Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1890-07-25
THE CHASE.

Gunga Dass, who had lain down Oh a
tussock, motioned me to be quiet, though l
fancy this was needless precaution. In
a moment, and before / could see how it
happened. wild crow, who had grappled
with the shrieking and helpless bird, was
entan gled in the latter's claws, swiftly dis
engaged by Gunga Dass, and pegged down
beside its companion in adversely. Curios-
ity, it seemed, oyerpowered the rest of the
flock, and almost before Gunga Dass and
had time to withdraw to the tussock, two
more captives were struggling in the up
turned claws Of the decoys. SO the chase
If can give it so dignifed a name-con-
tinued until Gunga Daas had captured
seven crows. Five of them he throttled at
once, res0rving two for further operations
another day. was good deal impressed
by this, to me, noyel method of securing
food, and complimented Gunga Dass on his
skill.
"It is nothing to do" said he. "To
morrow you must do it for me. You are
stronger than / am"
This calm assumption Of superiority up
set me not little, and l answered
percmptorily:- Indeed, you old ruifan!
What do you think ] have given you
money for7"
VERY we'll" was the unmoved reply.
'Pefhapsn not tomorrow, nor the day after,
nor subsequently, but in the end, and for
many years, you will catch crows aud eat
crows, and you will thank your European
God that you have crows to catch and eat. +"
could have cheerfully strangled him
for this, but judged it best under the cir
cumstances to smother my resentment
An hour later / was eating one of the
crows, and, as Gunga Dass had said, thank
ing my God that had crow to eat.
Never as long as live shall i forget that
evening meal. The whole population were
squatting on the hard sand platform
opposite their dens huddled over tiny fires
of refuse and dried rushes. Death, having
once laid his hand upon these men and
forborne to strike seemed to stand aloof
from them now; for most Of our company
were old men, bent and worn and twisted
with years. and women aged to all appear
ance as the Fates themselves. They sat
together in knots and talked-God only
knows what they found TO discuss--in low
cquablc tones, curiously In contrast to the
strident babble with which natives are
accustomed to make day hideous.
Now and then an access of that sudden
fury which had possessed me in the morn
ing would lay hold on man or woman
and with yells and imprecations the suffer
er would attack the steep slope until,
bafIied and bleeding he fell back on the
platform incapable Of moving limb The
others would never even raise their eyes
when this happencd,a as men too well aware
fthe futiity Of the fellows attempts and
wearied with their useless repetition. /
saw four such outbursts in the course of
that evening.
Gunga Dass took an eminently business
like view of my situation, and while we
were dining-I can afford to laugh at the
recollection now, but it was painful
enough at the time-propounded the terms
on which be would consent to do for
me. My nine rupees eight annas, he
argued, at the rate Of three annas day,
would provide me with food for fifty
one days, or about seven weeks--that is to
say, he would be willing to care for me for
that length Of time. AT the end of it was
to look after myself
For further consd deration--ridelich,
my boots--he would be willing TO allow
me TO occupy tho den next to his own, and
would supply me with as much dried grass
for bedding as he could spare.
''very well, Gunga Dass,p replied; 'to
the first terms | cheerfully agree, but as
there il nothing ON earth to prevent my |
killing you as you sit here and taking
everything that you have-(I thought of
the two !nyalusble crows at the time)-I /