Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1899-06-01
Observation-Disclosures
: THE STRANGE RIDE
OF
( sk MORROWBIE JUKES.
BY RUDYARD KIPLING.


twisted with years, and women aged t.
all appearance as the fates themselves
They sat together in knots and talked
God only knows what they found t.
discuss-in low. equable tones, curious
ly in contrast to the strident babblt
with which natives are accustomed tC
make day hideous.
Now and then an access Of that sud
den fury which had possessed me in the
morning would lay hold on man OF
woman, and with yells and imprecations
the sufferer would attack the steep slope
until, baffied and bleeding. he fell back
on the platform incapable of moving a
limb. The others would never even
raise their eyes when this happened, as
men too well aware of the futility of
their fellows attempts and wearied
with their useless repetition saw 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 do for me Ny rupees
8 annas, he argued, at the rate of 3
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
could spare.
VERY well, Gunga Dass, replied
''To 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, a man of ID 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 a consideration. il
il true, taken me under his wing
had left the world. il 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. II |
am strong and a match for six of these
wretches II is imperatively necessary |
that | should for my own sake. keep !
both health and strength until the hour
Of my release comes-if il 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 il in my power 10 inflict-
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 10 the right Of his,
and followed myself. feet foremost. the
hole running about nine feet into the
sand with slight downward inclina
tion, 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 p young moon and compose
myself to sleep as best | might
The horrors Of that night | shall
never forget My den was nearly as
narrow as coffin. and the sides had
been worn smooth and greasy by the
contact Of innumerable naked bodies.
added 70 which IL smelled abominably
Sleep was altogether out Of question TO
one in my excited frame Of mind AS
the night were on it seemed thai she
entire amphitheater was flled with
legions Of unclean devils that. trcoping
mp from the shoals below Knocked the
unf0rtunates in their lairs
Personally | am not Of an imagina-
tive temperament-yery few engineers
are-but on that occasion was rs com
pletely Frustrated with nervous terror
as any woman After half an hour or
50. however. | was able once more 20
calmly review my chances Of escape
ANY exit by the steep sand walls was
Of course impractieable | 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 80 full Of terror
for me that ! was prepared to undergo
any risk in leaving il Imagine my de
light. then. when after creeping stealth.