The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1902-06-07

Two hours have passed. and he is at
the edge Of the jungle. He sets spurs
to- his horse and Is about to make his
dash for life and liberty when his heart
sinks within him. a sob of despair es-
capes his lips even as hundred or
more stalwart Dacoits, armed to the
teeth AID vengeful with the lust for
tlcod, spring out from the brambles
and bar his passage.
For moment all seems lost On
every hand he sees an enemy. What
can he do against such odds? Death
stares him in the face, but he will at
least make one desperate effort to be
free-for his own life and the lives of
those on whose behalf he has set out
He digs his spurs frantlcally into his
horses tanks, and the noble creature,
with shrill neigh, springs forward.
The soldier draws his sword and with
yell bears down upon his enemies.
Black demoniacal faces surround him,
and he hacks and hews his way along
A dozen spears are at his breast he
feels himself wounded, his sword is
torn from his grasp, bullets whistle
around his devoted head and, bleeding,
gasping and fainting, he Is dragged
from his horse by the yelling Dacoits
and secured.
He must have tainted, for when he
comes to the first streaks Of dawn have
appeared over the eastern horizon. He
is bound and helpless, while the
wounds which he has received give him
mortal agony.
Listen! He hears weird, strange mu-
sic in the air 1t is the nominations of
the Burmese. Well he knows what
those sounds mean. and his heart sinks
within him. for he realizes that the Da-
colts are going through their rites pre-
paratory to killing him. perhaps after
dreadful torture. He writhes at his
bond. for to die thus is terrible to
think Of
He is lying ON the ground in the
shadow of a hilock. and suddenly ht
hears a familiar noise. 1t is the whinny
of his horse, and, looking around, he
perceives his faithful steed tethered @
few PAGES away. Down by the e0gt
of the jungle he can see the assembled
|
Dacoits.
If he could only get rid of the bonds
which hold him so securely and will
his horse so near, he might escape. HI
struggles desperately, and, 10, he finds
the bonds loosening. Hope battles
with despair, and hope gains the mas
terry, for one by one the ropes are un
DONE He can get his arms free; he i,
rapidly untying the rest Of the cords
when hope gives way to despair, for h
sees the Dacoits are approaching him
evidently to lead him to the sacrifice.
One last superhuman effort and b.
springs up, unbound. With shout o
rage the Dacoits make for him, bu
with wings lent to his feet by the DIES
peration of his situation the gallan
soldier dashes to his horse. The Da
colts are almost upon him as he III
tethers the animal. He makes sprin
: for his saddle even as the horse, terro
stricken at the yells of its pursuer'
= bounds away.
But Lieutenant Wood has missed tn
: saddle. His foot has gone through til
stirrup, and, clutching the pommel {
: the saddle, he hangs by foot and han'
! unable in his weakened condition
{ raise himself to the horses back.
!. Bullets and arrows sing and whist
about the devoted horse and its he'll
u less burden. But, strange to say, l
- messenger of death stays their course
But the soldiers situation Is de
= perate one. How long can he hang {
}! to the pommel of the saddle? If h
u grip is relaxed, he will be draggt
along head down, by the now madde
s,