Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1901-06-28
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CONTINUAL
CHAPTER XVI:
KING.

which might have been an hour after
or q day Il had lost count Of time),
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, anc wit! horror'l real
lied the fact that l 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 l now? And Jim-what of him
Had he, too. fallen into the hands Of
the enemy? Who was that enemy
Had Koon-Si betrayed us? All 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 last?
Yet it was all so sudden, this SURPRISE;
the blow, too, had surely come from
those whom | had looked upon as
friends. And the pagoda--was it fancy,
or udu l iodllJ Seeu Oue!
All these doubts had 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-
IRENE alarm l 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 that1 scarcely had
any feeling in them. However, by
little skillful maneuyering Of my
wounded head I quickly realized the
unpleasant fact that was stretched at
full length upon an earthen floor.
After a long and vain entleayor 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 if lay buried
deep down in the earth.
1t seemed to me as though l lay for
hours in the acutest agony, for, to add
to the pains in my head, began to ex-
perience the agonies Of thirst. These
mutely endured for some considera-
BILE time, and then l began to call for
help, for had an idea that perhaps it
was the intention Of my captors to sub
ject me to this horrible form of DEATH
However, In response to the cry,
prese11by heard the creaking of door,
and man t1naring lamp entered the
apartment He came and held it. over
me. and, though could but indistinct-
~ see his face, l noticed that he was q
half dressed cody.
water" gasped. "5ive me some
thing to drink" -:
He did not answer, SO cannot say if
he knew English, but without a doubt
he understood me, for he Immediately
:. placed his lamp upon the floor: lifted
me into a sitting attitude, my back to
the wall. and held basin of water to
my lips.
So, Il drank deeply, for my throat was
hot and dry, and never until that mo-
ment had. l known the real pleasure
Of drinking. Thanking the man SIN
cerely, l asked him where was, but
without replying he took up his lamp,
and I heard the hinges of the door
creak as he passed out
Left alone once more j, with my
thoughts stared blankly into the
gloom, which now seemed deeper than
ever and gave way to the bitterness OF
defeat.
And as l pictured it all in that gloomy
cavern of room l 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, If he, dear fellow, had not
gone before. The society had tri-
umphed once again. Well, did I not
always know which side was going to
win? 1t was only question of time.
1t might have been an hour after, 1t
might have been two-counting by my
apprehension it was veritable eterni.
ty-bst suddenly through the gloom
there came once more the cracking 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, was lifted
bodily to my feet, but it was some
time hefofe l,could use them proper
y. However, the circulation :: came
back, slowly at first, then with a rush
and during this process l suffered an
exauistte agony. But my guides, hav.
ing but scant sympathy for such. q
t1fffngl matter; seized me and some
what noughfy hurried me from the
chamber, A gloomy passage some Il
Or "A PAGES h length was next travers
Cd, and then we all thee stopped be
.1o1e . door upon which one Of the mer
Knocked. - -. . .::s:s.;. II.
a:{Afmes daa1ttiy i: i vas lsi opened, and
i; vas q19leped into : chamber not Less
y 1lseary I'm the one had just vaeaGsd
abet th4 was bright with light. q
l14a st0 qadttaxly; ang moth