The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1880-02-12
NARROW ESCAPES.
Some Remarkable Occurrences.

NARROW ESCAPES.
Some Remarkable Occurrences.
A number of years ago was travel
ing through q wild portion of Upper
India. At small village I lost every
attendant with whom I had left Delhi
two being struck down with the chol-
era, and the oilers running away with
my horses-thus leaving mo afoot and
alone in region which had tho reputa-
ton of being infested with Thugs, rob-
beers and cutthroats. I complained to
the Chief Magistrate Of the place, and
he promised, of course, that the rascals
should be caught and punished; but it
is my private opinion that he was as
great a scoundrel as any about him,
and that he connived at their escape,
and got the lions share of the spoils.
My money and some valuable Jewels
were fortunately secured about my per-
son, and, being armed with a double
barreled rifle, brace of pistols, and q
large Spanish dirk-knife, I thought
might venture to find my way, alone
and without q guide, to an English sta
ton about thirty miles distant.
Without making my design known
to the darogah, placed my baggage
under his charge, telling him I should
hold him responsible for eny loss.
~And why not, your Honor, watch it
YOURSELF" he asked.
Because the thieves have proved
too many for me already" I answered.
He inquired if were going to leave,
which way I intended to travel, if he
should procure me reliable guides and
escort, and so forth and so on; but I
answered evasively, determined to keep
my design to myself till certain Of
being among men worthy of trust
Having, by different inquiries of differ
ent persons, learned the best route to
the place I wished to reach, I slipped
out Of the village after dark, and went
to neighboring forest, where l
climbed tree and passed the night in
its branches. The next morning, after
a slight repast on such food and fruit
as had provided for the journey, I set
forward through the wood, following a
travelled path, and guiding myself by a
small pocket compass.
The route, lying through forest and
jungle, up hill and down, was lonely
and dreary enough to make me more
than once wish for companion. More
than once fancied L heard the growl
of some wild beast, and stopped and
stood on the defensive; and several
times the whir of some large bird flying
up near me, or the sudden scream and
rush of a frightened monkey, gave me
start that was anything but pleasant;
but, with these exceptions, I got along
very we'll till about midday, when, as I
was in the act of descending into a
dark, gloomy hollow, where the trees,
vines and luxurious vegetation so inter-
fered as TO make it matter of some
risk and trouble to pick my way
through, was suddenly brought to a
stand ny noise resembling scutfle in
the path before me, accompanied by
what appeared to be human groans.
From where stopped I could not see
the eontending parties, though the
sounds told me- they were quite near.
There were evidently not more than
two of them, and I thought it would be
quite safe for me to venture forward,
especially as I was we'll armed. What
could it bep Perhaps some Thug had
fallen upon traveller like myself, and
WAS now strangling him, according to
the highest code of his religion. That
the peculiar sounds I heard proceeded
from anything but human strife and
human misery, had not the remotest
idea; and therefore 10y surprise and as
tonishment may be imagined when, on
gliding through asort ofvegetablet tunnel
1 beheld, upon more open and lighter
space, a large monkey in the coils of
venomous snake.
was just in time to Witness not the
struggle, but the death of the poor
quadruped. His last groan had passed
his lips; his eyes, half out of his head,
were already glazed, and, with a single
convulsive culver through his crushed
body, his life went ont at the moment
my gaze fell upon him. The snake, per-
laps hearing my approach, raised it's
huge, misshapen, hooded head, turned
its fiery eyes full upon me, ran out its
red, forked tongue, Kissed out malig-
nant defiance, and then. as if knowing
its victim was dead, and that it now had
q formidable foe to contend with, I'M
coiled itself like lightning, and appeared
standing up straight before me, the
most appalling sight, all things consld-
cred, I had ever looked upon.
[ had advanced with my rifle upon
my shoulder, prepared for the necessity
of quick shot, and now, impulsively
taking hurried aim, I fred one barrel
at the broad, ugly head of the monster.
Fortunately, I hit him somewhere about
tue neck, and he dropped, but threw
himself about with the widest contor-
tiona, and in single moment was at
my feet. I jumped back with wild
cry, and, scarcely conscious of what I
was doing, thrust down the muzzle OF
my piece, and fred the other barrel
just as he was in the act of Selling it
with Venomous snap, blowing his head
to atoms.
l was secretly returning heartfelt
thanks for my deliverance, when I was
again startled by slight rustling of the
bushes to the left, and by the time I
could draw a pistol, not knowing what
lmight next have to encounter, found
myself confronted, not by beast, but a
man.
All! we'll met, fellow-traveler," he
sad, in very good English, as if he had
OWNED my nativity at a glance. Il
heard your two shots, and felt glad to
know that was not alone in this will
derness. You have had narrow es-
cape" he added, looking down at the
dead snake.
He was ine-looking fellow, being
tall, straight and graceful, with black
hair and eyes. and dark, classic feat
1res. He was lightly dressed, after the
fashion of the country, and apparently
armed only with knife, the sheath of
which was secured to the girdle at his
waist.
Without replying in the familiar
manner in which he had addressed me,
l drew myself up with q somewhat
naughty reserve, and coldly demanded
who he was, and how he came to be
secreted in the thicket, if his purpose
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