Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 January 1880 — NARROW ESCAPES. [ARTICLE]

NARROW ESCAPES.

Some Remarkable Occurrences. A number of years ago I was traveling through a wild portion of Upper India. At a small village I lost every attendant with whom I had left Delhi —two being struck down with the cholera, and the others running away with my horses—thus leaving me afoot and alone in a region which had the repnta-

tion of being infested with Thugß, robbers and cutthroats. I complained to the Chief Magistrate of the place, and he promised, of cotbrse, that the rascals should be caught and punished; but it is my private opinion that he was as great a scoundrel as any about him, and that he connived at their escape, and got the lion’s share of the spoils. My money and some valuable jewels were fortunately secured about my person, and, being armed with a doublebarreled rifle, a brace of pistols, and a large Spanish dirk-knife, I thought I might venture to find my way, alone and without a guide, to an English station about thirty miles distant. Without making my design known to the Jdarogah, I placed my baggage under his charge, telling him I should hold him responsible for any loss. “And why not, your Honor, watch it yourself? ”. ha asked. “ Because the thieves have proved too many for me already,” I answered. He inquired if I were going to leave, which way I intended to travel, if he should procure me reliable guides and escort, and so forth and so on; but I answered evasively, determined to keep my design to myself till certain of being among men worthy of trust. Having, by different inquiries of different persons, learned the best route to the place I wished to reach, 1 slipped out of the village after dark, and went to a neighboring forest, where 1 climbed a tree and passed the night in its branches. The next morning, after a slight repast on such food and fruit as 1 had provided for the journey, I set forward through the wood, following a traveled path, and.guiding myself by a small pocket compass. The route, lying through forest and jungle, up hill and down, was lonely and dreary enough to make me more than once wish for a companion. More than once I fancied I heard thfe growl of some wild beast, and stopped and stood on the defensive; and several times the whir of some large bird flying iip near me, or the sudden soream and rush of a frightened monkey, gave me a start that was anything but pleasant; but, with these exceptions, I got along very well till about midday, wlien, as I was in the act of descending into a dark, gloomy hollow, where the trees, vines and luxurious vegetation so interfered as to make it a matter of some risk and trouble to pick my way through, I was suddenly brought to a stand ivy a noise resembling a scuffle in the path before me, accompanied by what appeared to be human groans. From where I stopped I could not see tho contending parties, though the sounds told me they were quite near. There were evidently not more than two of them, and I thought it would be quite safe for me to venture forward, especially as I was well armed. What could it be? Perhaps some Thug had fallen upon a traveler like myself, and was now strangling him, according to the highest code of his religion. That tho peculiar sounds I heard proceeded from anything but human strife and human misery, I had not the remotest idea; and therefore m.y surprise and astonishment may be imagined when, on gliding through a sort of vegetable tunnel I beheld, upon a more open and lighter space, a large monkey in the coils of a venomous snake.

I was just in time to witness, not the struggle, but the death of the poor quadruped. His last groan had passed his lips; his eyes, half out of his head, were already glazed, and, with a single convulsive quiver through his crushed body, his life went out at the moment my gaze fell upon him. The snake, perhaps hearing my approach, raised its huge, misshapen, hooded head, turned its fiery eyes full upon me, ran out its rexL-f Qrked, vitpuixu 0 yt 1 Knowing its victim was dead, and that it now had a formidable foe to contend with, uncoiled itself like lightning, and appeared standing up straight before me, the most appalling sight, all things considered, I had ever looked upon. I had advanced with my rifle upon my shoulder, prepared for the necessity of a quick shot, and now, impulsively taking a hurried aim, I fired one barrel at the broad, ugly head of tho monster. Fortunately, I hit him somewhere about the neck, and he dropped, but threw himself about with the wildest contortions, and in a single moment was at my feet. I jumped back with a wild cry, and, scarcely conscious of what I was doing, thrust down the muzzle of my piece, and fired the other barrel just as he was in the act of seizing it with a venomous snap, blowing his head to atoms.

I was secretly returning heartfelt thanks for my deliverance, when I was again startled by a slight rustliDg of the bushes to the left, and by the time I could draw a pistol, not knowing what I might next have to encounter, I found myself confronted, not by a beast, but a man. “ Ah! well met, fellow-traveler,” he said, in very good English, as if he had divined my nativity at a glance. “ I heard your two Bhots, and felt glad to know that I was not alone in this wilderness. You have had a narrow escape,” he added, looking down at the dead snake.

