Newspaper Page Text
10
AIT OCTAVE OF SHORT STORIES
By Famous Novelists.
No. 7.
THROUGH THE GAP:
AN ADVENTURE.
By HUME NISBET,
■ hor of “BAIL UP," “A COLONIAL TRAMP," “EIGHT BELU9," “THE
BLACK DROP," Etc.
ow First Published.]
CHAPTER IIL
GATLIN ) GUNS, BY SAUL!
“We had finished our work for the day
and were just taking it easy, when the vil
lage was set into commotion by the sudden
appearance of a native, who came running
at full speed, covered with dust and foot*
gore, to tell us that his tribe had been driven
oil their land by the enemy, and asking us
to go and help them.
“Laloka was up audroused into action in a
moment. The tribe that this rumor belonged
to was a distant one, noorly forty miles
away to the east, and had always been their
firm.allies, so that there was no question
now about what was to be done, still, as is
customary with all nations, the chief in
stantly called bis oouncil together to hear
the story of the man and talk the matter
over.
“When wa wore together in front of the
Dubo House, the native got up and told us
all about it.
* ‘How a strange race of men, wearing
trousers and having skins like mine, bad
come into the country iu great numbers,
witu fire-sticks and big stumps, wbloh also
vomited fire and killed wholesale, and had
driven back the natives, whole tribes at a
time, mowing ail down who did not yield up
their lands and run off at once, abusing
their women and killing their children.
“The news had reached them only when
they were ordered back, for the tribes
which lived between them and the Invaders
had not been friendly, so that they had not
fallen back on them for protection, but bad
fled among their allies to the south.
“ ’One day the white chief came, with
plenty of mon with him, and stood up in
tde village reading a paper, which told us
in our own language that the land was h'.a,
and that we were to go away from it at
once, with our wives and children. He gave
us four hours to pack up and go, and told
us that if wo were not away before the sun
went down so far, that he would kill us aiL
“ ‘We had forty fighting men, while they
were 2UO, in our village, and while they
waited they swarmed into the houses, tak
ing our spears away and driving us out to
the open with our wives and children, eo
that we could neither bold a oouncil nor
defend ourselves when the time came for us
to go.
“‘There were big-bearded men like him
there, but different in color, who spoke
gruffly in a strange language and laughed
at our women as they dragged them about.
Then we drew off, and taikei to eaoh other
without being able to understand what
they wanted, until the time passed, and at
the word of their chief they suddenly fell
upon us, stabbing at and shooting us down
without waiting for us to fight.
“‘They seized some of our women and
dragged them back to tbe huts while they
hunted us out, killing ail they oould catoh,
the little children aud the old mon and
women first, while our wives and sisteri
were shrieking out from the hut*, Thus we
fled with ali we oould carry with us, while
the village was fired, and tutors we oould
hide ourselves iu the forest it was all over
and only ashes left.’
“The native eat down after he had flu
izhed bis account of the massacre, and fixed
his burning eyes, as did tbe re t cf tbe tribe,
upon rue, while Laloka rose up and striding
over to where I sat seized me by the arm,
ana forcing me upon my feet said, as he
faced me squarely, with his steady eyes oa
mine:
“ ‘Brother, do you know these men who
have killed cur friends!’
“I felt uncomfortable, you bet, mates, as
I stood before mv brotber-ia-law, for, as
you arc aware, these natives think every
white skin to be a cousin orsomsthingof that
sort, bat feeling as innocent of this and as
aud as they were over it, 1 up and told them
all I knew, and how the‘cusses’had treated
me when I visited them. As I spoke I saw
their faces clear up and knew that they
weren't going to blame me for it, Laloka
waited quietly until 1 had finished my
yarn, and then he gave me a big breath and
said:
•• ‘lt is well. brother, now you will help us
to punish these thieves.’
“Of courtie I said ‘Yes’ to that, for al
though I knew that we were going to butt
our heads against a dead wall, and that it
would only bring our own punishment the
sooner upon ourselves, still my blood boiled
at tbe way tbe poor natives had been
treated, and I was as eager as they were to
have a slap at the samuge-e&iers for their
dirtv treatment of ine the day before I
was wrecked.
“We were not long after this over the
war council or in making oar preparations.
Laloka said a few words to bis tribe and
then asked for my advice. 1 told them
about the fire-sticks, and how we oould do
no good unless we got hold of them, aud
then it was decided that we should creep
down upon them Germans and catoh them
if possible sleeping, when, if we were
lucky, we might get some of their weapons,
I wanted to have a Colt or a rifle in my
hands while fighting, for I was mighty
awkward with the spear compared to the
natives.
‘ -Oviro, with her sister I)wit and the re9t
of tho women, were outside the ring while
we spoke, so that they did not need to be
told what weis to be done. Each wife took
her husband indoors for a few minutes
without saying anything, and then the men
oame out again ready for the trail while the
women stayed inside.
"Oviro went with mo into our house, and
when we were alone she put her beautiful
arms round my neck and pressed me closely
to her heart, while I kissed her times with
out number, but she did not sob and
cry like white women do over their hus
bands when they go away. She fixed her
eyes upon mine like a tigress, and said:
" ‘Go, Tacha, aud kill these white faces, so
I may forget that you are also white. Bring
us back plenty of white heads to hang up
over our doors, eo that we may laugh at the
robbers. Bring back plenty of white flesh
for us to cook for you, aud white captives
for us to torture, for I am already hungry
to taste them.’
