaoa ros +., hornu II \ -. -
ands, and whenever they were about they dominated
the Villagers. They were returning from a foragine
expedition into the hills, and discovered the trap cage
with the tiger inside. Very good. The tiger was no
use to any but themselves, since they knew where to
sell it. They were in the act Of pulling the brush
away from the cage when they heard sounds of others
approaching. With the suspicion which was o part Of
their business they Immediately ran to cover to see who
it was.
Instantly the chief Of the brigands discovered that
these new arrivals were none other than the white people
who had given him and his men a superdrug and thereby
mulcted them out of the sacred white elephant which
was to have brought them a fortune.
Unfortunately, the men Of Kath1yn's party laid aside
their weapons on approaching the cage to tear away
the brush. Eight ~brigands, at a sign from their chief,
surrounded the Investigators, who found themselves nicely
caught.
The natives fed incontinently. So did Bala Khau's
camel men.
Death If you move! ~ snarled the chief. "Ah, you
gave us bad opium, and we dropped the logs. Swine"
He raised his rife threateningly.
await a minute" said Bruce cooly. "What yOu
want is money" ""
cay, money! Ten Thousand rupees!"
ut shall be given you IL 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 1
a goat to put my head inside the tigers jaws? Nay. |
shall hold you here for ransom. Let them bring gold.
Now, take hold" indicating the trap cage. ave shall
take this fine man eater along with us. I am speaking
to you, white men, and you, pig of a Hindu! Chalul
I will kill any one who falters. Opium! Al yesl You
shall pay for my headache and the Sickness of my
comrades. Chalu! And yon white woman: she shall
give q ransom Of her ownp
The village jutted out into the desert after the fash.
ion of a peninsula. On the west of it lay another
stretch of sand. They followed the verdure till they
reached the bass Of the rocky hills, which were barren
Of any vegetation; huge jumbles of granite the color Of
p~orphyry. During the night they made about ten
miles, and at dawn were s1nothered by one Of those
raging sandstormH, prevalent in this latitude. They
had to abandon the trap cage and seek shelter In d
nearby cave. Here they remained hudd1ed together till
the storm died away.
1t has blown itself out" commented the chief.
Then he spoke to Ramabai. who il this man ~ with
a nod toward the colonel.
lie Ia an American"
"He came for Allaha? '
Yes" said Ramabai, uns,1spiciously.
"Ha! Then that great prince did not lie"
What prince?" cried Ramabai, now alarmed.
"The Prince Durga Ram. Three fat bags Of silver,
he said, would he pay me for the white hunter with the
white hair. 1t is the will Of Allah I"
+" $50 re- 80 HL-s - @.---- 49, p-L.H~& ~~ -, 80