The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-05-30


until, bafaed and bleeding, he fell back
on the platform incapable Of moving
limb The others would never even
raise their eyes when this happened. as
men too we'll aware Of the futility Of
their fellows attempts and wearied
with their useless repetition. Isaw four
such outbursts in the course Of that
evening.
Gunga Dass took an eminently bust
nesslike view of my situation, and
while we were dining-I can afford to
laugh at the recollection now, but it
was painful enough at the time-pro-
pounded the terms on which he would
consent to edo for me. My rupees
8 annas. he argued, at the rate Of 8
annas day. would provide me with
food for 81 days, or about seven weeks
that is to say, he would be willing to
cater for me for that length Of time.
At the end of it / was to look after my
self. For further consideration-vi-
delicet my boots-he would be willing
to allow me to occupy the den next to
his own and would supply me with as
much dried grass for bedding as he
couldsspare.
Every well, Gunga Dass. /" replied.
Ito the first terms I cheerfully agree.
but as there is nothing on earth to pre-
vent my killing you as you sit hero and
taking every thing that you have''-I
thought Of the two invaluable crows at
the time-'tI fatty refuse to give you
my boots and shall take whichever den
I please
The stroke was bold one, and I was
glad whenI saw that it had succeeded
Gunga Dass changed his tone immedi-
ately, and disavowed all intention Of
asking for my boots. At the time it did
not strike me as at all strange that ], a
civil engineer, man Of 13 years stand
ing in the service, and, I trust, an aver
age Englishman. should thus calmly
threaten murder and violence against
the man who had, for consideration. it
is true, taken me under his wing
had left the world. it seemed. for cen
turtles. I was as certain then as am
now Of my own existence that in the
accursed settlement there was no law
save that Of the strongest, that the liv-
ing dead men had thrown behind them
every canon of the world which had
cast them out, and that had to depend
for my own life on my strength and
vigilance alone. The crew Of the i'll
fated Mignonette are the only men who
would understand my frame of mind
Eat present. argued to myself. II
am strong and match for six Of these
wretchea 1t is imperatively necessary
that I should, for my own sake. keep
both health and strength untilth hour
Of my release comes If it ever does.
Fortified with these resolutions, ate
and drank as much as could. and
made Gunga Dass understand that in
tended to be his master, and that the
least sign Of characterization on his part
would be visited with the only punish
ment had it in my power to indict-
sudden and violent death. Shortly after
this went to bed. That is to ray.
Gunga Dass gave me double armful
Of dried bents. which I thrust down the
mouth Of the lair to the right Of his.
and followed myself. feet foremost. the
hole running about nine feet into the
sand with slight downward inclina-
ton. and being neatly shored with tim
bers From my den, which faced the
river front. was able to watch the
waters Of the Sutlej flowing past under
the light of young moon and compose
myself to sleep as best might.
The horrors Of that night shall
never forget Ny den was nearly as
narrow as coffin. and the sides had
been worn smooth and greasy by the
contact Of innumerable naked bodies.
added to which it smelled abominably
Sleep was altogether out of question to
one in my excited frame Of mind. Az
the night wore on it seemed that the
entire amphitheater was filled with
legions Of unclean devils that. trooping
up from the shoals below. Knocked the
unfortunates in their lairs.
Personally am not Of an imagine
tive temperament-very few engineers
are-but on that occasion was as COM
pletely Frustrated with nervous terror
as any woman. After half an hour or
&c. however. l was able once more to
calmly review my chances Of escape.
Any exit by the steep sand walls was
of course impracticable. I had been
thoroughly convinced Of this some time
before. It was possible. just possible.
that I might in the uncertain moon
light safely run the gantlet of the rife
shots The place was SO full of terror
for me that I was prepared to undergo
any risk in leaving it Imagine m0 de-
light. then. when after creeping stealth
lily to the river front found that the
internal boat was not there. My free
dom lay before me in the next few
stepsl
By walking ont to the first shallow
pool that lay at the foot Of the project
ing left horn Of the horseshoe could
wade across. turn the flank of fhe
crater and make my way inland With
out a moments hesitation marched
briskly past the tussocks where Gunga
Dass had shared the crows and out in
the direction of the smooth white sand
beyond My first step from the tufts Of