Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-04-14

Dunbar cried shading his eyes with his
hand and pointing 10 an inlet guarded
by two abrupt rocks which stool ~
scntincls to narrow natural hnrbor
without n reply the toiling natives
bent themselves 10 the task Of reaching
the tiny haven, and. when their efforts
had been crowned with success. thcy
found themselves at the entrance ~ -
small canyon, scarce three yards widr
whose sides were walls 81 massiv,
rock nearly fifty feet In height Cam
pignon whispered caution as they
forced the boat up the stream. Not ever
night bird was disturbed by thcii
noisclcss approach The channel up
which they were proceeding was
strange freak Of nature, winding in its
course, like the coils Of n huge serpent
winding on and on with unchanRing
samcncss, as II seemed TO the anxious
voyagcrs, for miles.
"Iet IA turn back" Dunbar cried.
I'VE are wearing ourselves out for
nothing"
Even as he spoke the latest and
strongest Of the Malays dropped his
paddle aud fell prone on the bottom Of
the sampan, his face convulsed with
mortal agony,
AS | expected" CampiPnon hoarsc-
" whispered; "he Is water poisoned
Quick, Dunbar with your brandy flask,
or he win die"
They forced open his set teeth and
poured the burning fluid down his
throat, but help came too late, and the
bronzcd features twitchcd with mute
agony, the brawny frame quivcred, and
all was over. There was AN appeal In
his glazing eyes which haunted Arthur
Dunbar for many long day and night;
but his two companions seemed but lit
tic discomposcd by his uutimcly fate,
muttcringa few words which the French
man translated ms IA declaration that all
men must die sometime, and they had
faith that the American prince would
compensate his widow when they
reached Colombo and would remember
to reward them for the additional tolls
they must now endure. Nay, they even
were preparing TO throw the body OF
their deceased comradc into the stream,
but were prevented by Dunbar, who
sworc that II should have decent burial.
All thought Of returning until they had
explored the mysterious CHANNEL was
abandoned, and once more the canoe
with its CHASTITY burden was sent speed
ing onward
Suddenly the long line Of prccipitous
rocks broke into low sandcd shore,
with gentle slopes on either side Of the
stream, giving a glimpse Of wild
country rich In towering trees and I'M
dulating rolls, like the broad cXpanse
Of an American prairie covered with n
virgin forest, while beyond, the stream
again entered chnsm IN another range
of hills The abrupt transformation Of
the face Of the country aroused the
wonder of the Europeans, and their
amnzcmcnt grew when they saw
bcached on the sloping shore light
snmpan In which still rested many oh.
iccts of English production, such as
articles Of clothing, shawls, wraps and
canned meats, doubtless the very boat
they had been in pursuit Of Chained
| 10 one Of the rough seats of the sampan
was dog-n brown retrievcr-who
fawncd upon them with every manifcs'
tation of joyous welcome.
"llc is In tolcrably good condition,
and cannot have been here long Dun
bar said, rs he unlooscd the animal,
which whincd his gratitude with pitcous
earnestncss.
The words had hardly left the young
Americans lips, when spear whistlcd
10y his head, and fixed itself in the
trunk Of palm tree by his side, The
quick report Of the Frcnchman's rifle
woke the echocsS few moments after
wards, aud tall figure lcapt into the
air from ncighboring bush and fell u
the earth, while another sprang in hot
fury from group Of ferns and charged