The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1915-05-01

before the goddess.
The old priest watched INN with a
serene face. He knew the struggle
that M%annering had gone through;
he knew, too, that the rajah would
not be overpleased at this dramatic
ending of all his plans for carving out
IN idolatrous empire IN the heart of
India
1T shall be done as the sahib says"
he answered at last. and withdrew
The news buzzed through Bunda
pur. Within two hours all the inhab-
itants of the state knew that the god
dess Kali, of the many hands, had
conquered The enthusiasm was in
d~escribable. A huge mob gathered
outside the residency and cheered
itself hoarse. But inside Mannering
was pacing up and down, and he paced
all night. and none dared disturb him.
At dawn he called the bearers OF
his palanquin. and, stepping inside, he
allowed himself to be borne through
the enthusiastic mobs that lined the
streets toward Kali's temple. SUI
0dRul was til lClC. nC OPCAAAAB VI bhC
great annual festival was the occa-
sion for ~frenzies of fanatical delight,
and the approaching conversion of
Mannering was the cause of the Wild
est excitement. Through the streets
rushed fanatics, slashing themselves
with knives. The golden image of the
goddess was borne back from the pro-
cession to the accompaniment of a
band of temple women who danced
and leaped above the bodies of the
ppostrate devotees.
Mannering, lying in his palanquin,
was aware of ali this. He knew that
no punishment could expiate his Of
Tense. He was giving to his country
that which was infinitely dearer than
life. His love, his soul, his honor
he stared at the photograph
which h was holding. 1t represented
Mary Trevethan as she had appeared
when he was home four years before
He would never see her again, but
somehow he felt that. at this crisis
where dishonor and honor met, her
spirit stood beside him.
The %palanquin stopped. The cur
tains we're drawn back. Mannering
stepped out and entered the g%rotesque
temple, walking on a path strewn with
flowers. Inside he heard the throbbing
of flutes and the signs of a vast multi
tude of wo%rshipers. Then he was be-
fore the altar, beside old Muzzur, who
held the sacriicial knife, and staring
into his eyes we're the cruel eye of
Kali, the stone image with the many
hands, each dripping with human
blood.
Upon his golden throne Iolled the
old rajah. He was calculating what
step he should take when Mannering
had accepted Kali. 1t upset the plans
that he had built; yet he was shrewd
enough to have others in view. With
Mannering's aid he could yet carve out
his empire.
M~annering, standing beside the
priest, let his eyes roam over the
huge interior of the temple He saw
the decorated walls, the breathless
crowds, completely silent, waiting for
the moment when be would fall be-
fore Kali's statue, to be anointed with
the blood of the dreadful sacrifice, the
drawn curtains behind which the ra-
jah's wives were gazing c~uriously on
him.
And at the last moment, while the
sound of the tom-toms indicated that
the goddess was awaiting the sacrifice,
a new thought took possession of Man
nering. He could not carry out his
plan.
He perceived the hideous pit into
which he had so nearly fallen. The
world would ascribe his complaisance
to fear; it would be said that an Eng
lishman had accepted Kali to save his
life. Was not the empire built upon
faith and loyalty. and the courage of
her servants? How could he serve it
better than by remaining true to his
faith, whatever happened?
1t was the moment of judgment,
when, unless he saw his duty clear as
a razor edge before him, i~ncalculable
ills must follow, Mannering saw it.
The blood of the sacrifice was
~drenching Kali's altar. Muzzur turned
toward Mannering, motioning to him
to PROSTATE himself. Mannering waved
him away and called to the crowd.
Il have come here today, ne said,
ito testify to the truth. Since Eng
land became your lord, when has she
sought to change your faith or GUS
toms? Nevertheless, / am here to tell
you now that your faith in Kali is the
faith of the sandpiper that walks
among the marshes before the sand
has set
He heard a rustic. a sigh, and sud
denly the whole body of worshipers
was upon its feet in terror of the sac
rilege that vas being accomplished
For, snatching from the priests
hand the hammer with which the VIC
tim had been slaughtered. Mannering