Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1899-06-17
CHATTER Ill.

the malevolent chuckle of Gunga Dass
at my ear II would advise you. pro-
tector of the poor" (the ruffian was
speaking English), "to return to your
house. It is unhealthy to lie down here
Moreover, when the boat returns, you
will most certainly be rifed 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 by 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 l thought
while l spoke, asked, "Gunga Dass,
what is the good of the boat if | can t
| get out anyhow" | recollect that even
| in my deepest trouble | had been specu-
lating vaguely on the waste Of ammu-
milton in guarding an already we'll pro-
tected foreshore.
Gunga BASS laughed again and made
answer: They have the boat only in
daytime 1t is for the reason that there
is a way. | hope we shall have the
/ pleasure Of your company for a much
longer time. 1t 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 ne
and fell asleep. An hour or so later ]
was awakened by a piercing scream
the shriIl high pitched scream of
h.
heard that will never forget the sound
found some little difficulty in scram-
bling out of the burrow. When was
in the open, I saw Pornic, my poor old
Pornic, lyiLg 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 Mr. Jukes,
and you aye entitled to a fair share Of
the beast If you like we will pass
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 l 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 wasd i
vided, in some unclean way on 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 IN
til | was wearied laid hold Of me
afresh, and had to struggle against it
with all my might Gunga Dass was
extensively jocUlar till told him that
if he addressed another remark Of any
kind whatever to me l should strangle
him where he sat. This silenced him
till silence became insupportable and
babe him say something
''You will live here till you die like
the other Feringhi, be said coolly
watching me over the fragment of girls
tie that he was gnawing
'What other sahib, you swine?
Speak at once, and don t stop to tell me
lie
He is over there. " answered Gunga
Dass, pointing to bUrrow mouth about
four doors to the left Of my own. 'EYou
can see for yourself He died in the
burrow as you will die and I will die
and as all these men and women and
the old child will also die
For pity S sake, tell me all you know
about him Who was he? When did he
come, and when did he die?
This appeal was weak step on my
part Gunga Dass only leered and re-
piled, II will not-unless you give me
something first.
Then | recollected where | was and
struck the man between the eyes, par
TALLY stunning him He stepped down
from the platform at once and, cringing
and fawning and weeping and attempt
ing to embrace my feet, led me round
to the burrow which he had indicated.
II know nothing whatever about the
gentleman Your God be my witness
that do not. He was as anxious to es-
cape as you were, and he was shot from
the boat, though we all did all things to
prevent him from attempting He was
shot here Gunga Dass laid his hand
on his lean stomach and bowed to the
earth
"Well, and what then? Go onr
And then-and then your honor
we carried him into his house and gave
him water and put wet cloths on the
wound, and he lay down in his house
and gave up the ghost. :
I'm how long? In how long?'
About half an hour after he re-
ceived his wound. Icall Vishnu to wit
ness, yelled the wretched man, "that
did everything for him. Everything
which was possible, that I did''
He threw himself down on the ground
and clasped my ankles. But had my
doubts about Gunga Dass benevolence
and kicked him off as he lay protest
ing
II believe YOU robbed him of every !
thing he l. i'd But | can find out in
minute or two How long was the sahib
here2
Nearly year and half think
he must have gone mad. But hear me
swear. protector of the poorl Won't