St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1915-01-02

los0sosha
and some were tinker1ng about thei
fishing boats. Beyond the beacl
nestled q few huts. Toward thes,
other fishermen were making prog
ress.
The chief Of the village-the head
man-disembarked from this sloop. H.
was met by his wife and child, ant
the little one clambered about his legs
in ecstasy. Among the huts stood one
more imposing than the Others. anG
toward this the chief and his family
wendell their way. In front Of the hut
stood an empty bullock cart. Attached
to one of the wheels was a frisking kid
The little child paused to play with
her pet.
Absorbed in her pastime, she did not
observe the approach Of gaunt be.
ing with matted hair and beard and
ash besmeared body. Children are
gifted with an instinct which leaves us
a. we grow older; the sensing Of evil
without seeing or understanding It..
The child suddenly gazed up. to meet
a pair Of eyes black and fierce as a
kites. She rose screaming and fed
toward the house.
The holy man shrugged and waited.
When the parents rushed out to
learn what had frightened their little
one they were solemnly confronted by
Umballa.
IT am hungry"
The chief salaamed and ordered his
wife to bring the holy man rice and
milk.
Thou art an honest man." said Um-
balla.
1T Is said" replied the chief grave
~.
Thou art poor"
THAT IS with the gods serve"
But thou art not withcu: ambi.
is,- "
who is?" The chiefs wonder grew.
What meant these peculiar sentences?
"Wouldst put thy hand into gold as
far as the wrist and take what thou
couldst hold?"
Yes, holy one; for I am human
Whittier lead these questions? What
Is it you would Of mel"
There are some who need to be far
away to see things. Well, good man.
there Is a treasure under your feet.
falling into the vernacular.
The chief could not resist looking
down at the ground, startled.
Nay" smiled Umballa, mot there.
Think; did not something unusual
happen here five years ago."
The chief smoothedf the tip of his
nose. "My father died and l became
headman of the village"
Would you call that unusual?"
Ironically.
mo. Hal" suddenly. Five years
ago; yes. yes. I remember now. Sol
diers, who made us lock ourselves in
our huts, not to stir forth on the pain
Of death till ordered. My father alone
was permitted outside. He was com.
PEELED to row out to the island. There
be was blindfolded. Only two men &C.
him. They carried some
thing that was very heavy. My father
never knew what the strange, shining
basket held. Then the soldiers went
away and we came out. No one was
allowed on the island till my father
died."
did he tell you what it was he
he1nod hnrv vnndor3n
mo, holy one. He was an honorable
man. Whatever the secret was, It
passed with him. We were not curl.
JUS"
1T was the private treasure Of the
ling of Alfalfa, and the man was the
ling himself" |
The fisherman salaamed.
And l am sent, because I am holy,
% recover this treasure, which was
villed to the temple Of Juggernaut."
But, holy one, I know not where it
8 hidden!"
II do. What l want is the use Of
'our sloop and men l can trust To
'ou, as much gold as your hands can
lold."
II will furnish you with men as hon,
st as myself"
THAT will be sufficient; and you
hall have your gold"
The word Of holy man IL never
objected to scrutiny in India. II
Umballa was in good humor. Here
10 was, several hours ahead of his
nemies. He would have the hligree
asket dug up and transferred to the
loop before the Colonel Sahib could
each the village. And Umballa would
ave succeeded but for the fact that ,
he wind fell unaccountably and they .
ost more than an hour In handling the :
loop with oars.
When the sloop left the primitive
anding the chief returned to his hut :
nd told his wife what had taken place, :
Ike the good husband he was. They =
'ould be rich.
Suddenly the child set up wailing.
through the window she had seen q
old leopard trot over to the bullock ;
art and carry away the kid. The =
hief at once summoned his remaining
len, and they proceeded to set a tran
Or the prowler. The cat had already =
lied one bullock and injured another. =
hey knew that the beast would not /.
eturn for some hours, having gorged :
self upon the kid. But It was well "a
e prepared. =,
Toward noon the other treasnre