Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1899-06-01


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
dried grass showed me how utterly
futile was any hope of escape, for as !
put my foot down | felt an indescriba,
BILE 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-
ment | struggled clear. sweating with
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 quick
sand
How long / lay have not the faint
est idea. but / was reused at last by
the malevolent chuckle of Gunga Dass
at my ear II would advise you. pro-
tector of the poor (the ruffian was
speaking English), ito return to your
house 1t 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 | thought
while / spoke, | asked. "Gunga Dass
what is the good of the boat if | can't
get out anyhow Irecollect that even
in my deepest trouble had been specu-
lating vaguely on the waste of ammu
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 a way l hope we shall have the
pleasure Of your company for 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 me |
and fell asleep. An hour or so later |
was awakened by 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 out Of the burrow. When | was
in tha npa,, I oau porp,, ,,,v ,,r.S,- LA
Pornic, lying dead on the sandy soil
How they had killed him Icannot guess.
8uDga Dass explained that horse was
better than crow, and greatest good
If greatest number is political maxim
We are now republic, Mr.. Jukes
and you are entitled TO fair share Of
he beast If you like, we will pass
rote Of thanks. Shall l propose
Yes, we were a republic indeed-a
republic Of wild beasts penned at the
Dottom of a pit, to eat and fight and
leep till we died | attempted no pro-
est Of any kind, but sat down and
tsred at the hideous sight in front OF
ne In less time almost than il takes
ne TO write this Pornics body was d.
yided, in some unclean way or other.
The men and women had dragged the
fragments on TO the platform and were
preparing their morning meal Gunga
Oass cooked mine The almost irresisti-
,le impulse to fly at the sand walls un-
il | was wearied laid hold of me
fresh. and had TO struggle against it
With all my might Gunga Dass was
,ffensively jocular till told him that
{ he addressed another remark Of any
lind whatever 20 me | should strangle
lin where he sat This silenced him
i'll silence became insupportable and /
,ade him say something.
"You will live here till You die like
he other Feringhi, he said coolly,
Watching me over the fragment of girls
lie that he was gnawing.
"What other sahib. you swinef
speak at once and don't stop TO tell me
/ lie
HE is over there. answered Gunga
BASS pointing TO burrow mouth about
our doors to the left of my own. you
an see for yourself. He died in the
,urrow as you will die and / win die
md as all these men and women and
he old child will also die.
"For pity sake. tell me all You know
lbout him. Who was he When did he
,ome. and when did he diel'
This appeal was a weak step on my
part Gunga Dass only leered and re-
Piled. II will not-unless you give me
something first. q"
Then | recoflected where | was and
struck the man between the ewes. 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
10 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