Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-03-16
GEORGE AGNEW CHAMBERLAIN


cred from the countryside. They were
pioneers without knowing it. They
and their fathers and their fathers
fathers had held these far depths of
the world against wild beasts and
drought and food since, centuries ago,
the Jesuits swept through the subcon.
tinent and left trail of settlers be-
hind them. They were proud, narrow,
independent. They were uninventive,
unimaginative. No man among them
had ever thought to lie. They did not
steal, though they were robbed when
--er they invaded civilization with
Aeir wares.
From them McDougal had learned
that due east halfway to the sea, was
a place called Lieber's And that this
Lieber was known as the Americana
and had fame as a curador of fevers.
Four men could carry a sick man to
Lieber's in a hammock in four days.
Twelve men could do 1t in two, and
quicker than that hundred men could
not go. For the price of three steers
each-two-year-olds-they would un-
dertake to deliver the sick man at
Lieber's in two days. McDougal pom
dered. 1t was a chance. II he sent
Alan to the rail-head there wouldn't
be even a chance. There was no one
who could help at the rail-head, nor
along the thin line, nor even at the
coast.
''In two days" said he despairingly,
"the master will be dead"
They gathered at the door of Alan's
tent and looked in at him as he Law
half comatose. mo" said the oldest
of them, ''he will be dead in seven
days time"
AS McDougal picked him up and
laid him gently in a hammock, Alan
came to. The hammock was padded
with pillows and blankets and strung
on stout bamboo pole with two men
at each end supporting it.
"What are you doing with me?" he
asked angrily and sank back into the
pillows. From there his eyes glared
up at McDougal
I'm sending We home" said Nc
Dougal gently but firmly.
Alan smiled a twisted smile. "Send-
ing me home" he repeated, and added
resignedly, "Oh, ali right" Then he
started up. Bring Matches" he said.
McDougal took matches from his pock-
ct. Alan drew two letters from inside
his coat. Burn them" He held them
out and watched jealousy as McDou-
gal opened out the sheets with averted
eyes and set fire to the thin paper. The
f1lmy cinders blew hither and thither
under the light breeze. The men under
the pole moved uervously. anxious to
be of. Their eight companions
wheeled their f1ea-bitten ponies and
headed for the trail mo. you don't"
shouted McDougal and explained with
many gestures that they were to ride
behind on account of the dust.
1--WE know, master" answered one
quietly. 1--WE would but start"
McDougal held out an awkward
hand in farewell. You're ready, Mr..
Wayne?"
LSSt Sulu -AIdu DtlNc ctH CudllcIluS
teeth, and then cried. "No. want the
board-my epitaph thing, you know"
McDougal dived into the tent and
brought out the board with the roughly
cut words that he could not read but
somehow began to understand. He
slipped it into the hammock behind the
cushions and then just touched Alan's
hand and gave the word to the men.
They started off in a shambllng, rapid
trot. The horseman fell in behind. A
cloud of dust cut them off from Nc
Douglas gaze. He turned and fell
upon his laborlng squad with rolling
flood of curses. To them the words
were Greek, but nevertheless their
blood curdled and they worked as only
Wayne had taught them.