Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-08-31
CHAPTER TX.


 JOURNAL; SETTING FORTH HIS ADvENTU RES IN THE ISLAND or CEYLoN.
 Sept. 29th, lS4s.-It is a strange thing that on the very next day after reading my fathers message I should have been struck down and reduced to my present condition. But so it is, and now, four months after my first entry in this Journal, 1 am barely able to use the pen to add t. my account. As far as I remember, it happened thus: On the 23rd of May last, 1 walked down in the cool of the evening to the city. intending to post a letter, which did anl WIS returning to MT. SandersOn's house, when stopped to watch the sun setting in this glorious Bay of Bengal. 1 was leaning over low wall, looking out on the open sea with its palm-tringed shores when suddenly tho sun shot out d jagged flame; the sky hravcd and turned to blood and I knew no more. I had been murderously struck from behind. That 1 was found, lying to all ap- pearances dead, with a hideOus zCZag wound upon the scalp; that my pockets had been to | all appearances rifed (whether by the assassin or the natives that found me is uncertain) :; that was finally claimed and carried home by Mir Sen |, rsOn, who growing uneasy at my absence had set out to look for me: that for more than a month and then again for almost two months, my life hung in the balance; and that 1 owe my recovery to Mir. SanderSon's unceasing kindness-all this have learnt but lately. 1 can write no more at present
 Oct Sd. I am slightly better My mental powers are slowly coming back after the fever that followed the wound. I pass my days mostly in spcculating on the reason for this i murderous attack but am still unable to ac- count for it. It cannot have been for plunder. ! for do not look like a rich man. MT. San 1 dersOn has his theory, but cannot agree with him. for nobody but ourselves knew of my fathers manuscript At any rate, it is fortu- nate that left it in my chest, together with this Jouln:,!, before went down to Bombay. "Oct. l4th. Nj. SAnderson is everything that is good; indeed, had been a brother he | could not hur. shown me more solcitude. But 1 he is ols,iAAtr in connecting my attack with l the Great Ruby of Ctylon; it is certainly cu- rious coincidence that this dark chapter of my life should immediately follow my fathers warning, but that is all one can say. 1 shall l give up trying to convince him.
 ." Oct. 31st.-I am now considerably better. My strength is slowly returning, and with it, I am glad to say. my memory. At first it seemed though could remember nothing of my pust lifc but now my recollection is l good on every point up to the moment of my | attack. 1 am able to creep about little, and | MT SandtrSOn has taken me for one or two excursions. CuriOusly enough l thought l saw John Ralton yesterday upon the Apollo Bund.
 | Nov 4th.-I was not mistaken. 1t wuS | John Railton that 1 saw on the Apollo Bund. met him lowering about the same spot to- 1 day, and spoke to him but apparently he did not hear me. I intended to ask him some news of my friend Collivcr, but l daresay he knows as little of his dongs as l do. Mir. i Sandcrson says that i'll a weeks time l shall be recovered sufficiently to start. l hope SO, 1 indeed for this delay is chating me sorely. Nov 2lst.-Mr. Sanderson has found Il | ship for at last 1 am to sail in five days for Colombo ill the schooner CampaSpc, whose l captain is Il friend of my host. l shall be the | only passenger and Nr. Sandcrson has given Captain Dodge full instructions to take care of me. But 1 am feeling strong enough now and | fit for anything.
 Nov 23d.-I have been down to look at the vessel, and find that Il most comfortable | little cabin has been set apart for me. But the strangeSt thing is that met Coiver also | inspecting the ship He was most surprised at s, e;ng me, and evidently imagined me homo in England by this time. l told him of my meeting with John Euilton, and hc rrplicd-
 "'Oh, yes gave taken him into my service. We are going together to Crylon. as l have travelled about India enough for the present. | ] went to visit my brother at TrchinopOly, | and have only just returned to Bombay. Un- l fortunately the captain of the Campaspc de- ] clarrs hr is unable to take me, so l shull have to Wal.
 " .,i,:uinrd the reason of the captains re- l lurtNncr, and offered him q share of my cabin if Captain podgA would consent to be bur dentG with Railton's company.
 | "'Oh, for that matter, replied he, Raiitun can follow; but he's handy fellow, and l 1 durrsay would make himself useful without | payment.
 We consulted Captain Dodge who admit te.i himself ready to take another passenger, and even to accommodate Ration ii that Were my wish. So the bargain was struck.
 MT Sinderson did not seem altogether pleased when informed him that l intended to take q companion. He asked many Qurs- tions about Collver, and was especially ;!nN- ious to know if had contided anything of r, y plans l. :;tlt. So far was this from being the ease thG: Colliver, as I informed my host, had never betrayed the least interest ill my move mcntS At this MT. Sanderson merely grunt- ed, and asked me when l intended to learn prudence, adding that one crack in the head was enough for most men, but he supposed l wanted more. l admit that pleasant compan- ion as Coliver is, I should prefer to be entire ly alone upon this adventure. But l could not deny the invitation without appearing unnecessarily rude, and owe him much grat- itude for having made the outward voyage so | pleasant. Besides, we shall part at Colombo.
 Nov 25th-I make this entry (my last up on Indian soiD just before retiring to rest. Tomorrow l sail for Colombo in the Cam paspe.
 Nov 26th.-I am off write this in my cabin, alone-Colliver having had another as- signed to him by MT. Sanderson's express wish. He saw Colliver for the first time to- day on the quay, and drew me aside at the last moment to warn me against that fellow with the devilish eyes, As I stood on deck and watched his stiff little figure waving me farewell until 1t melted in the crowd, and Bombay sank behind me as the city of a dream, wondered with sadness on the little chance we had of ever meeting on this earth again. Colliver's voice at my elbow aroused i me.
 "'Odd man, that friend of yours-made up of emotion and afraid of his life to show it. Has he done you a favorT
 "'He has, l replied, as great favor as one man can do for another
 "'Ah,' said he I thought as much. That's why he is so full of gratitude
 "Dec. Gth.-Eever shall forget the dawn out of which Ceylon, the land of my promise, arose into view. was early on deck to catch | the first sight of land So near vera wa