The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1915-05-29
coed to Ran,ahai's was . severe blow

unODSsrucJeu HSnt 10 the gate anu
freedom. But Ahmed could not find
his elephants. Too late he learned
that the mahouts he had secretly en-
gagged had misunderstood his instruc
tons and had stationed themselves
near the main entrance to the arena
The cursing and railing against
fate is a futile thing, never bearing
fruit: so Ramabai suggested his house
till transportation could be secured
They perfectly understood that they
could not remain in the house more
than few hours. for Umballa
would surely send his men every.
where, and quite possibly first of all
to Ramabai's.
Still Ramabai did not appear very
much alarmed. There were secret
stairways in his house that not even
Rundita knew. and at pinch he mad
a plan by which he could turn away
investigation. Only in the direst
need. though, did he intend to execute
the plan. He wanted his friends out
of Alfalfa without the shedding of any
blood
WELL" said Ahmed. angrily cast
ing aside his disguise, well, Ramabai.
this is the crisis. viii you striker"
Lal Slnghs wrinkled face lightened
up with eagerness.
1--WE are ready Ramabai." he said.
"We?" Ramabai paused in his
pacing to gaze keenly into the eyes
OF the old consprator.
"Yes, we. For |. Lal Singh, propose
to take my stand at your right hand
! | have not been idle. Everywhere
your friends are evincing impatience.
All, know. You wish for blood.
less rebellion; but that cannot be, not
among our people. You have said that
in their zeal your followers, If they
knew. would sweep the poor old king
out of your path. Listen. Shall we
put him back on the throne, to per-
form some other mad thing like this
gift Of his throne to the Colonel Sa-
hib?"
Ramabai watched intently by the
two conspirators for the British raj
and his white friends, paced back and
forth, his hands behind his back, his
head bent. He was Christian, he
was not only Christian, he was a
Hindu, and the shedding of blood was
doubly abhorrent to his mind.
Il am being pulled by two horses"
he said.
Act quickly" advised Ahmed; lone
way or the other. Umballa will throw
his men round the whole city and
there will not be space large enough
for a rat to crawl through. And he
will fight like rat this time; mark
me-"
Ramabai paused suddenly in front
Of his wife and smiled down at her.
"Pundita, you are my legal queen
1t is for you to say what shall be
done had in mind republic"
Lal Singh cackled ironically.
do not dream said Ahmed. Com
mon sense should tell you that there
can be no republic in Alfalfa. There
must be an absolute ruler, nothing
>
salaaming before Pundita.
, She looked wildly about the room
vainly striving to read the faces of hel
white friends; but their expressions
! were like stone Images. No help there
no guidance.
! is the life of decrepit old man,
asked Lal Singh, worth the lives O
! the white people who love and respec
i your"
Pundita rose and placed her hand
upon her husbands shoulders.
1--WE owe them our lives. Strike
!, Ramabai; but only il our need de
!, mands it."
4 Good" said Lal Singh. I'm OF
: for the bazaars for the night. will
4 buy chupatties and pass them about
as they did in my fathers time q
Delhi in the great mutiny"
o And he vanished.
Have you ever witnessed tn
n swarming of bees? Have you eve
heard the hum and buzz Of them
: So looked and sounded the bazaar
r. that night. At every intersection Q
streets and passages there wer
l. groups, buzziAg and gesticulating. l
q the cutters the cocoanut oil lamp
T. flickered, throwing weird shadow
o upon the walls, and squatting abol
the lamps the fruit sellers and cand
is sellers and cobblers and tailors ia
ia bered and droned. Light women, wit
"a painted faces, went abroad boldly.
And there was but one word on
is these tongues: Magic!
A Could any human being pa
70 through what this white woman hat
g. No! She was the reincarnation
some forgotten goddess. They kne
X. that, and Umballa would soon bril-
40 famine and plague and death amo
them. Whenever they uttered
n. name they spat to cleanse thu
mouths OF the defilement.
ny For the present the soldiers we
his, and groups of them swagger
he through the bazaars, chanting drur
ID emily and making speech with the Liz
cd women and jostling honest men II
he. the cutters.
All +bo,o tb;puS al SINGH caw a