The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1914-09-11

} This rare and unexpected freedom
this opportunity to 80 whittier ht
listed, was as the giant fern he used Il
eat in the days when he was free ant
, wild in Ceylon.
: Kathlyn called out to the men, but
they turned and fled in terror. To then
Rajah was amuck. The elephant
passed the fire so closely that the WING
of his passing stirred the fire into life
! again; and this time it Crept TOWARD
the highly infammable grass. A few
J hundred yards beyond Kathlyn turned
to see the flames Ieaping along the
( grass Rajah. getting d Whit Of the
, aCrid smoke, quiCkened his stride. The
fire followed with amazing rapidly
and stopped only when it reached the
} bed Of a triCkiing stream, no doubt q
torrent during the big rains. A great
pail Of smoke blotted out everything In
the rear; blOtted out hope, for Bruce
never could pick up the trail now.
Kathlyn's eyes were feverishly dry
and bright. It was only, matter OF
time when the howdah would slip
down the brutes side. She prayed that
she might die instantly. Strange
fancies fitted through her mind, dis
ordered by all these days OF suspense
and terror
And suddenly the jungle came to an
end, and long ploWed field opened
into view. Beyond this field rose a
ruined wall, broken by a crumbllng
gate, and lounging in the gateway
were soldiers. Near by were two ele-
plants employed in piling logs.
Rajah. perforce, slackened his gait.
The soldiers became animated. lm1ne-
diately 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 kneeled. The sol
diers ran forward to help Kathlyn out
Of the howdah. At the sight Of her
skin their establishment was great.
She was very weak and faint, and
! the increasing babel of tongues was
like little triphammers beating upon
her aching head. One Of the soldiers
gave her a drink of water He held
his canteen high, so that the water
trickled into her mouth; no lips but
| his own must touch the nozzle, other
wise, being Brahmin, he would be
detiled Natives instantly flocked
about, jabbering in wonder Some of
the holder touched her bare arms.
The soldiers drove them back angrily.
Through the press horseman pushed
forward. The rider stared at the
strange captive, started, and uttered
an astonished cry.
THE white queen OF Alfalfa, whom
mine own eyes saw crowned at the
Durbar there!" he murmured, "By the
shroud of the prophet, what can this
mean? Stop" he called to the sol
diers. Kathlyn looked up DULY.
Convey her to his highness the ku-
mort" The prince should decide what
should be done with her.
The kumor was big and lazy and
sensual. He gazed upon Kathlyn with
eyes which sparkled evilly, like cats.
Who is this woman?" he demanded.
'Highness, she is the white queen
of Alfalfa. but who may say that she is
here?" with smile as evil as his
masters.
But how came she here?"
The horseman briefly recounted the
events as he had seen them In the cap
ital Of Alfalfa.
who are you, maiden?" the kumor
asked in English, for, like all poten,
tates. little or great, in India, he
spoke English. 1t presented the de-
lectable pastime of corspiring in two
languages; for from Bombay to Cal
cutta, from Peshawar to Madras, India
seethes, conspires, and takes an occa.
sional pot shot at some poor devil of
a commissioner whose only desire is to
have them combine religion and SAM
tation
Il am an American. Please take me
to the English commissioner" Some
how instinct told her that she might
not expect succor from this man with
the pearls about his gross neck
Il regret that his excellency the
commissioner has gone to Bombay. |
Besides, do not know that you tell
the truth Still, l can offer you what
pearls and emeralds you may find to
your liking"
Your highness, there are those
whose coming shortly will cause you
much annoyance IL you refuse to give
me proper aid There is no possible |
way for you to cover up my appear
ance here Send me to the commits
sioners bungalow, where l may await
the coming of my friends"
Indeed" The kumor saw here a
conflict not altogether to his liking.
He was lazy, and there was the damn
able, unrelenting hand of the British
raj looming in the distance. He