Connecticut western news., 1888-02-08

pocket compass, pair of shoes, and two or three other articles. A native detective assured us that the priest and scribe were two notorious thieves, who had come In that disguise to get even with us. ....-~
 was bitten by poisonous snake at Bengalore, and for several weeks was unable to leave my bed. While out of danger after the first two or thr,e days, enough of the poison circulated through my system to keep me weak and feverish for long time. While lying on my bed on my right side I could look out on an extensive back yard. Thers was path running down to summer house, and beyond tho summer house was thicket and a ravine. Midway between the bungalow and the summer house, and off to the left of tho path, wcro the sta ablcs. One forenoon as l lay looking out on this yard, saw an al- most naked native come out of the thicket, glide up the path and turn into the stables. I knew from his actions that he was thief, but the hand bell had been accidentally removed beyond my reach, and I could not call loul enough in my weak state to givo an alarm. Thero were three servants at the stables, but it turned out that they wero gambling and deeply interested. The thief entered the buildings and stole two suits of clothing and some horse goods, and went back down the path with the bundle on his back.
 The Captain was raving angry over the loss, as ho had been bothered great deal with thieves, and after dinner we had consultation. He went to a friend and borrowed steel trap which had once been sent for and captured tiger. It was larger than the bear traps seen in this country, requiring the services of two men and lever to set it. The stable men were sent away on errands, and, assisted by corporal from tho barracks, tho Captain set the trap in the centre of the path, between the summer house and the stables. An excavation was made to sink it out of sight, and then dirt and leaves were scattered over the spot. The Captains family was away, and the stable men never went beyond their quarters. If anybody fell into the trap it would be some native who had no business in the grounds. The loss of the stable goods had not heon re- ported to the police, and the thief was not alarmed. He might not make another visit to the place, but it was hoped he would. There was a stout chain attached to the trap, and this led to small tree and was made fast with paddock.
 It was nearly week before anything unusual occurred. A bell had been fixed in the housekeepcr's room, with cord running to the head of my bed, and it was arranged that when gave,a certain signal she was to run to the kitchen and send a native after the Captain, providing he was not at home. That signal would mean game in the trap. If any one came at night, all the people would be at home, and could do as directed by the Captain. I could not leave my room, and must certainly be good sentinel if awake. If asleep, any noise out of routine would arouse mo. The Captain .did not come home, after leaving iu the morning, until o'clock. We had be- gun to despair of luck in trapping thief, when, one morning about 10 o'clock, just after I had opened my eyes from nap lasting half an hour, I saw the head of a native as he pccrel from behind the summer house. It was thief spying out the land. I got hold of the bell cord, but waited to see what the fellow would do. In two or three minutes he stepped out in full sight, and Twas quite sure he was tho same who came before. He came boldly up the path, as if bent on an crrand, and walked dire ctly over the trap. I was so astonlshed that I forgot to ring until he had turned into the stables.
 The housekeoper had gone to the kitchen and was wrangling with the cook, and SO my signal was unhcard. The fellow was out of my sight seven or eight minutes, and when he rcappeared he had sack of horse feed on his shoulders. He hld caught the st able men mapping again. l rang and rang, but no one came. Ho went down the path bent over and seeming to glide, but as he reached the trap tho dirt and leaves flew in shower, the fellow seemed to spring into the air, and next instant I saw that he was fast in the jaws. He pitched forward, and I could see his right ankle was held in the wise. He quickly scrambled up, however, looked sharply around him, and then uttered low whistle. Insilo of thirty seconds four natives came from the thicket to assist him. The trap puzzled them. If they had ever seen ono before, they did not know how to manage the springs. The prisoner must have been in terrible agony, for the teeth went to the bone on each side of his leg; but he never brought groau. While tho five wero consulting l rang again, and this time the housekceper came and sent for the Captain. Long enough before he came the affair was ended. When tho men