The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, January 16, 1898, Page 26

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, JANUARY 16, 1898 CRUISE OF THE CALIFORNIA. pters: Binnte has | by the chief of ¥ war int which CHAPTER XII “Faster,” said the chief of the Skull Hunters. At the black followers | quickened e into a dog trot, dragging with them. Binnie was y a stout thong fto a native ck who had been treach- : a prisoner by Ghoor- These two were at the head of a long line of | the small end of the club and pulling | | out a long knife that had a blade like proof of his ingenuity by unscrewing | a razor’'s edge. | “It is all right,” said Kemona, “the | knife will cut the ropes and may come | handy for other use. We are not as| helpless as we seem, although there are | only two of us. Now, I will just take a | littie nap in this tree and not show my- | self.” So saying, the Australian fas- | tened his precious club to a branch, picked out two limbs to lie upon and slept until the sun was far toward the close of the day. ‘When Kemona again started to fol- | Jow the trail he ran across the open plain like a deer. Plunging into the | forest on the other side, he still made rapid headway. No Mohawk Indian could have traced his game more cer- oners who were | tainly, when chasing be: or wolves, tied together two by twe Slaves of | than Kemona now showed. He wz Ghoor-Ghee-Tee beat them with rods | never at a loss. Mile after mile he ran, 20 hasten their steps. All night they had marched through & dense forest, wading through streams, climbing over the trunks of fallen tre. &and over bou alling often in the darkness, but urged on by the ~voice of Ghoor-Ghe: e and by the ‘blows dealt by the slaves. not a cry was uttered savage captives. During it all by any of the Binnie was as brave and stoical as they and ned the favor of the native chief, to whom he -was tled, by helping him to rise when he had fallen and 3 t was fast between rocks. For Binnie Teceived s 1 blows because he stopped, but bore them without flinching. Often, as they crossed streams, they wakened crocodiles that were sleeping 4n the mud. Once a crocodile snapped its jaws close to Binnie, but the spear and he looked pleased, for he knew that while Ghoor-Ghee-Tee might run all one night and the next day, he must stop that night somewhere. “So to-night,” he said, “I will save Binnie or all will be lost.” Just at dark Kemona came to a broad, swift stream, which Ghoor-Ghee- | Tee and his slaves and captives had | crossed. “This stream,” said Kemona, “flows to the Marwise. I will take my chance | floating down with it.” With his sharp knife he vigorously attacked a log which lay near the edge | of the stream and soon hoilowed out | the middle of it so that it would se- curely hold his war club and its con- | tents. Then he found some berries | and ground nuts, which he ate eager- 1y, for he was very hungry. He finish- his meal with a drink of water from o = sl e s (uRtinto he monitend stream and then lay down and throat with the spe » flash. Pois. | Waited until darkness came. He then " in ihe | Pushed his log out from the bank and surprised 7 ¥ 4he march was Hunters and the summit of a hill and the slav the prisoners until they ran at the of their speed. The night was almost gone. Ahead was an open, rolling plain. Ghoor-Ghee-Tee wished to cross this and enter the forest that lay be- <wvond before day, for he feared tt wwhite men might be pursuing and see his party in the open. There was no white man near. But &8 Ghoor-Ghee-Tee came into the open 2 black man nimbly climbed a tall tree that stood beside the newly made tr: beat,, top and, screened by the branches, looked | with keen eyes, in silence, across the plain. Kemona was counting the sav- ages. There were between fifty and eixty, including the savage prisoners and Binnie. The captors and captives svere about evenly divided. “Good,” said Kemona, “it will not be | e desperate chance to rescue Binnie if | the other prisoners will fight. Let me gee how my arsenal gets along.” He drew to view a big war club, with which, on the cruise of the Cali- fornia, he had amused himself, hollow- ing it out in places and neatly fitting back the outside, s that the club seem- ed to be solid. From the secret places he drew forth four revolvers, which he carefully examined. “They are all right,” he said, “and g0 is the ammunition. Two pistols for Binnie and two for Kemona and plenty at the | ted down with the stream. Faster and faster ran the water and | Kemona thought that he was ap-| proaching rapids. Another stream | joined with the one on which he was | | floating and the two made quite a| | riv The roar of rushing waters came | to Kemona's ears. “Not rapids, but a waterfall,” he | muttered to himself. | With great difficulty he managed to | | reach one bank of the river, where the | | stream sharply turned. At once hni hauled his log up on the bank and be- | gan to look about. The dull sound of | the falling water told him that the waterfall was high. He could feel the earth tremble under his feet. “Through the forest then,” he said. He found out that the foresi could not be penetrated. Thorn bushes of great size, armed with spikes as dan- gerous as bayonets, stood close to- gether up and