Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-06-09


cover the whereabouts of the white
man, and we have accounted for
all the crew of the sampan. If there
were more of them in the vicinity
we should have had them on us ere this,
for the report of a gun is an unusual
sound in these wilds. However, to
make assurance doubly sure, let US pa
troll the woods and see what we can
find"
This they did, making the important
discovery that it was not an island they
were on at all, but a small peninsula
projecting from the mainland by mar
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 to permit
the cautious advance Of single person.
Up this they penetrated as far as they
thought it advisable to go, leaving one
of the natives on guard at the landing
place.
SIT all lies in nutshell" Campig-
non said, decisive1y. 1.-The white man
has taken to the woods here, and we
must follow him; but not till the men
are rested, for they have toiled for
nearly twenty hours"
Sand you adviser" Dunbar asked.
''That we camp for a few hours and
then get on to the mans trail
They found on their return to the
boat captive and guard seated silently
side by side; the one sullen and glum,
as though brooding over his defeat; the
other exultant in his newly-invested au-
thority, for the native Cingalese dearly
loves to lord it over his fellows.
"Has he spoken?" Campignon asked.
eyes" was the proud reply. HE
offered me the gold bangles he wears if
I would aid him to escape"
(Which you refused?''
The Malay's eyes cleaned in tri-
umphant consciousness of fidelity, as he
nodded scornful assent
Tell him. Dunbar said, when the
mans action was translated to him,
'sthat when we reach Colombo 1 will
give him five times the value of the
golden bangles; but, how comes it, Cam
pignon, that the prisoner is wearing
such expensive ornaments?"
Because replied the Frenchman,
ure before him, she is a chief, or the
son Of a chief. 1 wish I knew for GER
tain just what he isl
ssWhy?''
sFor the reason that if he is really
what think he is would make an ap-
peal to his native sense of chivalry. You
these pirate chieftains have code of
honor as sensitive as it is remarkable.
One act of generosity from an enemy
will accomplish more than a thousand
blows"
GAS, for instance?"
IF were to unloose that mans
bonds and let him go free, he would die
sooner than harm me-"
''Well, as we must either kill him or
set him loose when we march, the ex-
pertinent is perhaps worth a trial"
slave your consent to act as think
best?" Campignon demanded.
''Why, certainly, my friend You
know more about the ways of this
strange people than do; besides, as I
said before, it is the least obnoxious of
| the only two alternatives we have"
| Campignon's reply was to move quiet
| 1y to 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 q ragged cash, where in his
fall he had struck it against a sharp
stone, and which was bleeding freely.
The Frenchman 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
fercely. Even when Campignon got a
| sponge and water and bathed the
wound, the Malay's intense glance OF
hatred was in no wise softened. Pres
emily the Frenchman pointed to the
golden bangles and asked if, as he
surmised, he was a chief among his
people. The question was the first which
had apparently arrested his attention
"My fathers spears are countless as
| the reeds on the river Shore was the
muttered response he made as he
turned his face away from his ques
| toner.
For moment Campignon could not
quite realize the import of the mans
words, for his knowledge of Cingalese
was only limited and the captive spoke
in a dialect that was almost inco1npre
hensible, but when the words had beer
analysed by the quick-witted French
man, he proceeded to put in action hi:
meditated experiment
Stepping back to where Dunbar wa
standing he considerably startled tn,
young American by an extravagan1
pantomimic expression Of servility
bowling to the very ground before hin
and approaching him with every sign O
humility.
s'Do not look so astonished." he said
in a low tone. 81 want the prisoner T.
realize that you are the chief personags
among us, and that he owes his freedom
to 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 a FrenchmaI
handed him the murderous crease. which
two hours before had been within a,
ace Of costing him his life, emotions O
surprise. joy and gratitude played OF
the MaIay's features; but the silent eS
preston of feeling was only momenta
ry, for quickly the accustomed look o
digniied indifference repossessed hi
features, and with deep inclination O
his head to the two white men, b
turned his back upon them and wakes
slowly up the path which led into tn
woods.
ssCOol as cucumberi'' was Dunbar
commentary. swell. Campignon, a
! 1;ff1o I>ovS yve,ve been an,