The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1914-11-27

mired his ingenuity in devising fresh
amusements. Extra feast days came
one after another. The oriental dis
likes work; and any one who could
invent means of avoiding it was
worthy of gratitude. So, then, the
populace fell in with Umballa's scheme
agreeably. The bhang and betel and
toddy sellers did a fine business dur
ing the festival of Rama.
There was merrymaking in the
streets, day and night. The temples
and mosques we're filled to overflow
ing. Musicians with reeds and tom
toms paraded the bazaars In nearly
every square the nautch girl danced,
or the juggler piled his trade. or there
was a mongoose-cobra fight (the cobra,
of course, bereft of it's fangs) and
fakirs grew mango trees out of moth
ing. There was a furry in the slave
mart, too
The troops staggered about. over
bearing. They were soon to get their
pay. The gold and silver were rot
ting in the treasury Why leave it
there, since gold and silver were mint
ed to be spent?
There were elephant fights in the
reconstructed arena; tigers attacked
wild boars, who fought with enormous.
razorlike tusks, as swift and deadly as
any Malay kris The half forgotten
ceremony of feeding the wild pig be-
fore sundown each day was given life
again. And drove after drove came
in from the iungles for the grain,
which was distributed from a plat
form. And wild peacocks followed the
pigs. A wonderful sight it was to see
several thousand pigs come trotting
in, each drove headed by it's fighting
boar When the old fellows met there
was carnage; squealing and grunting
they fought. The peacocks shrilled
and hoped from back to back for such
grain as fell upon the bristly backs of
the pigs Here and there a white pea
cock would be shared, or boar whose
tusks promised battle royal wish
some leopard or tiger
And through all this turmoil and
clamor Ahmed and Lal Singh moved,
sounding the true sentiments of the
people. They did not want white
kings or white queens; they desired to
be ruled by their kind, who would not
start innovations, but would let af-
fairs drift on as they had done for
centuries.
Nor was Bruce inactive. Many
time Umballa had stood within en
arms length of death; but always
Bruce had resisted the impulse. 1t
would be rank folly to upset Ramabai's
plans, which were to culminate in
Umballas overthrow.
But upon a certain hour Ramabai
came to Bruce, much alarmed During
his absence with Pundita at some
palace affair his home had been en-
tered, ransacked, and 10000 rupees
had been stolen. His real fortune,
however, was hidden securely. The
real trouble was that these 10000 ru-
pees would practically Undo much of
what had been accomplished. He was
certain that Umballa had instigated
this theft, and that the money would
be doled out to the soldiers. For upon
their dissatisfaction rested his future.
Take Bala Khan at his word" sug-
gested Bruce, "and ask him for his
1000 hillmen."
Ramabai smiled. And have Bala
Khan constitute himself the king of
No, sahib; he is good friend,
but he is also a dangerous one. We
must have patience"
"Patiencei" exploded Bruce.
Il have waited several years. DO
you not see that when / strike must
But these warnings to Umballa?"
"He is not molesting me, is he?' re-
turned Ramabai calmly.
Well, it is more than could
stand"
"Ah, you white people waste so
much life and money by acting upon
-FOUR impulses! Trust me; my way Is
best; and that is. for the present we
must wait"
God knowa." sighed Bruce, -but I
I'm beginning to beaisvo In the oolOnel's
guruF j