Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-09-20

munition and OF food were scattered
about in a Wild litter. together with
our unfOrtunte cameras and plate car
riers, but none Of them were missing
on the other hand. all the exposed pro-
visions-and I remembered that there
were a considerable quantity Of them
were gone. They were animals, then,
and not natives, who had made the
inroad, for surely the latter would
have left nothing behind.
suddenly a thought came to me and
brought some little comfort to my
heart. l was not absolutely alone in
the world Down at the bottom Of the
cliff and within call of me was waiting
the faithful Zambo. I went to the
edge Of the plateau and looked over
Sure enough, he was squatting among
his blankets beside his fire in his little
camp. But, to my amaZement, a sec
oud man was seated in front Of him
For an instant my heart leaped for
JOY as I thought that one of my com
Tades bad made his way safely down
But a second glance dispelled the hope.
The rising sun shone red upon the
mans skin. He was an Indian.
shouted loudly and waved my hand
kerchief. Presently Zambo looked up.
waved his hand and turned to ascend
the pinnacle. In a short time he was
standing close to me and listening with
deep distress TO the story which I told
him.
Devil got them for sure, Massa Ma
lone said he You got into the devils
country. sab, and he take you all to
himself. You take advice, Massa Ma
lone. and come down quick, else he get
you as we'll"
How can l come down, Zambo?"
You get creepers from trees, Massa
Malone. Throw them over here.
make fast to this stump. and so you
have bridge
I'VE have thought of that. There are
no creepers here which could bear US"
Send for ropes, Massa Malone"
"WhO can / send and where?'
Send to Indian villages. sab. Plenty
hide rope in Indian village. Indian
down below; send him.
Who is he?"
"ODe of our Indians. Other ones beat
him and take away his pay. He come
back to US. Ready now TO take letter,
bring rOpe-anythinE.
To take a letter. Why not? Perhaps
he might bring help, but in any case
he would insure that our lives were
not spent for nothing ana that news of
all that we had won for science should
reach our friends at home. l had two
completed letters already waiting !
would spend the day in writing Il third.
which would bring my experiences alb
solutely up to date. The Indian could
bear this back to the world. l ordered
Zambo. therefore, to come again in the
evening. and I spent my miserable and
lonely day in recording my own adyen-
lures Of the night before. I also drew
mp note. TO be given to any white
merchant OF captain of a steamboat
whom the Indian could find, imploring
them TO see that ropes were sent to
Us. since our lives must depend upon
it These documents I threw to ZambO
in the evening, and also my purse,
which contained three English sover-
eigus These were to be given 10 the
Indian, and he was promised twice as
much If be returned with the ropes.
Just as the sun was setting upon that
melancholy night / saw the lonely fg-
ure of the Indian upon the vast plain
beneath me, and l watched him, our
one faint hope of salvation, until he
disappeared in the rising mists OF
evening which lay rose tinted from the
setting sun between, the farof river
and me.
1t was an awesome thing to sleep
in that I'll fated camp. and yet it was
even more unnerving to do so in the
jungle. One or the other it must be.
Prudence, on the one hand, warned
me that I should remain on guard, but
exhausted nature, on the other, de-
cl8red that / should do nothing Of the
kind. I climbed up on 10 a limb OF
the great gingko tree. but there was
no secure perch on its rounded surface,
and I should certainly have fallen of
and broken my neck the moment I
began to dOze. I got down, therefore.
and pondered over what I should do.
Finally closed the door Of the zareba,
lit three separate fires in a triangle
and, having eaten a hearty supper.
dropped Off into a profound sleep, from
which I had a strange and most vel
ing. lust as day was breaking, a hand
was laid upon my arm, and, starting
up with all nv nerves in a Jingle and
my hand feeling for a rife. l gave a
cry Of Joy as in the cold gray light L
saw Lord John Roxton kneeling be-
side me.
It was he, and yet It was not he.
had left him calm in his bearing, cor
rect in his person, prim in his dress.
Now he was pale and wild eyed, gasp
ing as he breathed Ike one who has
run far and fast. His gaunt face was
scratched and bloody, his clothes were
hanging in rags. and his hat was gone.
I stared-4n amaZement, but he gave
me no chance for questions. He was
grabbing az our stores all the time he
spoke.
Quick. young fellah! Quick he