Evening star., 1898-07-23


sorld for months buried in the heart of
savage and almost unknown country. end
f!tc [ly uucouth Eatives for his compan-
Ions he must be less than human Il the
approach to civilization does not find his
spirits rising like the mercury in a ther-
mometer. Some such reflection as this was
running in Matthew Quin's mind as ne
sat by his campfire in a Borneo forest, at
the close of an October day. After four
months in the jungle he had entered Brit
ish territory. and another week should see
him at the coast lie longed to be among
people OF his own kind again. His heart
beat faster as his imagination reveled in
the hospitaIities of the Dutch and English
at the settlements; the rich fragrance OF
the tobacco he puffef from his pipe savor-
ed TO him of the smoky smell of deer old
London
Borneo. as the reader is probably aware,
is the second largest island in the world,
its dimensions being about 500 by 100 miles.
1t is noted for botanical products and for
its exports. OF the interior, where live va
rious wild beasts and wilder men. much
remains 20 be explored. The northern dis
trict. known as British North BorncO IS
governed by the company of that name;
and from here Quin had set out TO the
south at the end of June. accompanied by
fifteen black-skinned Dyaks. who are the
aborigires of the island. He also took with
him an interpreter, who could speak Eng
lish and the native dialects with equal ia
cility.
I've not done badly. all things consfd-
sred.' Quin said to himself, as he stirred
the fire on which his supper was cooking
No lives were lost. and We got through
without any fighting. And the birds ard
animals Will fetch good price in London.
The expedition would hardly have paid
Hamrach & Co. though had it not been
franced by Baron kirsch. 1t was a lot of
money 20 spend for an orang-outang. Rrt
I've got the brute, thank heaven AMI il
will be valuable addition to the barons
menagerts in Buckinghamshire.''
He rehlled MS pipe, and glanced with sat-
iSfaCtion about the camp. It vas Wild
and lonely spot, typical of the interior of
BorneO- The jungle had been cleared TO
make space. on the right a thickly
wooded hill rose Up almost sheer and on
tne LETT tiny stream trickled in a trough
IKE bed Of gigantic boUGers. clogglG wfth
fallen trees ard lUxuriant vegetation. And
al sToucd was the dense and silent Jungle
by the base Of tne hill were a number of
IGqeiy constructed cages. most of which
held parrots. crimson flaminsoes Argus
pheaSaHts. eagles and various other birds
y pair Of young tigers chafed and fretted
Lellnd their bars, and in the largest and
strongest cage of all an enormous crang-
outaHg. It's spirit UnbrOken by CAPTIVITY
uttered constant sndris Of rage. This
VICIOUS brute, trapped at great labor and
Ierll, had caused Quin no little anxiety rs
1t was transported from day to day on the
shoulders Of four men. To the chattering
Of the birds and the cries of the orang-
Gutang was added the jabberiug of the
Dyaks. who had put aside their firearms,
anu were sqUatting on the ground IN
groups while they ate their evening meal
ON counting heads. a thing that he had
been accustomed TO do every night Ouin
discovered that one Of the party was miss
ms he went over them again. thinking
ne was mistaken. but the result was the
same As he rose to his feet to invests
gate. ne heard a Light tread behind him.
ana, turning hound. ne saw his Interpreter
ana riSht-hand man. Sooloo
All, so it was your he exclaimed
w here have you been?''
Ihe Dyak put finger to his lips. and
made warning gesture toward his com
rades-
Master, l heard twigs soarninp = hi.
ago, ne replied, and 1 slipped quietly
mo the jungle In d soft spot l found the
freSh footprints of two wild-men They
had gone away quickly / listened for a
tlne, ana heard signals from three diff
The interpreter was a trustworthy fell
law as vel as an expert at woodcraft
truth. '--e
Spies prowling about?" he said in low
tone What can they want?"
Master. We are not many miles from
significantly.
gums Countenance turned suddenly grave
as the meaning of the words flashed ur,7
him. He recalled all that he, knew alout
Bio Sallah, that notorious rebel who Uved
with large following in the bush. and had
given the British North Borneo COmran(
50 much trouble at intervals during the
past tnTee years. But prior to the staring
or the expedition he had patched up A SORT
OF peace, and Quin, having received as
surances that this would likely last for
year mad altered his intended route of re-
Nurh 10 shorter one that led through the
part OF British North Borneo infested BY
bho Saliah and his predatory Dyaks.
Moreover. last night and the night be-
fCre,' SooioO continued spies watched our
ing
Why did you not tell me?" Quin de-
manded, sharply.
i wished TO spare you needless alarm
was the reply and l hoped to hear no
more Of the intruders. But tonight we are
in danger"
"Of attack?''
'AssuredIy, master"
And from Bho Sallah's men?"
" no elSe2 Are We not in his district? -
mat true, replied Quini "and though
the rascal was on friendly terms with the
ETSlish when / left the coast le NAV have
broken out since. Much can naDpea in four
months
Better take a venomous serpent to vour
SoOloo
Yes. I know his reputation" said ouin.
and l don't want to have anything to do
with him I'm sorry now THAI We DIDN'T
take the other and longer route But us
too late 10 talk Of that; we must pull
through the scrape as best we can. our
feH0Ws are good lighters"
es, at tines interrupted Sooloo; but
their blood will turn TO water in the pres
ence Of Bio Sallah's men"
Il hope it's not that bad" said Quin "I'u
put them on their guard, 50 they won't be
taken by surprise. And We must get the
camp In shape for an attack"
1T Will not be easy replied Sooloo.
This is a bad place"
The squatting Dyaks rose in a body as
Cuin approached them, and when he COM
Handed them-through the interprate--to
Is ke up the guns they had laid aside. they
showed signs of CONSERVATION and surprise
But before they could obey ina storm
broke with the swiftless OF n thuuderbolt
A chorus Of shrill yells turned the quiet
night into pandemonIum, and from out
the bed Of the stream, from the thick hush
on one side. poured a sco-e Of savage. haIf-
naked Dyaks. armed mainly with short,
curved swords. Without doubt they werc
band Of Bio Sallan's terrible rebels
GUMS presence OF mind did not desert
him Instantly he whipped out his revolver
and shot the foremost Of the assailants
dead. meanw hile. witn the few words he