The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-06-13

glory over the broad sweep OF the
Ganges. and the same group OF young
men who had been SO caPer for ven
geance upon the destroying crocodiles
were ~strolling along the bank OF its
smaller tributary In the cool OF the
evening.
II say. old fellow, v said one OF them
10 his neighbor, 'when are you going
10 give as that crocodile hunt that you
talked Of? We'ro Just pining 10 kill
something"
.'Oh. that's no good now, you know"
said the man addressed. Our friend
Marston must have knocked over every
crocodile In the river By this time"
Hep cried the other; why. he
hasn't killed a single onel"
Hasn't he really?" rejoined his
friend. with an air OF pretended aston
ishment. well. IL he hasn't. I'm sure
it's no fault OF his; for ever since that
last girl was snapped up. he's gone and
perched himself up in "A tree on the
bank regularly every evening. TO try
10 get a pop Mt them"
lis no there now. do you think?"
asked several voices at once.
II haven't the least doubt he Is; and.
in fact. he passed me only half an hour
ago with his rifle on his shoulder.
seemingly going towards the village"
well. I'll tell you what my boys;
We'll just go down there in a body and
see what Marston's up 10. II he's hav-
ing any sport we may just as well
have our share OF II too"
This suggestion was hailed with a
burst OF approving shouts and laughter
by his comrades, and away trooped
the whole party at a brisk pace In the
direction OF the Bazaar (as the native
quarter OF the station was called).
where they arrived just in time to
witness a strange and startling spec
tacle.
As evening approached. a number OF
the Hindoo women had waded into the
river as usual to battle, wash their
clothes. OF scour out their cooking pots
and stewpans; and among the rest was
Lukshmee. a young girl. profusely
adorned with massive silver bangles,
which glittered like stars upon her
slender wrist and ankles In the last
rays OF the sinking sun.
forgetting. or disregarding. the risk
OF being seized by the Unsuitable croc-
odiles. Lukshmee had already ven
tured boldly out into the middle OF the
stream, when she suddenly uttered n
wild cry. seemed TO struggle violently
for "A moment, and then vanished be-
meath the dark waters.
At the same moment, n report like
the crack OF "A whip echoed through
the still evening air, a puff OF BLUSH
white smoke jetted forth from the thick
foliage of n tall tree close TO the wa
ter's edge. and n dark figure spring
ing up from among the reeds on the
bank. threw It's arms convulsively
above its head. and fell heavily for
ward upon It's face. Curiously enough.
just As IL fell, the seeming drowned
girl reappeared above the surface OF
the stream. and began TO paddle feebly
towards the shore.
At that instant n sudden swaying
and trembling stirred the tall grass on
the opposite bank. as II some heavy
body vas creeping cautiously through
II. There came n second report-a
fash-another puff OF smoke-and the
movement instantly ceased, while n
man (who was seen 10 be no other
than Walter Marston himself). slid
down the big tree like an acrobat.
and ran at full speed across the bridge,
while the others hurried after him as
fast ms their feet could carry them.
There. amid the tramplcd grass. lay
PROSTATE n tall. gaunt. understanding
Hindoo. shot through the body, but
still living; and beside him was the
end OF a stout rope, which ran down
to the bank and disappeared under the
water.
''You see the dodge now. d%on'tyouP"
said Marston 20 his wondering follow
ers. Those two rascals are the
'crocodilcs' that have been doing all
this mischief. The one that / shot
over there is n noted dacoit (highway
robbery. and this fellow Is evidently
his accomplice. They've been lying
in ambush here and dragging these
poor girls under water by entangling
their fest with noosed ropes. in order
20 drown them and then steal their
silver ornaments; but I've stopped that
game this time. any how"
Marston's statement was fully borne
out by the confession OF the second
robber. who, although mortally wound
ed. lived for two days afterwards. The
afair-which made considerable noise
at the time-sent the daring secretary
up the steep ladder Of official promo
ton with unusual ~rapidity; and 10 this
day his name Is connected In the stories
of dinner tables with the ~oft-repeated
legend OF the dainty crocodile OF
HuttccpOre.