The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-02-21
Bq HAROLD MAC GRATH.

water here. Trust me to eludo those btnng-guzzlers out.
side. Am I a ryot, a farmer, to twist naught but bull.
locks tails?"
"Ahmed"' said Bruce, holding out his hand, you're
a man"
Thanks, Sahib," dryly. But hasten! At dawn TO-
morrow, or late tonight, Ramabai returns with q full
water skin. The Memsahib must at least stand the
ordeal Of terror, for she Is guarded too well Yet, IL
they were not going to bind her, I should not worry. She
has animal magic in her eye, in her voice. 1 have seen
wild beasts grow still when she spoke. Who knows?
Now I Sleep"
Bruce and Ramabai had no difficulty In passing the
guards. The white hunter was free 20 come and go, and
the sleepy soldiers saw the water Skin which Ramabai
threw carelessly over his head. They rat down against
the wall again and r~eplenished the dung fire. Bruce and
Ramabai wisely made a wide detour to the peepul tree,
which they climbed, disturbing the apes and the para
keets.
Somewhere near s o'clock they heard the creaking OF
wheels and a murmur Of voices. Shortly into their range
of vision drew q pair Of bullocks, pulling a tiger trap
toward the clearing. This cage was OF stout wood with
iron bars. The rear of the cage was solid; the front had
a falling door. Tho whole structure rested upon low
wheels, and there was a drop platform which rested upon
the ground. An iron ring was attached to the rear wall,
and to this was generally tied a kid, the bleating of which
lured the tiger for which the trap WIS laid. The moment
the brute touched the bait the falling door slid down,
imprisoning the prowler.
When Bruce saw. this damnable thing he understood,
and he shook with horror and voiceless rage. He caught
Ramabai by the arm SO. savagely that a low cry came
from the brown mans lips.
Patience, Sahib! " he warned. Without you, what
will the Memsahib do? They will tie her in that and
lberate a tiger. The rest lies with you, sahib."
"Ramabai, as God hears me, some one shall pay for
this! The nineteenth century, and I am wide
awake! I may not be able to kill the brute with these
revolvers, but I'll stop him, even if l have to use my bare
hands. . Kathlyn HareI"
"Hush!" again warned Ramabai, hugging his perch.
Later by half On hour Bruce witnessed a spectacle
such as few white men, happily Tor their reason, are
permitted to See. Kathlyn in her royal robes (for ordeals
of this character were ceremonfals), a necklace of won
derful emeralds about her throat, stepped from her palan-
quin and stood waiting. From other vehicles and con-
veyances stepped Uznballah, the council, and the yellow
:robed priests. Troops also appeared, and behind them
the eager, expectant populace. They were to be amused.
There were many of them, however, who hoped that q
miracle would happen.
"Ramabai," whispered Bruce, " she is as beautiful as
a dream. If I had only known! Well, there's going to
be a miracle. Sec how straight she stands; not a sign of
fear in her face. There's a woman q womal
Tor mel " he added under his breath.
He saw the bejeweled turban of UmbalIah bend toward
the girl, and it was hard to resist taking a pot-shot at the
man. Kathlyn shook her head. Thereupon she was led
to the trap, her hands bound, and the rope around her
waist attached securely to the ring.
All, they talked aoout it that night N the surgine
bazaars, in the palace, wherever two persons came to-
gether: 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 lmped OFF into the jungle. Al! it was a
sight for eyes. They could laugh behind Umballah's back,
the gutter born, the iron heeled upstart; they could riddle
(confdentially) the council with ude je It's. The law was
the law; and none, not even the priests in their shaven