Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1891-05-15
A FRIENDLY FOE,
BY WILLIAM NJ. GRAyDoS.

DY WILLIAM VI. GRAYDOS
rs strange an adventure, perhaps, n:
any man can relate, fell to INV lot while
was experimenting the construction OF
branch railway in the Province OF
Hydrabad, Southern India.
This branch was one hundred miles in
length, running from IIydrabad to a
small military post called Wadi. where
1T Joined the Western Railway of India.
FROM Wadi almost half way to Hydrabad
extended the immense jungle of Osur,
frequentcd by various wild animals. and
by still more savage people, class of
dcpraved Hindoos, who lived in huts in
the recesses of the forest, aud subsistcd
on wild fruit and game.
10 these people the railway was an OBJ.
Jcct of dctestation. They had whole
some dread OF the English, however and
with the exception of an occasional
theft OF tools, o. the casting of spears al.
our workmcn, they did not modest us.
1t was formidable undertaking to
build roadbed through such dense
aud marshy Jungle, but we ovcrcamc nil
difficulties nob.y and were soon nearly
half way to IIydrabad.
as the railway progressed the tele-
graph line was put up ut the same time,
and thus constant communication was
kept up with Wadi. At n point only five
-- miles distant from the eastern cdre of
the jungle, and nearly forty-ive miles
from Wadi, we erected transit station.
fastal!ed therein n telegraph operator,
aud brought forward large quantities of
atoois and machinery from Wadi. Just
when everything looked most favorable
~ were startled by IL rumor that the
wild men of the Jungle were arminr
themselves and swarming together with
the avowed intention of Staying the
engineering corps, and destroying the
Itation.
The news came to us from sources, the
reliability of which we had no reason to
doubt. Our party comprised five Eng
Gshmcn and II large number of native
workmen. These latter we promptly
armed, and prepared in other ways to
defend the station.
The jungle men owned very few fire.
n; :, and if only our own workmen
showed proper valor, we had little fears
as to the result of the attack. That very
night, however, every one of the rascals
scuttled off, fearing to face the enemy.
Only the five of us were left, and oui
situation was decidedly serious. 1t be
came even more so an hour later wher
we discovered that telegraph communi
cation with Wadi was cut off.
''Thc rascals mean business, "said Jack
Hunt. This looks as though they were
preparing for an immediate attack
What had we better do2 Strike fol
Hydrabad or make stand of it?"
1.-The station must be defended" re-
piled decidedly-for of course the re
sponsibility was all on my shoulders
''Wc can't afford to lose our tools ant
machinery can see but one way t,
save them, l must take the trolly, tr,
to run through to Wadi, and bring Cap
tain Kennedy back with detachment o
troops. Meantime you fellows must holt
out like grim death"
you'll never get through, ;" said Jack
s'it's madness"
"I'll try 1t" 1 replied briefly, s.an,
any way it's our only chance"
NO further objections were made, an,
A mysterious noise coming from th
direction of our feet led to the discover
OF Two of our runaway workmen VIII
were hiding under the station floor. TIL
rascals agreed to accompany me as trolly
men ON condition of complete forgive
ness.
The trolly is simply comfortably
scat, mounted on four wheels, whic
runs of its own accord down grade an
is propelled over steep places by I'll
troliymen. for whose convenience sre
is attached to the rear of the seat. Unde
the trolly was u small rack, and in this
slowed my rifle and ammunition, retair
ing revolver in my hand, ready for us,
The first five mile stretch was perfect
level. The trollymcn bowIed me alop
rapidly. and kept close outlook q
both sides of the Jungle Six miles fro
the station heavy down grade con
menced, nearly two miles in length, an
as we approached this point my spiri
began to rise. could hear the Lahore
breathing of the trollymen as they pante
along. Suddenly this ceased entirel,
and lancing round in response to shri
cry of alarm | saw my TWO cowardly a
PENDANTS making off as fast as their tw
tlegs could carry them.
The trolly had just rounded sma
bend and looking ahead was confrontt
,s'lSyi q spectacle that made my blood RI
cold. asF