Evening star., 1914-03-15
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Bg HAROLD MAC GRATH.

could do would be to put the fight on a
basis Of equality So far as numbers were
concerned
The colonel forgot all about how weak
he was. The rage and despair in his
heart had once more given him a ac-
titious strength.
The curse. the curse. always the
curse"'
Don't you believe that, colonel. 1t is
only misfortune. Now I'm going to pot
Umballah. That will simplify everything.
without head the soldiers will be with
out a cause, and they'll desert Kathlyn
as quickly as our coolies deserted u.s.
Where is Ahmedr'
+
But we can't wait now. He'll have to
look out for himself. Hark!'
Squealing and trumpeting and thun-
derous crashing in the distance.
wild elephantr' cried the colonel. the
old impulse wheeling him round. But
the younger man caught hold Of his arm
significantly.
The soldiers poled diligently, but against
the stream. together with the clumsiness
of the barge. they could not make head
way with any degree Of speed. It was
not long before Bruce could see them.
He raised his rife and let go; and in the
boat Umballah felt his turban stir mys-
teriously The report which instantly
followed was enough to convince him
that he in particular was being made y
target. He crouched behind Kathlyn
while two or three of the soldiers re-
turned the shot, aiming at the clump Of
scrub from which a film Of pale blue
smoke issued. They waited for another
shot, but none came.
The reason was this: The herd Of wild
elephant which Bruce and the colonel
had heard came charging almost directly
toward them. smashing young trees and
trampling the tough underbrush. Some
of them made for the water directly in
line with the passing boats. Kathlyn.
keenly alive to the fact that here was q
chance, jumped oveboard before Umbal-
lah could reach out staying hand.
n
To Kathlyn there was only death in
the path of the elephants; to remain on
the barge was to face eventually that
which was worse than death. Her arm
painfully, but in the desperate
energy with which she determined to
take the chance she used 1t. Quite con-
trary to her expectations. her leap was
the best thing she could have done. Most
of the barges were upset and the great
between her and the barges.
Bruce witnessed Kathlyn's brave at
tempt and dashed into the water after
her. 1t took him but a moment to bring
her to land, where her father clasped her
in his arms and broke down again.
Dad, dadr' she whispered. Don't you
see our God is powerfulest? I believed
I was going to be trampled to death,
and here I am with you once more"
weakness would permit TO where they had
left their own elephants, doubling that
they should find them. considering that
it was quite probable that they had
Joined their wild brethren. But no; they
were standing shoulder to shoulder. flap
ping their ears and curling their trunks.
So many years had they. been trained
to hunt elephant that they did not seem
to know what to do without some one
to guide them.
Bruce ordered one OF them TO knee
doubtfully; but the big fellow obeyed the
command docilely and the colonel and
Bruce helped the exhausted girl into the
howdah. The colonel followed. while
Bruce took upon his own shoulders the
duties Of mahout. Pundita got into the
other howdah and Ramabai initiated
Bruce The elephants shuff1ed on, away
from the river. For the time being
neither Bruce nor Ramabai gave mind
to the compass. To make pursuit i'm
possible was the main business just then.
Later Umballah, dulled and stupefed
from his immersion, stood on the shore
with but nine Of the twenty soldiers he
had brought with him. Evidently his
star had faltered. Very well; he would
send for the other sister. She was the
Colonel Sahib's daughter, and young;
she would be as wax in his hands. A
passion remained in Umballah's heart. but
II was now the passion of revenge.