The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1896-07-09
\ RUN FOR LIFE.

t. relate, rumGr had been current
that the fierce LOOshais inhabiting
| the mountains In northeast India, At
the foot Of which the tea plantation /
was then employed on was situated
| had been lighting among themselves
4 1t Is is not pleasant to hc IN the neigh
bOrhoOd Of blOodthirsty sayages when
on the war-path, but as the govern
ment had sent Us a guard Gf military
/ police, We were under no great appre
! hensiOn for the safety OF either 0ur
selves Of the lives and property in
| tIusted to our care. never dreaming
| that the Wild hill men would venture
| from their forest clad mountains to
| modest any one in British territory
The native officer Of the guard was
| also Of the same opinion and. though
he had taken the precaution OF stock
1 aiding his men on a knoll command
ing the Tia" only path leading to the
hills. laughed 1t the fears Of the more
| tinnd Of our laborers, who by no
means shared his sense Of security
Sentries were posted during tho
night, and such military forms gone
| through as matter Of duty. but at
! daylight these precautions were dis
| continued. and the men Of the guard
strolicd about, tished in the frontier
| stream, and amused themselves as
best they might.
Matters were in this state wnen my
servant aroused me at dawn. one chilly
| January morning to perform that
most irksome duty Of the jnniOr assist
ant on Il tea plantation-vi paying
/ the coolies Qaborers) for the past
month Hastily drinking the morn
/ ing lea, | did not dress. but putting
on an ulster over my sleeping clothes.
took my place at the pay table
placed at the corner Of the yeranda,
and settled to work.
The usual gray mist obscured every
thing around, and very ghostly the
! coolies looked as they came str0lling
mp for their money through if. their
| blankets wrapped round them to keep
of the chill morning air.
| was sooninthe midst Of my duties,
handing over rupees and small change
from the pile before me. explained
disputed accounts, and settling wrang
iIng9 as to sundry small debts incur
| red for money advanced during the
month, which the borrowers pretend
ed to have forgotten altogether. or
stoutly denied having ever received,
! as their custom i.
The scene was Il busy one from my
/ seat about three feet above the surg
| ing crowd OF men, women and child
ren around the bungalow, and. as Ori-
entals never collect together without
terrible amount of jabberng, The
| hubhub was considerable.
The voice Of my seni0r-still snug
ly rolled mp in bed was heard now
and again from the recesses Of his
room, shouting ont to stop that row"
more from force Of habit than any
hope Of being obeyed, as pay day is a
a privileged one, and the ccasplesS
squabbles and chickering's 90 on. de
spite all threats and orders. till all
have been paid, but certainly not sat
istied.
But the Weariest task must have an
end and | had but some twenty peo-
pie to get rid Of. when c0mmotion
arose down IN the coolie quarters that
was heard high above the noise immc-
dlately surrounding the bungalow
Imagining some fighting over dis
puted debts was taking place, my
companion jumped out OF bed. took
my place al the table, and told me to
80 down and put a stop t. the shindy
Without delay, 1 ran IN the direc
tlOn of the disturbance, not realizing
the actual state OF affairs until found
myself IN the midst Of scene of mur-
der and violence | ne%er thought Of
witnessing on oar peaceful plantation;
Shrieks, yells and blows. mingled
with occasional shots, resounded
through the mist ON all sides. Men
and women flying for their lives, with
the startling exclamation. Tho Loo
shais the LooshHis.' told me in an in
stant we were attacked. and. ere !
could turn to fly with the rest three
OF the fierce saVages welc upon me.
Avoiding spear thrnst 10y a quick
spring to one side. ! felled assailant
number one with a powerful blow be
tween the eyes, and catching up an ir-
on bound rice -poundcr. swppl another
from my path by knocking his legs
from under him. The third held
back for moment. a hesitation Of
which | availed myself 10 make for
the bungalow for arms.
As ! rushed mp the steps, a pistol
shot dropped my pursuer just IL the
| mex Of time, or his spear would have
been through my back.
No time To thank my senior for his
/ lucky shot. for with cry of ''Run for
/ it here they come" ne snatched up
his gun and rushed through the build
/ ing.
was not slow to follow his exam
pie. and as | dashed down the back
! steps, my movements were expedited
/ by the whistling of the musket bullets
as they tore through the mai walls of
/ the bungalow.
Needless OF stumpS. stakes and 9th
cr obstacles, we ran through the lines
Of tea bushes. holding right on for the
cover Of the forest. some quarter OF Il
lie Off. sweTying nuW To the right,
now to the leff TO dodge the scattered
s'A4N't' bAlsat NN'tN s'tl.i Altti III
At the edge Of tire Jungle. we paused
for sheer want of breath. though in
stinctively bringing behind a tree
trunk as yell told u- the savage foe
/ had discovered us.
\ glance showed that though the
| greater portion Of the enemy had halt
ed at the bungalow. five or six were
making Ton Us. determined upon hay
ing our heads. if possible
Ne were both too winded to contin-
ne our flight for the moment. 81 turn
! od To bay.
Glad of the temporary rest. without
which /. at least, could not have gene
ON we each intuitively singled ont our
man, hut having nothing hut shot car
tridges. were compelled To wait until
. 1 4I.,- 4 al.