Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-04-14

row neck Of land, along which led a
track, which could hardly be called a
path, yet where the prickly brushwood
had been sufficiently cleared 10 permit
the cautious advance Of single person.
Up this they penetrated as far as they
thought IL advisable 20 go, leaving one
Of the natives on guard at the landing
place.
at all lies In n nutshell" Campig-
non said, dccisivcly "Thc white man
has taken 20 the woods here, and we
must follow him; but not till the men
are rested for they have toilcd for
nearly twenty hours"
"And you adviser" Dunbar asked.
THAT we camp for few hours and
then get on 10 the mans trail"
They found on their return 10 the
boat captive and guard seated silently
side by side; the one sullen and glum,
ns though brooding over his defeat; the
other cxultant In his ncwly-invcsted au-
thority, for the native Cingalcse dearly
loves TO lord IL over his fellows.
"lIns he spolscn?' Campignon asked.
"Ycs," was the proud reply. "IIe
offered me the gold bangles he wears IL
| would aid him TO escape"
(Which you refuscd?'
The Malay's eyes CLEANED in tri-
umpnant consciousness Of fidelity, as he
nodded scornful assent.
Tell him." Dunbar said, when the
mans action was translated to him,
that when we reach Colombo will
give him five times the value Of the
golden bangles; but, how comes it, Cam
pignon, that the prisoner is wearing
snch expensive ornamcnts?"
"Bccausc,' replied the Frenchman,
looking earnestly Mt the PROSTATE Gg-
urc before him, "hc is chief, or the
son Of a chief ! wish knew for GER
tain just what he is"
"Why?'
"For the reason that II he is really
what | thinl, he is would make an APP
peal 20 his native sense Of chivalry. You
smile, but, sir, let me tell you that
these pirate chicftains have code Of
honor Ms sensitive as IL is remarkable.
One act Of generosity from an enemy
will accomplish more than thousand
blow
"As, for instance?"
III were 10 unloose that mans
bonds and let him go free, he would die
sooner than harm me"
"Wcll, rs we must either kill him or
set him loose when we march, the ex-
pertinent Is perhaps worth u trial"
"llavc your consent TO act as think
bcst?" Campignon demanded.
"Why, certainly, my friend You
know more about the ways Of this
strange people than do; besides, as |
said before, It is the least obnoxious Of
the only two alternatives we have"
Campignon's reply was to move quiet
~ 10 the side of the captured Malay,
who was lying prone on the sand, the
bleeding cuts in his wrists and ankles
showing how he had strained the ropes
in his efforts for freedom. One cheek
displayed ragged cash, where in his
fall he had struck IL against n sharp
stone, and which was bleeding freely.
The Frcuchman spoke softly to the man
| for few moments, but Dunbar noticed
/ that his words only served To make the
savage eyes of the prisoner CLEAN more
/ ficrccly Even when Campignon got n
| sponge and water and bathcd the
wound, the Maluy's intense glance of
| hatred was in no wise softcncd. Pres
emily the Frenchman pointed to the
| golden bangles and asked II, as he
surmiscd, he was n chief among his
eoplc, The question was the first which
had apparently arrcstedhis attention.
"My fathers spears are countless us
the reeds ON the river shore" was the
muttered response he made as he
turned his face away from his ques-
toner,
For moment Cnmpignon could not
quite realize the import of the mans
words, for his knowledge Of Cingalcse
was only limited and the captive spoke
In dialect that was almost incOmpre-
hcnsiblc, but when the words had been
analysed by the quicls-witted French
man, he proceeded TO put in action his
mcditatcd experiment
Stepping back 10 where Dunbar was
standing he considerably startled the
young American by an cxtravagant
pantomimic expression Of scrvility
bowling to the very ground before hin
and approaching him with every sign o
humility,
"Do not look so astonishcd," he said
In low tone. III want the prisoner e
realize that you are the chief personag'
among us, and that he owes his freedom
10 your commands"
So, with much gravity, Dunbar CAV
his orders for the natives release.
When Campignon cut the mans bonds
and with the grace Of u Frenchma
handed him the murderous crease, whic
two hours before had been within a
ace OF costing him his life, emotions q
surprise, Joy and gratitude played o
the Malay's features; but the silent eS
preston of feeling was only moments
ry, for quickly the accustomed look Q
dignihed Indifference repossessed hi
features, and with deep inclination {
his head to the two white men,
turned his back upon them and Wake
slowly up the path which led into tn
woods.
"Cool as a cucumbcr!" was Dunbar
commentary, "Wcl, Campignon, 4
the little boys say, we've been an
gone and done IL now, and nothing r,
mains to us but 20 abide by the cons,
quences of what seems TO me veI
risky experiment"
no BE CONTINUED