Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1893-05-08
UnWeICOme Visitors.

have little story to tell in con-
aection with my visit to India two
years ago. [ had started on a visit to
q friend in an interior town, and,
Through an accident that befell one Of
the natives who accompanied me, [
was detained several hours, and forced
to proceed very slowly when the band
again started, the injured man being
horne on rude litter by four Of his
companions. So it came about that it
had grown quite dark before we
reached our destination; but, as the
moon was shining and the road was
plain, I did not object to this. Indeed,
I regretted that we had not made the
entire journey after dark, as it was
rot so intolerably hot as in the day
time.
[ noticed that my horse was ex-
tremely restless and uneasy during
the last few miles of the journey.
Sometimes he tremb1ed and snorted,
and constantly wanted to run, SO that
Ii was all could do to hold him. One
OF the old men in the band keep look
ing around apprehensively.
''The horse smells some wild BEAST"
ne said; and after that we kept a
sharp lookout for it, but, though at
one time we heard a cracking in the
bushes, as though from the presence
OF light foot, we saw nothing.
About o'clock at night we reached
the town, and inquiring tor the bung
allow of my friend, found it on the
farthest outskirts of the village [
rode out there, leaving the others to
put up at a public house. When [
reached the bungalow, what was my
chagrin and disappointment to find
that my friend and his family we're
off on a sea voyage, and had left the
place in charge of single servant, a
native, who had lived with them since
they first came to the country.
''But the house is yours, Sahib, with
all that it contains" said Tibboo, with
his profoundest bow; and so, as there
was no other prospect, turned my
horse over to Tibooo, threw myself
into hammock under the trees, and
proceeded to enjoy little rest, for
/ was tired. Tibboo brought my
supper out afterward, delightfully."-
spread on little table, and set it be-
side me-ah, they know how to do
things, those Indians-and after had
eaten he brought me the most deli
cious cigars, and between the cigars
and the delightful sensation of rest, it
was near midnight before l managed
TO tear myself away from the ham
mock and go to the room which lib
boo had prepared for me. 1t was a
lovely room, hung round with mating
and with windows opening to the
floor.
''There is no need of closing the
windows" said Tibboo. 'tIn this
country they all sleep with the win
dows open-though 1 have seen coun-
tries where it was otherwise
l smiled grimly as I remembered
that had seen country or two of
that kind myself. But I went to sleep,
Tibboo assuring me that he would be
within call, and the open windows did
not trouble my dreams in the least.
was so tired that l slept soundly,
and no ordinary noise would have
walked me- One time in the night I
became dimly conscious that dog
was being killed somewhere, but did
not wake enough to appreciate the
situation or to wonder what it was.
/ think it must have been about
O'Clock when / was startled wide
awake. I said that no ordinary noise
would have aroused me. What I
heard was not an ordinary noise. 1t
was the sound of something creeping
softly about the room. The footsteps
were too soft for those of dog, and
raising myself on my elbow,I shouted,
<sGet out of here! Begone STRIP
The response was low, deep growl,
certainly not a dogs growl. l reached
under my pillow for the box of match