New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-13

phasis that he didn't put the log there, when cry OF
fright went up from the native servants IN the bow
"Oh, Maserson Sahb! This ship is going to sink.
Behold the water rushing in upon our eet!'
Sink, Nonsense" retored Masterson scrambling
forward III YOU idiots had kept sharper lookout We
should not have struck that log!
Then he stepped into three inches OF water. cursory
inspection disclosed gaping rent IN the bow through
which a current was pouring freely.
There seems TO be a triting leak here he called
back not wishing to alarm the Others. Il think we'd
better run into the shore and investigate. uSt turn her
head to the bank, Holmes, he instructed.
Holmes put the bow of the launch over while Master
son endeavored TO stem the thrush OF water They had
swung over to the west side at the turn, and quickly
drew in toward the line OF jungle, rising higher and
dcnser as they approached its deceptive shadow Sud
denly the bank caved in ahead and they shot into
row nulah or creek overhung with vegetation that
seemed completely dark in comparison to the nver
flooded with moonlight. MaSterson had barely shouted
warning to Holmes to reduce speed, when the launch
plunged her nose into the mud, and stopped with
Jerk almost as Stralnlng as when they struck
the log.
really, lack, protested Miss Cunnock, "you seem
determined to bring us to destruction. What IN the
world is the matter with YOU? You haven't spoken
word since we started, and you've done nothing but
glare and look out of humor India seems to have made
you positively horrid!'
ooh bangit ALL" Holmes fairly broke loose, "you
gave me chance to say anything, and how could be
supposed to know the navigaono this rotten old rver
Against him Ksmet surely was fighting, as people say
sometimes, everything going wrong.
NdASTERSON, who foresaw dismal failure advancing
1I upon his benevolent plan, came TO the rescue with
an cndeavor to make light OF the situation Wen, ne
laughed, "of this isn't the Botanical Gardens;
but there might be substitute. We are all snug
and comfortable here it seems and no damage has been
done to the tn basket That is extremely important.
because am afraid shall have to remain here an hour
or think it will be best, he added, TO send my
servants off to hunt up the nearest telegraph line with
Calcutta message for another launch. don't like 10
risk attempting to crawl back with that hole in the
bow Besides, she's stuck fast. can't move her.
With eyes growing in the change OF light, they
were able TO discern their position more clearly The
launch had struck the mud several feet from the shore,
hidden in a mass of tangled underground. Overhead
the spreading branches OF tree shut out the sky and
swept across the creek TO others Sprnging from the
opposte bank A stout limb had barely missed the
aunchs awning and hung above the stern left free OF
the mud in deeper water. II was rather weird, un-
Canny spot and the atmosphere was wonderfully silent
though in contradiction 10 his real feelings MaSerSon
insisted upon its romantic elements There had been
some comoon Of monkeys and parrots in the treetops
at the launchs intrusion; but that had died away, and
now there sound but human voices, winch natu-
rally fell into subdued accents.
Some difficulty was encountered in pcrSuadng the
native servants to go upon their errand but with them
it is generally question OF pnce Tor attempting any real
or imaginary danger. When this settled, they
swung up the OF the tree above the launch stern
and crawled into the Jungle blackness.
Mastcrson then made brave effort to cheer things up
with the contents OF the tlitn basket and CHASTITY at
tenDt TO be humorous For collector OF dry statistics
the latter course was almost of necessity fatal Mrs.
Cumnock was plainly nervous, and not in condition to
laugh at a lest had il been Of the first vintage. Neither
Miss Cumnoc nor Holmes seemed 20 possess an appe
ti'a and h their attitude toward each other impressed
Nastcrson with the idea that somehow he had unln-
tentonalv caused an actual breach where before there
might have been nothing serious than misundcr-
standing. -
had dincd on the previous night with the Chief Justice
Of the Supreme Court; moreover, the Chownnghcc
Club imported cigars were positive Joy after an I'M
satisfactory course Of chcroots He had Therefore
rat deal 10 saw about the administration Of civil law
In India and seized upon that excellent opportunity