Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-11-12

about, anu on no account to suffer me to
lie down or 90 t. sleep. | explained to
Ncerapcn that my life depended on my
being kept awake, and | ordered him To
check the fatal druwsineSs by thraShing
me with nv own hurscwhip if necessary,
and not to spare it.
VeCrapcn armed himself with the whip
as ordered. and he and the cook began
marching me up and down the room. An
overwhelming faiGtnesS soon came upon
me, from which a further large dose of
brandy failed to rouse me, and | should
have gone To sleep as | walked, had not
Neerapcn then administered a sharp cut
across my calves.
The pain Stuug me into activity, and I
turned upon my servan. with an amount
of fury which caused him TO retreat in
hot haste. But remembering why the
blow was given. | thanked him for it,
Curbing my passion and telling him to re-
sumo his cure of me. | begged him, no
matter what my present anger might he.
to continue, by the severe means / had
placed in his hands, tO prevent my falling
asleep. as | would handsomely reward
him if he saved my life.
cannot recollect all that passed. but
Ncerapen told me that alternately com
mandcd and entrcated with tears in my
eyes TO he allowed to go to sleep if only
for n minute, but that the only attention
he paid to my threats or entreaties WAS
TO lay on all the harder with the whip.
The blows reused me from my state of
tOTpOr for a few minutes only AT a time,
but during these intervals Of conscious
ness | thoroughly reliShed the cure ! was
voluntarily undergoing. aud experienced
a positive pleasure i'll feeling the singing
cuts showcred on my back, arms and
legs by my lusty attendant.
The struggle for life was prOtracted,
but gradually the pulsations of my heart
became more regular, the load which had
oppressed my breathing was slowly lifted
from my chest, the fatal yearning for
sleep rolled away, and knew the mortal
risk was over.
Perhaps Veerapen had few scores to
pay off-anyhow. he discharged his duty
so thoroughly that by the time was out
OF danger | was black and blue form
head to foot, but | bore him no grudge
for these striking marks of his fidelity.
| know | consumed a great deal Of
brandy, but did not think had finished
as much as SIX bottles. Neerapen, how
ever, assured me | had not only taken
that quantity, but had wished To have
more, only he had refused to let me have
il. He produced half a dozen gentle
men commoners" as vouchers to his as
| sertiun, and if he and the cook had not
grossly exceeded the limits of sobriety
that night | might have been persuaded
! that | alone had swallowed a full gallon
imperial measure of old CognaC. As il
was, formed an opinion that my worthy
| servitors had been drinking my very good
| health and speedy recovery, and | did not
| reprove them for the jOllitication on such
| an occasion.
| gave my faithful boy twelve months
pay. and 10 the cook six, rs n reward for
| their timely services. | do not think
anything could induce me to part with
| Veerapen, or Necrapen 10 leave me rs
! long as ! remain in the country, and !
! shall give him pension for life when |
| finally retire from India.
The effects of the poison did not alto
! gether disappear for some time, but
| manifested themselves at intervals in
muscular spasms, which were very pain
! ful and accompanied by great depression
! of spirits. Time, however, cures all
things, and | am to-day as sound as
! though had never been within an ace of
! losing my life through the bite of a tic
| pOlonga. london Society