The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-04-24

it goes. How was it these fellows did
not kill us at once?"
1 expect the rajah has ordered that
all officers who may fall into their
hands are to be kept as hostages, so
that he can open negotiations with the
skipper. If he gets what he wants, he
hands us back: if not, there is no man
ner of doubt that he will put US out of
the way without conjunction"
The. men were still working at the
oars, and for four hours rowed with
out intermission through labyrinth
of creeks. AT last they stopped before
a small village, tied the boats up to a
be captain went ashore with two or
three others. The lads heard loud out
burst of anger, and a voice which they
recognized as that of the rajah storm
ing and raging for some time; then the
hubbub ceased. An hour later the ra-
iah himself came on board with two or
three attendants, and a man whom they
recognized as speaking a certain
amount of English. The rajah scowled
at them. and from the manner in which
he kept lingering his kris they saw
that it needed a great effort on his part
to abstain from killing them at once.
He spoke for some time in his own
language, and the interpreter trans
lated it.
LOU are QOSS, you dll yum OOuL-
trymen. The rajah is sending a message
to your captain to tell him that he
must build UP his palace again, pay
him for the warships that he has de-
Stroyed, and provide him with a guard
against his enemies until q. fresh one
has been built. If he refuses to do this
you will both be killed.
Tell him." Harry said, that if we
are all dogs, anyhow, we have shown
that .
says, it is for the captain to answer;
but do not thing he will grant either
of the terms, though, possibly, he may
consent to spare the raiah's life, and
to go away with his ship, if we are
sent back to him without injury"
The rajah uttered a scornful excla-
nation. Il have 5000 men," he said,
and do not need to beg my life; for
were there 20 ships instead of one, they
could never find me, and not a man
who landed and tried to come through
the country would return alive. l have
given your captain the chance. If. at
the end of three days, an answer does
not come granting my command, you
will be krised. Keep a strict watch
upon them, captain, and kill them at
once if they try to escape"
Il will guard them surely, rajah," the
captain, who. from the rich materials
of his sarong and jacket, was evidently
himself a chief. said quietly; but as
to escape, where could they go? They
could but wander in the jungle until
they die
By night both lads felt more them
selves. They had been we'll supplied
with food, and though Harry's head
ached until, as he said, it was splitting.
and Dicks wound smarted severely,
they We're able to discuss their posi-
ton. They at once agreed that es
cape was impossible, and would be,
even were they we'll and strong and
could manage to obtain possession of
a sanpang. They would but lose them
selves in the labyrinth of creeks, and
would, moreover, be certain to be over
taken by the native boats that would
be sent off in all directions after
them.
There is nothing to do but to wait
for the captains answer
1--WE know what that will be-" Harry
said. "He will tell the chief that it
would be impossible for him to grant
his commands, but that he is ready to
pay a certain sum for our release; but
that if harm comes to US he will make
peace with the chiefs who have assist
ed him against us. on condition of their
hunting him down and sending him
alive or dead to the ship. The rascal |
knows that he could hide himsSf in |
these swamps for a month. and he
will proceed to chop off our heads |
without moments delay. We must I
keep our eyes open tomorrow and en- !
edavor to get hold of a couple of wea- |
pons 1t is a deal better to die fighting
than il is to have our threats cut like |
sheep"
ITO he centinued.)