The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1914-09-04

house, glance right and left alertly.
Then he disappeared. Presently at
the head of the stairs Bruce heard
Whisper" Ramabai!"
who is it," Bruce whispered In the
dialect
Ahmed"
Ahmed Who was Ahmed?
Bruce shook Ramabai. Ahmed Is
here. Who is he?" he asked softly,
"Ahmed?" drowsily. Then, wide
awake enough; Ahmed? He was
Hare Sahib's head animal man. Where
is he?"
Hush. Not so loud. Come up,
Ahmed; | am Bruce. Let US speak in
English"
Good" Ahmed came into the
chamber. "To see Bruce Sahib Is
good. Tomorrow my masters daugh-
ter is to be carried into the jungle.
The memsahib is to be tied inside
tiger trap, bait for the cat. That is the
first ordeal"
"Shatan!" murmured Ramabai.
Go on Ahmed
The cage will be set near the old
peepul tree, not far from the south
gate. Now, you sahib, and. you, Rama
bal, must hide somewhere near. 1t IS
the law that if she escapes the ordeal
from unexpected sources she IS tree'
at least till the second ordeal. know
not what that is at present or when
it is to take place. The troops will be
there, and the populace, the Council
the priests, and Umballa | shall have
two swift camels near the clump OF
bamboo. | may not be there Out
some one will She must be hurried
of before the confusion dies away
Must, sahib There must be no second
ordeal"
But how am to get out of here!'
asked Ramabai. Guards all about, and
doubtless hidden to shoot if stir:
Itch! Tch!" clicked Ahmed. he
unwound his dirty turban and slipped
out of the ragged shirtlike frock
These and the water skin below. A
bhisti entered, bhisti goes out. what
is simpler than that? 1t is not light
enough for the soldiers to notice.
Ahmed" said Bruce, holding out
his hand, you're man"
Thanks, sahib," drily. But hasten!-
At dawn tomorrow, or late tonight, Ra-
mabai returns with a full water skin.
The memsahib must at least stand the
ordeal of terror, for she Is guarded too
well. Yet, if they were not going TO
bind her, should not worry. She has
animal magic in her eye, in her voice
| have seen wild beasts grow still
when she spoke. Who knows? Now,
sleep"
Bruce and Ramabai had no difficulty
in passing the guards. They wisely
made wide detour to the peepul tree.
which they climbed. disturbing the
apes and the parrakeets.
Somewhere near o'clock they
heard the creaking of wheels and
murmur of voices. Shortly into the
range of vision drew pair of bullocks.
pulling tiger trap toward the clear
ing
When Bruce saw this damnable'
thing he understood, and he shook
with horror and voiceless rage. He
caught Ramabai by the arlp SO savage
ly that low cry came from the brown
mans lips.
Patience, sahib!" he warned. with.
out you what will the memsahib do?
They will tie her in that and liberate
tiger. The rest lies with you, sahib."
"Ramabai as God hears me. some
one shall pay for this"
"Hush!" again warned Ramabai,
hugging his perch.
Later by half an hour Bruce wit
messed a spectacle such as few white
men. happily for their reason, are per-
mitted to see Kathlyn, in her royal
robes (for ordeals of this character
were ceremonials), necklace of Won
derful emeralds about her throat.
stepped from her palanquin and stood
waiting. From other vehicles and con-
veyances stepped Umballa, the Coun-
Gil, and the yellow-robed priests.
He saw the bejeweled turban of UNI
balla bend toward the girl, and it was
hard to resist taking pot at the men.
Kathlyn shook her head. Thereupon
she was led to the trap, her hands
bound, and the rope round her waist
attached securely to the ring.
All, they talked about it that night
in the surging bazaars. in the palace,
wherever two persons came together:
how the white hunter had appeared
from nowhere, rushed toward the trap
as the tiger approached, entered and
dropped the door, blazed away at the
beast, who turned tail and limped of
into the jungle. All! 1t was sight