Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-03-20
CHAPTER XXyI1,

.
For long time after this neither Of
us spoke. for we feared that some one
might be listening, and pride forbade a
display either Of fear or of regret. We
had staked, and we had lost, and now
the end was come. But deeply morti-
flying was the thought that we had
walked SO easily into the trap. Before
setting out we had duly calculated the
chances Of success and defeat, and
even with the latter staring us full in
the face we had hoped to go under
fighting. But to be cooped, chained in
this manner. with no ultimate hope Of
escape or fight, plunged us into the ut
most depths of dependency. 1t was
our own fault. Well, does that knowl-
edge make misfortune any easier to
bear?
With refinement of cruelty thor
oughly Chinese we were SO trlced up
that 1t was impossible to move the
head either way for more than foot
or two without experiencing bite
from the sharp teeth Of the collar. 10
sit down, to kneel, to rest ever so
slightly, was utterly out of the ques-
ton, and, what is more, knew that IL
my strength failed me ard tainted or
otherwise sank exhausted should suf-
fer most horrible death from stran-
gulation.
What was the intention Of our enc
niles OF course we knew not, but after
enduring for some hours the agony Of
this most trying position two men en-
terr'! With light and making direct
for Jim unfastened his chain and led
him away by the collar as one would
lead dog.
Il don't know what this means, lad
be said, s"but IL it's the end, goodby.
You forgive met"
"There is nothing to forgive"
"Mach-much," he muttered broken.
ly. And then us they dragged him
through the door heard him gasp O
last "God bless you"
Then was alone once more with my
thoughts, and the gloom seemed to
have taken to itself gloomier hue,
while the awful stiffness grew more
profound. The presence of Jim, even
though could not see him. had some.
thing Of the nature Of consolation.
could speak, could hear him speak,
and, though the little we had to say
was full of the sadness of death, 1t was
good to hear the sound Of q. voice I
loved.
For a full hour or more they left me
thus alone, and gradually my brain
was beginning to wander, my LIMBS to
refuse the task allotted them Of sup.
porting me. Visions of strangulation
and the sharp cutting Of iron teeth into
soft flesh began to haunt me, when OF
sudden the same two coolies who
had dragged Jim of entered the cham.
Der. Without speaking to me or to
each other one Of the men cut the
bonds which held my arms, while the
other loosened the collar chain, thus
allowing me to collapse upon the floor
Then they placed water and food with.
In my reach and without word de-
parted rs silently as they had come.
For the first few minutes a joyous
stupefaction was mine. for had fully
believed that the intention Of Kung
was to have me stand there until my
legs absolutely refused longer to fulfill
their functions, when strangulation
would of necessity ensue. But this
was not to be. though my
relief was almost Immediately
by darker misgiving. II Kung spar.
ed now, 1t was but to prolong the tor
ture.
Once the circulation had returned to
lmy arms, the process Of which was in
Itself acute agony, !. having carefully