The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-04-06

ping the tough underbrush. Some Of them made for the
water directly in line with the passing boats. Kathly1,
keenly alive to the fact that here was q chance, jumped
overheard before Umballah could reach out a staying
hand. -. '''1
To kathlyn there was only death in the path Of the
elephants; to remain on the barge was to face eventually
that which was worse than death. Her arm throbbed
painfully, but in the desperate energy with which she
determined to take the chance she used it. Quite con-
trary to her expectations, her leap was the best thing
she could have done. Most of the barges were upset and
the great beasts were laundering across the river between,
her and the barges.
Bruce witnessed Kathlyn's brave attempt and dashed
into the water after her. It took him but a moment 10
bring her to land, where her father clasped her in his
arms and broke down again.
DAD, dad" she whispered. Don't you see our God
is powerfulestf I believed I was going to be trampled to
DEATH and here I am with you once more"
They hurried back as fast as Kathlyns weakness
would permit to where they had left their own elephants,
doubling that they should find them, considering that it
was quite probable that they had Joined their wild breth.
rem. But no; they were; standing shoulder to shoulder,
tapping their ears and curling their trunks. So many
years had they been trained to hunt elephant that they
did not seem to know what to do without some one 10
guide them.
Bruce ordered one Of them to kneel, doubtfully; but
the big fellow obeyed the command docilely, and the
colonel and Bruce helped the exhausted girl into the
howdah. The colonel followed, while Bruce took upon
his own shoulders the duties Of mahout. Pundita got
into the other howdah and Ramabai initiated Bruce.
The elephants shufied of, away from the river. Foe
the time being neither Bruce nor Ramabai gave mind tn
the compass. TO make pursuit impossible was the main
business just then.
Later Umballah, dulled and stupefed from his INNER.
sion, stood on the shore, with. but nine Of the twenty
soldiers he had brought with him. Evidently his star
had faltered. Very well; he would send for the other
sister. She was the Colonel Sahibs daughter, and
young; she would be as wax in his hands. A passion
remained in Umbalah's heart, but it was now the pas
sion of5reyenge. .
When he had recovered sufficiently he gave orders TO
one OF the soldiers to return to the city, to bring back at
once servants, elephants, and a. that would be required
for a long pursuit. The messenger was also to make
known these preparations to the Council, who would
undertake to forward the cable submitted to them. Ali
these things of his mind, Umballah sat down and shIv-
cred outwardly, while he boiled within. He was inn.
piacable; he would blot out his enemy, kith and kin.
Col. Hare should never dip his fingers into the sfligrss
basket-never while he, Durga Ram. lived.
Quite unknown, quite unsupported. by him, for all the.
activity OF his spies, a volcano was beginning to grumb.e
under his feet. All tyrants, the petty and the great,
have heard 10: the muttering Of the oppressed.
Perhaps the f~ugitives had gone thirty miles when
suddenly the jungle ended abruptly and a desert opened
mp before them. Beyond stood d purple line OF rugged
hills. Ramabai raised his hand, and the elephants came
TO a halt.
" believe ] know where I am" said Rannabai
Z Somewhere between us and yonder hills is q walled
city, belonging to Bala Khan, a Pathan who sometimes
styles himself as q rajah. He has . body of fierce fight
ing men: and heSlivas unrnolested for two reasons: loot
ing would not be worth while, and his position is isolated
and almost innpregnabie. Now, lie / am right, we shall
end shelter there, for ne was an old friend OF my fathers,
and I might call hin d friend Of mine, since I fell asleep
for him occasionally 3
Z BaIa Khan? mused Bruce reminiscently. Isn't
he the chap who has q sacred white eIephantT'
1T is the same answered Rapaabai. We can
reach there before shutdown. It would be wise to hasten,
however. as this s~desert-and those hills are infested with
lawless, nomadic bands Of masteriess nnen--brigands. you
call them. They would cut the throat OF d man for the
sake Of his clothes