“Then she glued her red lips to mine for
a moment and pushed me out, laughing and
crying stoutly:
“Be brave, Tacha, my husband, and
don’t let me hunger in voia.’
“ As I turned to look back before jumping
down tho ladder, I saw my lass lying ou the
bamboo bed, wlili her face hidden in her
arms and her coal black hair falling over
her body like a cloak, for I wouldn’t let her
cut it off os tha other married women do.
“The stare were out as wo began our
march, aud we walked all that night in sin
gle file, without speaking a word or halt
ing. Laloka led the way with his war
ohield at his baok and his club in his hand,
a terrible heavy weapon it was. although he
carried it on his shoulder easy, while a
young boy carried his spears, bows and ar
rows liehind. Each man had a young lad
with him who oarried the spare weapons.
“At daybreak we came to a village where
they were waiting for us. but although I
was hungry and would have liked some
breakfast, I knew it was dangerous to ask
[All Rights Reserved
for this, as jthey always fast when on the
war trail, so a. to be ready, I expect, for
the cannibal feast afterward.
“This tribe joined us, and during the
fore part of the day, three other tribes
which we picked up. We were now ab >ut
280 strong, all hardy fighting mon with
nearly the same number of spear carriers.
“About 2 o’clock or thereabouts, we were
met by the few fighting men who had man
aged to escape from the burned-down vil
lage, twelve men in all, the rest were either
killed or too badly wounded to join us, and
then we sat down in the forest to rest and
and wait for the coming of night.
"While we sat and rested,someof the boys
crept away us scouts to And out what they
could about the enemy, for we were then
within five miles of their camp. The sol
diers and sappers bad come first, and they
would wait until the surveyors and immi
grants arrived before they moved on to
take the possession of another village, for
that was the way these masters worked,
leisurely and surely.
"The poor fellows who had lost their all
did not say much, for their chief had been
killed, and they were willing to be guided
by their friends, but one rage filled every
heart in that crowd, to kill os many as
they oould possibly kill and eat them after
ward.
“As night drew on our scouts came back
to tell us that the Germans were easy iu
their camp, although by no means careless,
for they bad postei tueir pickets closely
round. I told Laloka that we must first get
these pickets settled, and he said that he
would see to that.
“Early morning being generally the time
which euvages fix on to attack, 1 proposed
that we'd begin an hour before midnight, so
as to oatch then) iu their first sleep, and
after a little trouble this plan was agreed
to.
“It was close on 10 o’clock that we started
once more, and in an hour’s time we had
reached the clearing of the forest, and were
ready to make the rush. I could sec the camp
fires and some of the sentinels walking
about, but I felt sure that there would be
some also planted in the dark; but this
Laloka and the others knew as well as I did,
for while the main body halted and sank
down quietly among the bushe3, about a
couple of dozen figures stole away, with
their man-trap* and spears, to settle the
plokete.
“I could not see the figures as they
crawled toward the guards, but I oould
make out the Germans standing upright at
their posts, and as I watohed I could tell
when the natives had reached thorn, for sud
denly I would miss the upright figure, and
then I knew it was all up with him. In
about a quarter of an hour there wasn’t a
man left on guard; they had all been trapped
by these wily savages.
“1 knew that they would be changing the
pickets before very long, aud so F waited
anxiously for the return of Laloka, for he
had gone with the other scouts to capture
the rifles and revolvers. While 1 still lay
trying to listen, 1 felt a hand placed lightly
on my shoulder, and, starting up, could
just make out the big figure of Laloka
stooping over me, as he whispered:
“ ‘Come.’
“1 rose and followed him into the woods
until we came to a part where there was a
clearing, and here, under the starlight, I
oould just make out a oouple of large
mounds lying close together.
“ ‘Brother Tacha, you wanted the flre
stiok*. There they are. ’
“I made a grab atone of the mounds, and
then started back with a nasty sensation,
for I had just disturbed a very neatly piled
up mound of human heads.
“ ‘The other one,' whispered Laloka,
softly; and then I went to the other mound
and found under my fingers a choioo as
sortment of weapons—sabers, revolvers and
rifles.
“ ‘Have you got them all. Laloka!’ I asked,
astonished at the number of articles.
*' ‘Nbt all Some of the thieves wore
awake; bat wo have killed nearly half of
them and taken most of their fire-sticks.
Now, brothers, pick out what you want and
let us kill the rest, and then we shall go
home with our food to our wives.’
“It is a curious thing, but up to that mo
ment I had been all for Laloka and his
friends with their wrongs, yot when I saw
that hillock of heads with the plled-up heap
of weapons so.leaaily taken, I wasn’t so euro
that I didn't want to take sides with the
weaker party- our enemies, and, like my
self, the white skins. I suppose there must
be something cousinly in our bloods—Ger
man, Frenchmen and English—and somes
thing strange between us and brown skins.
Whatever it was, I’d have liked, if I oould,
to have left the battle os it was and gone
baok to Oviro without any more blood-let
ting. But it wasn’t to be. I had pledged
myself to my friends and tha others had
used them cruelly, so I quickly crushed
down these curious feeling* and prepared
for action.
