The Arkansaw traveler., 1889-10-05

water were placed just outside each entrance, from which a coolie from time to time threw . panni- kinfnl on the cuscus tathis, that the wind blow ing through the wet mats, might cool the tempers- ture inside the pandal. This result certainly was attained but at the cost ofintensfying the bangs of the patients whose thirst tantalized by hearing the splashing of the water.
 l had begged, sworn and menaced at intervals, but no paid the slightest heed to me and | was sinking into that condition of torpor which is the immediate precursor of the third and fatal stage of cholera when heard voices in the pandal. The assistant surgeon was making his last round for the night, accompanied by the hospital dresser. With violent effort reused myself, and eagerly listened for their approach. wanted to hear my fate pronounced.
 They stopped at length where lay, and the doc- tor examined my body.
 "Mottled," heard him remark to the dresser. was nearly deafened by the singing or rather drumming in my ears, so lay perfectly motionless, SO as not to let a single word of what they might say escape me, if possible
 "He is insensible already" the doctor continued "and will not last long. So Wethersll will make sixp
 "Make six2" said to myself; "make six what2"
 Six corpses, of course, for burial at daylight to- morrow morning" voice seemed to laugh out, with fendish exultation.
 The dresser said something which I could not distinctly hear, but the answer enlightened me to the subject they were discussing. tOh, yes, there will be room enough in fact, for two more, if necessary"
 They had gone, and the place was in darkness save for the glimmer of a cocoanut-oil lamp. heard the scratching of mumooties just outside the pandal.
 It was the noise made by the camp followers who were digging common grave for six of us leaving room for two more if necessary.
 felt utterly stunned and quite indifferent to my fate, which, of course, l considered settled after what the assistant surgeon said. My tongue was like piece of dry leather in my mouth, which had long since ceased to yield any saliva to relieve the agonizing burning of my throat and palate. could not have made any sound had attempted to do so; but did not try, for the attendants were all stretched on the ground fast asleep. felt l was deserted-left to die
 was beginning to wander, think, and was back again in the bright green English meadows, pick ing daisies with my little sister, and so l should have passed away. But just at that moment the coolies who had finished digging the grave-my grave-passed the entrance to the pandal and one of them, with more consideration than his class usually show, threw pannikinful of water on the cuscus tath
 It was like galvanic shock to me- resolved to have drink at any risk. I had to die, so what matter if hastened my death hour or two by drinking cold waterl At least should be relieved from the torture of thirst and die happy. I tried to get up, but I was too weak to stand, and fell down at once. Then l reflected that was more likely to be if walked, and if detected in my attempt should be brought back, and per- haps be strapped down to die. So tried to crawl. was about ten minutes dragging myself the forty feet from my cot to the entrance, and wriggled under the cuscus tathi like Q snake. There were the chatties before me The first l seized was empty, and the disappoint- ment nearly made me swoon but the second was brimful. threw my arms around 1t, and dragged mysef to it. plunged my head into the delicious, limpid water, and devoured, rather than drank, huge mouthfuls of the cool and heavenly fluid. felt my stomach swelling with the enormous draughts l swallowed; but I laughed and drank again and again. l rocked naught for life death then.
 At length I could drink more, and then dis cipine asserted itself knew had no right to be out there, and thought if were missed from my cot should be reported. So crept back the way had come and shortly after fell into A profOun nd