The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-06-18

door, tearing HeI naiT Out Ill ndHuIulS; Sue
got down on the veranda floor and struck
her head against it, as il she really meant
to dash her brains out. A crowd of other
women stood at distance, crying and la
menting as ifthey were frantic. What was
the matter? Hali-a.dozen voices made
answer in a discordant chorus. that while
the poor woman was washing her clothes
by the river side, her child-an infant
about year old-had been seized and
swallowed by Mugger. Although con.
vinced that aid was now impossible, we
took our guns and fastened to the spot
where tine accident happened: but all was
still there, not wavelet disturbed the sur
face OF the stream. small speckled king
fisher was lowering overhead, as it balan-
ced in the air, with its beak bent down on
its breast, watching the fish beneath; pres
emily it darted like an arrow into the water;
returned with an empty bill, and then went
off, with its clear, sharp, twittering note,
as if to console itself for the failure.
One day while was sitting on the high
bank Of the river, taking snap shots with
my gun at the large fish who were every
now and then leaping out Of the water
A favorite spaniel was bringing fish out OF
the water that had hit. 1t had swan al
ready halfway across the stream, when the
water about six yards below her became
suddenly disturbed; and, to my horror, up
started the head and open jaws of an enor.
nous crocodile. The dog gave a loud
shrek, and sprang half out Of the water.
The Mugger swan rapidly and had got
within yard of his intended victim, when
| raised my gun and took aim at the mon
ster's head. A Athundering, splash, a bub-
BILE, and dark red streak in the water,
was all that ensued. Presently, however,
Juno's glossy black head emerged from
the water; and, to my delight, began to
make rapid progress towards me, and
landed safely. The poor brute, wet and
shivering, coiled herself up at my feet, with
her bright hazel eyes fixed on mine with
inflexible satisfaction. Poor Juno subse-
quently fell victim TO the Muggers, when
her master was not at hand to succor her.
mention these facts, to show that the dia.
bolical revenge with which afterwards as.
sisted in visiting these monsters, was not
groundess. But the strongest occasion
Of it remains to be told.
Just as the "rains" were beginning, my
neighbor, Mr.. Hall. sent me word that he
intended paying me short visit, and re-
quested me 10 send syce (groom,) with a
saddle-horse, to meet him at a certain
place on the road. The syce, Sidhoo, was
smart, open.chested, wy-limbed little
fellow, perfect model Of a biped racer.
He could run-as is the custom in the
East alongside his horse at pace ofsev.
en- or eight miles an hour, for length OF
time that would astonish the best English
pedestrian ever heard of.
Towards evening, Mr.. Hall rode up to
the door Of the bungalow, dripping with
water, and covered with mud. | saw at
once that some accident had happened,
and hastened to assist him.
AS soon as he got inside, he said, in an.
swer to my bantering about his "spill":
II am in no humor for jesting. Your
syce is lost!"
"Drowned?"
"No; eaten!-by an enormous croco.
dile!''
He added, that, on arriving at small
nulla about two miles off, he found it so
much swollen by rain, that he had 10 swim
his horse across it, holding one end of the
cord which Sidhoo, in common with most
Hindoos, wore coiled round his waist, and
which was used in pulling water from the
deep wells Of the country. Hall got safely
across, and then commenced pulling Sid
hoo over by means of the cord. The
black face, with the white teeth and turban
were bobbing above the muddy water
when all at once the groom threw up his
arms, gave loud shrek, and sunk below
surface. Mr.. Hall, who had doubled the
cord round his hand, was dragged into the
water; where he got a momentary glimpse
of the long serrated tail OF Mugger. lash
ing the water short way ahead Of him
In his efforts to save himself, he lost his
hold of the string, Land with-much difficulty
clambered up the slippery bank Of the
nulld. All was HOW STILL Ouiy OiuHoo
turban was 10 be seen floating loosely, .
considerable way down the stream. Hal
ran toward it, with the sort of feeling which
makes drowning man catch at straw
and, by means Of stick he succeeded ir
fishing it out, and brought it with him, a.
the only remnant Of Sidhoo he could give
an account Of dl
Bad news soon spreads in an Indian
village, and Sidhoo's fate was soon made
known to his wife; and in short time she
came crying and sobbing to the bungalow
and laid her youngest child at my friends
feet. The tears glistened in the poor fel
lows eyes as he tried to soothe her; which
he did by promising to provide for her ant
her children.
Although Hall was generally running
over with fun, we smoked our cheroot
that evening in silence; except when W
proposed schemes Tor the annihilation Q
the crocodiles. A great many plans wer
discussed--but none that offered muc
| chance Of success. The next day. afte