Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1867-08-31
Five Minutes too Late.

mountains. Her uuSUduu regiment
had recently been ordered to the seat
of war, and it was unsafe for her to re-
main unprotected, except by native
servants, 10 her Indian bungalow. A
party of friends were to leave for the
island presidency below, and she was to
ljoin them.
The hour for departure arrived, and
the iady's ayah announced that the
travellers were waiting in their palan-
quins at the door The servant en-.
deavors to hasten the lady's prepara
tions, but the "Ma' am Sahib" is a
confirmed procrastinator, and SO much
has been left till this last moment un-
prepared and undone that she cannot
obey the summons. The climate is not
favorable to patience; besides, there is
a "tide" to be caught at the next
bunder, and it proverbially, will wait
for no one; therefore, with some few
apologies. the party moved on, express
ing their assurances that Mrs. L. would
soon overtake them.
She was of the same opinion, and
bore their desertion very phliosophically
insisting, even, on not OBTAINING gen.
tleman of the group, who would fain
have waited her leisure.
As she entered her palanquin she OBJ
served to her ayah, the only servant
who accompanied her, that she had
been, 'after all, only five minutes too
late" The servant showed her ivory
teeth good-humoredly in assent, and re-
tired to take possession of her own
conveyance, in which she was ordered
to follow closely that of her mistress,
deeWing the loss Of time Of as little
moment as the lady did.
The palanquin bearers then began
their labors, and the first portion Of the
descent was achieved pleasantly and
safely. Seated 10 her cofin-like car
riage, Mrs. T. looked forth on a scene
Of almost unrivaled beauty, every turn
Of the mountain pathway varying its
character, and increasing its loveliness,
and forgot the five minutes too late"
which had separated her from her COM
panions, and the fact that there was
still no appearance of rejolning them.
The latter recollection had, however,
occurred to her bearers, and gradually
though the lady marked it not, they
siackened their pace and held low CON
ference among themselves. The ayah's
palanquin was far behnd-the travellers
who preceded them, far before; the
road was solitary, the jungle deep and
secret as the grave; the lady known to
be rich in jewels, if DOT in gold and
rupees.
Evening was closing inj day fades
rapidly in the East, and the brief twi-
light is as solemn as it is soft and short.
The bearers steps fell slower and
slower; and at last vague fear awoke
in the lady's mind, to which the grad
uaily deepening gloom added force. A
regret, alas too late also; for suddenly
her palanquin was set upon the ground,
and eight shadowy forms gathered
around the door, with glitteriug eyes
and looks from which she shrauk, while
one in brief phrase desired her to give
him the money.
The request was not instantly granted.
The Scotchwoman was courageous, and
represented TO her false guides that
they could neither rob nor injure
woman with impunity In answer,
one fellow pointed to the deep jungle,
and made an expressive sign at the
back Of his own throat.
She saw that it would be vain to re-
fuse, and delivered the small box she
had with her and her money. They
received it silently; and sitting down
in her sight, coolly examined and
divided their spoil.
Then came fearful pause. They
looked toward the palanquin they
were evidently consulting as to what
they should do with her.
Never could she afterward forget the
feeling with which her gaze encounter
ed those terrible black eyes. The
agony of suspense was more than she
could bear; and as they arose stimuli
tapeously, she buried her face in her
hands, and in a short, almost wordless
prayer commended her soul to her
Creator.
At that instant a frightful roar,
echoed BY thrilling scream, or rather
wild yell, burst on her ear. She looked
up, and beheld her foes scattered on all
sides, pursued by a tiger, to whose re-
morseless thirst one had evidently fallen
prey, for faint from distance came
cry of mortal agony. She was saved !!
The five minutes they had loitered over
their spoil had, through the mercy of
good Providence, made crime too late
to be consummated. She sat there
alone, wonderfully preserved, but still
in an awful situation for female, since
night was gathering round her, and the
lair of the wild beast so near, Her
heart beat audibly, when suddenly the
stiffness was broken by familiar and
blessed sound, "Auld Lang Syne,"
played on her native bagpipe, stole on
the silence of the evening, and relieved
from weight of terror-from the fear
of death itself-she shed large, heavy
tears as the music approached her. A
Highland regiment was on its march
back to the presidency, and either its
approach had been perceived by the
robbers who had escaped the tiger, and
thus prevented their return to their
victim; or their superstitious terror at
Vote a straight Union Ticket