Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-08-15

| have been here ever since-two and q
half years. Once / was Brahmin and
proud man, and now eat crows
There is no way of getting out ?"
None OF what kind at all. When |
first came made experiments frequently,
and all the others also, but we have always
succumbed to the sand which is precipi-
tated upon our heads"
"But SURELY | broke in at this point,
"the river front is open, and it is worth
while lodging the bullets, while at
MAKES HIM LAUGH.
| had already natured rough plan OF
escape which a natural instinct of selfish
ness forbade me sharing with Gunga Dass.
He, however, OWNED my unspoken
thought almost as soon as it was formed,
and to nv intense astonishment gave vent
to lcng, low chuckle of derision-the
laughter, be it understood, of superior,
or at least an equal.
"You will not"-he had dropped the
sir completely after his opening sentence
make any escape that way. But you can
try. | have tried. But once only"
The sensation of nameless terror and
abject fear which had in vain attempted
to strive against overmastered me COM
pletely. My long fast-it was now close
upon 10 o'clock, and | had eaten nothing
since tiffin on the previous day-combined
with the violent and unnatural agitation
of the ride had exhausted me, and | verify
believe that for few minutes | acted as
one mad. hurled myself against the
pitiless sand slope. | ran round the base
of the crater, disappearing and praying by
turns. / crawled out among the sedges of
the river front, only to be driven back each
time in an agony of nervous dread by the
rifle bullets that cut up the sand around
| dared not face the death of a
mad dog among that hideous crowd-and
finally fell, spent and raving at the curb of
the WE'LL
No one had taken the slightest notice of
an exhibition which makes me blush holly
even when | think of it now.
Two or three men trod on my painting
body as they drew water, but they were
evidently used to this sort of thing, and
had no time to waste upon me. The stu
alton was humiliating. Gunga Dass, in
deed, when he had banked the embers of
his fire with sapd, was at some pains to
throw half cupful of fetid water over
my head, an attention for which | could
nave fallen on my knees and thanked him,
out he was laughing all the while in the
'ame mirthless, wheezy key that greeted
ne on my first attempt to force the shoals.
And so, in a semi-comatose condition,
ay till noon.
A wRETCHED MEAL.
Then, being only man after all, felt
hungry, and intimated as much to Gunga
Dass, whom had begun to regard as my
natural protector. Following the impulse
If the outer world when dealing with ma
ives, put my hand into my pocket and
lrew out four annas. The absurdity of
he gift struck me at once and was about
o replace the money.
Gunga Dass, however, was of different
opinion "Give me the money" said he.
All you have, or will get help and we will
ill your All this as if it were the most
natural thing in the world.
A Briton's first impulse, believe, is to
,uard the contents of his pockets; but a
reflection convinced me of the
utility of differing with the one man who
lad it in his power to make me comforta |
lie, and with whose help it was possible
hat | might eventually escape from the
rater | gave him all the money in my
Rs. 9-S-5-nine rupees, eight
.nnas and five pie-for | always keep
mall change as bdkshish when | am in
amp.
Gunga Dass clutched the coins and hid
hem at once in his ragged loin cloth, his
expression changing to something diaboli-
al as he looked round to assure himself
hat no one had observed us.
"Now will give you something to eat"
aid he.
What pleasure the possession of my
money could have afforded him | am I'M
BILE to say; but inasmuch as it did give
lin evident delight | was not sorry that |
,arted with it so readily, for / have no
Ioubt that he would have had me killed
f / had refused. One does not protest
gainst the vagaries of den of wild
,easts; and my companions were lower
han any beasts.
While devoured what Gunga Dass had
provided, coarse chapdhi and cupful of
he foul well water, the people showed not
he faintest sign of curiosity-that curios-
ty which is so rampant, as a rule, in an
indian village.
/ could even fancy that they despised
me- At all events they treated me with
he most chilling indifference, and Gunga
Dass was nearly as bad. piled him with
luestions about the terrible village, and
received extremely unsatisfactory answers.
So far as could gather, it had been in ex-
stence from time ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS l
concluded that it was at least century
during that time no one had ever
been known to escape from it. | had to
control myself here with both hands, lest
the blind terror should lay hold of me
second time and drive me raving round
The crater) Gunga Dass took malicious
pleasure in emphasizing this point and in
me vince. Nothing that | could
do would induce him to tell me who the
mysterious "They" were.
at is so ordered" he would reply, "and
do not yet know any one who has dis
obeyed the orders"
"Only wait till my servants find that |
am missing" Iretorted, 'and | promise you
that this place shall be cleared off the face
of the earth, and FL give you lesson in
civility, too, my friend"
ssYour servants would be torn in pieces
before they came near this place; and, be-
sides, you are Dead my dear friend. 1t is
not your fault, of course, but none the less
you are dead and buried
At irregular intervals supplies of food, |
was told, were dropped down from the
land side into the amphitheater and the
inhabitants fought for them like wild
beasts. When man felt his death COM
ing on he retreated to his lair and died
there. The body was sometimes dragged
out of the hole and thrown on the sand
or allowed to rot where it lay.
The phrase "thrown on the sand
caught my attention, and l asked Gunga
Dass whether this sort of thing was not
likely to breed pest;lence.
'That," said he, with another of his
wheezy chuckles, "you may see for your
self subsequently,. You will have much
time to make observations"