Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-12-21
THE PEOPLE
OF THE MIST.
By II. RIDER HAGGARD.
Copyright. 1895. by the Author.l
CHA PIER VI

had Dcen dropped into lJs place. anu Leon
ard withdrew the key and put it in his
pocket.
why do you lock the door. baas'''
whispered Otter
To keep the real Pierre out in case he
should come this way. Two Pierrcs would
be one too many ut this game Now we
must win or perish. -
Then they crept along the cmbankment
till they gained the shelter of the hut or
barrack shed which stood with its back to
the dixie that separated the nest from the
slave camp. Happily none saw them. and
there wcrc uo dogs in the place Dogs
make . noise al announcement times; there
fore slave dealers do not love them.
The end of the shed behind which they
were CrOuching was situated some eight or
ten PAGES from the draw bridge that formed
the only path of entry to the slave camp.
''Baas, - said Otter, let me go forward
and look My eyes archie eyes OF IA cat.
can see in the dark Perhaps the bridge
is down"
And without waiting for an answer he
crept forward on his hands and knees SO
quietly that they could scarcely hear n
movement. Notwithstanding his white
dress there was little chance Of his being
seen, for the shadow of the shed was
dense and n fringe of rushes grew along
the edge of the dixie,
Five minutes passed. ten minutes pass
ed, and Otter did not return. Lconard's
anxiety grcw very keen.
Let us 30 and see what has happened,
mother" he whispered to Soa.
They cTCpt along To the end of the shed.
Within IA yard OF ii they discovered the
arms and clothes of Otter. but Otter
Where WAS he:
The black one has deserted U.S." said
SUa beneath her breath.
Newer answered. Leonard.
By now The clouds were breaking before
the wind. which WAS rising steadily, and
some stars shonc out. giving little light.
The dixie lay deep between its banks and
was not more than 20 feet in width. so that
tie air did no; rutflc it. Moreover. a. any
observer of nature will have noticed. tbs
surface of still! water Is never quite darF
even ON much blackcr nights than this.
Why had Otter taken off his clothes:
l., OItArd wondered. Evidently that he
might - into the water. And what could
he want tu 20 into the water for unless
it was that his heart failed him, and, rs
Sea suggested. ne had deserted: But this
was inn ,s~!h!c. for he knew well that he
would die I.rst- In his great perplcxity
Leonard stared II the dixie.
Now he could sac that ON its further
side was Il light Uf wooden steps. protect
I'd by ca,s's. and that Il man was seated
on the lowest step. with "a rifle beside him,
his feat hanging down 10 within "A few
inches II the surface Of the dixie Ii must
bC the sentry. Next instant Leonard SAW
something Cl>.'. Beneath the feet of the
MAN - ripple grtw ON the face Of the deep
water, ar.ti something flashed in the ripple
like the flash uf steel Then a small black
ubjsCt projected itself toward the feet of
the sentry. who WIS half asleep and hum
ming io himself dTowSily suddenly they
s.sw the !1.In slide from his scat rs though
10y !Ia-;t.. l." said nothing; but, making
one iECtIvctuIl grasp at some rusheS he
vanished int" III" depths below. For n
minute or usnrs' Leonard could distinguish
a slight disturbance ON the surface of the
water, and that WIS all.
\uw he guessed what had happened
Otter had Owed. and rising beneath the
feet III the, man. h..ts seized him, and with
a sudden IhuV,i 5sru; dragged him down to
death by drowning Either this or an al
lSarur had taken him. and that flash was
the flash al his fau4.-.
As Leonard thou 2ht thus Il dark form
Fosc Ga~pinG at the fout OF the steps. II
dr,sw it~sIf ont of the water and Slipped
stEaithily UP them II WAS Otter. and he
held =, knife in his hand. Now tbs, dwarf
Vanished through the gates into the littl,,
guargl,uU>C NJ the top of the cmbankmrnt
Another minute. and rupees began To crcak
Then the tall drawhr:dgr. standing up
right like a >tatTuld against the sky. was
seen to bend itself forward. Down it came
very softly. and The slave camp was open
to them \ gain the black shape appeared
this time Oh the bridge
Como along. whispered Leonard to
his companion That hero. Otter has
drowned thu. sentry and won the bridge.
Stop; pick up his Cl1;ltcs and arms. -
At that moment Otter arrived himself.
Quick. he said Come over, hlas,
hcfuro they So, that the bridge Is down
Give me my clothes and thr gun
''AII right: hen. they arr" answered
Leonard. and i'll another minute they Were
over the bridge and standing on the para
pct OF the slave camp.
Into the guarihouse, baas The wind
lass il there. but no man
They entered y lamp was burning in
the place Otter seized the handle of the
windl;.-- and began To wind He was
naked, and il was "A wonderful sight to Sc
the muscles starting out in knots on his
huge hut dwarlish frame rs he strained al
the weight Of the bridge
| Presently it was up, and leaning on the
+ handle of the wheel Otter chucklcd aloud.
Now We arr safe for time, - he said,
and l will dress myself. Let the haas
forgive IL" for appearing thus before him,
who am 81 ugly.
Tel! us the tale. Otter"
lit Is short, haas, the dwarf replieC
Is he put ON his robe and turhan. when
left you, l watched. l who can see in the
dark, and in a little while saw the gllart
| come down the steps and sit by the edge
| OF the water. He was sleepy, for he
| yawnCd and lit roll OF paper TO smoSc it
| Presently il went out, and he had no NOR,
matches He looked up To the house here
hut WAS too lazy to- fetch them. Then
| guessed that he was alone, for else h,
would have called 10 his companion fo
fire. Now he grew sleeper. and 1 said L
myself otter. Otter. how can you Kill
| this man silently: You must not shoot
because Of the noise. and il you throw
knife or a spear Won may miss or wount
him only
And my snake spoke in my heart an,
| answered: Otter. Otter, dive, seize hi
feet and drag him down swiftly and staml
him into the mud, you who are half flsl
and can swim rs no other man can swim
Do it Mt once. Otter. before the light come
and men can see the drawbridge move.
Well. and 50 l did it, baas. Wow! l tro,
him deep into the miro! Never will h
come up again. After that l rose and raj
into the guardhOusc, fearing lest Their
might Int another. When was slave tw,
always kept watch there, but there wa
none, 80 let the bridge down. All, ] II
member how it worked. And this is ii
tale, baas."
"A great tale. Otter, but it is not finisl
ed yet Now let Us Ia the slaves Conn
take the light and lead the way. Here W
re safe. Is it not so:''
Here, baaS, we are safe, for none ca
reach us except by storm, and yonder
the big gun which turns upon itself l.
us twist the gun round iiTst, So that
need be we can fire into the camp
Il don't know much OF cannon" sa
Leonard dOubtfully.
But / know something, white man,
said SOa, speaking for the first tim
.Mavoom, my master. had a small one l