The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-01-12

couraged under Jacksnn'x iron rule One can imagine tne suprise of Jackson. when. zt seven o'clock . depufAtion of three Celestials. of whom Chong vas one. waited upon him at his cabin and invfted hum to the feast Henored by this indirect tribute to his mazeership, and more good nafured thnn usn1l hy the complexion of his task, he assexeed, and on doing 90 turned tc the most hn- mane of his two assistanfs and said wikh a sheer: You see ] vas night The more you do for these doys the better they Ike you"
 It was dark when he reached ihs quar- ,ers of the Chinese, in an open place al the upper end of long dc6ie that led down the mountain side under the over hanging branches of clump pine. The sky was overcast with clouds thai were blown over the dome of the great noun tain above. and through which the moon looked here and there as an opening pre- sented itself A score of fires were send ing up their red sparks, while thrice as many torches flashed rom stakes driven here and thither m the ground. Over each fire hung an iron kettle simmering with the basis of the feast, and around each two or three grotesque figures could be seen.
 One fire and one kettle had been set aside for Jackson and his friends Two special cooks had ii in charge one a tall, gaunt man used to the prisons of Hong Kong. and the other fat and swarthy ex-keeper of an opium joint in Sacramento. When these two passed word 10 ,he master of ceremonies that they were ready, he ordered the feast to begin. and soon there was eating and drinking from one end of the camp to the other.
 Jackson and his two friends were Tn high spirits. and ate with ;elish. know you fellows" he said to his cooks, and am up to your little tricks. So 10 make sure that there is nothing in this mess to lay me on my back, want one of you to take a good pull at il. Come, d-n you, lay to-"
 The swarthy man from Sacramento said few words ;n Chinese ,o h,s tall com panion, whereupon the latter ladled ou, a tin cupful, and seating himself on a log, ate it calmly and as though with a relish.
 That will do for me, said Jackson with an oath and so let's turn Tn and get all the good we can out of it. As he warmed up and began 10 feel the effects of an occasional visit 10 his flask. he let himself down into mood that was in tended 10 be companionable, but that touched only a rough hllarity. He grew familiar with the creatures he had abused, offering a hand at poker with one, foot race with second, and wrestling match with third All these overtures were declined with that facial contortion that stands the Chinamen instead of smile :; and meanwhile the preparations for breaking camp went forward.
 In a few minutes each man had his bundle made up. the tinware and kettles were all emptied and assigned to carriers, the preparations for departure com pleted, and the agents making their final count to make sure that the six buried back there by the cliff were the only ones of the lot who would not be returned to headquarters Tn good order.
 The nigh, had grown very dark, and no moon or star could be seen anywhere between the mountain top and the far horizon edge away down toward the west. The wind rustled uneasily in and out among the pine trees. and there were signs ot storm everywhere in the air. The loaded men fell into line two by two and with a half dozen torches ln the lead, entered the dark defile. as silent as the fall of the autumn leaves. and with no more betrayal of passion or anger or concern upon their faces than could be traced on an image of stone The las, of the llne has gone. and only the over seer and his friends are Jeff standing to- gether on knoll.
 Let them go, and bad luck go with them" grosled Jackson, as he fel, pat ter of rain upon his face, and thus warned turned his fee, toward his cabin upon the mountain side.
 Chong Lee could not tell the rest, as he mad no sigh; and heard no word of the man from that night until now. But he knows what vas waiting for him there :; for message, written m such language as the highest education of the three hundred could command, ~as pinned on a piece of brown paper across the h,tle pillow whereon no golden head would ever rest again:
 The Chinaman does not strike eften. but when he does he IS terrible. This empty bed tells you from whence came your feast of tonight. All tha, remains of the babe you loved will be found in the hollow by the graves of the six you have killed. This from
 THE THREE HUNDRED. -New Koyk Aeyesyy.