Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-03-08

tion," Arthur Dunbar replied, but
good for my share of the work yet.
What few more days of this bodily
torture may do for me l cannot tell, but
us long as can WELD paddle shall
not shrink from the burden"
Just then a human cry startled the
speaker scream of mortal agony,
sounding very weird-like in the black
ness of the night This was followed
by a loud splash, and then a hoarse
voice rang out in a tone of command.
For your life, sir, be silentI" Cam
pignon cried, as he dashed to the bow
Of the boat, and selling the torches
plunged them into the kissing water,
There is a war-canoe coming down
the river, l hear the strokes of their
paddles, and our only safety lies in
finding hiding place"
Muttering few words to the Malays,
he babe 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-
reeds, behind whose waving plumes
they were safe from observation; for
with a rush a huge canoe, manned by
score of nearly naked savages and lit
by a dozen flaming torches, flashed
down the stream. At the stern sat
man who constantly urged the toilers to
greater speed, occasionally striking
them with the reverse end of a long,
ugly spear he bore in his right hand.
Like phantoms of hideous dream they
passed into the darkness and were
gone.
"Those fellows are swamp-dwellers,
and if am not mistaken they are in
pursuit of u.s." the Frenchman said, with
a grim smile. Luckily for us they
speed along so incautiously, or we.
should have been food for the alligat-
ors ere this"
And what shall we do now?" Dun
bar asked, YEARLY.
make the most of our escape and
strain every nerve to catch the white
rascal ahead of us before they return"
was the prompt response.
The natives refused their spell of rest,
anxious to put a greater distance be-
tween themselves and their dreaded en-
emies, whose bloodthirsty ways they
were familiar with, so the sampan sped
swiftly on in response to their vigorous
efforts.
What was the cry we heard when
the war-boat was reaching us?" Dunbar
asked, still thrilled with the agonized
scream which seemed even yet to float
in the air.
'Most probably the death-yell of a
murdered slave" Campignon replied.
For, when on forced journey these
gentry see a poor wretch shrinking
from his work, exhausted with the ter
ribIe toll, they just give him a slash
with crease and pitch him overheard
to feed the crocodiles. All, thought
so-do you not see in the glimmering
light that little dark mass floating down
the stream2 Nay, it is no use going out
of our way to the rescue, for If life in
not extinct, the monsters of the deep
will have seized their prey before we
could reach 1t"
Even as he spoke, huge snout was
raised four feet above the water, and
with a snap the jaws of a scaly saurian
closed on the dainty morsel.
Already the moon was rising over Q
steep bank Of cloud, when they found
themselves in a broader expanse of
water, which, as the light became moro
vivid, took the semblance of a wide
lagoon, whose placid waters presently
lay like silver mirror under the rays
Of the full moon. In the midst of this
miniature lake stood an island with
deep precipitous sides and crowned
with palm trees, lovely bit Of land