125 files changed, 17 insertions, 15322 deletions

diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d7b82bc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitattributes
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+*.txt text eol=lf
+*.htm text eol=lf
+*.html text eol=lf
+*.md text eol=lf
diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6312041
--- /dev/null
+++ b/LICENSE.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements,
+metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be
+in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES.
+
+Procedures for determining public domain status are described in
+the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org.
+
+No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in
+jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize
+this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright
+status under the laws that apply to them.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..860d262
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for
+eBook #51061 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/51061)
diff --git a/old/51061-0.txt b/old/51061-0.txt
deleted file mode 100644
index 4d884bf..0000000
--- a/old/51061-0.txt
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,5891 +0,0 @@
-The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Wide World Magazine - Vol. 22, No. 131,
-February 1909, by Various
-
-This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most
-other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions
-whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of
-the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at
-www.gutenberg.org.  If you are not located in the United States, you'll have
-to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook.
-
-Title: The Wide World Magazine - Vol. 22, No. 131, February 1909
-
-Author: Various
-
-Release Date: January 28, 2016 [EBook #51061]
-
-Language: English
-
-Character set encoding: UTF-8
-
-*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WIDE WORLD MAGAZINE, FEBRUARY 1909 ***
-
-
-
-
-Produced by Victorian/Edwardian Pictorial Magazines,
-Jonathan Ingram, Wayne Hammond and the Online Distributed
-Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-  Table of Contents
-
-
-                                                        Page
-
-  Short Stories.                                         419
-
-  Whale v. Sharks.                                       419
-
-  A Battle in Mid-air.                                   422
-
-  Up in a Balloon.                                       425
-
-  Some “Freak” Memorials.                                428
-
-  DOWN THE CHUTE: A Miner’s Extraordinary Experience.    436
-
-  Where Women Wear Trousers.                             443
-
-  Retribution.                                           451
-
-  Mountain Tragedies of the Lake District.               457
-
-  Cupid and the Dentist.                                 464
-
-  My Experiences in Algeria.                             469
-
-  I.—MY ADVENTURES IN ‘FRISCO.                           476
-
-  II.—A Sharp Lesson.                                    480
-
-  III.—“Seeing It Out.”                                  485
-
-  In the Land of the Reindeer.                           489
-
-  “Tapu.”                                                497
-
-  The Finches’ Festival.                                 503
-
-  The Fight at The A-T Ranch.                            509
-
-  THE WIDE WORLD: In Other Magazines                     515
-
-  Odds and Ends.                                         516
-
-[Illustration: “WILLIAMS LASHED AT THE BIRD WITH HIS STICK.”
-
-(SEE PAGE 424.)]
-
-
-
-
-THE WIDE WORLD MAGAZINE.
-
-  Vol. XXII.      FEBRUARY, 1909.      No. 131
-
-[Illustration: SHORT STORIES.]
-
-    Another instalment of a fascinating budget of adventure
-    narratives. This month we publish accounts of a fight to the
-    death between a whale and a school of thresher sharks; a
-    nest-robber’s terrible battle with an infuriated mother-eagle;
-    and the nerve-trying experience which befell a Surrey cyclist
-    while out for a Saturday afternoon spin.
-
-
-
-
-WHALE _v._ SHARKS.
-
-BY VICTOR PITT-KETHLEY.
-
-
-Early on the morning of August 14th last, while engaged in building new
-quarters for the lighthouse-keeper at Breaksea Island, near Rottnest,
-Western Australia, the contractor and his men noticed a bull whale,
-with a cow and calf, passing the island some distance off. They watched
-them with interest for awhile, noting the immense size of the two
-parents and the methodical regularity with which columns of water rose
-from their blowholes, and then resumed their labours.
-
-An hour or so later--about nine o’clock, to be exact--the men were
-startled by an extraordinary noise, apparently coming from the eastern
-end of the island, a noise unlike anything they had ever heard before.
-Dropping their tools and staring towards the east, they beheld such a
-sight as it falls to the lot of few people to witness. There, not five
-hundred yards from the shore, was being waged a battle to the death--a
-fight between the great cow whale previously seen and a school of
-thresher sharks. The calf was swimming about distractedly, but the old
-bull had disappeared, having basely deserted his family at the first
-approach of danger.
-
-The sharks, as though acting in accordance with some preconcerted plan,
-had completely surrounded the two whales, and, apparently realizing
-that nothing was to be feared from the calf, concentrated all their
-efforts upon the cow. Again and again they charged in upon her, their
-jaws snapping, tearing at her mighty sides until the sea was red
-with blood. Meanwhile the cow lashed her tail furiously, hurling up
-sheets of reddened water and occasionally crashing down with terrific
-force upon one of her voracious opponents. Maddened with pain and
-rage, she dashed this way and that, but the sharks hung to her side
-with a persistency and ferocity that made the fascinated onlookers
-shudder. Now and again the wildly-lashing tail would catch one of
-the assailants, driving it beneath the waves--no doubt killed or
-disabled--but the remainder rushed in undismayed, tearing viciously
-at the mammal’s bleeding flanks or butting her with the force of
-battering-rams.
