The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1915-03-27

longer in bedraggled linen trousers
and ragged turban, but dressed like a
native flop. He was in no hurry. Leis'
urely he followed Kathlyn to the hotel
then proceeded to the railway station
He had need no longer to watch and
worry. There was nothing left now
but to greet her upon her arrival, this
golden houri from the verses OF
| Sa'adi. The two weeks of durance
| vile among the low castles in the steer
age should be amply repaid. In six
days he would be beyond the hand OF
he meddlng British Raj, in his own
country. Sport What was more
beautiful to watch than cat play? He
was the cat the tiger cat. And what
would the Sahib Colonel say when he
felt the claws? Beautiful, beautiful,
like a pattern woven in an Agra rug.
Kathlyn began her journey at once.
Now that she was on land, moving to-
ward her father, all her vigor returned.
She felt strangely alive, exhilarated
She knew that she was not going to
be afraid of anything hereafter. To
enter the strange country without hay
ing her purpose known would be the
main difficulty Where was Ahmed
all this time? Doubtless in cell like
his master.
Three days later she stood at the
frontier, and her servant set about
arguing and bargaining with the ma
bouts to engage elephants for the three
days march through jungles and
mountainous divides to the capital.
Three elephants were necessary.
There were two howdah elephants and
one pack elephant, who was always
tagging behind. Through long aisles of
magnificent trees they passed, across
hot, blistering deserts, dotted here and
there by shrubs and stunted trees, in
and out of gloomy defiles of fiinty
rock, over sluggish aud swiftly flowing
streams. The days were hot, but the
nights were bitter cold. Sometimes a
blue miasmic haze settled down, and
the dry, raspy hides of the elephants
| grew damp and they fretted at their
chains.
Rao, the khitmatgar Kathlyn had
hired in Calcutta, proved invaluable
Without him she would never have
succeeded in entering the strange
country; for these wildeyed Mahom
edan mahouts land it Is pertinent to
note that only Mahomedans are ever
made mahouts, it being against the
tenets of Hinduism to kill or ride any
thing that kills. scowled at her evil
ly They would have made way with
her for an anna-piece. Rao was Ma
! homedan himself, so they listened and
obeyed.
All this the first day and night out
On the following morning a leopard
crossed the trail. Kathlyn seized hel
rifle and broke it's spine. The jabber
ing of the mahouts would have amused
her at any other time.
Good, memsahib," whispered Rao
you have put fear into their devils
hearts. Good! Chup!" he called
Stop your noise"
After that they gave Kathlyn's dol
tent plenty of room.
One day, in the heart of natura
clearing, she saw tree. Its blossoms
and leaves were as scarlet as tn
seeds OF a pomegranate.
20, how beautiful! What is II
. Rao?"
e THE fame Of the Jungle, memsahit
Q It Is good luck to see it on journey.
! About the tree darted gay parrs
keets and fat green parrots. The gree
plumage of the birds against the bri
liant scarlet OF the tree was inds
, scribably beautiful. Everywhere wa
life, everywhere was color Once, a
= the natives seated themselves of tn
), evening round their dung fire Will
s Kathlyn busted with the tea over
r wood fire, tiger roared near by. TIL
v elephants trumpeted and the mahout
I rose in terror Kathlyn ran for he
N rife. but the trumpeting of the ell
u plants was sufficient to send til
y striped cat to other hunting ground
Wild ape and pig abounded, and o
4 casionally caha wriggled out Of IL
sun into the brittle grasses. Very fe
beasts or reptiles are aggressive;
10 Is only when they feel cornered tn
they turn. Even the black panther. Il
most savage of all cats. will rare
offer battle except when attacked.
he Meantime the man who had follow,
GO Kathlyn arrived at the city.
he Five hours later Kathlyn stepp
l. out Of her howdah. gave Rao I
nm money for the mahouts, and look
or about. This was the gate to the ca
lie tai. How many times had her faith
ch passed through It? Her jaw set a
IL her eyes flashed. Whatever DANCE
ed beset her she was determined to me
In. them with courage and patience.
% "Rao, you had better return to C
es cutta. What ] have to do must
y. done alone"
=. Very good. But shall remain he
~ till the memsahib returns" Rao
.. laamed.
~ And II should not return?" affe
en- ed by this strange loyalty.
ed Then ! shall seek Bruce Sahib, W
er has camp 20 miles east"
Bruce? But he is in Singapore