The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1892-06-02
/, CHAPTER XIII.
Up THE QUACLA RIVER

ScriptiOn OF the utter dcSolatiOn OF the
country through which the Quagln river
wound its tortuous course; now through
regions of impossible jungles, where
wild beasts and reptiles found lurking
places, and where the darls waters
rolled on with scarce a current; and,
0non, barren rocks and sandy wnstes
past which the river flowed like a tor
rent Towards night and in the early
morning dense miasmatic fogs arose,
stifling unhappy human beings with
foul exhalations, and almost moro un
endurable than the terrible hent Of day.
The river too swnrned with huge sauri
ans--scaly monsters twenty feet long
not the tiraid nlligators of Florida, but
fierce creatures which were mans dead.
Hest enemy, :a3xs e +: s-,2s.;:l s-;c2
than the gigantic boa sc:pclss which
they frequently sow hanging from the
limbs of the trees on the bank, whose
embrace would crush ones body to c
.shapelcss mss.
Five Gays had passed since the wan
dcrcrs left the Cingalcsc village. They
had toiled on regardless Of heat, thirst
or hun2er-thirst | say, for the muddy
water was SO impregnatcd with the de-
caycd vegetable matter Of ages that it's
taste was revolving.
Night was fast approaching. In that
tropical region the curtain Of darkness
falls with rush, folding in inpenetra-
BILE gloom the landscape that scarce
few minutes before was bnthcd in the
golden rays Of the setting sun. by and
by the stars will come out one by one
Ill s,,rr ir1,< nI
~ the moon with majesty unknown
In temperate zones will food the heav-
ems with it's silvery sheen; but mean
while tho fog hangs over the river and
even the dazzling torches at the head
of the sampan fail to make an object
dozen PAGES distant visible
Can you take your spell at the pad
die, Mr.. Dunbar; or has the ,miasma OF
this accursed stream poisoned your
blood?'' Campignon asked, barring his
own arm for the nightly toll.
Il am in rather u dcad-alive condi.
tion.H Arthur Dunbar replied, but
mood for my. share Of tho work yet.s
What a few more days OF this bodily
torture may do for, rnc ! cannot tell, but
as long as can WELD paddle shall
not shrink from the burden"
Just then human cry startled the
spenkcr--a scream OF mortal agony.
sounding very wcird-like in the black
ness Of the night. This was followed
by loud splash. and then hoarse
voice rang out in tone OF command.
For your life, sir, be silent!" Cam.
pirnon cried. as he dashed to the bow
OF the boat. and seizing the torches
plunged them into the kissing water.
"There is a war-canoe coming down
the river, hear the strokes OF their
paddles, and our only safety lies In
finding hiding place."
Muttering few words to the Malays,
he bade them turn the nose OF the boat
ashore, which they did with marvellous
instinct, considering how impenetrable
was the darkness with which they were
surrounded. Only just in time did they
succeed in reaching the friendly bashi-
roeds, behind whose waving plumes
they were safc from observation; for
with rush huge canoe. manned by .
score Of. nearly naked savages and III
by . dozen flaming torches, flashed
down thc stream AZ the stern sat .
man who constantly urged the toiicrs TO
greater speed, occasionally striking
then with tho reverse end Of . long;
ugiy spear he bore In his right hand.
Like phantoms Of hideous dream they
passed into the darkness and were
gone. ds..sCes
.sThose fellows ars swamp-dwellers.
and II am not mistaken they are In
pursuit OF u.s." the Frenchman said. with
q grim smile. sLuckily for M they
speed aiong 70 incautiously. or we
should have been food for the alligat-
ors Gre this."
"And what shall we do now9" Dun
bar asked, wcarily.
mako tho most Of our escape and
strain every nerve TO catch the white
rascal ahead OF US before they return"
was the prompt response.
Tho natives refused their spell OF rest,
anxious TO put q greater distance be-.
tween themselves and their dreaded en-.
cmles. whose bloodthirsty ways they
wore familiar with. 80 the sampnn sped
swiftly on In response TO their vigorous
efforts. s.IHii
'What was tie cry we heard when
tho war-boat waS reaching us?" Dunbar
asked, still thrilled with the agonized
scream which seemed even yet 70 noat
in the air.
"Most probably the death-yeli OF .
murdered slave" Campignon replied.
"For. when on a forced journey these
gentry see u poor wretch shrinking
from his work. exhausted with tho ter.
ribls toll. they just give him slash
with crease and pitch him overheard
to food the crocodiles All. thought
so-do you not see in the glimmering
light that little dark mass floating down
the stream? Nay. II is no use going out
OF our way to tho rescue. for II life u
not extinct, the monsters of the deep
will have seized their prcy before we
could rcnch Il"
Even ~ he spoke. a huge snout was
raised four feet above the water, and
with n guaD the laws Of a scnlv saurian