San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-01-10
The Master Of BalIantPae
By ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON, Au.
thor of Dr. Jskyll and Mr., Hyde"
CHAPTER l,

were scramblng over part OF the forest tnaS
had been burned, when Ballantrae, who was
a little ahead, ducked suddenly behind
fallen trunk. | Joined him in this shelter,
whence we could look abroad without being
seen ourselves; and in the bottom of the next
vale beheld large war party of the savageS
going by across our line.
There might be the value of weak battal
ion present; all naked to the waist BACKED
with grease and suet, and painted with white
lead and vermilion, according to their beast
ly habits. They went one behind another
like string of geese, and at quickish ,trot;
SO that they took but little while to rattle
by and disappear again among the woods.
Yet l suppose we endured a greater agony OF
hesitation and Suspense in these few minutes
than goes usually to a mans whole life.
Whether they were French or English In.
dams, whether they desired scalpS or pris-
oners, whether we should declare ourselves
upon the chance or lie quiet and continue the
heart breaking business of our journey: sure,
| think, these were questions to have puzzled
the brains of Aristotle himself. Ballantrae
turned to me with face all wrinkled up and
his teeth showing in his mouth, like that
have read of people starving; he said no
word, but his whole appearance was kind
of dreadful question:
"They may be of the English side"
whispered; land Think the best we could
then hope, is to begin this over again"
Il know, know" he said Yet it must
come to a plunge at last" And he suddenly
plucked out his coin, shook it in his closed
hands, looked at it, and then lay down with
his face in the dust
ADDITION BY Mr.. MAcKELIAR--I drop the cheva
liers narration at this point because the couple
Quarreed and separated the same day; and the
chevaliers account of the quarrel seems to me q
must confesS) quite incompatible with the nature
of either Of the men. Henceforth, they wandered
alone, undergoing extraordinary sufferings; until
first one and then the other was picked up by a
party from Fort st. Frederick. Only two things
are to be noted And first Gas most important fol-
my purpose) that the master in the course of his
mseries buried his treasure, at a point never
since discovered, but of which he took a drawing
in his own blood on the lining OF his hat. And
second, that on his coming thus pennieSs to the
fort, he was welcomed like brother by the chew
alier, who thence paid his way to France The
simplicity of Mr.. Burke's character leads him al
this point to praise the master exceedingly; to
eye more worldly wise, it would seem it was the
chevaer alone that was to be commended. | have
the more pleasure in pointing to this really very
noble trait of my esteemed correspondent, as
fear may have wounded him Immediately be
fore have refrained from comments on any Of
his extraordinary and Gin my eyes, immora,
opinions, for know him to be jealous of respect
But his version Of the quarrel is really more thar
| can reproduce; for knew the master myself
and man more iususceptibe of fear is not con
ceivable regret this oversight of the chevalier's
and all the more because the tenor of his nara
tive (set aside few fiourshes) strikes me as high
y ingenious