The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-05-27

which he was saying good-by.
"a quarter of million if a half
penny" he said, "and as soon as they
are sold and the money is in my
hands, the leaf shall be turned, ani
my life for the future shall be al
respecta ability
PART w.
Two months had elapsed since the
mysterious traveller from China had
left the lonely frontier station OF
Nampoung. In outward appearance
it was very much the same as it had
been then. The only difference con.
sisted in the fact that Capt. Greg.
DRY and his subaltern Dempsey, hav-
ing finished their period of enforced
exile, had returned to Bhamo to Join
the main body of their regiment. A
Capt. Handiman and a subaltern
named Grantham had taken their
places, and were initiating them in
asmuch as they spent the greater por-
ton of their time fishing and com
planning of the hardness of their
lot. 1t was the more unfortunate in
their case that they did not get on
very well together. The fact of the
matter was Handiman was built on
very different lines to Gregory, his
predecessor; he gave himself airs, and
was fond of asserting his authority.
In consequence the solitary life at
the ford sat heavily upon both men.
Ona hot afternoon Grantham, who
was keen sportsman, took his gun,
and, acc ompanied by a wiry little
Shan servant, departed into the jun
gle on shikar thoughts intent. He
was less successful than usual; indeed,
he had proceeded fully three miles be-
fore he saw anything worth empty
ing his gun at. In the jungle the air
was as close as a dollhouse, and the
perspiration ran down his face in
streams.
"What an ass I was to come out!"
he said angrily to himself. "This heat
is unbearable.
At that moment a crashing noise
reached him from behind. Turning to
discover what occasioned it, he was
just in time to see large boar cross
the clearing and disappear into the
bamboos on the further side. Taking
his rifle from the little Shan he set of
in pursuit. 1t was no easy task, for the
jungle in that neighborhood was sc
dense that it was well-nigh impossible
to make ones way through it. At last
however, they hit upon dried up null
lah, and followed it along, listening a.
they went to the progress the boa1
was making among the bamboos OF
their right. Presently they sighted
him, crossing an open space coupl,
of hundred yards or so ahead of them
On the further side he stopped and be
gan to feed. This was Grantham's op
portunity, and, sighting his rifle, h,
fired. The beast dropped like stone
we'll hit, just behind the shoulder. Tn,
report, however, had scarcely diet
away before the little Shan held up hi
hand to attract Grantham's shoulder.
What is it?" the other inquired.
Before the man had time to repl,
his quick ear caught the sound of
faint call from the jungle on the othe
side of the nullah. Without doubt i
was the English word help, and, who
ever the man might be who called, i
was plain tina! he was in sore straits.
What the deuce does it mean?" sait
Grantham, half to himself and half t,
the man beside him. "Some poor devi
got lost in the jungle, ! suppose? II
go and have a look"
Having climbed the bank of the nui
lab, he was about to proceed in tn
direction whence the cry had come
when he became aware of the most ex
traordinary figure he had ever seen i,
his life approaching him. The appear
ance Hayle had presented when he ha,
turned up at the Ford two months be
fore was nothing compared with tina
of this individual. He was small
man, not more than five feet in height
His clothes were in rags a grizzl
beard grew in patches upon his cheek
| and chin, while his hair reached nearl,
to his shoulders. His face was pinche,
until it looked more like that of
skeleton than man. Grantham stoo
and stared at him, scarcely able to be
lieve his eyes.
Good Heavens" he said to himself
"what figure! I wonder where tn
beggar halls from?" Then addressin,
the man, he continued: care you al
Englishman, or what are your"
The man before him, however, di,
not reply. He placed his finger on hi
lips, and turning, pointed in the direc
ton he had come.
Either he doesn't understand, O.
he's dumb" said Grantham. "But it,
quite certain that he wants me to fol
! low him somewhere"