The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-18

ed over as though 1t did not exist. and the
place Is empty. A few mangled bodies e
here and there sprawling grotesouey. yet
looking impossibly small; a house is biaz-
ing with roar OF scarlet flames, ana later
charred bones are found among the ashes:
the doors at the rear Of the stockade are
thrown wide: a few stray shots sound
from the heavy Jungle behind the village.
showing that the thanking parties are
trying vainly to shoot down the fuGitives;
but the place itself Is empty save for
fowls and dogs. and the victory in a mo-
mcnt is felt to be farcicai absurd.
Presently the thanking parties come In
and make their reports The jungle was
too thick for much good to he done; a few
runaways had been captured. some others
have been shot: but the chief and most
of his people have got away unframed.
We've put the fear OF death into them
says the political officer. land that Is
about ALL" and his companions have moth
ing to add to this curt statement of fact
The next few days are spent in burning
miles OF villages, impounding nocks of cat
tie: In writing the anger OF the govern
ment plainly on the place so that even
an illterate people may read II clearly.
As he lies on HIS mat at the end OF a
long day smoking and thinking. he is
weary unto death. Gould anything have
been more inglorious?" he asks. the cont
or two with ugly wounds which VIII make
them so hating all their days, a Few In
significant natives punished. and the real
culprits suffered To escape with nothing
worse than fright. IL seeu< to that
this thicket humping business IL nov GO
ing 10 begin IN real earnest They VIII
never stand up to us again In stockades
and we shall have to do all our ightins
in dense jungle. And It Will always DE mis-
cradle. hearthreaking. sdualid, Ineffective.
few dead to bury, few wounded to
patch. an enemy that you can't see. that
bolts before you can. get fair slap at
him, lots OF hardships. plenty Of blame
not an atom of kudos. and the best you can
look for, "A quick death and a clean enc.
tell you. tho game Is played out, IL
does not do TO think about 1t"
Buck up" says the commander Il
dare say II win pan out all right in the
end"
Yes. II there he an end" replies the 20.
lltical officer. grimly
The commanding officer eyes him queer
IT, what's the matter with you7' he
asks. you aren't bit like yourself"
There you're wrong II Is because
am like myself that feel all this When
there's work 10 do. while there IL some
thing 10 interest or excite me. l am as
right a. a trivet II Is when he of and
think. when | forecast the future. when
l see all the miserable business that Is
s,la before Ms. that sauirm. Don't think
that I'm funking H. When the thing has
10 b. pat through shah manage Il some
how. And Lord help them thlnk Of all
the Suffering that will 10 exaoted before
giAe epd~the righteous end. mind you--ls
attained. | tell you that Il makes me
sick. As said before. il won't bear
thlnking about"
lie sFeNks truly A man to go bush
whack.nx with a light heart should nave
no insight, no sympathy. no imagina-
tiou The political agent has all three
Alsn, he loves the FOLK against whom he
IS warring-soves them. has served them
in the past. Will labor TO redeem, thern in
the future To him their suHerfnes
brought upon them by their own folly.
their own nitoins. arc things very real
II is his duty 10 Increase the heavy meas
ure OF their troubles he knoss that by
doing 50 rclenticssiy the wished for peace
will come more speedily But they are
hts own people. among whom he has lived
for wears. and ne suffers With them Tn
ss5su .groaniaE over the necessity which
drives him 20 persecute them IL h an
impossible frame OF mind. and one that
makes his days bitter 20 him.-HugA Clif-
-ferd N Hlaekwoods AAGaxira