Evening star., 1914-01-25
FHE ADVENTURES 1RE&lEEp@@$ @1F 1N@1HZHl1Yl
81 HAROLD MAC GRATH.

"Ahmed''
Ahmed. Who was Ahmed?
Bruce shook Rama bal. ahmed is here.
Who Is he?" he asked softly.
"Ahmed?'' drowsily. Then, wide awake
enough: tAhmed?" He was Hare Sahib's
head animal man. Where is he?
''Hush. Not so loud Come up, Ahmed;
I am Bruce. Let us speak in English
'Good:' Ahmed came into the cham
ber '.To see Bruce sahib is good. To-
morrow my masters daughter is to be car
ried into the jungle. The Memsahib is
to be tied inside tiger trap, bait for the
cat. That is the first ordeal
"Shaitan." murmured Ranabai.
Go on, Ahmed
1.-The cage will be set near the old peepaI
tree. not far from the south gate. Now,
YOU, Sahib, and you, Ranabai, must hide
escapes the ordeal from unexpected sources
she is free, at least till the second ordeal.
I 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 Umballah. I shall have
two swift camels near the clunp Of bam-
will. She must be hurried off before the
confusion dies away. Must, Sahib. There
n,nst he M second ordeal
But how ] TO get out of here"
asked Ramabai. Guards all about, and
doubtless bidden to shoot if 1 stir
Itch. Tch." clicked Ahmed He un-
wound his dirty turban and slipped out
of the ragged shirtlike frock These and
the water skin below A bhisti entered,
a bllisti goes out What is simpler than
that? 1t is not light enough for the SOL
diers to notice There is food and water
here. Trus. me to elude those bhans-
guzzlers outside. Am 1 a ryot, farmer,
to twist naught but bullocks' tails?''
hand, you're man.
"Thanks Sahib," dryly. But hasten.
At dawn tomorrow, or late tonight, Rama
bal returns with a full water skin The
Memsahib must at least stand the ordeal
Of terror, for she is guarded too well. Yet,
II 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, sleep
Bruce and Ramabai had no difficulty in
passing the guards. The white hunter
was free to come and go, and the sleepy
soldiers saw the water skin which Rama
bal threw carelessly over his head. They
sat down against the wall again and re-
plenished the dung fire. Bruce and Rama
bal wisely made wide detour to the pee
pull tree, which they climbed, disturbing
the apes and the parrakeets.
Somewhere near o'clock they heard
the creaking Of wheels and murmur o:
voices Shortly into their range of vision
drew 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 q
falling door. The whole structure rested
upon low wheels, and there was drop
platform which rested upon the ground.
An iron ring was attached to the rear
wall, and to this was generally tied kid,
the bleating of which lured the tiger for
which the trap was laid. The moment the
brute touched the bait the falling door
slid down, impr;soning 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 low cry
came from the brown mans lips.
Patience, Sahib"' he warned. with