The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1906-05-11
CHAPTER XVII.
A Man 0f Nerve.

TAIN, man was 6IanulnG. FROM LIS
splendid point OF vantage he could look
far to the east west, north and south.
He calmly raised pair of field-glasses
to his eyes and scanned, with seeming
indifference, the horizon on all sides
OF him.
Not far distant a man, clad In leath-
ern jacket and great boots, knelt on
the ground piling up some fagots Of
dried wood he had collected, and un-
der them he placed handful or two
of long, dry grass. Then, taking
matchbox from the pocket of his
leathern Jacket, he proceeded, solemn
~ and with an air OF performing a
most important duty, to light fire.
Close by his side lay the carcass of a
deer. and not far away, tethered to a
short. thick tree. were two horses.
The man with the field-glasses. hav-
Ing finished his survey of his vast sur
r0undings. calmly let them fall to the
length Of the strap that passed over
his stalwart shoulder, and taking a
leathern pouch from his pocket. pro-
ceeded to extract enough tobacco
therefrom to fill a short black pipe
which he also drew forth from the
same convenient pocket.
William, a match" he said, turning
toward his companion and standing
with Outstretched hand.
Yes. yes, me lord" was the reply,
and William leaped to his feet. whipped
out his MATCHBOX again, and proceed
ed to light his masters pipe.
Did you see hanythink hof them,
me lord?" he asked, returning to his
task Of cutting roast from the car
cass of the deer.
The man addressed, who was no
other than the renowned sportsman
and glObe-trotter, Lord Chugmough, Of
Chugmough Heath, puffed at his pipe
moment, SO that the light obtained
from William might be made to hold.
mo, William" he replied at last,
speaking with the inimitable drawl
that had made him famous in London,
New York, Algiers, Australia, Africa,
and every other spot on the footstool
where wealthy. eccentric and adven-
turOus Englishman is likely to be
found. mo, william, do not see
them" Then, eying critically the culi-
nary performances OF William, Lord
Chugmough leaned against stumpy
tree and puffed contentedly on his pipe.
William" he drawled again, do
you know, fear they may be lost?"
William, who was by that time turn
ing the savory hunk Of venison over
the flre, nearly lost 1t. but by an effort
Of his will retained his composure,
which at all times he endeavored to
make equal to that of his world-re-
nOwned master.
Every well, me lord" he said.
The fact was that Lord Chugmough
and William were lost themselves.
Now. Lord Chugmough had hunted
elephants In India. gorillas In Africa.
and had been, In his turn, hunted by
the mammas OF marriageable young
ladies In England until his tranquil
soul rebelled. and hearing that the un-
tried forests south Of the Orinoco
teemed and swarmed with animal life.
and were. In fact. veritable paradise
TOR sportsmen, he had forthwith set
eail In HE yacht, Cheerway. with as
gAy and adventurous . party as he
could collect
The Cheerway had put In at La
Guayra: Lord Chugmough and his
party had visited Caracas, and endeav-
Ored to obtain there guide to the
southern forests, and failed for much
Che same reason that Z sportsman
wishing to hunt the few remaining
bison on the American prairie would
fail to hnd suitable guide in Wash
ington or New York.
SO tho Cheerway Get sail again. Lord
Chugmough having satisfied the gov
ernment that ~ was not engaged in
1libustering. M after a pleasant sail,
ascended th&O Orinoco to Bolivar,
whore the party landed. obtained
guides and horses, and started for the
mOuutairs and forests far to the south.
But before they reached the noun
tains they enjoyed some sport. and it
was not many miles from the Castle
of Salvarex that the party had espied
= deer, and Lord Chugmough. In fol-
lowing Il. had become separated from
his party; but. needless OF that fact, he
kept on. covering mile after mile, fol-
l0Wer ~ william. until his compan-
ions we're no longer to be seen.
The deer Was ct last killed, but SO
far had Lord Chugmough travelled and
- many ways had the deer turned that
IArd Chngmough had not the least
idea In which direction he ought to
"a 70 nnd his friends.
Therefore. having 1rst gained pos
session OF the dead deer. he went up
~ the summit OF hill Of which he
had come within short distance. to
survey the country, and learn, ii pos
ssfhle. where the remainder OF his party
WAS: but not sign OF them could he
-
Thus II may well be understood how
dihlcult e was TOR William to restrain
his mtrth when his master uttered his
solenn announcement that he feared
M companions. with their guides,
were lost
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