The Opelousas courier., 1901-11-09
Then, for the first time. little Nellie

began to feel frightened. Even In the
course OF her short life she had been
In the East Indian junglcs so many
tigers and crocodiles and huge snakes
and other terrible creatures that 1t
seemed quite natural to her that some
unknown and fearful monster should
have Its underground den beneath the
fort and should now be at work to
dig its way out and deyour them all.
Nellie scrambled headlong out Of
her hiding place-never needing how
sorely her poor little arms and face
were bruised by the rough stones
and darted out of the vault in such
haste as almost to knock down Harry
whom she encountered just at the en-
trance.
"Oh, Harry" she painted, there's q
monster living there under the
ground, and it's trying to claw its way
out and eat us!"
The boy looked puzzled, as we'll he
might. and at first seemed more in
clined to laugh than to be scared. But
LAG pCSdAL4C cCl 1OuS CAOuSA WHICH 4eCA14S
took him back to the spot and they
both heard the mysterious noise plain
er than v
"Ill tell you what" said he, with
an air Of decision. "I1l just go straight
to papa and tell him about this. II
there's anything wrong he ought to be
told at once. for he's commandant of
the fort, you know"
And away they both few to the old
colonel's quarters as fast as their feet
could carry them.
The commandant, who had quite
enough to think of just then, for he
was in the very midst of an inspection
OF the failing provisions and a calcu-
lation how long they could be made to
last, frowned slightly at the intrusion
OF the children. and was going to or
der them out again. But the instant
he heard Harry's first mention of the
mysterious sound, the colonel's stern,
weather beaten face changed visibly
and looked so grave that Nellie felt
quite convinced that there was really
an underground monster beneath the
fort, which was trying to get out and
eat them all up; and she was more
of it than ever when she heard
the colonel making Harry describe
as exactly as possible the precise spot
where the strange noise had been
heard.
Have you told any one else about |
this, my boy?" asked he, after hear
Ing all that there was to be told.
mo; l thought I had better report
direct to you, as commandant of the
garrison" replied Harry, doing his
best to speak in military fashion.
Quite right" said his father, with
1 grim smile. "Tm very glad you did.
I'll tell you what to do. Take
Nellie with you and go and help your
mother to make bandages for our
wounded men, and mind you, don't
'ay a word about this to her or any
else till | give you leave"
Away went the two children. still
ather puzzled. but feeling sure that
~ OuAO @A SoAAO Ai6At 5OLACnUWg 1
or they both had unbounded conf
lence in Harry's father. whom they
believed to be the greatest
older alive.
1t vas drawing toward evening
Then the colonel came back pale and
and with o broad bandage
cross his forehead, but looking very
Fell satisfied for all that.
you've saved us all. my little SEN
cried he, laying one broad,
hand on Harryss shoulder and
troking Nellie's golden curls with the
Their. These Hindu rascals were
rying to dig a mine under the fort
blow us all up together, but we've
their little game for once, and
don't think they'll have time to try
again"
He was right, for on the very next
ay the enemy broke up their camp
nd retreated, and they had hardly
on one side when the bay
nets of Gen. Roses soldiers came
littering over the crest of a low ridge
the other.-Golden Days.