The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-06-10

noiseless approach. The channel up
which they were proceeding was a
strange freak of nature, winding in its
course, like the coils of huge serpent
winding on and on with unchanging
sameness, as it seemed to the anxious
voyagers, for miles.
Let us turn back!" Dunbar cried
"We are. wearing ourselves out for
nothing"
Even as he spoke the tallest and
strongest of the Malays dropped his
paddle and fell prone on the bottom of
the sampan, his face convulsed with
mortal agony.
Gas l expected" Campignon hoarse-
" whispered; "he is water poisoned.
Quick, Dunbar, with your brandy flask,
or he will die"
They forced open his set teeth and
poured the burning fluid down his
throa+. but help came too late, and the
bro>zed features twitched with mute
aC-ly. the bravny frame Cuivered, and
al was over. There was ~ appeal in
his glazing eyes which haunted Arthur
Dunbar for many long day and night;
but his two companions seemed but lit
tie discomposed by his untimely fate,
muttering few words which the French
man translated as q declaration that Ill
men must die sCnetirne. and they had
faith that the American prince would
compensate his widow when they
reached Colombo and would rer2 ember
20 reward ITEM for the additional tolls
they INST now endure. Nay, they even
were preparing to throw the body of
their deceased comrade into the stream,
but were prevented By Dunbar, who
swore that it should have decent burial
All thought of returning until they had
explored the mysterious channel was
abandoned, and once more the canoe
with its ghastly burden was sent speed
ing onward.
Suddenly the long line of precipitous
rocks broke into low sanded shore,
with gentle slopes on either side of the
stream, giving a glimpse of q wild
country rich in towering trees and un-
dulating rolls, like the broad expansc
of an American prairie covered with a
virgin forest, while beyond, the stream
again entered chasm in another range
of hills. The abrupt transformation of
the face of the country aroused the
wonder of the Europeans, and their
amazement grew when they saw
beached on the sloping shore a light
sampan, in which still rested many OBJ
jects of English production, such as
articles of clothing, shawls, wraps and
canned meats, doubtless the very boat
they had been in pursuit OF Chained
to one of the rough seats of the sampan
was a dog-a brown retriever-who
fawned upon them with every raanifes-
tation of joyous welcome.
He is IN tolerably good condition,
and cannot have been here long" Dun
bar said, as he unloosed the animal
which whined his gratitude with piteous
earnestnesS.
The words had hardly left the young
Americans lips, when spear whistled
| By his head, and fixed itself in the
trunk of a palm tree by his side The
quick report of the Frenchman's rifle
woke the echoes few moments after
wards, and q tall figure leapt into the
air from neighboring bush and fell to
the earth, while another sprang in hot
fury from group Of ferns and charged
upon them with long, glittering crease.
a weapon more dangerous than sword
in the hand of fierce Malay, who has
no fear of death and fights with the
blind impetuosity of q wild beast.
With cry of frenzicd rage, he sprang
upon Campignon, dashing him to the
earth with the fury of his charge, but
ere the cleaning blade could fall upon
the haplesS man, Arthur Dunbar's
strong arms were flung around the
would-be assassin. Sleepless nights
and scorching days had not robbed the
young American of his marvellous
strength, and, in less time THAI it takes
to write the words, the Malay was
lying gasping in the sand at the mercy
of one who in his just rage seemed half
inclined to strangle him; but Campig-
mons advice prevailed, and he was
simply bound with ropes, which were
tied in such manner as to insure the
security rather than the comfort of the
prisoner.
when he recovers from his blind
passion, we shall get some valuable
information from him; for these fellows
in their calmer moments readily yield
to the Inevitable" the Frenchman said,
eyeing his late antagonist with q grim
smile.