"Laloka with tho other chiefs wont out
different ways with their men so os to at
tack the camp from four sides. They had
arranged this with signals, which they were
to use when they had reached the open. I
followed my big brothor-in-law until we
once more reached the edge ot the forest,
aud waited looking over tho tents and camp
fires of tho Germans. Some of them still
sat up round the fires, smoking, while others
lay either sleeping or headless inside their
tents. They lelt easy with the sentries,
which they supposed were round about
them, much more easy than I felt os I
watched them and strained my ears for the
different cries from the distant woods wnich
would let us know our allies were ready
for the charge, because I knew that ot any
moment some of the officers might go
round and discover how unguarded they
were Mnd I could also make out that they
were enough of them, and to s t ere for that
matter, to play the mischiof with our first
hundred odd men and boys, unless we
could got near enough to use the spears be
fore they were startled.
"At last 1 heard the call of four differ
ent night birds, not common in that part of
the oountry, one after the other, and then,
without waiting a moment, we made the
rush after Laloka, every man for himself,
helter skelter all yelling like finds, for that’s
the way with the savages when they are
charging ; they can’t keep quiet.
“Wo hadn't over 300 yards to run before
we oould come to close quarters, but I will
say one thing for these Germans, they are
solemn and slow when they ore ‘boozing,’ but
it don’t take them long to fall into order
when fighting is the game.
“Before we were half across the open
they had olustered together, back to back
in the center, while their bugler trumpeted
out tbe alarm, aud they sent out among us
a rattling volley of musketry that made
many a brave claw the ground; then, as we
were still advancing at full sjieod, a bright
white glare sho. out all at once from tne
top of a h gh pole round which tuey were
gathored, making broad daylight of the
whole piain and showing us up to them quite
distinctly, while, os they stood under u
shade placed near the light, they were
buried in deep darkness.
“That awful bine white sun throwing out
its fierce rays, blinded aud put the fear of
death into Ldoka and the rest of the allies.
| There they were on all sides, about fifty
yard* only from their unseen eaeui es,
TIIE MORNING NEWS: SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1891—SIXTEEN PAGES.
standing blinking with open month, and
upturned faces at that electric light, as if it
a ro witchcraft, without attempting either
t) advance or retreat, for they had stopped
•--■ad at the sight of it, while the soldiers
were popping them at their leisure like a
covey of wild ducks.
“ ‘Run, Laloka, like mad, back to the
woods, or we shall be murdered,” I shouted
to my hrotber-in-law as I set the example,
after a single look at the light, and then the
stampede Logan and we made tracks, wbile
volley after volley were sent after us with
out hardly a stop.
‘“They are using Gatling guns, by Saul!’
I veiled as 1 noticed whole ianos dropping at
a time. “Scatter out. boys, and scud.’
“That was when I got this broken arm,
mates, a bullet splintered the bone as I
raised it to catch bold of a boy who was
falling behind, while my arm dropped he
fell dead, and next moment I got behind a
big tree and felt safe.
“They did not follow us into the woods
that night, but kept blattering away for an
hour without ceasing fire, and when at last
we all gathered together iu the glade, where
the heads and weapons lay, we might have
numbered some 200 left alone, and hardly
one without a bullet in some part of hU
body.
“ then we began our march home again,
pretty miserable.
“Laloka and the others took each their
fair share of the heads and one or two of
the bodies which they had picked
up, while I got some of the young
men to help me with the weapons. They
hadn’t an ounce of pluck left among them,
tor that electric light had finished them
up."
CHAPTER IV.
THE ESCAPE.
“After we got back in the village they
had their fea*t, while they mourned over
their slain, cooking, eating and lamenting
by turns.
“Oviro, with her sister Dwia, wont to it
with the other women, but I was not na
tive enough to Join In, so I got away out to
the forest by myself, and sat down with my
native pipe out of their road, to think over
it, and consider what was best to be done
for tbe future.
“My honeymoon was over now, and
things looked black enough for us all, for
although several days had gone by since
our retreat, we knew that the Germans
wore coming on solidly, from the remainder
of our allies, who kept dropping iu upon us
with what they had left.viillage by village.
Our turn would come any day, and then we
might look out for squalls.
“I had spoken to Laloka and told him
that the only thing left for us was to clear
out while we had time, and fight our way
through the hostile tribes which lay between
us and the mountains, which we might get
over aud enter British New Guinea, where
we would be safer; but that seemed to be
jumping from the frying pan into the fire.
Laloka oould not bear to leave the lands on
which be had been born without auotber
struggle, even although I told him, and I
thing he saw for himself bow hopeless a
game it would be to stand up against such
an euemy.
“Oviro also was obstinate when I urged
her to leave her tribe, and risk it with me
alone, through the bush.
“ ‘Better to die with our friends than live
with strangers,’ the brave girl answered
me, and 1 thought perhaps she wasn’t
wrong, and as I oouldn’t live without her, I
just made up my mind to stay where I was
and see the game out.
"Poor Laloka, when ha had taken the
rifles and revolvers, hadn’t considered cart
ridges, so that barring.the charges that were
in tbe weapons when ’nabbed,’ I had no am
munition to carry on the war, still I had
those, which I hoarded up, and determined
to do my level best for the tribe when the
end came.
“I sorted up the Dubo House, as being the
largest in tue village for my arsenal and
Anal retreat, and here I arranged with the
chief that our women should take shelter on
the first appearance of the enemy, so I
waited patiently while our scouts went
about the country and picked up nows.
