The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-05-15
on the other side OF the young

Old Man OF the Sea" said the amused
Mrs. Atherton i'll whisper to Halrie
/ Yes, but / may find means to dis
lodge him" returned Harrie, smiling in
return.
When the top Of the eminence was
reached, the whole party paused and
gaZed around them at the beautiful
scenery which met their gaze. The
conical hills, the high and abrupt
mountains and the deep, dark valleys
covered with tho heaviest forests, q d
| thick inngles almost impenetrable to
tic rays OF tho sun, made up scene OF
| great curiosity to American eyes The
guide informed them that these forests
were inhabited by elephants, lcopards,
hyeaas, jackals, and monkeys, besides,
many venomous serpcnts were to be
found everywhere.
This last assertion made little Mrs.
| Atlerton shiver rs she held up her
white hand, saying, mo more. please;
declare, am afraid to 60 lack now!'
The sable guide showed his white
teeth, and at word from Mr.. Adams
proceeded on the way.
| They found the temple situated on
the south side of the eminencc, in the
midst of cocoanut trees. An old man
went before them with torch, and all
were obliged to assume attitudes of rev.
erence when they approached the hid
eous figure of Boodha. As he sat upon
his pedestal he must have been eight
feet in height, and was painted in ma Y
grotesque colors, and ornamented with
almost priceless diamonds, rubies, and
cmeralds, which were about his neck
and arms. Upon either side was
smaller statue, the one of Vishnu and
the other of silva, while upon every
side We're paintings of different gods,
and ut the doors were images of two
giants and of two lions placed as
guards.
The party fingered about the place
viewing the curious structure from the
outside, and tho attractive scenery, nm
til the guide approached Mr.. Adams,
saying:
The sun hangs low in the heavens"
And then came the scramble down
the steep hillside. and every one got
into the conveyances, and the bearers
began to retrace their steps. Mr.. ADJ
ans still kept close by Harries' side,
aud DIR. Harrington never left her, and
despite the laughing glances Of tho rest
Of the party, started home in the man
ner they came.
DO you suppose | am going to trust
her to the care of that cowardly sur
geon ?" asked Mr.. Adams, of one of tho
laughing gentlemen.
"But what if she likes his company
best ?" persisted the gentleman.
"You heard what her father said"
was the reply of the angry sai'or, and
then he bore the amused looks OF the
company witha determined look laugh
able to behold.
They had fingered longer than they
had thought, and tho twilight was ap-
preaching before they had got out of
the wooded country, and the half
frightened looks Of the ladies' made
the gentlemen look to their firearms,
winch every man carried.
Dr. harrington's face was very pale.
Il guess the Doctor is scared" said
Adams in low voice, bending low
toward Harrie as she sat in the open
palanquin.
Harrie had been very indignant at
Mr.. Adams actions during the day, and
she would have given him very angry
answer had not the native bearers
stopped at this moment, saying that q
strap was broken by which the palan-
quin swung, and it would cause but a
moments delay to mend it.
Mr.. Adams scowled tierccly ut the
Doctor as they sat waiting, but he kept
his eyes fixed upon the moving caval.
cade before him.
The rest of tho company were half
mile in advance when they again start
ed, and the shadows were beginning to
fall around them. The bearers made
an attempt to catch up with the others.
and rushed along at rapid rate; but
they we're obliged to go slower when
gong through the jungles, and they
were about twenty rods behind tho
others when they heard low growl,
and half-grown leopard sprang from
one Of the waving palms and alighted
upon the pretty canopy over Harrie's
head. The cowardiy bearers instantly
dropped the palanguin and started by
the shortest path for the not far distant
Madras, and the startled Mr.. Adams,
after seeing what the situation really
was, put whip to his horse and was soon
among the others of the company,
shouting:
"The tiger, the tiger has devoured
Miss Harrie, and killed that cursed
surgeon.
For heavens sake" said the gentle
men, I'VE must 60 back at once
"No, no! for Gods sake keep away
from there or he'll kill every one OF
You! To the ship! to the ship!" and
the excited mate never again looked
behind him until safe on board the
Tenasserim.
Several of the men turned and hur.
ried back to the little jungle, where
they found Harrie still in her paian-
auin, laughing, with the white-faced
surgeon by her side with revolver in
hand, while near by was n beautiful
p;cture--a young Hindoo girl with her
pet leopard, led by silken cord, with
the last faint light of day falling over
her. The explanation was very simple
The Hindoo girl had been watching the
strangers, with her tame leopard near
her, and the beautiful animal had
sprang upon the palanquin, perhaps
! mistaking Harrie for his gentle mis-
tress, and. just as the Doctor had been
about to send bullet into his graceful
side, the young girl lad sprang forward
and saved tho life Of her pet
When they reached the Tenasserim
under the pale white light Of the moon,
they found great commotion caused
, by Mr. Adams excited story, and poor
, Clpt. Harter was indulging his grief te
tho full when the little boat came
alongside, and Harrie and the surgecr
came on board.
"Harrie, my girl, thought tho tiger
had killed you. How did you es
cape?"
Mrs. Atherton told the whole story
: including a graphic account Of Mr.
Adams excitement.
so YOU ran. did you?" asked ths
blunt old Captain. Il rather think yo,
/ must be the coward. after all.