The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-02-25

extra handicap, never brought Rajah into sight. But
the trail was clear, and they followed.
Surely that poor girl was marked for misfortune. In
all the six years Bruce had possessed Rajan he had
never exhibited anything but docility. The elephant was
not running amuck, though he might eventually work
himself into that blind, ungovernable rage. Off like that,
without the slightest warning! If Nathlyn could only
keep him clear of the trees, for the old rogue would do
his best to scrape off the irksome howdah.
Kathlyn heard the shouts from behind. but she could
not understand whether these were warnings or advice.
Could they overtake her before she was flung off? She
tried to recall the " elephant talk Ahmed had taught
her in the old days at the farm, but just now she was
too dazed. At the end of an hour all sounds from the
rear ceased; no more pistol shots to encourage her with
the knowledge that friends were near. Rajah must have
Outstripped them two or three miles.
At length she came into a small clearing amid the tall
jungle grass, a dead and brittle last years growth. She
saw two natives in the act of kicking out a dung fire.
Rajah headed directly toward them, the FIRE evidently
being in the line of path he had CHOSEN. This rare and
unexpected freedom, this opportunity to go whittier he
listed, was as the giant fern he used to eat in the days
when he was free and wild in Ceylon.
kathiyn called out TO the men, but they turned and
fed in terror. To them Rajah was amuck. The ele-
plant passed the fire SO closely that the wind Of his
passing stirred the fire into life again; and this time it
crept toward the highly i~ndammabl grass. A few hun.
dred yards beyond Kathlyn turned to see the flames leap.
ing along the grass. Rajah, getting a Whit of the acrid
smoke, %quickened his stride. The FIRE followed with
amazing rapdity and stopped only when it reached the
bed of a tricking stream, no doubt a torrent during the
big rains. A great pail of smoke blotted out everything
in the rear; biotted out hope, for Bruce could never pick
up the trail now.
kathlyns eyes were ~feverishly dry and bright. It was
only a matter of time when the howdah would slip down
the brutes side. She prayed that she might die instantly,
Strange fancies fitted through her mind, ~disordered by
all these days Of suspense and terror.
And suddenly the jungle came to an end, and a lone.
plowed field opened into view. Beyond this field rose a
ruined wall, broken by a %crunibling gate, and lounginr in
the gateway were soldiers. Near by were two elephants
employed in piling logs.
Rajah, %perforce, slackened his gait. The soldiers be-
came animated. Immediately the two mahouts charged
their brutes toward Rajah, who stopped. He had had
his sport He swayed to and fro. One Of the mahouts
reached forward and couted Rajah on the knee. He
slowly kneeled. The soldiers ran forward to help Kata-
lyn out of the howdah. At the sight Of her skin their
establishment was great.
She was very weak and faint, and the increasing babel
of tongues was like little t%riphammers beating upon her
aching mead. One OF the soldiers gave her a drink Of
water. he held his canteen high. SO that the water
tricked into. her mouth; no lips but his own must touch
the nozzle, otherwise, being a Brahmin, he would be
defled. Natives instantly focked about, jabbering in
wonder. Some Of the holder touch ed her bare arms.
The horsenan pushed forward. The rider stared at the
strange captive, started, and uttered an astonished cry.
The white queen OF Alfalfa, whom mine own eyes
saw crowned at the Durbar there!' he murmured. By
the STROUD Of the prophet. what can this mean? stop!'