down the river banks | for miles and made a barrier through which nothing but a snake could pass. To leap an unknown waterfall in the dark! Possibly to be torn to pieces on sharp jagged stones, amid the rushing and strangling waters! Perhaps, after all, to be able to safely pass over the waterfall and the dizzy whirlpool be- low, only to be disabled in sight if the camp where Binnie was, and so unable to rescue him after all! Be it to the credit of Kemona that this thought troubled him more than the danger. | Climbing a tree close to the edge of | the river Kemona saw that which de- of cartridges for that party. But how 18 my knife?” Kemona gave another | cided him to go on, whatever the peril | might be. | gerous than the waterfall. Far below gleamed the light of a camp fire. Around it were dancing | dusky savages, waving clubs and act- | ing ferociously. Had Ghoor-Ghee-Tee | brought his pti here to kill them and take poss n_of their skulls: Was Binnie in immediate danger? Be- low was the roaring river, breaking white and threatening on the bowlders in its course. Above-the sound of the river was the booming of the waterfall, rising like the noise of a great battle of artiller: But not one instant more Kemona hesitated. | The river waves raced by Kemona like white-maned war horses as he once more plunged in with his log. Tho-‘( dusky forest trees on the river banks looked like huge, black giants and seemed to rush madly by as the water bore him on faster and faster. The og struck vith terrific force against bowlders, whirled dizzily around and around, and then swept on again like a doomed ship going into the breakers. Such shocks nearly stunned the A tralian, but he held on. Other lo ept by him, grazing his feet and hands and threatening to strike him off into the water; the bowlders tore his flesh. Faithful through all he held on and disdained to try to swim ashore and save himself. He would get to Binnie or die. The thunder of the waterfall grew deafering. The log glided over a stretch of smooth, glistening water and then gave a fearful, sickening leap down, down, down, surrounded by flying, blinding foam, down—seem- ingly to the middle of the earth. A black spot in the whirlpool below the mighty fall darted here and there, was | raised on hi- them. Finally, waves and sank below through a channel strewn with rocks, the black spot was | floated into smooth water below. It drifted down past the camp of the vas the log with half drowned, 1a clinging desper y to it. An hour’s rest on shore and Kemo- na was himself again. Taking in hand his war club he walked carefully to- ward the camp. . to rescue Binnie,” It must be r-Ghee-Tee cannot | | he said to done to-night. be more dan- D.EL W (To be Continued.) \SURPVRISED & BY A BABY. Johnnie 1s a d passed three of his four short years of life out on a big ranch with his father and mother. There has always been a ant in the kitchen to help | and one or two men about to help h been any neighbor sociable evenings, and Johnnie has had no little boys and girls to play with at all. When he was three years old one of the men who worked for his father before, came back, and brought with him a pretty puppy with black, curly hair and big brown eyes, and | gave him to the lonely little boy, and from that moment Johnnie and Star— for that was the name that he gave his pet—became almost inseparable. Star grew much faster than his small ster did, and was soon so large that he could not manage him at all except by coaxing (whic is really the best way to manage anyone when you come to think of it), but the two were the very best of friends, and were together almost every moment of the time that Johnnie was awake. Indeed, when, in the long, hot summer da the little boy, tired with play and with running about, would fall asleep in the shade of the porch, he was pretty sure to have Star’s shaggy side for a pillow, and Star’s eyes would come open with a snap, and he would growl most sav- agely, if anyone came near to disturb their mutual slumbers. The big dog had been Johnnie's con- stant companion and playmate and faithful friend for a whole long twelve- month when some news came from the | FEast that made the grown people of the family very happy indeed. John- nie’s aunt, Annie, wrote to them say- | ing that her husband and she had de- | cided to come to California and take up a near-by claim which Johnnie's father had written them about. John- r little boy who has | father, but there have never | to come in and be | nie’s mamma was so pleased when she | read the letter that she cried, but there was something in it that she did not uni along with her which she w sure would delight them all; and what that surprise was to be kept them busy guessing, until the time actually came for Johnnie's father to take the big ranch wagon and go down to the near- est town after the new-comers. It took him a whole day to go and another to come back, and, because of the load that he brought, the coming- Presently his mother and father came in, too, and then as Johnnie sat in his aunt’s lap it occurred to him to ask about that wonderful something about which he had been puzzling his curly head for weeks. Everybody laughed when he asked the timid question, but his aunt put him down and went