The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-06-03
G can" Arthur said. with determine

his accompiices, but you forget that
they are under the protection of the
swamp-dwellers, who are, expect. too
powerful neighbors for the Veddahs to
exasperate." q
''If you are afraid" Dunbar said,
testify, "say so, man, and turn back.
As for me, shall reach Sir Harry Gra-
hame, or die in the effort"
"And 1 shall stick with you to the
last, sir. When Francois Campignon
signs articles, he means to hold to them
as long as he can."
Sand you shall not regret your cour-
age and honesty" Dunbar said, warmly.
When they reached the cluster of trees
under whose shade they had left their
sampan, they found crowd of ma
tives, who had brought every conceive
BILE kind of meat and fresh fruit for
their selection, some even the charms
to warn off devils and evil spirits
which they urgently pressed them to
purchase. But Il sanpan, light and
buoyant as it is, is only a boat after all,
and its gunwalc was soon weighed
down dangerously near the water, so
the order was given to loosen the
painter and cast off into the stream,
notwithstanding the Babel of chatter
ing rernonstrance from the disappoint-
ed villagers whose wares had been
brought in vain. Already the broad
backs of the Malays had bent to their
work, when loud cries from the direc-
ton of the village were heard. and they
a.. 90 l,IN IN
and fro like n Dutch lugger in storm,
as he came on q run, with one peon
holding huge umbrella over his head,
and another pushing him along in u not
very dignified manner.
Hold hardl" Dunbar cried, and the
men, obeying his gesture, rather than
his voice, once more swung the nose OF
the boat into the bank.
When the paunchy official could sufl-
ciently recover breath to speak, he an
nounced that hchad the most important
tidings for the Europeans, which he
would communicate for a consideration
So consequently CampignOn sprang
ashore and retired with him to cluster
of trees. \ few whispered words
he handed over the money, and Dunbar
noticed that his face grew very grave
rs the conference proceeded.
The old rcprobatc," be said, as he
took his place in the boat and gave
orders to the men to cast off, "has added
a little piece of intelligence which it
was lucky we waited for, for fore
warned is forearmed. and we've got to
look oct for squalls"
"Ah, what now?"
"Why, you see, it appears that yes
terday European passed up the river
in a light sampan propelled by two
strong paddlcrs. He stopped at tho
village Just long enough to get p~oVis-
ions and promise the l1orale twenty
rupees on his return if 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 tHOnen would do so and
described our appearance so minutely,
that there is no doubt but that he al
luded to u.s."
yet" Dunbar interposed, that
seems impossibles for not soul knew
where we were going when we left
London-not even Miss Grahane."
Nevertheless, l believe the secret
has leaked out, and that we shall re-
gret the three weeks we lost at the
cape and orr months delay at Colon
bo,' Canpignon insisted.
well, we cannot rcproach ourselves
with that, for we Were told that the
river was impossible till the floods sub
s;dcd," Dunbar said, 4 little ve2cd, for
the FrcnchnGnS manner seemed to i'm
putc carclessness on his part.
Granted: it may be misfortune and
not fault, bat if some enemy is taking
the wind out of our sails we must be on
the alert"
''Nc Iaust catch up with him at any
cost Dunbar cried, cScitcdly.
"As well set COW to chase a grey
hound as expect Us TO overtake that
light-hceled customer, who carries little
or nothing with him" ...
"He must have provisions like we
have" Arthur argued.
"Yet he bought but little at the VII
lage yonder, Mr.. Dunbar. No, you may
depend upon it that there is some hid
den place of supply in the wilderness.
provided for just such an emergency.
If it were not so be dared not make the
journey. Think of it! Nearly two
hundred miles of jungle and forests so
| interviewer with brush and prickly
plants that you could not get two miles
| from the bank in days march. No,
70. you may depend on it there is sone
halfway place of supply; perhaps up.a
creek, where none woald suspect II.
| Say. sir, are you man enough to risk
! the danger of finging overheard half
or supplies, and take your spell at 4
! paddle for six hours cut Of the twenty
| four? Dont answer in 4 hurry-think
of n bit-it means going on half ra-
tons and straining yourself pretty Sc
vercly, facing perhaps death and very
surely sickness, for the fever is pretty
certain to ges hold of you if you over
exert Yourself"
"All this will gladly do" Arthur
soid, resoiutely; "but how about these
poor Malays? II is hardly fair to ask
them to share dangers they never con-
! trccted to endure"
Give them double pay, sir, and they
would face the devil himself; for thcr1
is nothing Cirgalesc viii not do fol
money" .
Then so be it, only make them quite
understand their contract"
SoCampignon explained to the brawny
fellows what they wanted Of them
adding. too, on his own account that
Dunbar was a great American prince
whose generosity kDcTv no bounds and
who would reward them when they
reached Colombo IN meuner beyond