The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1914-07-31

Ahmed; l am Bruce. Let US speak In
English"
Good" Ahmed came into the
chamber. ITO see Bruce Sahib IL
good. Tomorrow my masters daugh-
ter Is to be carried into the Jungle,
The memsahib Is to be tied inside a
tiger trap. bait for the cat. That is the
first ordeal"
"Shaitan!" murmured Ramabai.
Go on. Ahmed"
The cage will be set near the old
peepul tree. not far from the south
gate. Now. you sahib, and you, Rama
bal, must hide somewhere near. Il 10
/ the law that II she escapes the ordeal
from unexpected sources she Is free.
at least till the second ordeal. | know
not what that Is at present or when
1t Is to take place. The troops will be
there, and the populace. the Council.
the priests, and umballa l shall have
two swift camels hear the clump Of
bamboo. | may not be there, but
some one will. She must be hurried
of before the confusion dies away.
Must. sahib. There must be no second
ordeal"
But how am | to get out of here?"
asked Ramabai. Guards all about, and
doubtless hidden to shoot II stir!"
Itch, Tch!" clicked Ahmed. He
unwound his dirty turban and slipped
out Of the ragged shirtlike frock.
These and the water skin below. A
bhisti entered, a bhisti goes out. What
Is simpler than that? 1t Is not light
enough for the soldiers to notice" 4
Ahmed" said Bruce, holding out
his hand. you're a sman."
Thanks, sahib," drily. But hasten!
At dawn tomorrow, or late tonight, Ra-
mabai 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,
| have seen wild beasts grow still
when she spoke. Who knows? Now, I
sleep"
Bruce and Ramabai had no difficulty
In passing the guards. They wisely
made a wide detour to the peepul tree,
which they climbed. disturbing the
apes and the parrakeets.
Somewhere aear s o'clock they
heard the %creaking Of wheels and a
murmur Of voices. Shortly into the
range of vision drew a pair of bullocks.
pulling a tiger trap toward the clear.
ing.
When Bruce saw this damnabie
thing he understood, and he shook
with horror and voiceless rage. He
caught Ramabai by the arm 80 savage
ly that a low cry came from the brown
mans lips.
Patience, sahib!" he warned. With.
out you what will the memsahib do?
They will tie her in that and liberate
a tiger. The rest lies with you, sahib.'
"Ramabai. as God hears me. some
one shall pay for this!"
Hush" again warned Ramabai,
hugging his perch.
Later by half an hour Bruce wit
messed a spectacle such as few white
men, happily for their reason, are per.
mitted to see. Kathlyn, In her royal
robes (for ordeals OF this character
were ceremonials), a necklace of
derful emeralds about her throat,
stepped from her palanquin and stood
waiting. From other vehicles and CON
yeyances stepped Umballa, the Coun-
Gil. and the yellow.robed priests.
He saw the bejeweled turban Of Um.
balla bend toward the girl. and 1t vas
hard to resist taking a pot at the Q
Kathlyn shook her head. Thereupon
she was led to the trap, her hands
bound, and the rope round her waist
attached securely to the ring.
All, they talked about II that night
In the surging bazaars. In the palace.
wherever two persons came together:
how the white hunter had appeared
from nowhere, rushed toward the trap
as the tiger approached, entered and
the door, blazed away at the
beast, who turned tail and limped OF
into the jungle. All! 1t was a sight
for eyes. They could laugh behind
Umballa's back, the gutter born. the
upstart; they could riddle
(conidentiaily) the Council with rude
Tests. The law was the law; and none,
not ever the priests In their shaver
polls and yellow robes. might slip be-
yond the law as 1t read. The first
ordeal was over. Nor. as the law read,
,ould they lay hands upon this brave
,oung man. Al! 1t was good. UmbaIla
must look elsewhere for his chief wife;
he memsahib would not adorn his
Thank you" Kathlyn had said.
Somehow I knew you would come"
And what she had seen in his eyes
lad made her tremble visibly for the
irst time that day.
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