over to the bed. She took a bundle out of it and came and sat down again and began to un- wrap it, while Star and Johnnie stood and watched her with silent curiosity. And such a queer thing as it was which she uncovered! Johnnie was a pretty brave little boy for his size, but he had never in his life seen anything which looked to him- quite so mysteriously dreadful. It was a queer, shapeless, alive thing, with a lumpy body and bits of short arms, and a long white skirt which apparently covered long, limp legs which reached clear to the floor. It had a big, white, bald head and flaring ears, and black eyes, and no neck at all, and instead of teeth it had a terri- fying show of empty red gums. It was a “surprise” in truth, for poor Johnnie had never seen anything of the kind in all his life, and he had not the slight- est idea that it was a baby—and a very nice little baby, too—which his aunt was showing him. He was so frightened that he just stood and stared until the strange creature suddenly wrinkled up its face, shut its eyes tight and turning a deep crimson opened its empty mouth wide and began to scream with all its might. And then w do you suppose John- nie and Star did? Star growled and put his tail between his legs, and then he and Johnnie, who was too alarmed to think of anything but hiding, went under the bed together and stayed there, too, until the baby stopped cry- ing and Johnnie’s mamma made him understand that it was a dear [little | cousin that his aunt had brought him, and that everybody looked like that when they were tiny babies. —_—— BERKELEY BOYS A'GYPSYING. Over In Berkeley are three or four small boys, the oldest of whom is 10, who have actually built a house and e oerololeleroloreIcIeIcIeIototototoClelolorotolelofofofolelolofofoleic) THE LITTLE SAN DIEGO MAID. OEPO® @ Sweet as a linnet’s summer song You have a bagpipe, too, to play. To feast and sing all day Is sweet. She seized the bee! “You naughty, cruel little thing! PREOMPPPEEOPPIPVIO®® ® use. Younger builders and cooks are not in all California. TALE OF THREE BROTHERS. brothers. One day they found them- selves In a great garden, passing thrcugh a gateway of flowers, with laughter such as belongs only to youth, to reach the garden. Just within the lady, who said that her name was Des- tiny, and that she had come to direct den. “Only a little way on,” said the lady, “you will find the gifts that I have placed there for you. Take them and g0 upon your ways as bravely as you can.” ®he lady then told the brothers to stand side by side, Ray in the middle and Robert and Richard on either side. “March!” she said. The three: brothers found that their paths led farther and farther apart. They called aloud, from time to time, words of brotherly love and good cheer KEMONA, TO SAVE BINNIE’'S LIFE, MAKES A FEARFUL PLUNGE OVER A WATERFALL | & UPON A LOG. T back day was a very long one indeed, so long that although Johnnie tried his best to keep awake, he fell asleep and never knew a thing about his visitors until the next morning. Then, when he came in from his usual morning run with Star, the door of the eitting-room, which had been turned into a bedroom for the time being was open and | strange young man and woman called him inside and kissed him and praised | Star until Johnnie thought that an uncle and aunt were very nice things to have indeed. 3/.} are attempting to cook their own meals, or some of them. Their menu takes in steaks, mushes, rice and per- haps other articles of food. These they prepare in good style, at a brick furnace, just outside of their house, and their meals are eaten In the house with genuine relish. The house is provided with only one room. It has a window and a door. The roof is rain-proof. Many a person has less comfortable rooms than these little boys have made for their own until their voices were lost by distance. Then, separately, they went their ways in silence. Robert found his prize first—an ap- ple of soiid gold. He plucked it gladly. Richard next found his prize—a scar- let plume, to lead him to fame. With this Richard marched on with swelling pride. Ray’'s pathway soon grew poor and mean. The trees shriveled up, the flowers dried and sparkling springs of water ceased to flow. He eame to a wretched little house. In it was a package upcn which was his name and the inscription, “The Solace of Want.” | He opened the package and found in it only a poor, ragged coat. Ray put on the coat with a sigh and moved on. Robert’s path soon led him into a great and wealthy city. There he was welcomed. There, after a time, he en- tered into a rich mansion, which con- tained many pictures, which was car- | peted with satin and in which were dishes and vessels of pure gold. Here Rotert lived many years, and he mar- ried the daughter of a great prince, who brought him much money. But of peace or rest had he. ®e The clock struck one! Hit the rat and the mouse from the O POPEEOPEONE OO ® A little San Diego maid whose years were scarcely four Played where the nectared flowers, In vases fine, held honeyed store. As to bird, bee and drowsy air she sang of childish joys, “Dear bee,” she sang, “I wish that I could live in flowers like you; And have for friend the mignonette and sip the scented dew. ‘While sang the maid, a