"One morning we heard that they had
camped about six miles distant, and were on
tbe move toward us. Then while I got the
women together, Laloka and all who could
carry a spear went out to meet them. There
were no use in trying peaceful measures,
for their orders were always, ‘Clear out, or
be killed;’ aud not a native there but
wouldn’t eooner be killed than give up a
single foot of his property.
"X waited, with the women in the upper
story of the Dubo House, looking out at
the forest, with the rifles and pistols
handy beside me for use; and I had not long
to wait.
“ First the distant shots rolled out, which
told us that the fighting had begun among
the trees; and now I felt sure that the na
tives would give a good account of them
selves. Then nearer they came, while the
women sat quiet round me, Oviro restiug
her pretty head on my knee, and all the vil
lage outside deserted, and baking under the
blazing sun.
“Then I saw them ooming, about a score
of dark figures first breaking from the
forest, and rushing over toward us, Laloka
at their head, in hie hurry to get to his wife,
and holding his weaponless hands against
his side as he ran, to scop the bleeding of the
wound which was under them.
"Then the white caps and linen Jackets
of the Germans shone out, giving mo good
marks as thoy marched steadily on, which I
took advantage of by emptying rifle after
ritlo as fast os I could lift them up and aim.
It stopped them a bit, because they didn’t
expeoo this reception, and allowed our
friends to reach us.
"Boor Laloka had got his billot I could see
as he flung himself down on the floor gasp
ing, while Dwia tried to stop the gush of
blood that kept pumping out of his wound;
the other women were busy over their own
mon, while the new-made widows rolled
about and moaned in their grief and de
spair.
"1 had emptied the rifles by this time, and
now gathered the revolvers together for
olose quarters.
‘‘l meant to let them oome up near
enough and then shoot as many as I oould
get a head on, while the rest were getting
out tho back way and into tho woods only a
few yards behind, for the Dubo House
stood by itself at tiie end of the village.
“ ‘Now be off as fast os you cap,’ 1 said to
them, a* I saw the Gormans bnter the vil
lage four deep and about eighty stropg,
'while I shoot you clear.’
“I didn’t look round after this, but kept at
my work, getting a good few down before
the sausage-eaters woke up to it and made
for the shelter ot the houses; it was a lively
five minutes while I blazed away, and they
did the same, filling tho village with white
smoke.
" ‘Now, Oviro, get up and let ns make
tracks,’ I said when I had flung down the last
pistol all smoking on the boards, and tried
to lift up her head.
“God of heaven: mates, what did l see but
my poor wife stone dead, with a stray bullet
through hor heart, still resting her young
head as she had done for the lost hour on
ray knee with her cheek against my
broken arm. Bho had died without me
notioing it, while I had been busy shooting
left-bandod at those cussed boasts, who had
come to make a hell out of paradise.
“Her eyes were still opou, and her lips
wore a soft smile as I lifted up her head.
They wore beginning to grow dim, but they
were brown enough yet to break my heart
almost as I looked into them. Gone with
out a word, and our unborn baby with her,
and 1 was left, without another shot iu the
locker to settle either my owu hash, or pol
ish off another of her murderers. Lord,
mates, if I could only have had another
brace of loaded barkors at that moment it
would have eased my mind a bit. 1 would
have let them cut me in pieces if thoy
liked as I ran among them, but I’d have
sent another dozen of their black souls to
glory first.
“I looked about me, u Laloka
lay on his back, dead, \> is arms
round bis neck, and their ixing to-,
gether, for she had run a boh ii.ointohe.-
neart when she saw him die. The others
had flitted, as I told them.
“How long I sut there with my poor
youug wife on my arm X can hardly tel!
you.
“Some minutes mast have gone by, for I
could eeo that tbe gunpowder ainoKe had
lifted from the ground, and that the Ger
mans were once more beginning to show
1 themselves iu tbe middle cf the street, and
: how long 1 might have sat I can’t say—l
supp ae until they bail caught mo. °r burned
me out; but at la-t I was roused by tbe ao
p"aranor of on- of the voung scoots, who
climbed the ladder, and poking hie head in
whispered:
“ ’Come, Tacha! No good you waft here
any longer. La.oka dead, Dwia dead; we
want you and oviro, over there.’
“They didn’t know any more than I had
done that my wife had left me and that
what lay against me was only a dead
weight
“1 rose up, ard seizing a rifle in my fist,
j used it to hoist the warm body into my left
1 arm, and to hold it there. Then I followed
the boy down the back ladder and made
off after him toward the woods.
"I knew that they had seen me before I
oould reach the cover, for I heard them
shouting; and as I slid behind a tree saw
j tbe bullets breaking tbe branches and
splinters from the bark. So I only ran for
a little way, and then laying down Oviro
on the grass I turned to wait for them, de
termined to have one more life at least be
fore I turned tail on them.
“The boy would not leave me, plucky
little beggar that he was, but stool with a
couple of spears in his band ready for the
fling.
“Four chaps had set running after me
with revolvers at the cock, and I oould hear
the dead branches smashing as they tram-
Sled them down with their feet, then the
rst one dashed by me snorting before I
could bring my cubbed rifle down on his
skull, but be did not run many steps before
the boy had sent a spear through his back
and settled him.
"The second one I got in good time and
he went down like a nine-pin under my
olub, while the third tripped over his body
and was pinned to earth by the boy before he
could roll round. The fourth man I caught
by the wind-pipe fairly while he was trying
to stop himself, aud once I have a man
right there with this claw he ain’t got much
prospect of another meal.
