The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-09-30

III SkI ing trip on one side OF
smooth stone. Ned offered
occa sional suggestions and asked In
Vulnerable questions. all OF which Hi
EMO truthfully answered, while l
looked on In silence.
"But see here. old man." said my
fellow tourist, abruptly isn't this the
place where the forty thieves are sup
posed to hang out|'
Our guide shrugged his shoulders,
and in broken English suggested that
IL we were afraid to venture on the
trip we could stay at Alexandria and
he quite out of reach OF the robbers.
But we are not afraid" interposed;
1--WE only want to be prepared for the
robbers in case they put In an appear
ance."
mo robbers-no need prepare" Ri
EMO said, earnestly. II been there be-
fore, many a time"
This popular American phrase
brought smile to Ned's lips, as he
closed the contract.
Ned and I were visiting my uncle,
who was then the United States Con.
sui at Cairo. We had planned hunt
ing trip up the Kazaan River long be-
fore we met Rlenz0; but Uncle Dick
would not let us 30 alone, and It was
only after much persuasion that lie
consented to a journey under the su
pervision Of the dark-skinned native.
There had been numerous stories
floating about OF band OF robbers
supposed to exist in that locality; but
this, instead Of deterring us, only made
us both-Ned particularly-more anx
ious TO go.
1t was very early the next morning
when RienZo called US So early, in
fact, that Ned refused to get up for
some time, and was almost forced to
pull him out Of bed.
But we got started finally, and when
we halted, late in the afternoon, Ned
and | took n run OF several hundred
yards to stretch our stiffened legs,
and when we returned RienZo had
made all the preparations for spending
q night in camp.
Throughout the evening we tramped
along the river in search of game, but
with Indifferent success, and IL was
not until the next morning that our
hopes in that line were realized.
Rienzo and were kneellng together
behind clump of bushes about mid
day, a pile of game lying at our feet,
Ned was some distance from me, but
l could hear him banging away when
ever the sky was darkened by a flock
of ducks.
l had just finished reloading my
shotgun, and was about TO take aim
at single bird sitting on the sand
some distance away, when Rienzo help
up warning finger
mo shoot" he whispered. "Lay
down-qulck
l dropped to the ground, wondering
what his sudden action meant.
Keep still fetch boy" he went on,
In low tone Of voice, and the next
instant he had walked quietly away.
l lay on the ground several moments
before he returned, bringing Ned with
him. They had evidently held con-
sultation, for. as soon as they reached
me, Ned whispered:
"Renzy says we are in for it now. old
man. That story about the robbers is
only too true"
What do you mean?" asked eager
ly. Have you seen"
"Hush"' interrupted Ned, in guard
ed voice. Don't speak so loud. Renzy
says he knows they are around here
somewhere, probably attracted by our
shooting"
We crawled on our hands and knees
for several hundred yards, and then |
became disgusted with our guides
plan of action, and halted abruptly.
"Camels gone" he groaned. 1--WE no
goodr'
II guess you're right" agreed Ned,
sitting down. Those thieves have
taken our beasts, and for my part, I'm
glad of it. Let's stay here and shoot
them as they come up"
mo care" said Rienzo. "They shoot
ioo-many more"
Then what are we to do?" | asked
anxiously. Those fellows will be here
In little while. Can't we hide some
@herew
This suggestion seemed to bring an
idea into the brilliant intellect of our
guide, and he at once set forth a plan
which we strenuously objected TO at
first, but were finally forced to adopt.
1t was simply n scheme TO bury us
alive 10 hide us from the robbers. and
we set about at once to put 1t in
operation.
For fully an hour we dug in the soft
sand, and then. everything being ready
Ned and | stretched ourselves out IN
the excavation, and permitted Rienz,
10 shovel the earth upon the lowe
part OF our bodies with the stocks o
our rifles.
This done, he disappeared for som
minutes. and then returned with tw
peculiarly shaped gourds. which h
had evidently picked up in the woods
With a skill that excited my admirs
tlon, he cut away piece from tn
narrow neck OF the vegetable an
then another from its large. roun,
hollow BODY. This done. he fitted u