He was a fine-looking fellow, being tall, straight and graceful, with black hair and eyes, and dark, classic features. He was lightly dressed, after the fashion of the country, and apparently armed only with a knife, the sheath of which was secured to the girdle at his waist. Without replying in the familiar manner in which he had addressed me, I drew myself up with* a somewhat haughty reserve, and coldly demanded who he \yas, and how he came to be secreted in the thicket, if his purpose was honest. “ Why, to tell the truth,” he replied, in an open, straightforward manner, “ I am, like yourself, perhaps, on my way to the English fort; and, not liking the appearance of this lonely path, which I feared might lead me into an ambuscade of Thugs, I turned out to go round to the hill yonder, where the route again beeomes more open; but, being hot and weary, I stopped to rest and there heard the crack of a rifle that assured me a fellow-traveler was upon the road that I might join with safety.”

44 And how did you know I was not one of the party you feared?” “ Because they do not use firearms. But I see you are suspicious, and perhaps would prefer to go on alone, though I think two are safer than one.” 44 You shall go with me,” I quietly replied, as I stepped back a pace or two, placed my pistol convenient to my hand, and coolly proceeded to reload my rifle. “ Where did you learn English, and how did you know I was a native of Great Britain ?” 44 1 learned the language of your countrymen, with whom I have had many pleasant dealings as a trader,” he answered, without hesitation; “and I knew you were an Englishman by your appearance.” Having finished loading my rifle, I felt more at ease; and then I quietly informed my new acquaintance that we could not part company again on the route, but that I would accord him the privilege of—walking in advance. 44 You see, I take you at your word/ said I; “ and if you are what you profess to be you will not feel hurt at my caution. You shall go before me, and shall walk with safety so long as you do nothing to confirm my suspicion; but I warn joa at the same time that, if I per-

ceive a single sign of treachery, I wiU shoot you down as I would a wild beast!” “ Why, what do yon take me for? ” he demanded, with an astonished air. “ A Thug! ” returned I; “ a highway murderer and robber —neither more nor less! I have heard of your tricks upon travelers,away off in my native isle; but I, at least, am upon my guard, and this time your wicked scheme hss xie laughed, but merely said, “ Have it your own way. I am satisfied to humor your suspicion, knowing you really mean me no harm, and that when we reach the fort, and I prove to you I am an honest man, you will do me justice.” “ Most assuredly,” I answered. He then set forward with an air of careless indifference,'and I kept close behind him, and my eye upon every motion. Thus we passed through the dark jungle, and ascended to the moreopen path of the higher lands, without meeting with any new adventure. In an open spot beside a clear spring, I stopped and made him sit beside me while I rested and ate my noonday meal, which I shared with him. Then we resumed our journey, he going before, as usual; and so fast did we travel, for I was determined not to spend another night in the forest, that, when the sun went down, I saw, from a neighboring hill, the cross of St. George waving over the station where my day’s journey was to end. While crossing the valley to reach it, however, night came upon us; and, favored by the darkness, my suspicious acquaintance suddenly dis appeared. I got through in safety, though, received a warm welcome from my countrymen, and subsequently obtained all the aid and redress I sought. Two years later, being ,at Bereilly while a notorious Thug was on trial for his life, curiosity led me to the courtroom, when, to my surprise, I recognized in the prisoner at the bar the identical individual whom I had compelled to perform a weary journey in front of me. He was convicted of murder and condemned to death; but, pre vious to his execution, I managed to obtain an interview with him, when he frankly confessed that the incident of the monkey and the snake, by inducing him, as the leader of his party, to change his plan, was the principal cause of my life being preserved, my shrewd suspicion and bold determination doing the rest. Being on the watch for travelers, he ‘and bis companions had seen me on the road early in the day, and five of them had secreted themselves in that dark, lonely jungle, intending to spring upon me and do their murderous work, according as their religion teaches, by strangulation; it not being lawful for them to kill in any other manner. The discharge of both barrels at the snake, taken in connection with my supposed natural fright and excitement, led him to think he could accomplish his purpose in a different way; and so he appeared, to talk, to cajole, and catch me off my guard—but, as the matter turned cut, caught a Tartar instead. By keeping his life in my hands, as it were, I kept down his companions, and so I was saved. I bad before thanked Heaven for preserving me from the venomous snake, and, when I heal’d the story of the murderous Thug, I again thauked Heaven for having sent the snake to preserve rue from a band of religious assassins.