The Osceola times., 1885-02-21
FOR HIMSELF ALONE
An Interesting Tale of Reversed Identities
BY T. W. sPEIGHT.
CHAPTER VII.

CHAPTER VIII
Clunie and Captain Dyson were quite
content to find themselves out of sight
and hearing of the rest of the party.
Never before had the Captain had a
listener at once so attentive and so ap-
preciative. Really. Mis- Pebworth was
most superior young woman. with in-
telig nee and tastes far beyond the
ordinary run OF her sex.
They had been scrambling uphill,
and conversation had been an impossi-
bilty for the last few minutes; but now
having reached the summit. they sat
down to rest on some large powders,
and the Captain r sumcd the thread Of
his broken narrative.
"When ! again came to my senses, y"
he said, II found that the natives had
bound me fast to the trunk of n large
tree about dozen yards from their en-
campment. | knew but too well the
fat in store for me. On the morrow
should be tortured; at sunset | should
be killed outright; and after that
should be roasted and served up hot Cor
supper"
80, Captain Dyson, how dreadful!
now very urcou III.
Shall | defer the rest of my narra-
tive till another day.
please. no. am dying to know
how you escaped for you did escape,
of course. or else you could not be here
TO tell me-.
II did escape. Miss Pcbworth; but
You would never guess by what
means
ado not keep me in suspense. Captain
Dyson"
"i'he sun set, the camp-lires were
lighted, and still remained fast bound
TO the tree. | thought of many things
men do think of many things at such
times. | thought with a pang that |
should never again see my native land,
my dear old England And, rs
thought thus, my patriotic feelings
awoke within me and would not be con-
trolled. and | began to sing "Rule
britannia" at the top Of my voice. In
those days ! was consid red to have
rather fine tenor voice. lost i, sub
sequently when laid up with ague
among the African swamps.'
Il should dearly love to have heard
You singing on that memorable night. ="
Before had reached the end of the
first verse, there was a general move
ment among the savagcs. They sprang
TO their feet. and with loud cultural
cries thev came trooping toward me -
men, women and children. They sur
rounded me; and as | went on singing,
there was the deepest silence among
them. Even the babes in arms hushed
their prattle. They had never heard
anything like my singing before"
"Ah, no; can quite believe that"
by the time had reached the end
of the second verse, they were all in
tears
Your sweet tenor voice. Happy
cannibalsr'
II was in the middle of the third
verse, when the old chief came up to
me. He was sobbing. He relied me
by the shoulder, and rubbed his nose
Violently against mine, which is their
way of making friends. Then his two
hcad-men came and rubbed their noses
with me. | was released, and carried
in triumph TO the chiefs hut ! sang TO
him all that night and all next day;
then he said that he had had enough
for little while, and offered me his
daughter in marriage"
80 Captain Dyson! But you did not
marry herpn
Gould you believe in the poss biIity
ol an English gentleman marrying the
daughter of an African King?"
Suddenly Clunie started to her feet
81 declare if there isn't that odious
Mr., Drummond coming this way" she
exclaimed, in tone of vexation. "lt
looks rs if he had followed us on pur-
pose
10 return to Miss Deenc. Mr.. Demp-
sey had not been gone more than n
couple of minutes when she was startled
by seeing y stranger coming toward
her through the trees. As he drew
nearer, she saw that he was burly.
middle aged man with homely features,
lhat We're set in Il tangled maze of
grllzled beard and mustache. He was
dressed in suit of gray tweed that had
evidently seen better DAYS; he wore a
soft slouched hat; his thick. solcd shoes
were white with the dust of country
roads, and he carried a stout walking
81 ok in his hand. lie came up 10
Elma, lifted his hat for moment and
said; Pardon me. but am | right in
assuming that there is u picnic here to-
day, and that my friends, MIR. Drum
mond and MIR. Frobishcr, form part of
the company"
His voice was very pleasant one,
and so was his smile. as Elma had an
opportunity of proving little later on.
Despite the strangers homely looks
and somewhat shabby attire. something
whispered TO Miss Dee1e that she was
in the presence of no ordinary man.
There has certainly been picnic
Aee to-day" she replied. ''at which