Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-02-19

that business. Indeed he understood II
rather too well, since the result OF his
somewhat complicated and scientific scheme
OF defense was little confusing TO the
simple native mind.
However, with the assistance OF the
priests and Of all the women and children
who were not engaged In provisioning the
Mount, he built wall after wall and reiouot
after redoubt II that Is the right WORD, 10
say nothing of the shelter trenches he dug
and many pitfalls. furnished at the bottom
with sharp stakes, which he followed out
wherever the soil could he easily moved, TO,
discomft charging enemy
Indeed. when | saw the amount Of work
he had concluded In ten days, which was
not until | Joined him on the mountain, |
was quite astonishcd.
About this time a dispute arose as to
whether We should attempt to prevent the
Black Kendah from crossing the river,
which was now running down a plan that
some Of the elders favored. AZ last the con-
troNersy was referred to me ~ head general
and | decided against anything OF the sort.
II seemed to me that our force was too
small. and that II | took the rihemcn
great deal Of ammunition might be cN-
pended with poor result. Also In the event
of any reverse or when we were finally
driven back. which must happen, there
might he difficulty about rCmOuntnE the
Camcls, our only means Ot escape from the
nOTSNmpn. VINO WtNiU lIlSElNtN Edl'D us
down. Moreover the TaNa had several
fords any one Of which IN ght I've selected
by the enemy. So II was arranged that we
should make our first and last stand upon
the Holy Mount.
ON the fourteenth night from new moon
our swift camel scouts who were posted in
relays between the Taya and the Mount
reported that the Black Iicndah were
gathered In thousands upon the further side
Of the river. whore they were engaged IN
celebrating magical ceremonies. ON the
fifteenth night the scouts reported that they
were crossing the river, about 5000 horse
men and $4,000 foot soldiers, and that at
the head OF them marched the huge god
elephant. Jana, on which rode Simha the
King and a lame priest ,cvidcuuy my friend
whose foot had been injured by the ptstnD,
who acted as q mahOut This part Of the
story I confess did not believe. since II
seemed to me impossible that any one could
ride upon that mad rogue. Jana. Vet as
subsequent events showed il was In fact
true. | suppose that iu certain nanGs the
beast became tame or perhaps it was
drugged
Two nights later for the Black Eeudah
| advanced hut SLOWLY sprcading themsa Ives
over the country i'm order to collect such
| crops as had not been gathered through
| lack of time or because they were still un-
| rpc we saw flames and smoke rising from
| the Town of the child beneath MS which
! tbcy had fired Now we knew that the
| ti,re Of trial had come and until near mid
| night mon women and chfldre, worked
| feVrrisbI, finishing or irving to finish the
rortiHrotiors and making sycr, nrcnarotion
| in our newer
| on rosi,io,, ,,.as tb.t ,,o boId a ,.or,.
| g,ror, ,,o,t th,+ is .trorgast ,goirst on
| o,o,,,S, ,,,,ro,Idad ,,,,tL hic ,,,,ns ~, ,,,,an
| e,oar,,s u.bioh nc ali n,Lor ,as,it,to ~.
| ,,,o',ho tad h,o, t,Incl,od ,,.,s a,,i r a