Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-03-20
CHAPTER XIV.
KUN0.

70 .
CHAPTER XIV.
KUNo.
When consciousness returned to me.
which might have been an hour after
or day Il had lost count of time), 1
found myself in complete darkness
and for awhile wondered what had
happened and where was. But the
numbed feeling Of the head which still
buzzed painfully awoke me to reality
Of my position, and with horror real-
lied the fact that was In captivity.
Then little by little the past came back
the run down the river. the landing
on the island, the march and the blow
from behind which had laid me low.
Who could have done this? Where
was now? And Jim-what of hint
Had he. too. fallen into the hands Of
the enemy? Who was tint enemy :?
Had Koon-Si betrayed us? AL these
questions ran like lightning through
my brain. and to each of them my
fears answered darkly. Had Kung, the
omniscient Kung, secured US at last7
Yet It was NIL 30 sudden, this surprise:
the blow. ton. had surely come from
those whom l had looked upon as
friends. And the pagoda- was 1t fancy.
or had l really seen one7
All these doubts had q most Injurious
effect upon my throbbing brain, and
with the intention Of easing the pres
sure round the temples attempted to
lift my hands to my head. To my ex-
treme alarm found was unable to
accomplish this simple movement for
the very good reason that my arms
were securely fastened. This also was
the case with my feet which were
bound SO tightly that I scarcely had
any feeling In them. However, by a
little skillful maneuvering of my
wounded head l quickly realized the
unpleasant fact that 1 was stretched at
full length upon an earthen floor.
After long and vain endeavor to see
I abandoned the attempt as one which
had not the remotest chance Of success.
Then lay listening. listening for some
sound Of step or voice, but nothing
came to break the dreadful stiffness Of
the chamber. No solitary CLEAN Of
light pierced the awful gloom. There
was no more sound than II lay buried
deep down In the earth.
1t seemed to me as though lay for
hours in the acutest agony, for, to add
to the pains in my head, I began to ex-
perience the agonies of thirst. These
mutely endured for some considera-
BILE time. and then began to call for
help. for had an idea that perhaps it
was the intention of my captors to SUBJ
ject me to this horrible form Of death.
However. In response to the cry, I
presently heard the creaking Of door,
and man bearing a lamp entered the
apartment. He came and held it over
me. and, though could but indistinct-
ly see his face. noticed that he was a
half dressed cody.
Water" gasped. "Give me some
thing to drink"
He did not answer, so cannot say IL
he knew English, but without doubt
he understood me, for he Immediately
placed his lamp upon the floor, lifted
me into sitting attitude. my back to
the wall. and held basin of water to
my lips.
I drank deeply, for my throat was
hot and dry. and never until that mo-
ment had known the real pleasure
Of drinking. Thanking the man sim
cerely, asked him where was. but
without replying he took up his lamp,
and heard the hinges of the door
creak as he passed out.
Left alone once more with my
thoughts stared blankly into the
gloom, which now seemed deeper than
ever and gave way to the bitterness Of
defeat.
And as I pictured 1t all in that gloomy
cavern Of room failed to see how
the adventure could have had another
ending. and thought with a curious,
fatalistic resignation Of the manner Of
my death. 1t was farewell Cecil, fare
well Jim, II he, dear fellow, had not
gone before. The society had tri-
ulnphed once again. Well, did not
always know which side was going to
win7 It was only a question of time.
1t might have been an hour after, 1t
might have been two-counting by my
apprehension 1t was a veritable eterni-
ty-but suddenly through the gloom
there came once more the creaking of
hinges, and this time two men entered
the apartment, one of whom bore q
lamp, which, upon approaching, he
held over me. The other, advancing,
stopped and with knife severed the
bonds which held my feet. Then, each
selling me under an arm, I was lifted
bodily to my feet, but 1t was some
time before could use them proper
ly. However, the circulation came
back. slowly at first, then with rush,
and during this process suffered an
exquisite agony. But my guides, hav-
Ing but scant sympathy for such q
trifiing matter, seized me and some
what roughly hurried me from the
chamber. A gloomy passage some IL
or IA PAGES in length was next travers-
ed, and then we all three stopped be-
fore door upon which one Of the men
knocked.
Almost instantly 1t was opened, and
I was ushered into a chamber not less
dreary than the one had just vacated,
albeit that 1t was bright with light. 1
looked about inquiringly, seeing moth
Ing on three sides of the room but the
bare stone walls; a fourth was hung
with heavy black curtains. My guides
swiftly hurried me to the wall facing
the curtains, and almost before
knew what had happened felt steel
band snap around my throat. jerked
my head quickly, but the sharp teeth
OF the collar Immediately cut into the
flesh. I heard the short chain to which
1t was attached rattle, and realizing
the awful situation stood stock still.
Then the men retired, extinguishing
the lights, and l was left once more to
darkness and my own darker thoughts.
For time stood afraid to move, but
growing accustomed to the situation, l
DIM levi ,nv