-
-[Illustration: “BY A SUPREME EFFORT SHE HURLED HER WHOLE GREAT BULK
-CLEAR OF THE WATER.”]
-
-Presently the spellbound spectators realized two facts--firstly, that
-the calf had disappeared in the _mêlée_, and secondly, that, the
-tortured whale was undoubtedly becoming weaker. It was obvious that the
-unequal struggle could have only one ending. Still, however, she
-fought on doggedly, winning admiration and sympathy by her exhibition
-of hopeless courage. Altering her tactics, by a supreme effort she
-hurled her whole great bulk clear of the water for a moment, and the
-fascinated onlookers beheld the sharks hanging from various parts of
-her gleaming body by their serrated teeth. Then down she went again,
-with a crash like thunder, and for an instant whale and sharks were
-buried amidst masses of foam, heavily coloured with the poor mammal’s
-life-blood. Rising again, she essayed another change of plan, making
-for the rocks and desperately striving to rub off the clinging sharks
-against their edges. But the threshers were equal to the occasion;
-while those on the outside maintained their grip, the others dived
-under their enemy and charged her anew, tearing at the whale’s side in
-an ecstasy of ferocity that was bloodcurdling to witness.
-
-[Illustration: TERRIFIC BATTLE AT BREAKSEA ISLAND.
-
-WHALE KILLED BY THRASHER SHARKS.
-
-A THREE HOURS’ FIGHT.
-
-A SEA OF BLOOD.
-
-(By An Eye Witness.)
-
-Much has been written about fights between the larger denizens of the
-sea, but it has fallen to the lot of very few to witness such a battle
-as one which took place off Breaksea Island on Friday, the 14th inst.,
-between a school of thrasher sharks and a cow
-
-A CUTTING FROM THE “WEST AUSTRALIAN,” OF PERTH, W.A., REFERRING TO THE
-BATTLE BETWEEN A WHALE AND THRESHER SHARKS.]
-
-More and more feeble grew the whale’s struggles, and at last--to the
-heartfelt relief of the spectators, for her death-fight had been
-terrible to behold--the great body turned over and sank beneath the
-red-tinted water. The unequal battle was over, having lasted from
-nine o’clock until noon--as awe-inspiring a contest as man was ever
-privileged to witness. It is a thousand pities that there was no camera
-on the island to make a pictorial record of the struggle. The men went
-back to their work greatly impressed by the unique spectacle, and
-expressions of sympathy for the whale were heard on every side.
-
-Forty-eight hours afterwards the whale’s carcass, which had in the
-meantime become distended with gas, rose to the surface, and exploded
-with a roar like a miniature powder-magazine, causing the startled
-people to flock to the shore to discover what had happened. On
-examination of the remains it was discovered that every shred of the
-outer flesh of the whale had been torn off by the sharks, who had now,
-doubtless, gone off to repeat their tactics upon some other hapless
-leviathan.
-
-
-
-
-A BATTLE IN MID-AIR.
-
-BY T. R. PORTER.
-
-
-Swinging like a pendulum at the end of a two-hundred-and-fifty-foot
-rope against the side of a five-hundred-foot cliff, with jagged rocks
-far below, and nothing but one bare hand with which to fight off the
-fierce onslaught of an immense eagle, whose nest he was attempting
-to rob--this was the awful predicament in which Arthur Williams, a
-young man of Riverton, Wyoming, found himself one day early in June
-last year. With the welfare of her nestlings at stake, the great bird
-attacked the despoiler of her home with inconceivable fury, and only to
-a lucky chance does Williams owe his life.
-
-Riverton is a new town on that portion of the Cheyenne and Arapahoe
-Indian reservation which was opened to settlement last year, and
-in the country thereabouts mountain lions, timber wolves, coyotes,
-eagles, bears, etc., are still to be found. The principal industry is
-sheep-raising, and continual warfare exists between the flockmasters
-and the wild things, especially the eagles, which annually kill and
-carry off hundreds of young lambs. Because of this heavy drain on
-their flocks, every shepherd and owner of sheep in Wyoming takes great
-pains to kill the birds and to destroy their nests whenever they are
-discovered.
-
-Before the Indian reservation was formally opened to the whites for
-settlement, the flockmasters were permitted to graze their sheep over
-the country, and it gradually became known among the sheepmen that over
-in Lost Well Canyon there were a pair of eagles who made a speciality
-of devouring young lambs. Try as they might, however, the shepherds
-were unable to get a shot at either of these great birds, and for
-several years they were the terrors of the district.
