Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-04-07

ing remonstrancc from the disnppoint
| ed villagers whose wares had beer
brought in vain. Already the broad
backs OF the Malays had bent 10 Their
/ work, when loud cries from the direc.
/ ton Of the village were heard, and they
saw the lsorale's fat body, wabbling tC
and fro like Dutch lugger In storm,
as he came on n run, with one peon
holding huge umbrella over his head
and another pushing him along In moi
very dignifed manner.
Hold hard" Dunbar cried, and the
men, obcying his gesture, rather than
his voice, once m )re swung the nose OF
the boat into the bank.
When the paunchy official could sun.
ciently recover breath 10 speak, he an
nounced that he had the most important
tidings for tho Europeans, which he
would communicate for consideration.
SO consequently Campignon sprang
ashore and retired with him 10 n cluster
Of trees. A few whispered words
seemed 10 satisfy the Frenchman, for
he handed over the money, and Dunbar
noticed that his face grew very grave
as the conference proceeded.
1.-THE old reprobate," he said, as he
took his place in the boat and gave
orders 10 the men 10 cast of, "has added
little piece Of intelligence which IL
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, IL appears that yes
tcrday a European passed up the river
In light sampan propelled by two
strong paddlcrs. lie stopped at the
village Just long enough 20 get provis-
ions and promise the korale twenty
rupees on his return II 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 infinitely,
that there is no doubt but that he al
ludcd 10 us"
"Yet." Dunbar interposed, that
seems impossible; for not n soul knew
where we were going when we left
London-not even Miss Grahame.'
Nevertheless, believe the secret
has leaked out, and that we shall re-
greet the three weeks we lost NJ the
cape and our months delay at Colon
bo," Cnmpignon insisted.
"Wcll, we cannot rcproach ourselves
with that, for We were told that the
river was impossible till the floods sub
sided" Dunbar said, little vexed, for
the Frcnchmnn's manner seemed TO i'm.
putc carclcssncss on his part.
"Grantcd; II may be n misfortune and
not fault, but II some enemy is taking
the wind out OF our sails we must be on
the alert"
1--WE must catch up with him at any
cost" Dunbar cried, excitedly.
"As well set COW TO chase grey
hound us expect us TO overtake that
light hccled customer, who carries little
or nothing with him"
"llc must have provisions like we
have" Arthur argued.
"Yet he bought but little at the viii
lngc yondcr, Mr.. Dunbar No, you may
depend upon IL that there is some hid
den place Of supply in the wilderness
provided for just such an emergency.
II IL were not so he dared not make the
Journey Think Of I'll Nearly two
hundred miles Of Jungle and forests so
interviewer with brush and pricl,ly
plants that you could not get two miles
from the bank In days march. No,
no, you may depend on IL there is some
halfway place Of supply; perhaps up
creek, where none would suspect IL.
Say, sir, are You man enough TO risk
the danger Of ilinging overheard half
our supplies, and take your spell Mt a
paddle for six hours out of the twenty
four? Don't answer In hurry-think
OF III bit-it means going on half ra.
tions and straining yourself pretty Sc
verely, facing perhaps death and very
surely sickness, for the fever is pretty
certain to get hold OF you II you over.
exert yourself"
IAN this | will gladly do" Arthur
said, resolutely; but how about these
poor Malnys? II is hardly fair 10 ask
them to share dangers they never con-
tractcd 10 endure"
"Give them double pay, sir, and they
would face the devil HIMSELF for there
is nothing Cingalcse will not do for
money"
Then so DO II; only make them quite
understand their contract"
So Campignon explained 10 the brawny
fellows what they wanted Of them,
adding, too, on his own account that
Dunbar was great American prince,
whose generosity knew no bounds, and
who would reward them when they
reached Colombo In manner beyond
their widest expectations, and indeed
he was not very far exceeding his in
structions as the sequel win prove, but
the most intelligent of the Malays OBJ
jected TO tho immediate abandonment
OF the provisions, insisting that they
should carry them for fifty miles into
the interior, where they could hide
them In the trunk OF some rotton tree,
Us for that distance the stream was very
slow, aud In case of need they might be
reached. This reasonable amendment
was adopted, and n little later the two
Europeans took their places at the
paddles, toiling manfully during the
long hours of tho night, and managing
matters so that tho boat was ip motion
for eighteen hours out Of the twenty
four,
CHAPTER MIL
UP the QuAGLA RvER.
II requires pen far more graphic
than can WELD to give even faint de.