Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-01-13
CHAPTER I
Allan GiUes a Shooting Lesson


NTow I. Allan Quatermain. come to tho
IN story OF what was, perhaps. one OF the
strnnrest Of all the adventures which have
befalen mo in tho course Of life that
so far can scarcely be called tame or
humdrum.
Among many other things, It tells OF tho
war against the Black Eendah people ana
The death of Jana, their elephant god
Often since then / have wondered TX TINS
creature was or was not anything more
than mere gigantic beast or the lorts,
1t seems improbable, evon impossible but
the reader of future days may Judso Oh
this matter for himself.
Also. he can form his own opinion as
TO the religion Of the White hendah ana
their pretenslons to certain degree OF
magical skill OF this magic 1 Will make
only one remark: II II existed at all, II
was by no means infaIlible. To take n
single instance: Harut and Marut Wcro
convinced by dtvination that I, and 1 only,
could kill Jana, which was why they IN
yIted me to Kendahland. Yet in the END
It was Hans who killed him, Jana nearly
killed mel
Now TO my tale
/ came to England with young gentle
man of the name Of Scroope, parity 10
see him safely home after II hunting acct
dent and partly to try to dispose OF
unioue orchid for a friend of mine called
Brother John by the white people and
Dogeetah by the natives, who was 'pop-
ularly supposed to be mad, but III iact
was very sane, indeed.
While in this country stayed for few
days with Scroope or, rather, with MS
hancee and her people, at a fine house in
Essex During my visit 1 was taken 10
see n much finer place, splendid OLD
castle with brick gateway towers that
had been wonderfully we'll restored ana
turned into a most luxurious modern dwell
ing house. Let us call it Ragnall, the seat
of n baron of that name.
1 had heard n good deal about Lord Rag
nall, who, according TO nll accounts seemed
a kind of Admirable Crichton. He was SAID
20 be wonderfully handsome great scholar
he had taken double first at college a
great athlete-he had been captain OF the
oxford boat in the university race; a very
promlsing speaker, who had already muue
his mark in the House of LordSi Sports
man, who had shot tigers and other large
game in India Il poet. who had published
a successful volume Of verse undeF "
pseudonym; n good soldier until he lett the
service: and, lastly, a man OF enormous
wealth, owning, in addition to his estates
several coal mines and an ehtlie Town III 'ne
north Of England.
"Dear me! !" said when tho list was fin
isbed .'he seems TO have been born with a
whole case OF gold spoons in his mouth
hope one of them will not choke NM adu-
ing, "Perhaps he will be unlucky IN ioVe'
That's lust where h6 IL most lucky OF
ALL answered the young lady to whom
was talking-it was SCroope's hancee' MISS
Manners-'for he is engaged to lady that
am told, is the loveliest, sweetest clever
est girl in all England. and they absolutely
adore each other
"Dear me!" / repeated. Il wonder what
Fate has got up its sleeve for Lord Ragnal
and his perfect lady love-"
/ was doomed to find out one day.
So il came about that when, on tho fol
lowing morning, / was asked II would lit'
nf ]
swered Yes" Really however, wante'
10 have n look at Lord Ragnall himself j
possible for the account or MS many per
fections had Impressed the imagination OF
poor colonist like myself VINO had heVel
found an opportunity OF setting ms eyer
,pon a kind OF human angel. Human devils
had met in plenty, but never a Single
anRel-at least OF the male sex. Also theF'
was always the possibility that might &c
glimpse Of the still more ankehc lauy II
whom he was engaged, whose name uh
dergtood was tho Hon Miss Holmes. so
said that nothing would please me more
than 10 see the castle.
Thither We drove accordingly through
the fine frosty air, for the month was DE
oember. on reaching the castle Mr. Scroop'
was told that Lord Ragnall whom he kneY
we'll was out shooting somewhere IN I'M
mark but that Of course, he could snow hl
friend over the place. So we went ln' lh'
three OF us, for Miss Manners, 10 "hoH
AgrDDDe
driven us over in her pony carriage. Tn
porter at the gateway towers took us u
the main door OF the castle and handed III
over 10 another man. whom he addressed az
Mr.. Savage, whispering 70 me that ne "a
his lordships personal attendant
He conducted us round the castle or
rather its more public rooms showing III
many treasures and, l should th1nk' "A
least two hundred pictures by eminent an
departed artists which gave him an op
poTtunIty OF exhibiting a peculiar, II some
what erratic knowledge OF history.
Al length we took a short cut from th
large 10 the little gallery through a warme'
and comfortable room, when understoo
was Lord Ragnalls study Hating Tor
moment by one OF the hres, / observed
picture on the wall, over which curtal
vas drawn. and asked Mr. Savage what !
isrhat. sir" he replied with kind 0
naughty reserve, us the portrait OF he
future adyship, which his lordshlp keep
for his private heye.
Miss Manners snlggered, and ! said
"Oh thank you. What an ill-omened kin
Of thing 70 do
Then, observing through an open door TN
hail IN which my hat had been taken fror
me. / fingered and as the others yanishe
in the little gallery. slipped into II, recog
cred my belongings, and passed out to IN
earden purpOsng to walk there till j wa
e.arm again and ScroOpe reappeared, Whil
j marched up and down terrace. on which
j remember, several very cold-looking pes
cocks were seated like conscientious bird
4hat knew Il was their duty to be orna
mental however low the temperature
faard some shots fred. apparently Ia
rlflnlp Of lex oaks which grew about hy
bundred yards away, and reflected 10 my
eaif mat they managed 20 be those OF
small rife, not Of a shotgun
Mv curiosity being excited as 70 VIII
40 70 me an almost professional matte
walked toward the grove making a ei
.,if fhroieh \ shrubbery. Al length I four
45rself near 20 fhe edge ot q glade AZ
nercelved standing behind the shelter or
raenlacent ue1. two men one of the
a = young keeper, and the otnsf tfo
~ an1eaHance 4 fzlt aure aust fe ~
rarnau alaa4elf CeFtalali1 - Naa , eple