Rocky Ford enterprise., 1915-12-31
CHAPTER xil-continued.

CHAPTER xiI-continued.
All day long they wound IN and out,
over and down the rolling mounds of
sand, pausing only once, somewhere
near four o'clock, when ey dismount-
ed for a space to enjoy bite to eat
through the night. making about sixty
miles in all. At dawn they came upon
. well. and here they decided to rest
till sunset. Beyond the well, some
twenty-five miles, lay the low noun
tain range over which they must pass
to the sea. At the foot of these hills
stood small village, which they
reached about ten o'clock that night.
They found the village wide awake.
The pariah dogs were bowling. And
on making inquiries 1t was learned
that tiger had been prowling about
for three or four nights. and that they
had set trap cage for the brute. The
colonel and Bruce at once assumed
charge. The old zest returned with
all It's vigor and allurement. Eve
Kathlyn and Pundita decided to joil.
the expedition. though Pundita knew
nothing of arms.
Now, this village was the home OF
the nine brigands. and whenever they
were about they dominated the villag.
ers. They were returning from a for
aging expedition into the hills. and
discovered the trap cage with the tiger
inside. Very good. The tiger was no
use to any but themselves. since they
Ia l.
the act Of pulling the brush away from
the cage when they heard sounds OF
others approaching. With the suspi.
cion which was q part of their busi-
ness they Immediately ran 70 cover to
zee who II was.
Instantly the chief of the brigands
discovered that these new arrivals
were none other than the white people
who had given him and his men a
superdrug and thereby mulcted them
out OF the sacred white elephant
fortune.
Unfortunately, the men OF Kathlyn's
party laid aside their weapons on ap.
preaching the cage to tear away the
brush. Eight brigands. at a sign from
their chief. surrounded the ipvesuga.
tors, who found themselves nicely
caught.
The natives fed incontinently. So
did Bala Khan's camel men.
Death IL you novel" snarled the
chief. "Ah. you gave US bad opium,
and We dropped like logs! Swine!"
He raised his rife threateningly.
What you want is money"
'.Ay. money! Ten thousand rupees!"
1T shall be given you II you let us
go. You will conduct us over the hills
to the sea, and there the money will
be given you"
The chief laughed long and loudly.
What! Am l n goat to put my head
inside the tigers jaws? Nay. I shall
hold you here for ransom. Let them
bring gold Now. take hold indicat-
ing the trap cage. we shall take this
fine man eater along with us. am
speaking to you. white men. and you
pig Of a Hindu! Chalu! will kill
anyone who falters. Opium! All, yes!
You shall pay for my headache and the
sickness OF my comrades. Chalu! And
yon wnlte woman, sne snail give
ransom of her own"
The village jutted out into the des
ert after the fashion OF peninsula
On the west Of 1t lay another strotch
of sand. They followed the verdure
till they reached the base OF the rocky
9 hills, which were barren OF any vege
,ation; huge jumbles of granite the
color of porphyry. During the night
they made about ten miles, and at
dawn we're smothered by one of those
raging sandstorms. prevalent in this
attitude. They had to abandon the
I &ap cage and seek shelter in a near.
BY cave. Here they remained huddled
together till the storm died away.
1T has blown itself out" comment.
cd the chief. Then he spoke to Rama
bal. Who is this man." with nod
toward the colonel.
He is an American"
{ q He came for AllahaT"
t"Yes." said Ramabai. unsuspleious'
Hal Than that great prince did not