The Worthington advance., 1880-09-30
ALMOST LOST.
BY 4. G.. NJ.

ALMOST LOST.
BY r. G.. NJ.
Charles Goldan was gay hearted,
handsome, generous fellow, and favor
lte with the whole corps, from the blum
old commandant to Nicer Ali, the Hindoo
| servant: though in truth, he was ant in
the exuherant hilarity of youth, to com.
nit actions serious to himself. and liable
to compromise the credit of our regiment,
which was at the time stationed in India.
Complaints were constantly being brought
in against him by the inhabitants of the
towns around; now the house of a surly
Mussulman had been forcibly entered;
now sacred pigeon had been shot
while roosting on the very pinnacle OF a
pagoda; while once upon time he was
likely to have Jared still worse for having
dared to pursue one OF the dancing girls
belonging to the temple, into the very
precincts of that prohibited edifice.
He was passionately fond of field sports
and often his fowling piece made well
come additions to our commonplace fare.
and led him into scenes. that at the time.
were anything but agreeable to those
that were necessarily his companions.
On one occasion, allured by the news
of much game, We obtained months
leave of absence, intending to roam the
jungles until time was up, and duty again
called US. Attended by three servants
and sepoy, we commenced our knight
errantry. After glorious weeks sport
we found ourselves nearly used up, and
decided to rest week at a town with
jaw. breaking name. Our sepoy was
] tine, intelligent fellow, and by him we
were informed that he had made friends
with an old man whose only child, a
young and lovely girl, had lately been
dragged from their cottage during his
temporary absence, the only person that
was with her at the time being decrep-
id old woman, their servant. That plum
der was not the object sought. was not
the ooject of her abduction, was evident,
tor nothing was touched in the house or
garden, and the old woman, who tainted
IN her terror, could only recollect that
amongst the party who tore the girl from
her arms, was one in the robe of q Hindoo
mendicant.
Interested by Ais recital, at my de-
sire he introduced me to his new acQuain-
lance. He was fine, venerable old man
on the verge of eighty; and in an answer
to our inquiries, declared that he was
convinced that his daughter, his sweet
Azeeta, had been carried off by the
Groands for their annual human sacrifice,
"But can nothing be done to save here"
we both exclaimed, indignant at his pas
sive submission to what he called bis
destiny. But the only answer was, that
in three days, at the new moon, the sacri-
fee took place. "And then,' he exclaim-
ed, with gush of anguish, II shall be
childless."
"Nay,' returned Charles, ''lead me to
the spot, or the one you suspect; provide
us and our attendants with such disguis.
es as you may deem most likely to favor
such an enterprise, and let me try what
can be done."
The old Mussulman clutched at the
unexpected hope conveyed in these words
with desperate joy; but I, knowing his
rashness, vainly endeavored to dissuade
him from such an undertaking.; but his
eloquence, and the strong desire had to
tathom the whole affair, to satisfy my
doubts regarding human sacrifices, and |
to restore child to her fathers arms.
caused me to lay aside my scruples and
join my friend in his undertaking.
Disguised as native soldiers We CON-
menced our search, and it was net long
before we discovered tine principal pago.
da of the place, situated in thick grove
We felt assured that the interior of this
temple was the place allotted for tho
sacrifices, nor was it with any difficulty
we learned, by mingling with the crowds
that attended far In the town, that
great festival was to be solemnized at
midnight.
The pagoda was so strongly built that
we despaired at once Of gaining entrance,
and but tor provldential accident,
should have failed in gaining access to
the building. While crawling carefully
around the building, reconnoiter,ng,
large snake issued from heap of stones,
passed rapidly towards the temple, and
entered a crevice in the wall, and glided
away out Of our sight. Charles seized
stick, apd Immediately commenced
pursuit until its disappearance, when
he strove to dislodge the reptile by
thrusting his weapon into the aperture.
The stick struck against something that
emitted a metallic sound, and on ap-
preaching to examine it, he found 1t was
small deor imbedded IN the stone work
OF the wall. Digging away the mortar
and rubbish that almost concealed it
from sight, with his sword, until he was
able to drag it open, and gain adm1ttance
to small cell. then returning, he related
to US his discovery, and with our swords
and pistols near at hand, and torch, in
case of need, we returned to the search.
On entering the cell, CLEAN OF light
shining through crevice in one corner,
warned US that neighbors were at hand,
and all must be done as silently as pos
sible if We hoped to succeed. A groan
from the bercaved parent and his tall, es
he glanced through crev1ce, proved that
his shattered nerves had rece ived an ad-
ditional shock. Selling him, I commenced
dragging him into the open air, while
my companion, following the old mans
example, saw through the ori3ce most
lovely creature, young and graceful
girl, whose beauty shone in the glance of
many torches stuck in the wall, as she
lay bound hand and foot. In each COZ
ner of the room was an Image, hid
eous and frightful as ever heathen bowed
down to, and ornamenred with garlands
of skulls and forms of hideous snakes.
| In the center of the room blazed a larpe