The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1899-05-26

on the platform Incapable OF moving
limb The others would never even
raise their eyes when this happened. az
men too well aware Of the futility OF
their fellows attempts and wearied
with their useless repetition saw four
such outhursts in the course of that
evening
Gunga Dass took an eminently busi.
nessliSe 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 do for me- Ny o rupees
annas, he argued at the rate Of
onnas 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 l 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
could spare.
Very well, Gunga Dass replied.
ITO the first terms | cheerfully agree,
but as there is nothing ON earth to pre-
vent my killing you as you sit here and
taking everything that you have"-I
thought of the two invaluable crows at
the time-"I fatty refuse to give you
my boots and shall take whichever den
please.
The stroke was bold one, and was
glad when 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 10 years stand
ing in the service. and, trust, an aver
age Englishman. should thus calmly
threaten murder and violence against
the man who had, for u consideration, it
is true, taken me under his wing |
had left the world, it seemed, for cen
turtles. ! 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
AT present, | argued to myself, ~
am strong and a match for six of these
wretches 1t is imperatively necessary
that | should, for my own sake. keep
both health and strength until the 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 si0u of insu bOrdination on his part
would be visited with the only punish.
ment had it in my power to :nfict-
sudden and violent death Shortly after
this | went to bed. That is to say
Gunga Dass gave me double armful
of dried bents. which | 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 n 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 My den was nearly rs
narrow as coffin. and the sides had
1, IL.
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 As
the night wore on it seemed that the
entire amphitheater was filed with
legions of unclean devils that, trooping
up from the shoals below, Knocked the
unfortunates in their lairs
TO BE CONTINUED