Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-06-02
we can Arthur said. with determine


ton IS
ssYou allude 20 George Archer and
his acco1npiices, but You forget that
they are under the protection Of the
swamp-dwellers, who are. / expect. too
powerful neighbors for the Veddahs to
exasperate.'
eIf YOU are afraid Dunbar said.
testify, ''say so, man. and turn back
As for me, I shall reach Sir Harry era
hane, or die in the effort
'sArd shall stick with you TO the
last, sir. When Francois Campignon
signs articles, he means to hold to them
as long as he can"
seAnd YOU shall not regret your cour-
age and honesty, Dunbar said, warmly.
When they reached the cluster of trees
under whose shade they had left their
sampan, they found crowd Of ma
tives, who had brought every conceive
bic kind of meat and fresh fruit for
their selection, some even the charms
to warn off devils and evil spirits
which they urgently pressed them to
purchase. But sampan, light and
br1oyant as it is, is only boat after all,
and its gunwalc was soon weighed
down dangerously near the water, so
the order was given to loosen the
painter and cast off into the stream,
notwithstanding the Babel of chatter
ing remonstrance from the disappoint-
ed villagers whose wares had been
brought in vain. Already the broad
backs of the Malays had bent to their
work, when loud cries from the direc-
ton of the village were heard, and they
saw the korale's fat body, wabbling to
and fro like q Dutch lugger in a storm,
4,
holding huge umbrella over his head,
| and another pushing him along IN not
very dignifed manner.
'sHold hardr' Dunbar cried, and the
men, obeying his gesture, rather than
| his voice. once more swung the nose Of
the boat into the bank.
When the paunchy official could sufH-
GENTLY recover breath to speak, he an
| nounced that he had the most important
tidings for the Europeans, which he
would communication consideration
So consequently Campignon sprang
ashore and retired with him to a cluster
of trees A few whispered words
seemed to satisfy the Frenchman, for
he handed over the money, and Dunbar
noticed that his face grew very grave
as the conference proceeded.
took his place IN the boat and gave
orders to the men to cast off, 'shas added
little piece of intelligence which it
| was lucky we waited for, for fore
warned is forearmed, and we've got to
look out for squalls"
''Ah, what now?'
"Why, you see, it appears that yes
terday European passed up the river
IN light sampen propelled by two
strong paddlers. He stopped at the
village just long enough to get provis-
! ions and promise the lsorale twenty
rupees on his return if he would delay
the passage of any other Of his country
men who might make the attempt TO
| penetrate into the interior. He said
distinctly that two men would do so, and
described our appearance so minutely,
that there is no doubt but that he al
| luded to US.
'sYct," Dunbar iRtcrposed, ''that
seems impossibles for not a soul knew
where we were going when we left
Londoa-not even Miss Grahame.'
Nevertheless, I believe the secret
| has leaked out, and that we shall re
| gret the three weeks we lost at the
cape and our months delay az Colon
boz" Caznpignon insisted.
''Well, we cannot reproach ourselves
| with that, for we were told that the
river was impossible till the floods sub
| sidcd,'' Dunbar said, a little vexed. for
the Frcnchman's manner seemed to i'm
pate carclessness on his part
Granted; it may be misfortune and
nots fault, bat if some enemy is taking
the wind out Of our sails we must be on
the alert"
"Wc must catch up with him at any
cost" Dunbar cried, e-.cftedly.
''As well set COW to chase a grey
hound as expect US to overtake that
light-heeled customer, who carries little
or nothing with him"
HE must have provisions like we
have" Arthur argued.
''Yet he bought but little at the vii
lage yonder, Mr.. Dunbar. No, you may
depend upon it that there Is some hid
den place Of supply in the wilderness.
provided for just such an emergency
If It were rot so he dared not make tbs
Journey. Think of it! Nearly twS
hundred miles Of Jungle and forests 81
interviewer with brush and pricl1l7
plants that you could not get two mile.
from the bank in days march, No
70, you may depend on it there is scmt
halfway place Of supply; perhaps up :;
creek, where none woald suspect it
Say, str. are you man enough to risl
the danger Of ffng1ng overheard hal
our supplies, and take yorr spell at ;
paddle for six hours out of the twenty
four? Don't answer IN a hu1Ty-thinl
Of It bit means going on half ra
ticns and straining Yourself pretty sc
verely, facing perhaps death and ver.
surely sickness, for The feve< is prett.
certain to get hold of you if you over
exert yourself"
"An this will gladly d." AYthu
sa;d. resolutely; s'but how about thes
poor Malays? It is hardly fair to as
them to share dangers they never cor
tracted to endure"
'Give them double pay, SIR, ard the
] would face the devil himself; for ther
is nothing Cingalesc viii not do fo
{ money"
5 Then so be It, only make them quit
? understand their contract"
SoCanpignon cNplainedto the Drawn
fellows what they wanted OF theE
adding, too, on his own account tbs
e Dunbar was great American prince
whose generosity knew no bounds, an
e who would reward them when the