Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-02-27
PART Nv

PART w.
Two months had elapsed since the
mysterious traveller from China had
left the lonely frontier station of
Nampoung. In outward appearance
1T 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 ioin
the main body of their regiment. A
Capt. Handiman and a subaltern
named Grantham had taken their
places and were imita ting 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 we'll 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.
One hot afternoon Grantham, who
was keen sportsman, took his gun.
and, accompanied by 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
a. nln
perspiration ran down his face in
streams.
What an ass was to come out!"
he said angrily to himself. This heat
is unbearable."
At that moment 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 off
in pursuit. 1t was no easy task, for the
jungle in that neighborhood was so
dense that it was well-nigh impossible
to make ones way through it, At last,
however, they hit upon dried up null
lab. and followed it along, listening as
they went to the progress the boar
was making among the ibamboos on
their right. Presently they sighted
him, crossing an open space couple
OF hundred yards or so ahead of them
On the further side he stopped and be-
gan to feed. This was Granthams OPP
portunity, and, sighting his rifle, he
fired. The beast dropped like a stone,
well hit, just behind the shoulder. The
report, however, had scarcely died
away before the little Shan held up his
hand to attract Grantha m S shoulder.
What is it?" the other inquired.
Before the man had time to reply
his quick ear caught the sound of
faint call from the jungle on the other
side of the nullah. Without doubt it
was the English word help, and, who
ever the man might be who called, it
was plain that he was in sore straits.
What the deuce does it mp" said
Grantham, half to himself and half to
the man beside him. 'Some poor devil
got lost in the jungle, 1 suppose? I'll
go and have look
1 Having climbed the bank of the null
1ah, he was about to proceed in the
direction whence the cry had come,
when he became aware of the most ex-
traordinary figure he had ever seen in
his life approaching him. The appear
ance Hayle had presented when he had
turned up at the Ford two months be-
fore was nothing compared with that
of this individual. He was a small
man, not more than five feet in height.
His clothes were in rags, a grizzly
beard grew in patches upon his cheeks
and chin, while his hair reached nearly
to his shoulders. His face was pinched
until it looked more like that of
skeleton than a man. Grantham stood
and stared at him, scarcely able to be-
lieve his eyes.
Good Heavens" he said to himself,
"what figure! I wonder where the
beggar halls from?" Then addressing
the man, he continued: "Are you an
Englishman, or what are you?"
The man before him, however, did
not reply. He placed his finger on his
lips, and turning, pointed in the direc-
ton he had come.
Liluer he uoeSu unucfSldnu, or
he's dumb" said Grantham. But it's
quite certain that he wants me to fol-
low him somewhere
Turning to the man again, he signed
TO him to proceed, whereupon the lit
tie fellow hobbled painfully away from
the nullah in the direction whence he
had appeared. On and on he went IN
til he at length came to a standstill at
the foot of a hill, where little stream
came splashing down in miniature
cascade from the rocks above. Then
Grantham realized the meaning of the
little mans action. Stretched out be-
aide rock was the tall figure of man.