Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-02-27
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TIE CHILD sfEALER.
BY CHEEKY JAMES.
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some monkeys were tneEe, Uut, taAu6
alarm at bis approach before he knew OF
their presence, they dashed farther Into
the Jungle with noisy garrulous chatter
ings.
Hastily slipping off some boughs from
the overhanging trees, he stretched him
self under some thick underground pilmg
these boughs upon and around him. and
thus concealing himself from any but
very sharp eyes. He lay in watchfulness
during what seemed in his anxiety, long
hours. Occasionally party of chattering
monkeys came to the spot from the direc.
ton of the temple, but seemed disinclined
to rest and feed there, as If suspecting
some hidden foe. As an eager scrutinlz-
ing of each of these parties revealed the
absence of the poor child, Dukes heart
sank lower and lower in despair. Already
the shadows Of the evening were making
objects dim from his retreat, and hall
hour longer would render it impossible
for him to attempt the rescue of the child,
even if its captor should pass near him:
His great fear now was that the ape had
passed the place of his concealment before
he had reached it, or had taken another
course through the Jungle. He was in an
agony OF suspense and mortal terror for
the child.
But bark! surely the shrill, wailiDg cry
that suddenly came to his ears was not
the cry Of the monkey. Again and again
the wailing cry resounded through the
forest, and following it was the broken
chatter Of the monkeys. Half rising him
self he listened. Was his Imagination de-
ceiying him? Was the cry he heard only
the cry of some animal Of the jungle or
fancy merely He trembled like an aspen
with excitement. Suddenly when the
sounds had ceased, and he fell back sick
with disappointment, the cover was eau.
tously parted from the opposite side OF
the grassy hollow, and after peering in a
moment suspiciously, one monkey ap-
peared, followed by halt score OF others.
Hating then in the hollow, Duke could
scarcely control shout of joy as in the
centre Of the group he saw an ape with
the stolen child pressed in close embrace
to It's bosom.
How was he to secure the prize9 Under
less painful circumstances he might have
been diverted at seeing how each of the
companions Of the ape seemed to grasp
the child from its arms. In the struggle
they nearly stripped the clothing from the
babe and set it TO crying wildly again.
Duke was in fear that the little creature
would any moment be strangled or de.
stroyed BY the infuriated animals. But If
he rushed forth to grasp the child. the
monkeys would escape with it before he
could reach it. He had thought to wait
until they would drop it in their search
for food, but this it was evident the monkey
having the child in his possession, did not
propose to do, fearing his companions
would grasp it. All the party, too, seemed
restless and suspicious Of their surround.
ings and threatened to scamper away at
any moment. Drawing his revolver
Duke determined to send bullet through
the ape holding the child. But how could
he when the babe was pressed close to his
breast? A bullet touching one would
touch the other! Unconsciously he made
a noise among the boughs that covered
him, and suddenly the ape with the child
upon his breast, sprang around, squarely
facing him, and listened.-Duke felt a
painful consciousness that it would dash
into the brush in alarm the next moment,
and be lost to his sight, with the babe un-
less he could stop it with bullet. Every
part of his body was covered by the child,
except its head.
Dare he fire at so small mark with the
consciousness that the least tremor OF his
own nerves, or movement Of his victim at
the vital moment, might send his ball
through the babep He never felt his
nerves steadier and-he pulled the trig-
ger.
A sharp report. q piercing scream OF
pain, terrified cries and gatherings came
in quick succession. but even quicker had
Duke sprang from his concealment toward
the child He had not failed! The ape
was pierced through the brain by the pis-
tol shot, its companions fed in wild ter
ror, and the babe, torn and scratched by
the monkeys, but unframed by the pistol
shot, rested safe in Dukes arms.
1t was after nightfall when Duke arrived
at the Pagoda, and entered the presence
of the mother, who all this time had sat in
that frozen calmness without complaint or
placed her babe safe again in her arms
Then her tears fell as she wildly kissed it
and pressed it to her bosom moment. re-
linquishing it only to passionately wrap
her arms around Dnke's neck, and regard
less of propriety or appearance, wildly
kiss his cheeks, exclaiming:
Il have not deserved this after my years
Of blind idolatry to my child worship. In
you only had faith in saving my child,
and my confidence was not misplaced
Hencoforth will have the memory Of a
brave, noble heart to worship
She became unconcious in his arms. A
violent fever followed, and through all her
rawlings. her cry was for the American
his hand alone seemed to sooth her. In
several weeks she was convalescent. and
then, when with her one day, Duke re-
vealed to her his intention to leave for his
own native land in few days. She gasped
painfully, almost fell at the intelligence,
but by an effort said reproachfully
"Do you think so poorly of your friends
as to part with them so carelessly p''
"With one Of them" he said bitterly,
meeting her pleading gaze almost fiercely
Il leave all the joy and hope of my life,
going away, a wrecked, saddened man
forever" t4.f..
Her hand sought his arm in tender re-
straint.
Don't 60 from me-" she pleaded timid-
ly, concealing her speaking eyes beneath
her long electric lashes. ~ need you,
Duke"