The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1909-11-27
Prince in Papua
By C. ROSS JOHNSON
(Copyright, by Short Stories Co.. Ltd

There was sudden commotion in
the camp and the two men ran out.
The governors valet rushed up. "The
prince!" he gasped. Have you seen
him? He is lost-the prince!" and he
vanished into the dusk like one pos
sessed.
1t was strange that the principal fig
ure should get lost without anyone
noticing it, but being in a bad temper
no one had felt particularly anxious
to go near him and each concluded
that he was with the other
His excellency hurried along the
path. 1t was a trying moment for
him and his prophetic eye saw inter-
nationoal trouble in the near future.
Follow me-" he said. He had al
ready sent the natives out in different
directions and the camp was resound
ing with the crack of rifle and gun to
the unspeakable delight of small ma
tive boys. They wandered through
the bush for nearly an hour. Then
suddenly they found him.
There was a glimmer ahead from
hut in small clearing. "Alec's place"
said the governor. "He might know
something
They pushed open the door and en-
tered There was a f1aring lamp in
the dirty room. In one corner, gazing
blankly at figure at the rickety
| table, stood Alec-a negro from the
Muritius. Over his shoulder peered
his Papuan wife and Jimmy Japan,
] while Mac. half-caste, stood on one
bare foot and thoughtfully scratched
his woolly poll. Seated on the table,
| dismally sucking two feet of sugar
cane and glazing at his hosts, was the
prince. His shirt was in rags and
his fAce was scratched and dirty, while
two little pigs rubbed themselves
grunting against his spurs
I'VE thought your serene high
| ness
| would like something to eat"
| snapped the other.
| Twenty minutes later a very dishev-
eled and exhausted heir-apparent was
| helped into camp. He had gone
through enough to tire man-not to
mention prince.
Dinner was over and the prince
seemed recovering On the bank of
the river O'Brien was in earnest con-
versation with the native corporal
This place." said OBrien to the
Count Bierundonner, who strolled up,
this place is the very devil for ALI
gators"
''Du lieber Gott!" calculated the lat
ter piously
Yes; but you are all right in your
hammock, you know. It's worse for
me on the ground. It's only few
yards from the river, you see, and
they might sneak up and nip me-"
What do you propose doing?"
asked the count. much moved
Il shall put a barricade round my
bed; then they can only fool round
outside and smell at me, but won't be
able to get in
Dear Cod thought the count
"The monsters might climb this barri.
cade and nip me-" He seemed de-
pressed, but, recollecting that he was
a soldier. comported himself bravely
Tired out, every one turned in early
The count watched with fascinated
interest Mr.. O'Brien's preparations for
the night. This gentleman had col
lected everything he could lay his
hands on and built them like wall
round where he lay, under the counts
hammock-boxes, swags, biscuit tins
and buckets. The count examined il
critically and with knowledge oil
strategy and the art of war
Look he said; Il will move a
little. this box-so."
Thanks very much, old man." re
, piled Mr.. O'Brien from inside. "Is Il
better now?"
, YES" said the count, "yes-muct
, better--for me-" he muttered, as hi
crawlad into his hammock. 1.-THE
, brutes might have come upstairs as i
was" and he sank into sweet sleep
Downstairs" O'Brien moved rest
, lessly on his rugs. He was stiff afte
the unaccustomed ride, and the be-
. | was hard. He dreamed that tn,
prince was lost and that he was be
ing led off to instant decapitation. HI
dozed off again and dreamed that tn,
= alligatOrs were crawling up and sit
ting on his chest (tinned lobster). H
| aWoke with a start and yell. Their
= was a crash-then something got hin
u firmly by the arm. With convulsiv
shrek he brought both legs togethe
and put all his soul into one last kicl
There was an answering shrek fror
above as the Count Won Bierundonnel
y receiving the full force of the kick i
the small of his back, was hurle
bodily out of his hammock and lande
a grooming some yards outside the ten
l. The whole camp turned out in COZ
p fusion.
IS whats the matter?" queried Da
las, the private secretary, hurrying L
r. with a lantern.
1t "An alligator" gasped O'Brien, VIII
n was pinned down with two boxes O
C. his chest Save me, old chap
y has got me by the arm
l can alligator said Dallas. "Yo
d. essence of an idiot! Why, you drive
!d ing ass. you have knocked over