“Two or throe minutes we rolled and
twisted about on the ground, and then he,
too, was a ‘goner.’ No more came on, and 1
could hear the bugle sounding the recall for
thi poor unfortunates who had left the
ranks forever; then I took their barkers
and stuck them iu my belt, and lifting up
all that was left of Oviro, struck out for
our stragglers, while the lad cut off the four
heads and reaving them' on one of the
spears, hoisted thorn over his shoulder, and
with the four sword bayonets in his other
hand, came after me.
“1 found the last of the tribe a rnile or so
ahead, fifteen men and three boys with a
dozen of women, old and young.
“ ‘Where ato the rest of the girls and the
kiddy !’ I asked as I looked round on the
miserable looking crowd, and they then told
me that they had been seeu crossing and
ceased into the woods and that was all that
had managed to escape, one of the soldiers
bad chucked the kid up against a tree and
knocked its brains out, while they took
back what girl- they could oatoh and a
couple of the boys. Then I felt gladder
than ever that Pd punished these last four
sausage-brothers.
"They had got the dead body of tny little
nephew, and Lord, mates, when I saw the
little innocent lying limp afore me, with all
h:s perky ‘Hass’ out of him, I fairly gave
way and blubbered like a blessed woman.
“We dug a grave and buried them both
hero before we quitted that spot, my mur
dered dear, and the kiddy on that breast
where her own might have lain in a few
more months had all gone right. Then
while I still sat staring on tbe fresh earth,
one of the boys who had been captured
came on us as we rested.
“They had recognized me, it seems, as the
man who had been driven out of their set
tlement, and made cook sure now that I was
an English spy sent out to report their
cruelties, and they had offered the lad his
liberty if he would take them to me. They
did not care a cuss about the other natives,
but they meant to keep me from getting out
of the country by hook or crook.
“The young girls had been awfully
mauled about before they had finished
them, and my blood ran cold as I listened to
that lad’s yarn. They were ten thousand
times worse brutes than any cannibals
o >uld have been, and after they were done
with them, they had set fire to the houses
and burned the village to the ground, so
Laloka and his wife had found a grave
also, aud were now resting among the cin
ders.
“The boy had made his escape while they
were firing the huts and got off among the
smoke without being noticed. When I
heard this I thought it about time to make a
move.
“I was appointed leader now so I struck
out across tiie country for tbe hills, and for
weeks we knooked about, for we had to go
warily to keep clear of hostile tribes. That
was a weary tramp I oau tell you, mate*,
through swamp* and forests, over hills and
into gulches, hiding ourselves during the
day sad wandering about at night, after
having to turn back, or go round miles,
and sometimes losing our way in spttn of
tbelr savage cutoness. Often going for days
without any grub, and even at the best of
times having to content ourselves with roots
and such like.
"And every day our numbers got less,
and had to be buried and loft behind. What
with snake bites and fevers and odd tusseis
with natives which we could not avoid, by
the time 1 reached the mountains I bad
only seven scarecrows left, and not a
woman to comfort ui. They had all caved
in.
"One afternoon I 9aw the Owen Stanley
rising far above, swimming in golden
clouds, and with their peaks rosy red in the
sunset. And then we struggled up to the
top of one ridge and lay down to rest
among some rocks. We were all dead
beat, and foil asleep almost as soon as wo
lay down, careless of what might happen
next.
“Tho moon was up full, like as it shines
to-night, wi.en one of the men shook mo
awake, saying:
“ ‘Tacha, what is it coming after usP
“I harkened for a moment, and then the
truth broke on me line a flash.
“ ‘Bloodhounds, by Saul! They are de
termined to take me Defore I can leave their
country. Come on, boys, we must make
tracks for somo water.’
“I could hear the sharp, short, bell-like
whimpers of the hounds in the distance, for
sounds carry a far way on the mountains on
a clear moonlit night, and I knew that the
Germans were behind them, for tho natives
had no dogs of this sort. So without more
ado we st off full speed down the other side
of the hill, hoping to find a creek of some
sort in the gulley.
“It had been an uncommon hot summer,
and most of tho streams which we had
crossed had been dry; we thought this
lucky at the time, but now I wasn’t so sure
about that.
“Down the gully wo 6warmed and tum
bled in the dark with the yelpings ooming
on. 1 looked back, and could see them
rounding the hill top, a whole pack of
hounds running iu front of forty of fifty
white coats with the moonbeams glistening
on the barrels of their rifles.
“On we went, over the tangle and loose
stones, without coming to a single pool of
water, under great cliffs sometimes, and
rolling over what would be waterfalls
in the wet season; then up again toward an
other ridge. For hours I think we ran and
scrambled and climbed, getting tho start of
them wbc we were raoing, but hearing
them again when we stopped to draw a
breath.
“At Inst I heard the sound of falling
water as wo got well over the second
ridge, and not after wo came to a small
stream that tumbled over a split cliff and
ran along the valley to tho east.
“i thought a moment and then made up
my mind, we would all plunge into the pool
m and then find our way up the rook face to
r higher stream. This wo did with, ul
:t: • j difficulty, for the fear made us ail
prrtty reckless, and not a moment to > soo.i,
for as wo got into shelter above the water
fall we heard them reach tho pool, and
knew from the loud burking of the whelps
that they were at fault, for they couldn’t
get up that rock.