honey bee, like to a Corsair bold Assailing all the floral crew, bespoiled them of their gold. Then, cruising zigzag, steered his course to where the pinks in shoals Of garden bloom—a roseate reef of coral raised their bolls. Then went my little maid and said: So let us play together now; you be a child—pretend.” His rapier thrust was followed by a cry I be a bee? Oh—h—h, my foJoJoJoJoolooJojolofolooJolofolofoXoJoJoJoJooYoXoJolofo] Robert, Richard and Ray were three | shadow of the gateway they met a| them upon their paths through the gar- | B X ECRsTolofoYoYoloXoJofofolojojojojojojojojofolofolofoYoYoXoXo) A CLOCK -PUZZLE. A mouse and a rat ‘Were playing under an old straw hat. They heard the machinery clucking and wheezing, And the dust from the clock case set both of them sneezing. In the clock they ran, and the old clock door Shut with a slam that joggled the floor. Then the springs, cogs and hammers, as if in mad spite, Little boy, little girl, now please guess—just for fun— Ifythe crazy old clock then struck two, or struck onet ojolojolelofojojojojofofolclojofobiofofoJoYoJoolofolofofoYofoloYolo) was the dear maiden’s voice You are a lucky bee. Could I do that—ah, me!” | “Oh, bee, you are my friend, foJololololoJoloJoICIoIoJoJOIOOLOIOXOJOJOXOLO] [oJoJoJoJooXO] Richard placed his plume in his hat. His pathway led up a steep mountalin, above which eagl screamed, as they wheeled in dizzy circles. On the sum- mit of the mounatin Richard looked around. He saw sunny valleys below im, in which were growing crops, vil- lages and cities, schoolhouses and | churches, and the people in the valleys all seemed to be friendly and happy. Richard paused not, but placed a trumpet to his lips and blew a long, resounding blast. The sound was heard in the valleys and the effect was magi- cal. People dropped their rakes and pruning knives in the fields and or- chards. Those in the cities gathered nto armies and soon, upon a wide plain, a glittering host was assembled. Bands of music were there; squadrons | of horsemen, with shining swords in | their hands: hundreds of cannons and thousands of men with guns in their hands. Over the multitude waved flags. The soldiers cheered as Richard, riding a black horse and wearing a gay uniform, came among them. He was known al- ready as the great general who had called the soldiers together and at his command great battles were to be fought and won, that he might gain fame. = At the head of his army Richard drove in a whirlwind of dust, through towns and cities which had been set on fire by the torches of his soldiery; and he heard, on all sides, the shrieks and curses of those who had been brought to woe and ruin by him. In his greatest battle there rode up toward Richard, from the ranks of the enemy, a gray-haired horseman, who looked so like Richard that the soldiers murmured as they saw him. Robert and the gray-haired horseman fought. At last Richard struck down his an- tagonist, who rolled in the dust and was trampled under the iron hoofs of his own horse. Then and there, In sight of his own soldiers, while cheers were in the air and artillery thundered, Richard broke his sword in two and rode from the field of battle, with bowed head. and scbbing, for the gray-haired horseman whom he had struck down was his father. Ray wandered along ways that were strewn with thorns. Rich men and rich women and even the children of the rich laughed at the ragged coat and at the wearer, but Ray would not take it off. Poor men and women and poor children heard with joy of his coming. He found gold, only to scat- ter it, with generous hands, among the needy. He sat by the bedside of the sick. He spoke gentle words of com- fort to those in sorrow. Every day he prized his ragged coat. He had found a writing in one of the pockets and so had learned the secret of it. Every day he grew braver, more | patient and more loving. While he was very sorry for all who were in trouble, he was still happy, for destiny had given him the coat of iove to wear as a garment. He envied no one. And, as for fight- ing any one for the sake of fame, that was impossible for him. After very many days the three brothers met once more. Robert and Richard had anxious looks and often sighed. Only Ray could smile as joy- ously as they had all smiled when they began their journey together. Robert still clung to his apple of gold and Richard valued his plume. But Ray tore his coat into three pleces, gave each of his brothers one, saving the poorest piece for himself. He had grown into the habit of loving so that he could spare a part of the coat. Of course this is a fable. The gar- den is the world. They who journey through it loving their fellows ean smile in poverty, while the envious and the ambitious are never satisfled, even when they have much. —_——— An old beggar, who used to frequent the doors of one of the principal churches of Rome, died lately. He was | found to be possessed of £37,000, which he had left by a properly drawn-up he was never happy, for the apple of | will to his three children, who were gold always urged him on, and naught | completely ignorant of their father's wealth. [O] ® ® ® ® [} ® ® ® ® @ @ left and the right. g ® ® ® [C] THE BUMPKINS RIDING TO A HOT FINISH » ON THE BACKS OF THE PARK DONKEYS.