The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1880-02-12

could not part company again on the
route, but that I would accord him the
privilege walking in: advance.
You see, l take you at your word"
said I; and if you are what You pro-
fess to be you will not feel hurt at my
caution. You shall go before me, and
shall walk with safety 80 long as you do
nothing to confirm my suspicion; but
warn You at tho same time that, il per-
ceive single sign of treachery. I will
shoot you down as I would . wild
beasti"
why, what do you take me for?" he
demanded, with IN astonished air.
A Thugi" returned I; highway
murderer and robber- neither more nor
less! have heard of your tricks upon
travellers, away of in my native isle
but I, Ut least, am upon my guard, and
this time your wicked scheme has
failed"
lie laughed, but merely said, Have
it your own way. I am satisfied to
humor your suspicion, knowing you
really mean me no harm, and that when
we reach the fort, and I prove to you I
am an honest man, you will do me
justice"
Most sssuredly," I answered.
He then set forward with all air of
careless indifference, and I kept close
behind him, and my eye upon every
motion. Thus we passed through the
dark jungle, and assembled to the more
open path of the higher lands. without
meeting with any new adventure. In
an open spot beside clear spring, I
stopped and made him sit beside me
while rested and ate my MONDAY
meal, which I shared with him. Then
We resumed our journey, he going be-
fore, as usual; and so fast did we travel,
for / was determined not to spend an
other night in the forest, that, when the
sun went down, saw, from neighbor-
ing hill, the cross of St. George waving
over the station where my days journey
was to end. While crossing the valley
to reach it, however, night came upon
us; and, favored by the darkness, my
suspicious acquaintance suddenly dis
appeared. I got through in safety,
though, received q warm welcome from
my countrymen, and subsequently OBJ
tanned all the aid and redress I sought.
Two years later, being at Bereilly
while notorious Thug was on trial for
lis life, curiosity led me- to the court
room, when, to my surprise, I recog-
nized in the prisoner at the bar the
identical individual whom had COM
PEELED to perform weary journey in
front of me. He was convicted of muir
der and condemned to death; but, pre-
vious to his execution, I managed to
obtain an interview with him, when he
frankly confessed that the incident of
the monkey and the snake, by inducing
him, as the leader of his party, to
change his plan, was the principal
cause of my life being preserved, my
shrewd suspicion and bold determine
ton doing the rest. Being on the
watch for travellers, he and bis CON-
panions had seen me on the road early
in the day, and five of them had secret
ed themselves in that dark, lonely jun
gle, intending to spring upon me and
do their murderous work, according as
their religion teaches, by strangulation; ;
it not being lawful for them to kill in
any other manner. The discharge of
both barrels at the snake, taken in con-
nection with my supposed natural
fright and excitement, led him to think
he could accomplish his purpose in a
different way; and so he appeared, to
talk, to cajole, and catch me off my
guard-but, as the matter turned out,
caught a Tartar instead. By keeping
his life in my hards, as it were, I kept
down his companions, and so / was
saved.
I had before thanked Heaven for
preserving me from the venomous
snake, and, when I heard the story of
the murderous Thug, again thanked
Heaven for having sent the snake to
preserve EAe from a band of religious
aSSqSaina