Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-28

fury which had possessed me in the morning
would lay hold on man or woman, and
with yells and imprecations the sufferer
would attack the steep slope until, baffied
and bleeding, he fell back on the platform
incapable of moving limb. The others
would never even raise their eyes when, this
happened, as men too well aware of the
futility oftheir fellows attempts and wesried
with their useless repetition. 1 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
he would consent to "do" for me. My nine
rupees eight annas, he argued, at the rate of
three annss day, would provide me with
food for 81 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 Observation-Disclosures, my
boots-he would be willing to allow me to
occupy the den next to his own, and would
supply me with as much dried grass for bed
ding as he could spare.
"Very well, Gunga Dass," replied. "to
the first terms 1 cheerfufly agree, but as
killing you as you sit here and taking
everything that you have q thought Of the
two invaluable crows at the time), fatty
refuse to give you my boots, and shall take
whichever den 1 please"
The stroke was a bold one and was glad
when 1 saw that it had succeeded. Gunga
Dass changed his tone Immediately and
disavowed all intention of asking for my
boots.
TERRORS OF THE SITUATION.
At the time it did not strike me as at all
strange that 1, civil engineer, man of Is
years standing in the service, and L trust an
average Englishman, should thus calmly
threaten murder and violence against the
man who had for a consideration, it is true,
taken me under his wing. 1 had left the
world, it seemed, for centuries. 1 was as
certain then as l am now OF my own exist
ence that in the accursed settlement there
was no law save that of the strongest; that
the living dead men had thrown behind
them every canon of the world which had
cast them out and that had to depend for
my own life on my strength and vigilance
alone. The crew of the ill-fated Mignonette
are the only men who would understand my
frame of mind.
"At PRESENT. agreed to myself, "I am
strong and a match for six of these wretches.
1t is imperatively necessary that 1 should,
for my own sake, keep both health and
strength until the hour of my release comes
ii it ever does''
Fortified with these resolutions ate and
drank as much as could, and made Gunga
Gass understand that intended to be his
master, and that the least sign of insubo
nation on his part would be visited with the
only punishment I had in my power to in
and violent death. Shortly |
after this went to bed.
That is to say, Gunga Dass gave me a |
double armful of dried bents, which thrust |
iown the mouth of the lair to the right of |
MS and followed myself, feet foremost, the
hole running about nine feet into the sand |
with slight downward inclination, and be- |
ng neatly shored with timbers. From NV
len, which faced the river 'front.' was able |
% watch the waters of the Sutlei, flowing
past under the light of young moon and |
compose myself to sleep as best / might.
The horrors of that night / snail never
orget.' Ny den was nearly as narrow as a
'ofin, and the sides had been worn smooth
md greasy by the contact of innumerable
laked bodies, added to which it smelled
.bominably. Sleep was altogether out of
he question 70 one in my excited frame of
nlnd. As the night wore on it seemed that
ions OF unciean devils that, trooping up
rom the shoals below, Knocked the unfortu-
ate in their lairs.
THE QUICKsAND.
Personally am not of an imaginative
Jew engineers are-but
n that occasion l was as completely pros
rated with nervous terror as any woman.
After half an hour or so, however, L was
BILE once more to calmly review my chances
( escape. Any exit by the steep sand walls
Tas, of course, impracticable. 1 had been
convinced of this some time be-
ore.
1t was possible, just possible, that might
! the uncertain moonlight, safely run the
antlet of the rife shots. The place was SO
Ill of terror for me that was prepared to
ndergo any risk in leaving it. Imagine
~ delight, then, when after creeping
'ealthily to the river front, found that the
lfernal boat was not there. Nv freedom |
~ before me in the next few stepsI
By walking out to the first shallow pool
lat lay at the foot of the projecting left
orn of the horseshoe, 1 could wade across,
i'm the flank OF the crater and make my
ay inland. Without moments hesita-
on marched briskly past the tussocks
here Gunga Dass had shared the crows and
1t In the direction OF the smooth white S
nd beyond. My first step from the tufts l
dried grass showed me how utterly futile
as any hope of escape, tor, as 1 put my foot G
'wn, felt an indescribable drawing, suck :
6 motion of the sand below. Another :
oment and my leg was swallowed up near
to the knee. In the moonlight the whole '
rface of the sand seemed to be shaken with |
vilish delight at my disappointment 7
-uggled clear, sweating with terror and S
ertion, back to the tussocks behind me s
ID fell on my face.
Ny only means of escape from the semi
rcle was protected with quicksandi
How long lay have not the faintest {
ca; but was reused at last by the malevo-
Mt chuckle of Gunga Dass at my ear.
would advise you. Protector of the Poor"
he ruffian was speaking English), "to re-
m to your house. 1t is unhealthy to lie I
wn here. Moreover, when the boat re- !
rms, you will most certainly be rif1ed at." /;
e stood over me in the dim light of the /,
'wn, chuckling and laughing to himself. |,
THERE is WAY. I
my first impulse to catch the i
an by the neck and throw him onto the 6
Iicksaud, / rose sullenly and followed {
M to the platform below the burrows
and futilely as thought while ]
spoke, asked: "Gunga Dass, what is {
e good OF the boat il can't get out any y
w?" Irecollect that even in my deepest 6
,uble had been speculating vaguely on c
e waste of ammunition in guarding an
ready well protected foreshore. {
Gunga Dass laughed again and made @
swer: 'Thev have the boat only in day f
re. 1t is for the reason that there is a I
~. hope we shall have the pleasure of ,
ur company for much longer time. 1t is L
pleasant spot when you have been here