The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-01

extra handicap, never brought Rajah into sight But
the trail was clear, and they followed.
Surely that poor girl marked for misfortune In
all the six years Bruce had possessed Rajan he had
exhibited anything but docily. The elephant
not running amuek, though he might eventually work
himself into that blind ungovernabe Off like that,
without the slightest warning! If Kathyn could only
keep him clear of the trees for the old would do
his best to scrape off tine irksome howdah.
Kathlyn heard the shouts from behind but She could
not understand whether these warnings advice.
Could they overtake her before she flung off? She
tried to recall the elephant talk Ahmed had taught
her in the old days the farm but just she
too dazed At the end hour all sounds from the
ceased; pistol shots to her with
the knowledge that friends Rajah have
outstripped tnem two three miles
At length she into small clearing amid the tall
jungle grass, dead and brittle last years growth She
saw natives in the act of kicking dung fire.
ajah headed directly toward them, the evidently
being in the line of path he had CHOSEN This and
unexpected freedom, this opportunity go whittier
listed, the giant he to eat in the days
when he free and wild in Ceyon
Kathlyn called out the men, but they turned and
fed in terror. To them Rajah amuck The ele-
plant passed the fire closely that the wind of his
passing the fire life again. and this time
crept toward the highly ndammable grass A few hum
dred yards beyond Kahyn see the flames leap
ing along the Rajah, getting whiff of the acrd
smoke, quickened his stride The fire followed with
amazing rapdity and stopped only when reached the
bed of trickng stream doubt torrent during the
big rains. great pail smoke botted out everything
in the bloed hope Bruce could never pick
up the trail now.
Kathyn's eyes feverishy dry and bright 1t was
only matter of time when the howdah would slip down
the brues side She prayed that she might die instantly
Strange fances fitted through mind disordered by
all these days of suspense and terror.
And suddenly the jungle came to an end and a long
powed field opened into view Beyond this field rose
ruined wall, broken by crumbng gate and loungng in
the gateway soldiers Near by two elephants
employed in pling logs.
Rajah, perforce, sackened 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 clouted Rajah on the knee. He
slowly kneeed. The soldiers forward to help Katn-
yn out the howdah AT the sight her skin their
astonishment great
She was very and faint increa sing babel
of tongues like little trphammers beating upon her
aching nead One of the soldiers gave her drink of
water. He held his canteen high. that the water
trickled into her mouth; lips but his touch
the nozzle. otherwise being Brahmin he would be
defed Natives instantly focked about jabbering in
The horseman pushed forward The rider stared at the
The white queen Of Alfalfa, whom mine own eyes
saw crowned the Durbar there. he murmured By
the shroud of the prophet, what this mean? Stop