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

noiseless approach. The channel up
which they were proceeding was a
strange freak of nature, winding in its
course, like the coils of a 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 ta1lest and
strongest of the Malays dropped his
paddle and fell prone on the bottom of
the sampan, his face convu1sed with
mortal agony.
Gas expected" Campignon hoarse-
ly whispered; she is water poisoned.
Quick, Dunbar, with your brandy flask,
or he will de-
They forced open his set teeth and
poured the burning fluid down his
throat. but help came too late. and the
bronzed features twitched with mute
agcly, the brawny frame Cuivered, and
| all was over. There was IT 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 unti1nely fate,
1 -
man translated as declaration that al
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 t,,cm for the additional tolls
they must 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 CHASTITY 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 a wild
country rich in towering trees and un-
dulating rolls, like the broad expanse
of an American prairie covered with a
virgin forest, while beyond, the stream
again entered a 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, shawis, 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 dog-a brown retriever-who
fawned upon them with every manifes-
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 a spear whistled
|, | by his head, and fixed itself in the
trunk of palm tree by his side The
quick report of the Frenchman's rife
woke the echoes q few moments after.
wards, and a 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 wild beast
With a cry Of frenzisd rage, he sprane
upon Campignon, dashing him to the
earth with the fury of his charge, bu,
ere the cleaning blade could fall upor
the hapless man, Arthur Dunbar:
) strong arms We're 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 than it take.
to write the words, the Malay was
, lying gasping in the sand at the mere,
: OF one who in his just rage seemed hal:
inclined to strangle him; but Campig
mons advice prevailed, and he wa.
simply bound with ropes, which were
tied in such a manner as to insure ths
5 security rather than the comfort of the
l prisoner.
when he RECEIVERS from his BLIND
passion, we shall get some valuable
: information from him: for these fellow.
l In their calmer moments readily yiele
to the Inevitable the Frenchman said
cycling his late antagonist with grin
; smile.