Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1903-09-26
Restored
90 Life.

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Charles Norton was gay heart
ed, handsome, generous fellow and
a favorite with the whole corps from
the bluff old commandant to Nicer
Ali, the Hindoo servant, though in
truth he was apt in the exuberant
hilarity of youth to commit actions
serious to himself and liable to com
promise the credit of our regiment,
which was at the time stationed in
India.
Complaints were constantly be-
ing brought in against him by the
inhabitants of the towns around.
Now the house of surly Mussul-
man had been forcibly entered, now
sacred pigeon had been shot at
while roosting on the very pinnacle
Of pagoda, while once upon a time
he was likely to have Jared still
worse for having dared to pursue
one of the dancing girls belonging
to the temple into the very pre-
cincts Of that prohibited edifce.
He was passionately fond Of field
sports, and often his fowling piece
led him into scenes that at times
were anything but agreeable.
On one occasion, allured by the
news of much game, we obtained a
months leave of absence, intending
to roam the jungles until time was
up and duty again called us. At
tended by three servants and Sc
poy, we commenced our knight er-
rantry.
After a glorious weeks sport we
found ourselves nearly used up and
decided to rest a week at a town
with jawbreaking name.
Our sepoy was fine, intelligent
fellow, and by him we we're informed
that he had made friends with an
old man whose only child, young
and lovely girl, had lately been
dragged from their cottage during
his temporary absence, the only per-
son that was with her at the time
being a decrepit old woman, their
servant.
That plumber was not the object
sought was evident, for nothing was
touched in the house or garden, and
the old woman, who had tainted in
her terror, could only recollect that
among the party who tore the poor
girl from her arms was one in the
garb of Hindoo mendicant.
Interested in Ali's recital, at my
desire he introduced me to his new
acquaintance. He was a fine, ven
cradle old man on the verge of
eighty, and in answer to our in
quiries declared that he was con-
WINGED his daughter had been carried
off by the Goahds for their annual
human sacrifice.
''But can nothing be done to save
her :" we both exclaimed. But the
only answer was that in three days,
at the new moon, the sacrifice would
be made.
"Nay," returned Charles. "Lead
me to the spot, or the one you sus-
pect, provide US and our attendants
with such DISCUSSES as you deem
most likely to favor such an enter
prise and let me try what can be
DONE"
Disguised as native soldiers, we
commenced our search, and it, was
not long before we had discovered
the principal pagoda of the place,
situated in a thick grove.
We felt assured that the interior
of this temple was the place allot-
ted for the sacrifices, nor was it
with difficulty we learned, by min
Cling with the crowds that attend
ed fair in the town, that a grand
festival was to be solemnized at mid
night.
While crawling carefully around
the building accommodating, a large
snake issued from heap Of stone,
passed rapidly toward the temple
and entered a crevice in the wall
and glided away out Of sight.
Charles seized stick and imme-
diately commenced pursuit, until
when he strove to dislodge the rep
tile by thrusting his weapon into
the aperture the stick struck some
thing that emitted a metallic sound,
and on approaching to examine it
he found it was a small door i'm
bedded in the stonework of the
wall.
Digging away the mortar and rub 1
Dish that almost concealed it from
sight until he was able to drag it
open and gain admittance to small
cell, then returning, he related to