Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-05-09

padding for one second of stupefied amaze
ment. Then our rifle fire raked through the
canoes with deadly effect, and in an instant
they had plunged overheard, some never tc
rise again, others striking out wildlyfor the
shore, while the abandoned canoes fioated of
with the current.
One big savage, who seemed to be the
leader, got confused and drove straight to.
ward the boat. He came to the surface sc
close that reached out and caught him by
his long black hair and, with Redvers' assist
ance, hauled him struggling and kicking on
board. By this time many of the dacoits had
reached the shore, and their loud cutlery
showed plainly that it was their chief who
had fallen into my hands. I was just about
to order the men to give them another vol
ley, when a loud cry from the steersman
overhead attracted my attention, and look
ing down the river l saw sight that nearly
froze my blood. Less than quarter of q
mile distant perfect fleet of canoes were
moving out into the stream from both
shores, and I saw that we were hopelessly
cut off.
Two of our boatmen at once plunged over
board and gaining the right bank disap-
peared in the jungle. I confess was badly
seeing such large force of dacoits. Then
realized our peril. In this clumsy old craft
we would be overwhelmed by sheer force OF
numbers, with no chance of escape. 1t was
useless to attempt to reach the Shore The
men with faces slightly blanched were wait
ing my orders
A desperate struggle and soldiers death
were all that were left to us, and was just
III fo fo1 r1o 49, ,r
sullen countenance of our captive inspired
me with a brilliant idea.
knew these dacoits were towards at heart
and turning to the chief, mustered up my
scanty knowledge of Burmese and said fierce
ly: "You dog of a robber, if your men come
yard nearer I will shoot you on the spot, .
and pulled out my revolver as spoke
''Listen," I said. can Englishman never
lies, and you know it. Bid your men go back
to shore and let our boa is go by unmolested.
When we are five miles below here you shall
be set free.n
The robher shook his head sullenly, and !
saw with alarm that we were fast drifting
down into the horde of canoes. Isprang for
ward and seized him by the throat, pressing
the cold muzzle Of the revolver against his
naked breast.
''Stop, stop, sahibs," he cried, falling on
his knees. Il will do your bidding; only
spare my life"
ssMake haste" cried, 'or you die on the
spot"
He advanced trembling to the front of the
boat firmly held by Redvers and one of the
men, and in a loud voice addressed his
friends, motioning them backwards as he
spoke.
My knowledge of Burmese was scant, but
could readily make out that he was assur.
ing them that his life depended on their go
ing to shore and letting the English sahibs
90 by unframed
1t was moment Of dreadful suspense and
for time the issue was uncertain. Then to
my unspeakable joy the dacoits with every
evidence of baffled rage padded sullenly to
shore, some to the right bank, some to the
left. Amid silence that was intense we
drifted right down into that hornets nest,
Redvers clutching the dacoit chief, watching
the dusky face for the least sign Of treach-
cry, the men nervous but alert with rifles
actually at full cock, the remaining Burmese
huddled together in the bow stupid with
fright, and In the crows nest overhead the
steersman guiding the big paddle with hair
breadth accuracy.
It was a period Of horrible uncertainty,
and when at last the clumsy craft foated
right between the double rows of canoes the
suspense was almost unbearable. From both
sides scores of dark savage faces watched us
sharply, keenly, SO close, indeed, that one
could see plainly their greasy locks. the orna-
ments glittering on their half naked bodies
and the weapons firmly clutched in their
quivering hands. We seemed to move by
inches, and could scarce repress shout of
impatience. Every eye was fixed on the
chief, but in the face of Redvers revolver
that dusky Individual, who held all our lives
in his hand, dared make no sign, and so we
drifted on in solemn silence.
I knew how fervently the savages longed
to let fly their deadly spears. Even the
chief, doubling his own influence, was visibly
disturbed, and l think he was as much re-
lieved as any person present when the boat
floated past the last bunch of canoes and the
open river lay ahead of us. I wheeled round,
rifle in hand but not a dacoit stirred, and in
this position remained until curve in the
river hid the enemy from view.
We held on to our prisoner until we
reached point five miles below where the
river narrowed and grew swifter. Here, true
to my promise, I embarked him in shallow
water, and, wading to shore, he plunged into
the forest without a backward glance. We
had little fear of pursuit now, for the coun-
try was more open and the current was
strong, and before noon we safely arrived at
Talo and anchored our precious boat load Of
provisions along the bank.
1t turned out to have been very fortunate
expedition after all. The presence of such a
force of dacoits in the neighborhood was a
very timely discovery, and when they crept
down on us after dark that same night they
met with such defeat as assured @ quieter
condition of affairs for some time to come.
From one of the prisoners who fell into our
hands I learned to my chagrin and dismay
that the dacoit chief whom had held in such
brief captivity was a notorious robber, on
whose head more than one price had been set
l readily understood then how groundless had
been our fears when we foated through the
gauntlet of the robbers, and I shuddered to
think how close had stood to that sangui-
nary monster. Still, even had his identity
been known, honor would have compelled me
to keep my promise and release him.
In a very short time Redvers' prediction
came true, for, though small bodies of dacoits
still lurked in the inaccessible spots along the
river, they maintained very frigid and dis
tant demeanor towards the traders boats,
and before long we were living every whit
as royalty as his royal bighness, the rajah of
Munnipore. philadelphia Times.