The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1914-09-04

must be liberated tonight. We need
money to bride what sentries are
about" Bruce went on to relate the
incident of the baboon, This proves
that the note was written not more
than three hours ago. She probably
will be held there till morning, This
time we'll place her far beyond the
reach Of umballa."
Either my money or my life. In a
month from now
"What?" asked Ahmed.
"Ah, | must not tell" Pundita stole
close to Ramabai,
Ahmed smiled.
I'VE have elephants but q little way
outside the city. We have pulling
chains. Let US be of at once. 1t is
not necessary to enter the city, for this
window, Ahmed says. is on the out.
side. We IAN easily approach the wall
In a roundabout way without being
seen. Have you money!"
From his belt Ramabai produced
some gold.
That will be sufficient. To you.
then, the bribing. The men, should
there be any, will bark to you. Comet
concluded Bruce, impatient to be of.
And II" timidly asked Pundita-
You will seek Hare Sahib's camp"
said Ramabai, This is a good oppor.
tunity TO get you away also"
Ahmed nodded a%pprovingly.
Pundita kissed her husband; for
these two loved each other, q cireum.
stance almost unknown In this dark.
mysterious land Of many gods.
"Pundita, You will remain at the camp
in readiness to receive us, At dawn
we shall leave for the frontier. And
when we return It will be with might
and reprisal. umballa shall die the
death Of a dog" Ramabai clinched his
hands.
But first" cooed Ahmed, " he shall
wear out the soles Of his pigs feet in
the treadmill. 1t is written. | am a
Mohammedan. Yet sometimes these
vile fakirs have the gift of seeing into
the future. And one has seen . ;.
He paused,
Seen WHAT" demanded Bruce.
Il must not put false hopes In your
hearts. But this may say: Trials will
come, bitter and heart burning; a
storm, a whirlwind, a FIRE; but peace
is after that. But Allah uses US az his
tools. Let us haste!"
And II" said Ramabai, sending a
piercing glance at Ahmed.
But Ahmed smiled and shook his
head. Wait and see Ramabai. Some
day they will call you the Fortunate.
Let us hurry. My memsahib waits"
What did this fakir see?" whis-
pered Bruce as he donned hts burnoose
again.
Many wonderful things; but per
haps the fakir lied. They all lie. Yet
. Hurry"
The quartet passed out of the city
R%amabai's house was
supposed to be under strict surveil.
but the soldiers. due to largess,
we're junketipg In the bazaars. Short.
ly they came up to two elephants with
howdahs. They were the best man.
nered Of the half dozen owned or rent.
ed by Colonel Hare. Mahouts sat
astride. Rifles reposed in the side
This was to be nc light ad-
venture. There might be a small war
fare.
Pundita flung her arms round Ra-
and he consoled her. She was
then led away to the colonel's camp.
Remember" Ramabai said at part
Ing, she saved both our lives. We
owe a debt"
60. my lord; and may all the gods
may, the Christian God--watch over
gou!"
Forward" growled Ahmed. First,
he saw to 1t that the pulling
chains were well wrapped in cotton
blankets. There must be no sound to
warn others Of their approach.
Ahmed" began Bruce.
Leave al things to me, sahib," in.
errupted Ahmed, who assumed
authority at times that con-
used and puzzled Bruce. 1T Is my
nemsahib. and | am one OF the fingers
II the long arm Of the British raj. And
here are books In Calcutta In which
ny name is written high. No more!"
Through the moon-frosted Jungle
he two elephants moved silently. A
Of wild pigs scampered across
he path and the wild peacock Kissed
rom the underbrush sleepily. All 81
again. Several times Ahmed
straining his ears. 1t seemed
Incredible to Bruce that the enormous
'easts could move 80 sou~ndlessly. II
vas a part Of their business; they
,ere hunters OF their kind.
(To BE cONTINUED.o