Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1902-03-26
PART w.


PART w.
Two months had elapsed since the
mysterious traveller from China had
left the lonely frontier station of
Nampoung. In outward appearance
il 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. hay
ing finished their period of enforced
exile, had returned to Bhamo to ioin
the main body of their regiment A
Capt. llandiman and subaltern
named Grantham had taken their
places, and were initiating them in
asmuch as they spent the greater Dor-
ton of their time fishing and com
planning of the hardness Of their
lot. 1t was the more unfortunate i'm
their case that they did not get on
very well together The fact OF the
matter was uandiman 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 a 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
was as close IS a dollhouse. and the
perspiration ran down his face in
streams.
What an ass / was to come QUIT"
he said angrily to himse elf This heat
is unbearable."
At that moment a hing noise
reached him from behind Turning to
discover what occasioned it, he was
just in time 20 see large boar cross
the clearing and disappear into the
bamboos on the further side. Taking
his rifle from the little Shan ne 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 a dried up null
lah, and followed it along, listening as
they went to the progress the boar
was making among the bamboos 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 20 feed. This wa Grantham', Oh
portunity, and, sighting his rife. he
fired. The beast dropped like a stone.
well hit, jus behind the shoulder. The
report, however, had scarcely died
away before the little Shan held up his
hand 20 attract Grantha ms 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 II
was the English word help. and. who
ever the man might be who called. Il
was plain that he was i'm sore straits.
What the deuce does il mean o" said
GTantham, half TO himself ard half to
the man beside him. "Somc poor devil
got lost in the Jungle, / suppose? I'D
go and have a look"
Having climbed the bank Of the null
lah. 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. TIE appear
ance Hayle had presented when he had
turned mp a the Ford two months be-
fore was nothing compared with that
Of this individual lie was small
man, not more than five fcct i'm height.
His clothes were in rags. a grizzly
beard grew I'm patches upon his cheeks
and chin, while his nair reached nearly
10 his shoulders. His face was piuched
until il looked more like that OF q
skeleton than a man. Grantham stood
and stared az him. scarcely able 10 be-
lieve his eyes
Good Heavens" he said 90 himself.
what a figure! ] 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 hts finger on his
lips, and turning, pointed in The direc-
tion he had come.
Either he doesn't understand, or
he's dumb" said Grantham. "But its
quite certain that he wants me to fol-
low him somewhere"