The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-03-07

The current Of the stream carried Kathlyn along at
a fair pace; all she had to do was to pole away from
the numerous sand bars and such powders as lifted
their rugged heads above the water.
Round a bend the river widened and grew correspond
ingly sluggish. She sounded with her pole. Something
hideous beyond words arose-a fat, aged, crafty croco-
die. His corrugated snout was thrust quickly over the
edge Of the raft. She struck at him wildly with the
pole, and in a fury he rushed the raft, upsetting Kathlyn.
The crocodile sank and for a moment lost sight Of
Kathlyn, who waded franticaly to the bank, up which
she scrambled. She turned in time to see the croco-
dne,s fearful eyes staring up at her from the waters
edge. He presently slid back into his Shiny bed; a few
yellow bubbles, and he was gone.
Kathlyn's heart became suddenly and unaccountab!y
swollen with rage; she became prImordial; she wanted
to hurt, main, kill. Childishly she stopped and picked
up heavy stones which she hurled into the water. The
instinct to live famed so strongly in her that the crust
Of civilization fell away like mist before the sun, and
for a long time the pure savage (Which lies dormant in
us alb ruled her. She would live, live, live; she would
live to forget this oriental inferno through which she
was passing.
She ran toward the jungle, all unconscious Of the
stone she still held in her hand. She lost all sense Of
time and compass; and SO ran in a half circle, coming
out at the river again.
The Indian twilight was rising in the east when she
found herself again looking out upon the water, the
stone still clutched tightly. She gazed at the river, then
at the stone, and again at the river. The stone dropped
with a thud at her feet. The savage in her had not
abated in the least; only her body was terribly worn
and wearied and the robe, muddied and torn, enveloped
her like a veil of ice. Above her the lonely yellow sky;
below her the sickly river; oil about her silence which
held a thousand menaces. Which way should she go?
Where could she possibly find shelter for the night?
nhn ol;D uor.n5 49, GooJly ,o5 che pNu,1n0 hap cuwn
to renew the circulation. Near by she saw a tree, in the
crotch of which reposed a platform, and upon this plat
form sat a shrine. A few withered flowers hung about
the gross neck OF the idol, and withered flowers lay
scattered at the base of the tree. There was also a
bundle Of dry rushes which some devotee had forgotten.
At least, yonder platform would afford safety through
the night. So, with the last bit of strength at her COM.
mand, she gathered up the rushes and climbed to the
platform, arranging her bed behind the idol. She COW
cred her shoulders with the PUSHES and drew her knees
up to her chin. She had forgotten her father, Bruce,
the happy days in g. far country; she had but a single
thought, to sleep. What the want of sleep could not
perform exhaustion could; and presently she lay still.
Thus, she neither saw nor heard the pious pilgrims
who were on their way to Alfalfa to pray in that temple
known to offer protection against wild beasts. Fortu.
nately, they did not observe her.
The pilgrim is always a pilgrim in India; it becomes,
one might say, q fascinating kind of sport. To most
of them, short pilgrinag es are as tame as rabbits would
be to the hunter Of lions. They win walk from Bombay
to Benares, from Madras to Llassa, begging and brag-
ging all the way. Eventually they become %semi-holy,
distinguished citizens in a clutter of mud huts.
They deposited some corn and fruit at the foot Of
the tree and departed, leaving Kathlyn in peace. But
later, when the moon poured its white, cold radiance
over her face it awakened her, and it took her some time
to realize where she was.
Below, belly deep In the river. stood several water
~bufaloes, their sweeping horns g~Iistening like old ivory
in the moonshine. Presently a leopard stole down 20
the brink and Tapped the water ~greedily, from time to
time throwing a hasty, apprehensive glance over his
sleek shoulders. The buffaloes never stirred; where they
were 1t was safe. Across the river q bulky shadow
moved into the light, and o fat brown bear took Ills
1.-THE of the water. The leopard snaried and skunk of.
The bear washed his face, possibly sticky with pnr-
Joined wild honey. and betook himself back to his lair.
Kathlyn suddenly became aware Of the fact that she
was d spectator to a scene such as few human beings
are permitted to see; truce water where the wild beasts
do NOT kill each other. She grey 20 Interested that she
forgot her own plight. The tree stnnd only q few seea