Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-18
BY ANGUS MacGREGOR.

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The old flat-bottomed stern-wheeler
f1dgeted slowly up the Sukri through a
thick, brooding stiffness.
Eight passengers" said Mather, who
Skippered the craft, zone ottymobile, a
foul-smelling native crew, a British first
officer and myself"
John Mather at that time was the
only man in Northwestern India with
Connecticut burr in his voice
The boat pulled and snorted like q
fat man climbing stairs. It belched
cinders and smoke into the vast forest
which had flung its armies Of trees up
to the rivers edge. Not sound could
be heard except the preposterouS fury
OF Mather'S antique percolator, rubbing
her way through the soft, yellow river
The stern-wheeler, called the Pride
Of the Indus, rounded a bend and came
suddenly into sight of q small clearing
choked with people. There were hum
dreds, standing In silence, stretching
back far from the rivers edge until
they were lost in the forest.
Ominous Mood Noted.
1t was a small village but the ma
ttves had come down from the hills
because they knew that a mud bar at
that point in the Sukri would prevent
the further progress Of the boat
MaOhSE AlcW III, Coo n pIOiOHBeQ dry
spell had sadly depleted the river He
had been stuck there often before In
other times a few rupees enlisted most
OF the males Of the village, and they
showed the craft over the barrier by
hand.
The Pride Of the Indus was churn-
ing mud, then slowly 1t slid to a halt,
stuck fast in the grip of the bar. A
murmur OF sound swept from the crowd,
rising and falling like rain on leaves.
An ominous, brooding note that shiv-
cred through the hot afternoon air and
was Strangled slowly in the close en-
brace Of the trees. The passengers hud-
died together in terror. The mate
slipped quietly below for his gun.
Were you afraid?" I asked Mather.
Had Met 1t Before.
mo" he replied, IT had seen much of
this before, especially since the impris-
onment of Gandhi. It was Just passive
resistance. BritisherS, British ships
everywhere met this obstinate, animal
blocking. Besides, had friend in the
village, man named Nawarhal He
could speak a little English and I
counted on this"
Nawarhal lived far back at the edge
Of the forest. Mather clambered slowly
over the side, splashed through the
river and reached the bank. A naked
Indian, tall and menacing, blocked the
way.
"Nawarhal," shouted Mather to a
man in the distance. "Savvy, Ma
warhal"
The Indian in front of Mather looked
at him in silence.
Mather began showing through the
crowd. It was hot work They would
not stand aside for him. The old yam
kee skipper put his head down and
butted like q goat. The mate stood
guard on deck his gun held ready in
his hands. 1t took Mather some time
to reach Nawarhal, who sat calmly
smoking in his hut Nawarhal could
and would do nothing To all questions
and entreaties he maintained an obdu-
rate silence.
Put Passengers to Work.
Then came the return TO the boat. as
long and difficult as the going. Limp.
soaked, quivering with fatigue and ex-
ASPIRATION, Mather reached the deck.
Wen have to put the passengers TO
work" he said to the mate, and they
all got out in the river-men, women
and children-and began showing
But mass Of natives detached them
selves quietly from the thronR and stood
in block at the bow of the Pride of
the Indus. It was an impasse, and
Mather cursed with all the fiuency 80
years Of junketing in the East had put
at his command. But while he cursed
he thought.
He herded his forces on deck, equipped
each with long pole and told them
TO push backward. They pushed hard.
and before the natives were aware of
the strategy the Pride of the Indus was
of the bar and floating easily down.
stream.
That won't get us to Balutra," said
the mate, gloomily. But Mather went
ahead with his plan. He turned around
in the river and backed up to the bar.
The great stern wheel whirred, buzzed
and splashed. It churned the river into
vast, boiling vat Of foam. I'm going
to ram We ALL" roared Mather above
the terrific din, and the natives could
stand 1t no longer. They fled hastily
to the bank and left Mather and his
passengers and crew to pole their way
stern first over the bar
Il was very lucky" said Mather