The Holly chieftain., 1900-09-07
By n. B. WELSH....

SS1ASciy buppOIt me. ~.
A little knoll OF the rough half
grass formed a temptation: he yielded
to 1t and sat down. In few minutes
the whole Of his surroundings-the
Jungle. the thought of Rayburn and
his wounded friend-faded away into
nothingness; drowsiness passed into
Inconsistencies, and Cleland slept.
When he awoke 1t was daylight
nay. more. the sun was high In the
heavens. and was pouring down the
full heat OF his rays upon the tall
palms. the mimosas and asasias sur
rounding Cleland. He started to his
feet with a stified exclamation and
looked at his watch.
rs 1t possible can have been asleep
for 10 hours? 1t is now 2 o'clock.
And Rayburn. what on earth has hap
pened to him?" he calculated, look
ing round In confused way.
Presently the bewilderment passed,
and he began to understand his posi-
tion more clearly.
He was alone in the bush, having
slept for 10 hours Rayburn had ut
terly disappeared. He had never come
back. that was quite evident. II he
had done 30 he would have awakened
Cieland. What was Cleland to make
out from this!
1t was some time before he came to
the conclusion that he had been delib-
erately deceived by Rayburn, and led
into this unhappy position for pur-
poses OF Rayburn's own. Cleland was
not a superstitious man. and he was
too honest and upright himself to
think evil of others: but he could ar
rive at no other conclusion.
What had caused him to sleep so
soundly? He remembered his sudden
drowsiness-a very unusual condition
with him. Was it possible the cigar
given him by Rayburn had anything
to do with that?
He remembered now he had noticed
somewhat peculiar flavor, not unlike
that known to the hashish eater,
about It. He had thought nothing Of
1t at the time. but now the remem-
brance confirmed his worst suspicious.
For some purpose of his own Ray
burn had deliberately led him into
the jungle, drugged him. and then left
him there. to whatever fate might
overtake him.
But what could his purpose have
been?
Suddenly 1t flashed upon Cleland
that the camp had expected in all
probability 1t would be called upon to
march forward to Hudi to-day. II
that were the case, the brigade would
have left at break Of dawn-at least
eight hours before this!
Would they have noticed his ab-
sence? It was highly improbable.
Paul Cleland was 4 brave man, ana
as ready to face a days hard march
or sharp brush with the enemy az
any old and seasoned soldier; but at
the prospect Of solitary march over
that desolate and painless desert. in
utter ignorance Of the direction taken
by the army. his heart sank. What IL
he should take the wrong direction.
and get further and further into the
unknown depths Of that vast sandy
desert--"a dry and thirsty land where
NO man is"-and wander there aim
lessly, fruitlessly, endlessly, until
thirst and starvation did their work.
and he dropped on the torrid sand,
never more to rise from it, only to
leave his bones bleaching there, where
never q human eye should see or pity?
Cleland reused himself from these
thoughts with a shudder. His first
effort must be to get out of the jungle;
his second, to find the camp.
II they're really gone," he thought
to himself, time enough then to in
dulge In these CHASTITY anticipations.
And even II they are-why, must
make a bold effort to make up with
them"
Getting out Of the jungle was easier
said than done. Rayburn had made
that a. dindcult as possible by turning
and twisting several times instead of
taking straight path. But 1t was
accomplished at last, and Cleland
found himself In the open once more.
He know In which direction the camp
lay, and quarter of an hour took him
down to the deserted village.
Alas! his worst fears were realized.
Not q tent, not man remained! Like
the Arabs themselves. the whole bril-
gade had. in the early dawn, silently
folded their tents and as silently
passed away like dreams Of the night.
Cleland stood still for moment,
sense Of sickening disappointment
coming over him. To find oneself ut
terly alone in that vast, unknown des-
ert, with no human companion. no
chart to guide the way. nothing to eat