Rocky Ford enterprise., 1915-11-26
CHAPTER VIII.
The Slave Market.

The Slave Market.
Having decided upon the fate OF
kathlyn, the natives set about recap
turing the wild elephant. 1t took the
best part of the morning. When this
was accomplished the Journey to ALA
ha was begun. But for the 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 were no howdahs. and 1t
was a difficult feat to sit back Of the
mahout. The rough skin OF the ele-
plant had the same effect upon the
calves of her legs that sandpaper
would have had. Sometimes she
stumbled and fell. and was rudely
jerked to her feet. Only the day be-
fore they arrived was she relieved in
my way: she was given a litter. and
in this manner she entered the hate
full 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 OF here into a side
street, toward the huge square where
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
alive7 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 a younger man beheld
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
your" Even then he was riding fast
toward Allaha
A slave mart is q 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
its prime IL had drawn the agents
OF princes from all over India Persia
Beloochistan, Afghanistan. and even
southern Russia had been rihed of
their beauties to adorn the zenanas of
the slothful Hindu princes.
The slave mart in the capital town
ef Allaha stood in the center of the
bazaars, a great square platform with
a roof but open on all four sides.
Here the slaves were 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
betei nut, smoked their hookahs.
slipped coffee and tea and exchanged
the tattle OF the hour. 1t was as much
m amusement as a business: indeed.
II 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 tDer Anhles anu WTlStsJ
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 jewelers., kites. and red-headed
vultures-this being a proper place
for them.
The chief mahout purchased for
Kathlyn q beautiful saree, or veil
which partially concealed her face
and hair.
"Chalul" he said. touching kath
Iyn's shoulder whenever she Jagged
for they had dispensed with the litter
Go on!"
She understood Outwardly she ap
reared passive enough, but her soul
WAS on fire and her eyes as brilliant
AZ those OF the circling. swooping
kites, watching for that moment which
vas to offer some loophole. On
through the noisy bazaars. the object
OF many curious remark. sometimes
insuIted by the painted women at the
windows. sometimes tested at by the
idlers around the merchants booths
II seemed TO her, however, that a
hlm OF steel had grown over her
nerves nothing startled her she
$1,000 ,y.1. fka xuV rbFulnaua aha had