Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-04-02
CHAPTER XVIII.


Had the designing limerick known
what had transpired in the Argentine
Republic during the time since he left
there his easy, happy feeling would
have been changed to one of bitter chag-
rim. The plucky Englishman whom we
left lying in the bottom of bullock
cart. few months before. had not vet
become food for the fishes.
During the VIII ole of the day on which
the meeting for tho duel took place he
lay in the bottom of the cart covered
with sacks. Twice he was permitted a
little fresh air and twice the gags were
taken from his mouth in order that he
might drink a little filthy water which
was given to him by the poems who had
charge Of him. On these occasions he
was too weak to shout and had he
shouted his voice would have spent
itself unheard, for he was too far from
any living soul Except his captors) to
secure help.
When the shades of night fell he was
conscious that the stopping place for
rest had been reached. He knew that
the bullocks were being taken from the
cart. for he recognized the cries of the
poems as they urged the tired beasts to
move. Then they took the gags from
his mouth and spoke to him in their
jargon which he did not understand, and
as they could not speak English they
had to resort to dumb motions to make
each other understand. Percy made a
motion to the effect that he wanted
drink and they passed black bottle to
him. 1t contained vile, cheap liquor
which the natives distill themselves,
q nd Il 10
wry face that the two poems could
hardly control themselves for laugh
ter. After enjoying his discom f ture
for few moments they mercifully re-
Tented and gave him some water to
drink, after which they dragged him,
still bound. from the cart and laid him
ON the ground.
They then proceeded to prepare their
camp for the night Lighting a fire,
they spread out some coarse blankets to
lie upon. AS soon as the fire had burnt
up they took long strip of beef from
their supplies and cut off pieces in the
manner common in that country (where
q piece of beef is cut up when required
In much the same way that Europe
ans or Americans might cut up loaf of
brcad) and toasted it over the fire.
This, together with some coarse bread
washed down with the vile liquor which
they carried, constituted supper. A
supper which Percy's delicate stomach
was not in a very fit state to receive.
Still he felt compelled to eat to keep
up his strength, SO did his best to swal-
low the food they gave him, moistening
1t with some very brackish water,
which was the best that could be
found.
Soon after eating Percy fell into a
sleep, and SO sound was it that his
keepers, who had intended to watch him
in turn during the night, resolved to
sleep also. trusting that their captive
would be perfectly safe as he was still
tightly bound about the legs
After taking their fill of food and
liquor they made fast Percy's hands
without awakening him, and laid down
to rest themselves.
The next three days were only rep
etition of the first. and Percy never had
sight of the country which they were
passing through until nightfalL
On the fourth day they came to their
destination. The cart had stopped, and,
as Percy still lay in tho bottom bound