The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1892-06-02
HELP CAME TOO LATE.

msv
HELP CAME TOO LATE.
scapc, the more beautiful after the
gloomy passage OF the tortuous. shaded
river.
Already the Mnlnys werc leaning over
the side of the sampan laving their
faces in the crystal fluid and drinking
the sweet water from their gourds,
when the Frenchman checked them in
the unutterable bliss OF the deep
draughts.
THE waters Of the lake are sweet TO
the taste and clear to the eye" he said.
but tainted with the poison Of the
stream above. Let us make the island.
where we shall find some spring from
which we can fill our vessels and be
sure that we are not pouring liquid
death down our throats-"
II see spot where we can land"
Dunbar cried, shading his eyes with hts
hand and pointing to an inlet guarded
by two abrupt rocks which stood as
scntincls to o narrow natural harbor.
Without reply tho toiling natives
the tiny haven, and, when thoir efforts
/ had been crowned with succcss. they
found themselves at the entrance of .
small canyon, scarce three yards wide,
whose sides werc walls ct massive
rock nearly Atty seot In height. Cam.
pignon whispered o caution as they
forced the boat mp tho stream. Not even
. night bird was disturbed By their
noiseless approach. Tho channel up
which they were proceeding was Q
strange freak Of nature, winding in It's
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 bach!" Dunbar cried
1--WE are wearing ourselves out for
nothing"
Even as he spoke the tallest and
strongest Of the Mnlays dropped his
paddle and fell prone on the bottom Of
the sampan. his face convulsed with
mortal agony.
"AsI expected" Canpignon hoarse-
~ whispered; .''he is water poisoned.
Quick, Dunbar, with your brandy fiask.
or he will die" y
They forced open his set teeth and
poured the burning nrid down his
throat, but hclp came too late, and tho
bronzed features twitchcd with mute
agony, the brawny frame quivered, and
all was over. There was an appealin
his glazing eyes which haunted Arthur
Dunbar for many long day and night;
but his two companions seemed butAit-
tie discomposed by his untimely fate,
muttering few words which the French
man translated as declaration that all
men must die sometime, and they had
faith that the American prince would
compcnsate his widow when they
reached Colombo and would remember
TO reward them for tho additional tolls
they must now endure. Nay, they oven
were preparing TO throw the body Of
their deceased comrade into the stream,
but were prevented BY Dunbar, who
swore that II should have decent burial.
AL thought Of returning until they had
explored the mysterious channel was
abandoned, and once more the canoe
with It's ghastly burden wns sent speed
ing onward.
Suddenly the long line OF prccipitous
rocks broke into low sanded shore,
with gentle slopes on either side Of the
stream. giving glimpse Of wild
country rich In towering trees and nm.
dulating rolls, like the broad expanse
of an American prairie covered with y
virgin forest, while beyond, the stream
again entered . chasm In smother range
Of hills. The abrupt Transformation Of
tho face Of the country aroused the
wonder Of the Europeans, and their
amusement grow when they saw
beached ON the sloping shore light
sampan, In which still rested many OBJ,
jects Of English production. such as
articles Of clothing, shswls, wraps and
canned mcats. doubtless the very boat
they had been 10 pursuit Of Chained
TO one OF the rough seats of the sampan
was . dog-a brown retricver-who
fawned upon them with every nantes
tation Of joyous welcome.
'He 10 In tolerably good condition,
and cannot have been hero 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 a spear whistled
by his head. and 6xed itself In the
trunk Of palm tree by his side. The
quick report Of ths vrenchmnn'ss ride
woke the echoes fcw moEaents after
VI t1l.l. ~. ~ |.I -