Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-10-13
CHAPTER XVII.
CHAPTER XVII. THREE days after the arrival of the rescuing force at the plateau | Guy Oscard had organized Il retreatinp marty. commanded by

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 Guy Oscard had organized d
 \ retreating party, commanded by Joseph, to convey Jack Meredith down to the coast. He knew enough of medicine to recognize the fact that this was no passing indisposition, but q thorough breakdown in health. The work and anxiety of the last year. added to the strange disquieting breath of the simlacine grove. had brought about a serious collapse in the system which only months of rest and freedom from care could repair.
 Before the retreating column was ready to march 1t was discovered that the hostile tribes had finally evacuated the country. which deliverance was brought about not by Oscard's blood stained track through the forest, not by the desperate defense of the plateau. but by the whisper that Victor Dur novo was with them. Truly a mans reputation is strange thing!
 And this man. the mighty warrior whose name was as good as an army In central Africa, went down on his knees one night to Guy Oscard. i'm ploring him to abandon the simiacine plateau, or at all events to allow him to go down to Loango with Meredith and Joseph.
 "No." said oscard; Meredith held this place for us when he could have left 1t safely. He has held it for a year. It is cur turn now. We will hold it for him. I am going to stay. and you have to stay with me-"
 For Jack Meredith life was at this time nothing but constant. never ceasing fatigue. When oscard helped him into the rough litter they had con. structed for his comfort, he laid his head On the pillow. overcome with a dead sleep.
 "Goodby. old chap" said Oscard. pat ting him on the shoulder.
 "G'by." and Jack Meredith turned over on his side as if he were fin bed, drew up the blanket and closed his eyes. He dld not seem to know where be was, and. what was worse, he dis not seem to care. 0scard gave the signal to the bearers, and the march began. There Is something fin the spring of human muscles unlike any other motive power: the power of thought may be felt even on the pole of a litter. and one thing that modern h. vention can never equal Is the comfort Of being carried on the human shoulder. The slow. swinging movement came to be part of Jack Meresllth's life-indeed. life itself seemed to be nothing but . huge journey thus peacefully accom- plished- Through the Tapping curtains an endless procession of trees passed before his half closed eyes. The uninteI- Tgible zabhle of the light bearted bear CTS Of his litter was aIl that reached his ears. And ever at his side was Joseph, cheerful. InIefatieabIe. resourcefut There was in his mind one of the great est hsppsnesses of Hfe-the sense ef son,ethirg satisfactorily sccomplished- the reacefulaess that comes when the nece<zity for effort Is past and left b. hiDf-that lying down to rest vhicf must surely be something Ike death ir its kfndest form
 The awe inspired by VictOr Dur n0vos name went before the little car avan Ike a n1rzi coavoy and ciearet their path Thus. Euzrttl by the nans q . nsn vhon he hated Jack Nere