“We waited a hit listening to them going
I down the valley, for they thought that we
must have kept down tho stream, and then
w hen the coast was once more clear we kept
on.
"Carious, mates, that stream must have
been sent to us by Providence, for we would
never have thought about climbing it if we
hadn’t been so hard pressed, and yet I be
lieve it was the only way through those
mountains, for as wo wont ou the split
widened until it ied us into other gul los
and gaps straight through the chain.
“VV e wandered on day after day. always
striking for tbe South as well as we could,
sometimes coming to a dead precipice w hen
we had to turn back and try another track.
I lost two more of my men in these gorges
over a cliff that we came upon suddenly
when least expecting it. Then we struck
another half-dried river, treading the right
di:ection, and I knew that we had left tho
Germans behind, and had got through the
gap of the Owen Htanley. Bo we came on
until it led up to your camp. That’s my
yarn, mates, and I hope you are amused.
THE END.
Next Week :
Tha First Installment of a New Story
BY
JULIAN HAWTHORNE.
ENTITLED
A MODERN GIRL’S STORY.
FRIGHTENED HIS NEKVOUS WIFE
But Her atreng-Minded Sister Slugged
Him With an Iron Pot.
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Amity, 0., Dec. 12. — Tho arrest yesterday
and the trial before ’Squire Butts to-day of
Miss Nancy Herring on the charge of as
saulting Chris Kimmerly with an iron pot,
developed an unusually interesting ghost
story.
A few months ago Kimmerly’s wife in
herited some property by the death of hor
father, aud her flat refusal to convert the
patrimony into cash and give oontrol of it
to Chris led to au estrangement between
the two, so that they occupied separate
apartments iu their house. Some time
after the beginning of this unpleasant state
of affairs Kimmerly impressively inform 'd
Mrs. Kimmerly that for several nights
past her father’s ghost had appeared to
him, and said that ;t would never rest until
Mary, the daughter, consented that her
hu-band should iuvest the inheritance In
some paying business venture.
SENT FOR HER SISTER.
This startling information quite unnerved
Mrs. Kimmerly, who is a weekly little
woman, and a night or two after that she
was still further shocked at seeing the
sheeted image of her father standing by her
bed. The guest seemed to be greatly dis
tressed, but it did not speak, and soon moved
slowly away in tho durkuess. Then Mrs.
Kimmerly wrote a letter to her spinster sis
ter, Nancy Herring, at Columbus, relating
in full her strange experience and request
ing the lady, who is a woman of groat
norve and decision of character, to come to
her right away.
Miss Nancy came and slept with Mrs.
Kimmerly, and that very night tbe old
man’s ghost reappeared—passed its hand
across their faces and then vanished. On
the third night it came again. The spectral
figure softly opened the door and ad vanced
to tbe bedside, and as it stretched out its
long arms another form in white,
WITH A FRILLED NIGHT-CAP
on its head, followed closely from behind
the door. It was the spinster sister, and in
her uplifted right baud she grasped a heavy
iron pot, which came down, bottom upward,
with a raking crash squarely upon the
ghost’s head. The rim of the pot soraped its
way over the specter’s ears, nearly severing
one of thorn from its base, and Mr. Ktm
rnerly, with a yell that was bitterly sug
gestive of a hot-potted Amabagger, fell all
in a heap on the floor.
In court the unfortunate man testified
that the almost scalpless condition of his
head, the half-way severed left ear and the
broken bridge of his nose were the rosults of
his sister-in-law’s assault—the iron pot coin
ing down, he remarked, with a precision and
force that clearly ind.rated a murderous in
tent on the part of his assailant.
Miss Herring frankly admitted that she
assaulted her brother-in-law, and expressed
deep regret tfiat the pot had not been red
hot. Her counsel set up the ingenious plea
that Kunmerly’s pre-e rne in his sister-in
law’s bedroom was an assault in itself, and
that the lady’s spirited action in the prem
ises was justifiable self-defense. Ho then
made a motion for tho dismissal of tho case,
which the court promptly sustained—at the
same time congratulating Miss Herring on
her ingenious and successful method of lay
ing a troublesome ghost.
MARRIED A MONGOLIAN.
A Talented Boston Girl Weds the
Cbtnaman of Her Choice.
Boston, Dec. 13.—A full-blooded China
mao and a talented. Boston girl were mar
ried yesterday at Chelsea. The groom was
Toy Lee, a finely educated missionary, and
Che bride was Misa Martha A, Comstock, a
teacher of drawing in the Charlestown
schools and an enthusiastic worker among
the Chinese. She is a very pleasant and
energetic lady, and her husband is a re
markably bright and intelligent man, brim
ful of American ideas. Ke is a ready
speaker, and at a reception given by the
Chinese scholars to their teachers at the
Chelsea church, a weak ago, he made an ad
dreai which surprisod those who heard it by
its iluenoy. Mr. Lee has been in Boston
almost three years.
Wheu Miss Comstock first saw Mr. Lee
•he was attending a meeting and heard him
make an address. It was loto at first sight.
She has been engaged for shma time in con
ducting a class of Chinese pupils in connec
tion with tho Sunday school maintained by
the Charlestown Young Men’s Christian
Association, and it was in this work that
she and Toy Lee first formed the acquaint
ance, three years ago, that has led to their
marriage.
LEMON ELIXIR.
Pleasant, Elegant, Reliable.
For biliousness and constipation take
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For fevers, chills and malaria take Lemon
Elixir.
