The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-05-15
RATf7.

had never heard of Nero, called Ahenobarbus, and, being
without comparisons, they missed the greatness of their
august but hampered regent UmbaIah.
Always the bazaars heard news before any other part
of the city. The white memsahib was not dead, but had
been recaptured while posing as the zenana physician in
an attempt to rescue her sister, the new queen. o, the
chief city of Alfalfa was blessed in the matter Of choice
and unexpected emusements unrivaled in all Asia.
Yes, Umballah was not unlike Nero-to keep the popu'
lace amused 80 they would temporarily forget their bur
dens.
But why the sudden appearance Of soldiers, who stood
guard at every exit, compelling the inmates of the bazaars
not to leave their houses? Al, al! Why this secrecy,
since they knew what was going to take placer But the
soldiers, ordinarily volubl4, maintained grim silence, and
even went so far as to extend the bayonet to all those
who tried to leave the narrow streets.
AR affair OF stated" was ell the natives could get in
answer to their inquiries. Men came hocking to the roofs.
But the moonshine made all things ghostly. The car Of
the god Juggernaut was visible, but what lay N its path
could not be seen.
Umballah was not popular that night, But this vas
a private affair. Well he knew the ingenuity and re-
sources of his enemies at large. There would be no rescue
this night. Kathlyn Memsahib should die this time he
determined to put fear into the hearts of the others.
Having drunk his kings peg, he was we'll fortified
against any personal qualms. The passion he had had
for KathIyn was dead, dead as he wanted her to be-
Whom the gods destroy they first make mad; and
Umballah was mad.
The palanquin waited in vain outside the wall of the
garden Of bridcs-waited till a ripple of the news eddied
about the conveyance in the shape of a greatly agitated
Lal Singh.
He is really going to kill herr" he painted. "Hs
lured her to her sisters side, then captured her. She il
to be placed beneath the car Of Juggernaut within an
hour. 1t is to be done secretly. The people are guarded
o-l LhJ l., H., b11oor Abon1 with on elaDh9nt and
armed keepers, will be here shortly. 1 have warned him.
UmbaIlah runs amuck!"
Suddenly they heard voices In the garden, first Umba[
labs, then Kathlyn's. Sinister portents to the ears OK
the listeners, father and lover and loyal friends. The
former were for breaking into the garden then and there;
but a glance through the wicket gate disclosed the fact
that Umballah and Kathlyn were surrounded by fifteen or
twenty soldiers. And they dared not fire at Umballah for
fear Of hitting Kathlyn.
The palanquin was hastily carried out of sight.
At the end Of the passage or street nearest the town
was a gate which was seldom closed. Through this one
had to pass 10 and from the city. Going through this
gate, one could make the hill (where the car OF Jugger-
naut stood) within fifteen minutes, while a detour round
the walls Of the ancient city would consume three-quarters
Of an hour. UmbaItah ordered the gate to be closed and
stationed a guard there. The gates changed behind him
and Kathlyn. This time he was guarding every entrance.
If his enemies were within they would naturally be weak
in numbers outside, they would find it extremely difficult
to make an entrance. More than this, he had sent a
troop toward tie coloneIs camp.
The gates had scarcely been closed when Ahmed, his
elephant, and his armed keepers came into view. The
men sent Pundita back to camp, and the actual warfare
began. They approached the gate, demanding to be al
lowed to pass. The soldiers refused. Instantly the keep
ers flung themselves furiously upon the soldiers. The
trooper who held the key threw it over the wall just be-
fore he was overpowered. But Ahmed had come prepared.
From out the howdah he took a heavy leather pad, which
he adjusted over the fore skull Of the elephant, and gave
a command.
The skull of the elephant is thick. Hunters will tell
you that bullets glance off it as water from the back of
a duck. Thus, protected by the leather pad, the elephant
becomes a formidable battering ram, backed by tons Of
weight. Only the solidity of stones may stay him.
Ahmeds elephant shouldered through the gates grandly.
For all the resistance they offered that skull, they might
have been constructed of PAPER mache.
Through the dust they hurried. Whenever a curious
native got in the way the butt Of a rife bestirred him
out of it.