Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-12-26
CHAPTER XVII.

q 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
thorough breakdown in health. The
work and anxiety of the last year,
added to the strange disquieting
breath Of the simiacine grove, had
brought about serious collapse in the
system which only months of rest and
freedom from care could repair.
Before the rerreating 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 n 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 DISCARD. 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 1t for n
year. 1t Is our turn now. We will
hold 1t for him. l am going to stay,
and you have to stay with me-"
| Too1
time nothing but a 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 n
dead sleep.
"Goodby, old chap" said DISCARD, pat.
ting him on the shoulder
"G'by," and Jack Meredith turned
over on his side as If he were in bed,
drew up the blanket and closed his
eyes. He did not seem to know where
he was, and, what was worse, he did
not seem to care. Oscard gave the
signal to the bearers, and the march
began. There is something in the
spring of human muscles unlike any
AAoSiNS poNVi, lboNSl VI
thought may be felt even on the pole of
a litter, and one thing that modern In
vention can never equal is the comfort
Of being carried on the human shoulder.
The slow, swinging movement came to
be part Of Jack Meredith's life-indeed,
life itself seemed to be nothing but a
huge Journey thus peacefully accom-
plished. Through the tapping curtains
an endless procession of trees passed
before his half closed eyes. The unintel-
ligible gable of the light hearted bear
ers of his litter was all that reached his
ears. And ever at his side was Joseph
cheerful, interchangeable, resourceful.
There was in his mind one Of the great
est happinesses Of life-the sense Of
something satisfactorily accomplished
the peacefulness that comes when the
necessity for effort is past and left be
hind-that lying down to rest which
must surely be something like death in
Its lsindest form.
The awe. inspired by Victor Dur
novo's name went before the little car
avan like moral convoy and cleared
their path. Thus, guarded by the name
of a man whom he hated, Jack Mere.
dith was enabled to pass through a
savage country literally cast upon a
bed Of sickness.
In due course the river was reached
and the gentle swing of the litter was
changed for the smoother motion Of
the canoe. And 1t was at this period of
the journey, in the forced restfulness
of body entailed, that Joseph's mind
scared to higher things and he deter.
mined to write letter to Sir John.
He was, he admitted to himself no
great penman, and his epistolary style
tended, perhaps, more to the forcible
than to the finished.
"Somethin'," he reflected, "that'll
just curl his back hair for i'm; that's
what I'll write 'im."
Msala had been devastated, and It
was within the rootiess walls of Dur
novo's house that Joseph finally wrote
out laboriously the projected capillary
invigorator.
Honored Sir The wrote] = Trusting you
Will excuse the liberty, l take Up my pen
to advise you respectfully-while writing
this word Joseph closed his left eye-that
my master Is taken seriously worse. Hav-
| Ing been on the sick list now for matter
of five weeks, he just lies on his bed as
weak as newborn babe, as the saying
| is, and doesn't take no notice of nothing.
have succeeded in bringing him down to
| the coast, which we hope to reach tomor-
| row, and when we get to Loango-a poor
sort of place-I shall at once obtain the
best advice obtainable-that is to be had
Il vlnt,- 4
| money being no object to either master
or me. respectfully i beg to say that every
| care will be took. Master having kind
| friends at Loango, have no anxiety us
to the future, but. honored sir. 1t has
| been near touch In the past-tust touch
and go, SO to spedk. Not being In posi-
| tlon TO form estimate of what Is the
matter with master. l can only respect
| fully mention that take it to be Il gem
| eral kerlapse of the system, brought OIL,
no doubt. by too long a-living In the un-
healthy platters of central Africa. When
l gets him to Loango | shall go straight
| 10 the house Of Mr.. and Miss Gordon
where we stayed before. and with no fear
but what we Will be received with every
| Kindness and the greatest hospitality
Thank God, honored sir. I've kept my
| health and strength wonderful and am
therefore more able to look after master.
| When we reach Loango l shall ask Miss
Gordon kindly to write to you, sir. seeing
as l have no great facility with my pen.
am, honored sir your respectful servant
| to command,
| JOSEPH ATKINSON,
| Late Corporal Two Hundred and Seven
tenth Regiment
With feeling Of considerable salts.
faction Joseph approached the bunga-
low at Loango three days later. The
short sea voyage had somewhat re-
vlred Meredith, who had been DESTROYS
OF walking up from the beach, but
after n short attempt had been com.
PEELED to enter the spring cart which
Joseph had secured.
Joseph walked by the side. of this cart
with an erect carriage and suppressed
Importance suggestive of ambulance
duty in the old days.
AS the somewhat melancholy cortege
approached the house, Meredith drew
back the dusliy brown holland curtain
and looked anXiously out Nor were
joseph's eyes devoid of expectation.
He thought that Jocelyn would pres.
entity emerge from the flower hung
I fn.,I L..