For sleeplessness, nervousness and palpi
tation of the heart take Lemon Elixir.
For indigestion and foul stomach take
Lemon Elixir.
Forall sick and nervous haadaohos take
Lemon Elixir.
Lndies.for natural and thorough organio
regulation take Lemon Elixir.
Dr. Mosley's Lemon Elixir will not fail
yon in any of the aliove-named diseases, ail
of which arise from a torpid or dißjosid
liver, stomach, kidneys or bowels.
Prepared only by Dr. H. Mozioy, Atlanta,
Go.
50tx and 00 per bottle at druggists.
A Prominent Minister Writes:
After ten years of great suffering from
indigestion, with great nervous prostration,
billoasnotu, disordered kidneys, and consti
pation, I have been cured by Dr. Mozlsy’s
Lomon Elixir and atn now a well man.
Kev. C. C. Davis,
Eld. M. E. Church South,
No. 28 Tatnall street, Atlanta, Ua.
eioa Hot Drops
Cures all coughs, colds, hoarseness, sore
throat, bronchitis, hemorrhage and all
throat and lung diseases. Elegant, reliable.
25 cents at druggists. Prepared only by
Dr. U. Moxley, Atlanta,Ga.
MEDICAL
CHICHESTER'S ENGLISH. RED CROSS DIAMOND BRAND ~A
rEHUNRONMi * VUiViS A
i T.*? C 0 *'0'"l-NOCC*omr. T >>' <ly Bft, *■, ninlUUe Fu. (or MJe \v
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SoxoaMoWiwttAbjaenbhoa. Take no other kind. m/We and /oaroaoao N/
I'HIoIS bull* bout. Plak arappetm, an daarerau eonnterfrita. AtD na
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1 L a . £s"* Zap*-. ChICHCSTCM CHEMICAL CO , MadUV7o‘i*’
SA.U by .11 Local Dru*W Fn 11.A1)"Li’IiTaTp A? 1
P, P, P, Pimples
PRICKLY ASH, POKE ROOT Blotches
AND POTASSIUM
Makes
„ Old Sores
Marvelous Cures
Prickly Ash, Poke Boot and Potassium,
m e the greatest blood purifier on earth!
in Blood Poison SSSSS
Blood are cured by P. p. P.
Randail Pope, the retired druggist of
• Madison, Fla., says : P. P. p. Ltne beet
Hnafimaticm alterative and blood modicino on the
(Qlly U'llQllwlll market. He being adruggist and hav
t.iieaiiiaHMiil j sold all kinds of medicine, his un
eolieited testimonial is of great impor
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and Scrofula
MWI VIUSU great pleasure in testifying to the effi
wmohmim—mjh cient qualities of the popular remedy
for eruptions of the skin known ra
n r. P P- P. (Prickly Ash, Poke Root and
P. P. P. purifies the blood, builds up Potassium.) I suffered for several
the weak and debilitated, give* strength years with an unsightly and disagio
to weakened nerves, expels diseases, eable eruption on my face, and tried
giving the patient health and happiness various remedies to remove ft, none of
where sickness, gloomy feelings and which aecoinpUshed the object, until
lassitude first prevailed. this valuable preparation was resorted
In blood poison, mercurial poison, to. After taking three bottlce, in ao
malaria, dyspepsia and in all blood ana cordance with directions, lam now et>
skin diseases, like blotches, pimples, tiroiy cured. J. D. JOHNSTON,
old chronic ulcers, tetter, ecaldheod,
we may say without fear of contra- ’ “Havannnn n„
diction that P. P. P. is the beet blood „ , “"““nan, uo.
purifier inthe world. 0 Superintendent of the
, . . Savannah Brewery, says: ho has had
Ladles whose systems are poisoned rheumatism of the heart for several
end whose blood is in an impure con- years, often unable to walk his pain was
dltiou, due to menstrual irregularities, so intense; he had professors In I*hl)v
are peculiarly benefited by the won- delphiabut received no relief until he
derful tonic and blood cleansing pro- came to Savannah and tri-d P. P p
perties of P. P. P.. Prickly Ash, l'uke Two bottles made him a well mop ati.j
Root and Potassium. he renders thanks to P. P. P. ..
All druggists sell It.
LIPPMAN BROS., Proprietors,
Lippman’s Block, Savannah, On.
RAILROADS,
Florida Central ana Peninsalar^RaUroaS
FLORIDA TRUNK LINE-SHORT LINE TO TAMPA—TIME CARD IN EFFECT NOV. R iT
GOING SOUTH—READ DOWN. GOING NORTH—READ UP.
I
Daily. [ Daily. Daily. Daily.
