The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1914-10-16
CHAPTER VII.
The SIave Market.

Having decided upon the rate OF
Bathlyn, the natives set about recap
turing the wild elephant. II took the
best part OF the morning. When this
was accomplished the journey to ALA
ha was begun. But for tho days Of
peace and quiet OF the wilderness and
the consequent hardness Of her flesh,
Kathlyn would have suffered greatly
Half the time she was compelled to
walk. There we're no howdahs, and II
was a difficult feat to sit back of the
mahout. The rough skin Of the ele-
phant had the same effect upon the
calves Of her legs that sandpaper
would have had Sometimes she
stumbled and fell, and was rudely
ierked to her feet. Only the day be
fore they arrived was she relieved in
any way; she was given a litter, and
in this manner she entered the hate
ful city.
On the way to the slave mart they
passed under the shadow Of the grim
prison walls Of the palace The ele-
plants veered off here into a side
street, toward the huge square where
horses and cattle and elephants were
bought and sold The litter, in charge
OF the chief mahout, proceeded to the
slave mart Kathlyn glanced at the
wall wonderingly. Was her father
alive? Was he in some bleak cell be-
hind that crumbling masonry?
Even as she sent a last lingering
look at the prison the prisoner within,
his head buried in his thin, wasted
hands, beheld her in a vision-but in
a happy, joyous vision. busying about
the living room of the bungalow.
And far away younger man beheld
a vision as very tenderly he gazed at
Kathlyn's discarded robe and resumed
his determined quest. Often, standing
beyond his evening fires, he would ask
the silence, "Kathlyn, where are
you?' Even then he was riding fast
toward Allaha.
A slave mart is a rare thing these
days, but at the time these scenes
were being enacted there existed
many Of them here and there across
the face of the globe. Men buy and
sell men and women these times-en-
lightened, so they say-but they do it
by legal contract or from vile hiding
places.
Allaha had been a famous mart in
it's prime 1t had drawn the agents
OF princes from all over India. Persia.
Beloochistan, Afghanistan, and even
southern Russia had been rifled of
their beauties to adorn the zenanas of
the slothful Hindu princes.
The slave mart in the capital town
of Alfalfa stood in the center of the
bazaars, great square platform with
a roof, but open on all four sides.
Here the slaves we're exhibited, the
poor things intended for dalliance and
those who we're to struggle and sweat
and die under the overseer's lash.
Every fortnight a day was set aside
for the business Of the mart. Owners
and prospective buyers met, chewed
betel nut, smoked their hookahs,
slipped coffee and tea and exchanged
the tattle of the hour 1t was as much
an amusement as a business; indeed,
it was the oriental idea of a club, and
much the same things were discussed.
All about there were barkers, and
fruit sellers, and bangle wallas (for
slave girls should have rings of rupee
silver about their ankles and Wrists),
and solemn Brahmins, and men who
painted red and ochre caste marks on
ones forehead, and ash-covered ia
kris with withered hands, Nautch
girls, girls from the bazaars, peripa-
tetic jewellers. kites, and red-headed
vultures-this being a proper place
for them.
The chief mahout purchased for
Kathlyn beautiful saree, or we'll,
which partially concealed her face
and hair.
"Chalu!" he said, touching Kath-
lyn's shoulder whenever she Jagged,
for they had dispensed with the litter.
Go ont"
She understood. Outwardly she ap-
peared passive enough, but her soul
was on fire and her eyes as brilliant
as those of the circling, swooping
kites, watching for that moment which
was to offer some loophole. On
through the noisy bazaars, the object
of many curious remark, sometimes
insulted by the painted women at the
windows, sometimes jested at by the
idlers around the merchants booths.
1t seemed to her, however, that a
film Of steel had grown over her
nerves; nothing startled her; she
sensed only the watchfulness she had
often noted in the captives at the
farm.
At length they came out into the
busy mart. The old mahout congratu-
lated himself upon the docility of his
find. 1t would stiifen the bidding to
announce that she was gentle. lie
even went so far as to pat her on the
shoulder The steel film did not cover
all her nerves, so it would seem; the
,patted shoulder was vulnerable. She
WINGED for she read clearly enough
what was in the mind back of that
touch
She had made her plans. To the
man who purchased her she would as
sumo q meakness of spirit In order to