Evening star., 1914-03-15

siping. They had been given an ear.
nest against their long delinquent
wages and they were In happy frame
of mind. Their dead comrades were
dead and mourning was for widows:
for them would be the pleasures OF
swift reprisals. The fugitives had
gone toward the desert. and in that
bleak stretch of treeless land 1t would
not be difficult to find them. once they
started in pursuit.
Midnight.
In the compound the moonlight lay
upon everything: upon the fat sides
and back OF the sacred white elephant
upon the three low caste keepers. now
free of the vigilant eye Of their Brah- /.
min chief. The gates were barred and
closed; all inside the house of Bala
Khan were asleep. Far away a sentry
dozed on his rife. on the wall. The
three keepers whispered and chuckled
among themselves
Who will know" said one.
The moon will not speak" said
another
Then, let US go and smoke"
4. ;:
The three approached the elephant
bit of gymnastics and one Of them
boosted to the back of the elephant. to
whom this episode was more or less
familiar. Another followed; the third
was pulled up. and from the elephants
back they made the top of the wall
and disappeared down into the street
Here they paused cautiously. for two
guards always patroiled the front of
the compound during the night. Pres
emily the three truants stole away
desert town occupied but a single
street. Down they went into cellar
way and the gurus curse stalked be-
side them. For opium is the hand
maiden of all curses.
Perhaps twenty minutes later slight
sounds came from the front of the
tered upon the cobbles. Then. over
the wall. near the elephant, a head ap-
peared, then a body. This was repeat
ed four times. and four light-footed
nomads OF the desert lowered them
selves into the compound. They ran
quickly to the gate and noiselessly un-
ert nomads. gathered about the :n-
sensible bodies of the sentries.
These nine men were the dancers who
had entered the town in advance of
Kathlyn. For weeks they had lain
in wait for this moment. They had
spied upon the three low caste keepers
junkets into the opium den had cast
the die this night.
With the utmost caution they ap-
preached the sacred elephant, took on
his chains. and led him from the com
pound. Immediately six of the ma
rauders trotted far ahead toward the
ed. The sacred elephant passing
through the streets. attended by three
men, aroused no suspicious in any
straggler who saw. So remote was the
walled city. so seemingly impregnable.
and so little interfered with that it
was only human that its guardians
should eventually grow careless.
When the keepers, staggering under
the fumes Of the drug, returned near
daybreak. first to find the gate open.
second to find their sacred charge
gone, they fled in terror: for it would
be death, lingering and painful. for
them to stay and explain how and why
they had left their post.
The wild and Iawless brigands knew
exactly what they were about. There
were several agents of European and
American circuses after this white ele-
phant and as IL could not De purchaser
there was no reason why it could not
be stolen.
When the Brahmin arrived at sunrise
to find his vocation gone he set up a
wailing which awakened the house
hold The Khan was furious and Or
dered a general search. He vowed
death to the foul hands which had
done this sacrilege.
Kathlyn and the others were genu-
inely sorry when the Khan announced
what had taken place.
Said he: Come. you are all skilled
hunters. Find me my elephant and
these guns and newer and sure ones
shall protect you from Durga Ram.
should he take it into his head to
come this way"
The colonel, Bruce and Ramabai set
out at once. After they had gone
camel rider entered the compound and
sought audience with Bala Khan.
Kathlyn and Pundita were in the COM