The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1899-06-02
CONTINUED.

as any woman. AFTER nan an nOur OF
SO, however, | was able once more to
calmly review my chances Of escape
ANY exit by the steep sand walls was
Of course impracticable | had been
thoroughly convinced of this some time
before II was possible just possible
that might in the uncertain moon.
light safely run the gauntlet of the rife
shots The place was so full of terror
for me that was prepared to undergo
any risk in leaving it. Imagine my 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
steps
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 the
crater and make my way inland With.
ont n 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
futile was any hope of escape, for as
put my foot down felt an indescriba.
bic drawing, sucking motion Of the
sand below Another moment and my
leg was swallowed up nearly to the
knee In the moonlight the whole sur
face of the sand seemed to be shaken
with devilish delight at my disappoint-
| ~ la1 sla l. /,
terror and exertion, back to the tus.
socks behind me and fell on my face
My only means Of escape from the
semicircle was protected with a quick
sand
How long lay have not the faint.
est idea, but l was reused at last by
the malevolent chuckle of Gunga Dass
at my ear 81 would advise you. pro.
tector Of the poor (the ruffian was
speaking Euglish). ITO return to your
house II is unhealthy to lie down here
Moreover when the boat returns, You
will most certainly be rihed at He
stood over me in the dim light of the
dawn chuckling and laughing to him.
self. SURPRISING my first impulse to
catch the man 10y the neck and throw
him on to the quicksand, rose sullenly
and followed him to the Platform be-
low the burrows
Suddenly and futilely, as | thought
while | spoke, asked, "Gunga Dass
what is the good Of the boat if cant
get ont anyhow recollect that even
in my deepest trouble ! had been specu
latinS vaguely on the waste Of animu
milton in guarding an already well pro
tected foreshore
Gunga Dass laughed again and made
answer They have the boat only in
daytime 1t is for the reason that there
is Il way. | hope we shall have the
pleasure Of your company for Il much
longer time. II is pleasant spot when
you have been here some years and eat.
en- roast crow long enough.
staggered, numbed and helpless, to-
ward the fetid burrow allotted to Inc
and fell asleep An hour or SO later
was awakened by a piercing scream
the shrill, high pitched scream Of a
horse in pain. Those who have once
heard that will never forget the sound
found some little difficulty in scram-
bling ont of the burrow. When | was
in the open, | saw Pornic, my poor old
Pornic, lying dead on the sandy soil
How they had killed him | cannot guess
Gunga Dass explained that horse was
better than crow and greatest good
of greatest number is political maxim.
We are now republic, Nh Jukes,
and you are entitled to fair share of
the beast If you like, we will pass a
vote of thanks. Shall propose?"
Yes we were "A republic indeed-a
republic Of wild beasts penned at the
bottom of a pit, to eat and fight and
sleep till we died attempted no pro-
test of any kind, but sat down and
stared at the hideous sight in front of
me. In less time almost than it takes
me TO write this Pornic's body was di-
vided, in some unclean way OF other
The men and women had dragged the
fragments on TO the platform and were
preparing their morning meal Gunga
Dass cooked mine The almost irresisti-
BILE impulse to fly at the sand walls I'M
Ill | was wearied laid hold of me
afrosh, and had to struggle against IL
with all my might. Gunga Dass was
Extensively jocular till told him that
if he addressed another remark of any
kind whatever TO me | should strange
him where he sat. This silenced him
till silence became insupportable and
babe him say something,
lyon will live here till You die like
the other Feringhi, he said coolly,
watching me over the fragment of girls
tie that he was gnawing
what other sahib you swine?
Speak AT once, and don I stop to tell me
a lie
HE is over there, answered Gunga
Dass, pointing to burrow mouth about
four doors to the left of my own. "You
can see for yourself. He died in the
burrow as you will die and l will die
and as all these men and women and
the old child will also die -