The Arvada enterprise., 1915-08-12

Bruce ordered one Of them 70 kneel
doubtfully; but the big fellow eDs1ad
the command docilely. and ths oolond
and Bruce helped the exhausted ~
into the howdah. The colonel totloVUA
while Bruce took upon his own ssouj
ders the duties Of mahout. PunAi&A ~
into the other howdah and Ramsba!
initiated Bruce. The elephants shut
nsA sE, svay from the river. For the
time tstas nstthse Bruce nor Ramaba
gave min1 to ~ compass. To make
pursuit Impossible was the main bust
ness Just then.
Later Umbslia. duilsd and stupehet
from his immersion. stood on the
shore. with but nine q the twenty sol
diers he had brought with him. Evi
IDENTITY his star had faltered. Very
well: he would send for the other sis
ter. She was the Colonel sahib'i
daughter, and young: she would be al
wax in his hands. A passion remained
in Umballa's heart. but it was nov
the passion of revenge.
When he had recovered sufficiently
he gave orders to one Of the soldierl
to return to the city, to bring back Al
once servants. elephants and all that
would be required for q long pursuit
The messenger was also to make
known these preparations to the
Council. who would undertake to for
ward the cable submitted to them.
Quite unknown. quite unsuspected
by him. for all the activity of his spies
= volcano was beginning to grumble
under his feet. All tyrants, the petty
and the great. have heard 1t: the NUT
tering Of the oppressed.
Perhaps the fugitives had gone 80
miles when suddenly the Jungle ended
abruptly and desert opened up be-
fore them. Beyond stood purple line
of rugged hills. Ramabai raised his
hand. and the elephants came to .
halt.
81 believe l know where l am" said
Ramabai. Somewhere between US and
yonder hills is walled city. belonging
to Bala Khan. a Pathan who some
times styles himself rajah. He has
a body OF fierce fighting men; and he
lives unmolested for two reasons: loot
ing would not be worth while, and his
position is isolated and almost impreg-
nable. Now, II l am right. we shall
find shelter there, for he was an old
friend of my fathers, and l might call
him friend Of mine, since l fell asleep
for him occasionally"
Gently. Isn't he the chap who has a
sacred white elephant"
TT Is the same" answered Ramabai.
I'VE can reach there before sundown.
1t would be wise to hasten. however.
as this desert and those hills are In
tested with lawless. nomadic bands of
masterless men-brigands. you call
them. They would cut the throat Of q
man for the sake OF his clothes"
Let us go on" said the colonel. II
Of food and sleep"
And |, too" confessed Kathlyn. MY
arm pains ms badly"
Ny roor Kit" murmured her
father. gloomily. And all this because
I told you half truth, because In play
tried to make a mystery out Of a few
plain facts. | should have told you
everything warned you against follow.
ing in case failed to turn up
~ should have followed you Just the
same"
Shall l rebind the arm?" asked
Bruce. turning.
mo. thanks" She smiled down at
him. This bandags will serve till we
reach Bala Khan's."
by the way. colonel, is there . pair
Of binoculars In the howdah?"
Yes. DO you want them?"
NO. Just to be sure they were
there. We may have occasion to use
them later. in case this place Ramabai
Ia taking us to should turn out hostile
I like to know what Is going on ahead
OF me-
"A white elephant" mused the colo
mel. DO you know It for fact that
this Bala Khan has white elephant?'
he called across to Ramabai.
II have never seen II. sahib II In
what they say"
"A pair OF mottled ears Ia the near.
est ever came TO seeing a white ele.
plant and I've hunted them for 80
years. here. In Ceylon. In Burma. In
Africa There was once tiger near
Madras that hadn't any stripes. The
natives would not permit him to be
killed because they held that, being
unique. he was sacred. A sacred white
elephant Poor simple minded fools!"
The colonel felt in his pockets. then
dropped his hands dispiritedly. How
long since he had tasted tobacco!