Rocky Ford enterprise., 1915-12-17

Bruce ordered one Of them to !sneel,
doubtfully; but the big fellow obsyed
the command docilely. and tbs colonel
and Bruce helped the exhausted gin
into the howdah. The colonel followed.
while Bruce took upon his own sifoui
ders the duties of mahout. Pundita got
into the other howdah and RamAbai
initiated Bruce. The elephants shut.
fed of. away from the river. For the
time being neither Bruce nor Ramabai
gave mind to the compass. To make
pursuit impossible was the main busi-
ness Just then.
Later Umballa. du1lcd and stupefed
from his immersion. stood on the
shore. with but nine Of the twenty sol
diers he had brought with him. Evi-
IDENTIFY his star had faltered. Very
we'll; he would send for the other Sis
ter. She was the Colonel Sahib's
daughter, and young; she would be as
wax in his hands. A passion remained
in Umballa's heart. but 1t was now
the passion of revenge.
When he had recovered sufficiently
he gave orders to one of the soldiers
to return to the city, to bring back at
once servants, elephants and all that
would be required for a long pursuit.
The messenger was also to make
| known these preparations to the
| Council. who would undertake to for
ward the cable submitted to them.
Quite unknown. quite unsupported
by him, for all the activity Of his spies.
a volcano was beginning to grumble
under his feet. All tyrants. the petty
and the great. have heard it: the nut
tering OF the oppressed.
Perhaps the fugitives had gone 30
miles when suddenly the Jungle ended
abruptly and a desert opened up be-
fore them. Beyond stood purple line
of rugged hills, Ramabai raised his
hand, and the elephants came to a
halt
81 believe know where l am said
Ramabai. Somewhere between US and
yonder hills is walled city, belonging
to Bala Khan. Pathan who some
times styles himself a rajah. He has
a body of fierce fighting men; and he
lives unmolested for two reasons: loot
ing would not be worth while. and his
position is isolated and almost impreg-
nable. Now. il am right. We shall
find shelter there, for he was an old
friend of my fathers, and l might call
him friend of mine. since fell asleep
for him occasionally"
"Bala Khan" mused Bruce reminis-
Gently. Isn't he the chap who has a
sacred white elephant"
ut is the same." answered Ramabai.
I'VE can reach there before shutdown.
It would be wise to hasten. however.
as this desert and those hills are in
tested with lawless. nomadic bands of
masterless men-brigands. you call
them. They would cut the throat Of a
man for the sake of his clothes
Let us go on" said the colonel Il
don't care where. l am dead for want
of food and sleep"
"And /. too." confessed Kathlyn. my
arm pains me badly"
"My poor Xiii" murmured her
father. gloomily. "And all this because
/ told you half truth, because In play
l tried to make a mystery out Of a few
plain facts. l should have told you
everything, warned you against follow.
| i
T should have followed you Just the
same"
Shall rebind the arm?" asked
Bruce. turning.
No, thanks" She smiled down al
him. This bandage will serve till we
reach Bala Khan's."
BY the way, colonel. is there a pair
Of binoculars In the howdah?"
Yes. Do you want themf"
| No. Just to be sure they we're
there. We may have occasion to use
them later. in case this place Ramabai
is taking US to should turn out hostile
like to know what is goi-e on ahead
of me-
"A white elephant" mused the colo
mel DO you know It for fact tina,
this Bala Khan has a white elephantT
he called across to Ramabsi.
Il have never seen 1t. sahib. 1t il
what they say"
"A pair Of notified ears Is the near
est I ever came to seeirs white ele
phant. and I've hunted them for &c
Taars. here. in Ceylon, in Burma. ir
era. There was onre ~ tiger neal
NJ. hras that hadn't ans stripes. The
natl, - snuld not perini. him to be
killed l, .r,usa they Irid that, being
unique, he "rs sacred a sacred white
elephant! Poo. simple minded fools"
The colonel felt n pockets. then
dropped his hands :. -pIritedly. How
long since he had tasted tobacco!
Bruce. have you got a cheroot in your
pocket? think smoke would brace
me up
Bruce laughed and passed up bro
ken cigar, which the colonel lighted
carefully The weariness seemed to &c
| ont of his face magica1ly.