12:45 pm 7:0-1 am Lv Savannah Ar 7:50 pm 18:14 n’n
6:43pm: 11:88 am I-v Callahan Ar 1:45 pm 7:3oam
9:00 pm 11:10 am Lv Jacksonville Ar 1:55 pm 6:3oam
12:83 n’t 2:83 pm Ar Hawthorne. Lv 10:44 am 3:23 am
2:12 am 3:44 pm Ar Ocala Lv 9:34 am 1:43 am
3:85 am 4:40 pm Ar Wildwood Lv 8:35 am 18:15 am
4:52 am 503 pm Ar Lacoocbee Lv 7:32 am 10:53 am
s:l2am t?:00 pm Ar Dade City Lv 7:l4am 10:30 pm
6:25 am 7:19 pm Ar PlautOity Lv 5:57 am 9:17 pm
7:45 am 8:20 pm Ar Tampa Lv 5:00 am 8:10 orn
3:35am 4:4opm 1.v.... Wildwood Ar 8:36 am 11:15 am
6:45 am 5:40 pm Ar Tavares Lv 7:33 am 9:00 pm
7:50 am 6:36 pm Ar Apopka Lv 6:87 am 5:56 pm
9:00 am 7:10 pm Ar Orlando Lv 6:00 am 4:30 ym
4:52 am 5:43 pm Lv. Laoooohee Ar 7:32 am 10:53 am
8:20 am 8:43 pm Ar Tarpon Springs Lv 7:40 pm
8:38 am 9:00 pm Ar Sutherland Lv 7:23 pm
10:00 am 10:51 pm Ar. St. Petersburg Lv 6:05 pm
*8:40 am *4:57 pm Ar Dunnellon. Lv *8:08am *4:33pm
SAVANNAH AND FERNANDINA.
BE SURE TDAT YOUR TICKETS REID via CALLAHAN.
I 7:25 pm! 7:04 amlLv Savannah Ar) 7:50 pm[ 18:14 nil
i 9:45 am| 8:00 pmjAr Fernandlua. Lvj iQ:10 am 5:50 pm
♦Daily except Sunday. tMeals,
CALL 111 AN la the transfer station for all points In South Florida reached by the F, C. A
P. and its connections.
Solid trains Ca lahan to Tampa and Orlando. Cl os* connection at Tampa with So. Fla R. R
for Port Tampa, Key West and Havana Close connection at Owensboro with So. Fla R. R. fc*
lakeland and Bartow. Close connection at Tnvar is with J., T. and K. W. Ry. for Sanford and
Titusville. Pullman Buffet sleeping cars on night trains. Through short line Jacksonville to N
Orleans, Jacksonville to Tbomasvllle, Montgomery aqd Cincinnati. Tioketa sold and biggags
checked through to all points In the United States. Canada and Mexico. Sand for best map of
Florida published, and for any Information desired, to
D. E. MAXWELL, O. M. A. O. MACDONELL, G. P. a., Jacksonville.
MEDICAL.
Dn. K. C. Wgsrr’s Knave and Brain To ka
Hest, a guaranteed specific for Hysteria, Dlz*
ness. Convulsions, Fite, Nervous Neuraiaia.
Headaolio,Nervou* Prostration caused by the um
Of aloohol or toboceo. Wakefulness. Mental r>ei
pression. Softening of the Brain, resulting in in.
Sanity and leading to mis :rv. decay and death
Premature Old Age, Barrenness, Loss of Pows
In either sex. Involuntary Lossos and Spermaa
orrhoea caused by over-exertion of the brain self
abuse or over-lndo!genc *. Kach box contain*
one month's treatment. $1 HOa box, or six
forfißOd, sent hv mail nrena'd . n receipt, of kTofr
WE GUARANTEE KIX BOXES™ I** 1 **
To cure any oose. With each order received by
,IS i i r s i x . , boxes > accompanied with i, we
uiu send the purotiaaer our written guai antes
to refund the money it the treatment does not
5; - (iu *r*nte issued only by THE
vt-im - Bole Agents, Savannah. Oa.
Powd^’oi^ 1 ' HO ‘ t ’ u,e Tolk*
mmmm
tiPPMAN BROSSAYAhiNAH. Ga~.
B - U, s. sa
Broilton Bros, k C 0.7
I'EAT.ERS IX
Paints, Oils, Varnishes, Brushes,
Glass, Etc.
Agentß for F. W. DEVOE'S READY-MIXED
PAINTS. House, Sign and Decorative Paint
ing, Wall Paper and Interior Decorations.
42 and 44 Barnard Street,
TELEPHONE NO. 188.
SHOES.
Wall Mil
Above ua stands no competing stock; below ul
lie no competing prices.
FINE GOODS
AND
Plenty of Them.
All the leading and representative styles foi
fall and winter in LADIES’,
and CHILDREN'S
Fine Footwear
ONE AIM—TO KEEP THE BEST.
ONE PRINCIPLE-FAIR DEALING.
ONE AMBITION—TO PLEASEOUB TBADS.
ONE PRICE—THE LOWEST.
Our Promise is a Truth Toil
BUTLER & MORRISSEY,
PLUMBER AND GAS FITTER^
” ~ ICSTABLISHED 145%
JOHN nTcoisok,
30 AND 32 DRAYTON STREET.
Practical Plumber, Steam
and Gasfitter.
A fine assortment of GAS FIXTURES awi
GLOBES, two to eight lights, at
moderate prices.
All sizes of , ~
IRON AND LEAD AND OTHER PIPES A.'in
COCKS. ~
A full line of Valves and Fittings. f ro ™ 2m.
6 inohes. Everythin*: necessary to fit upsw“'
Hydraulic and Wind mill power.
Civil and Steam Engineer* will find it
advantage to call.
BATH TUBS,
WATER CLOSETS and
WASH BASISS.
CHANDELIERS. GLASS GLOBES.
And other articles apjiertalmug to a first-c
honest establishment always in stock. ~
READ the Sunday Mobhiwg Nsws. for
at KIEFFER'S DRUG STORE,
Broad and Stewart streets.
CiLUIIAN is the Janclional Point Sooth Tor This Road.
