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

: Somehow 1 knew. you uOouh come"
believe be acted as bearer to the young lady at the palace.
What has become Of him?"
The officer smiled and shook his lead.
."Rao is a prisoner, them" thought the young man.
"That black scoundrel Umballah is at least thorough"
Aloud he said: ave shall 60 at once to your house,
Ramabai."
And all through the night they planned and planned,
but not knowing where the first ordeal as to take place,
nor the hour, they found themselves going round in a
circle, getting nowhere. To a man # ction like Bruce
it was maddening. He walked out of the house into the
garden and back again at least a dozen times, always
to find Ramabai with his head held despairingly in hs
hands. Another time Bruce opened the door to the street;
two troopers squatted on each side of the threshold.
Umballah was in earnest. The rear gate was also
guarded. How to get Ramabai out, that was the problem.
He slept a little before dawn, and was aroused BY
voices below. He listened.
"I am Jawahir Lal, the water carrier. Each day at
dawn I water he garden of Ramabai to pay a debt"
Bruce looked toward Ramabai, who slept the sleep OF
the profoundly wearied. A bhisti; perhaps a messenger.
G around to the rear gate, which can be opened"
said the trooper. 49, . -
Bruce went to the window overlooking the garden. He
saw the water carrier enter through the bamboo gate
heard the water slosh about ierkily as the bhisti 'emptied
his goatskin. He watched the man cu-:ously; saw him
drop the skin and tiptoe toward the house, glance right
and left alerty. Then he disappeared. Presently at the
head Of the stairs Bruce heard a whisper" Ramabai!s
"Who is it," Bruce whispered in T. dialect.
AHMED"
Ahmed. Who was Ahmed?
Bruce shook Ramabai. Ahmed is here. Whosi is her.
he asked softly.
"Ahmed?" drowsily. Then, wide awake enough:
Ahmed? 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 cana into the chamber. "To see
Bruce Sahib is good. Tomorrow my masters daughter Ia
to be carried into the jungle. The Mernsahib is to be tied
inside a tiger trap, bait for the cat. That is the first
ordeal"
" Shaitanl" znurmured Raunabai 81.
Go on, Ahmed"
The cage will be set near the old peeprl tree, not far
from the3south gate. Now, you, Sahib, and you, Ramabai
must hide somewhere near. II is the law that Il she
escapes the ordeal from unexpected sources sheis free: at
least till the second ordeal I know not what that Ii az
present, or when it is to take place. The troops wnl be
there, and the populace, the council, the priests, ana
Of bamboo. / may not be there, but some one win. She
must be hurried OF before the confusion dies away.
Must, Sahib. There must be no second ordeal"
But how am I to get ont OF here? " asked Ramabai.
"Guards all about, and doubtless hidden to shoot lie
stirI.
s.Tchl Tchl y clicked Ahmed. he unwound his dirty
turbaa and slipped out Of the ragged shirtlike 9ock.
9 These and the watar skin below. A hhisti entered, d.
bhisti goes out. What IS simpler than that2 Tt ID not
light enough for the soldiers to notice. There II food and