The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-09-21
!. ON THE RIVER !.

BY a. ME RNER


another blanket, and disposed it over
the patient, whose shiverings now
shook the bamboo framework of the
bed.
It was cold. Alden had
never been cold like this and
blankets made not the slightest differ
ence. His brain was strug-
Cling with some confused idea about
Der bottle. There was one tho
doctor left behind when the mission
steamer was here six months ago g
he said it was no good, because there
was something wrong with the screw
1t might be some use after ali
If only one knew where to find it..
g. If only-but when he tried to
speak his tongue seemed made of lead.
Alfonso tried sympathetically to un-
derstand. At last; catching with diff
Guilty a few imperfectly uttered words,
he appealed to Valero, whose bare feet
had stolen up noiselessly through the
loose sand to the bedside. The small
brown ckin went UP in swift gesture
Of comprehension, and the next mo-
ment he was climbing among the
stacks Of bales which filled the
greater part Of the hut we used to
know as the eompany's store at Pinda,
and produced the desired article from
nook among the rafters. And then
Alden lay doing his best to shake the
house down, while the two experiment
ed with this continuance and the kettle
till latter sealding their toes a few
tiEles) they managed to fill it, and then
attempted to caulk the defective stop
per with palm fibre and strips of Calico
1t leaked after a time, but that was
detail, and, at least, 1t was hot. It so
far revived Alden that he was able<to
collect his wits and speak little more
distinctly, and he sent Valero for the
medicine chest, and gave Alfonso di-
rectionS for measuring out dose of
quinine. Luckily there was plenty of
the beastly stuff left.
The effect was disastrous Didn't
know it was in nature for fellow to
be as sick as that.
! CacharO, murmured Alfonso COM
passionately-and VaIero flew for the
brandy bottle. 1t was not left out. as a
rule-Alden having sort of conscience
about such things-but he had taken a
dose, when out of sorts, the previous
evening, and forgotten to lock it UP
again. 1t gave relief, and, feeling a.
little better, he began to think what
could be done.
- There was no way OF sending word
to the only places it was any use to
send to--Chiromo, or Chinde. A man
in a. canoe might reach Jones, at Ma
sanga, in two days. it was true-but
what could Jones do? He was alone
and could not leave his post, and was
unlikely TO be any better off for stores
than Alden himself; and the same was
PROBABLY the case with the Portuguese
official at Merarlbo, even if there had
mot been a slight GOODNESS between
Alden and him over those two boats
crews whom the empregado had sud-
s denly seized on. on some plea of labor
due for taxes. in the midst of a job
they were doing for f1den. No. he
must worry through by himself, some
how. And if, as might very probably
happen, he went off his head, he would
just have to leave things to Alfonso.
SO he insisted on sitting np-to Alton
SOS great distress. who assured him that
he was just beginning to perspire, and
wrapped him in everything he could
lay hands or-and explaining about the
trade goods. and the ivory. and the
cash box. and where the books were to
be found, in case (Which was very un-
likely the steamer should arrive while
he, Alden, was incapable cf answering