-
-It was discovered that the old birds made their nest in a cleft in the
-face of a five hundred-foot perpendicular wall, which formed one side
-of the canyon. Here they safely raised brood after brood of young
-ones, which were turned loose in due course to prey on the community.
-
-Hunters, with their Winchester rifles, often lay in wait for the big
-birds, hoping to get a shot at them, but, with the proverbial keen
-eyesight of such creatures, the eagles detected the Nimrods and never
-came within gun-shot when the nest was being watched.
-
-During the spring of 1908 the two old eagles were more successful than
-ever in raiding the flocks of the sheepmen, and accordingly a special
-effort was made to exterminate them. To that effort Arthur Williams
-owes the appalling adventure which befell him.
-
-Williams and two friends made a trip out to Lost Well Canyon to
-investigate the chances of trapping the eagles in their nest. A ride of
-eight miles, over rough mountain trails, brought them to the canyon,
-half-way up the perpendicular side of which they saw the horizontal
-cleft in which the wise old birds had built their nest. At the foot of
-the cliff, directly under the cleft, was a pile of bones--the remains
-of lambs, thrown out of the nest by the eagles after they had been
-picked clean.
-
-“We ain’t any nearer that nest down here than when we were at home,”
-remarked Williams to his comrades. “Nothing but a balloon or an airship
-can help us from down here. Let us go up to the top of the cliff and
-see what we can do from there.”
-
-For two hours the three young men struggled to reach the top of
-the mountains. A wide _détour_ was necessary, but at last this was
-accomplished and they stood on the brink of the cliff, half-way down
-which the eagles’ nest had been built.
-
-“There’s nothing to be done from here, either,” said one of the men,
-despondently. “We might just as well go back home; we shall never reach
-that nest.”
-
-While the men stood and talked, from far down below them there arose
-the shrill piping call of young birds.
-
-“Young ones!” said Williams. “I wish we could get them alive; they
-would be worth money to us.”
-
-“No use to bother; you’ll have to take it out in wishing,” said the
-third member of the party. “Come on; let’s go home.”
-
-[Illustration: MR. A. E. WILLIAMS, WHO FOUGHT THE EAGLE IN MID-AIR.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-“All right. I’ll go home now, but I’m coming back to-morrow after those
-birds,” said Williams.
-
-The next day found the three young men back at the cliff. They had
-mapped out a scheme whereby they hoped to get the young birds, and had
-brought with them seven hundred and fifty feet of stout rope, far more
-than enough to reach from the top of the cliff down to the bottom of
-the canyon. To make quite sure of this, however, they first lowered the
-rope, weighted with a stone, down the face of the rock, and saw that,
-while there yet remained a big coil at their feet, the weighted end of
-the rope rested on the floor of the canyon.
-
-Then the rope was hauled back and a tight loop made in one end. This
-was paid out over the edge of the cliff until it hung directly in front
-of the eagles’ nest. The other end of the rope was hitched round a
-convenient tree.
-
-During all this time the men kept close watch for the old eagles, but
-saw nothing of them.
-
-“Off hunting lambs, I suppose,” said one of the young fellows.
-
-Then Williams stepped forward, laid hold of the rope, and quickly
-disappeared over the side, sliding slowly downward, using one leg,
-around which the line was wrapped, as a brake to keep himself from
-going too fast.
-
-Across his shoulders was slung a stout bag, in which he intended
-placing the little eagles when he secured them. In one hand he carried
-a stout stick for use in an emergency: the other hand grasped the rope.
-
-Down, down he went until just in front of the eyrie. Then he slipped
-one leg through the loop at the end of the cord and turned to look into
-the dark hole, where he could hear the eaglets “talking.”
-
-Slowly he swung round, bracing his foot against the rocky wall, until
-he faced the cleft and could give his attention to the nest.
-
-Suddenly, screaming wildly with rage and fright, out from the dark
-cleft came the old mother-bird. Like a stone from a catapult she flung
-herself at Williams’s face.
-
-Dismayed by the suddenness of the attack, Williams recoiled; his foot
-slipped from the wall, and his body spun round and out of reach as the
-huge bird went past him. He did not escape altogether scathless, for
-one claw, like a knife blade, cut across his cheek, and in an instant
-the blood was flowing from a cut half an inch deep.
-
-Only a few yards did the old eagle fly; then she wheeled and, with the
-speed of an arrow, shot once more at the man hanging at the end of the
-rope before her nest.
-
-This time Williams braced himself and, with his stout stick ready in
-his right hand, awaited the onslaught of the big bird. His left hand
-grasped the rope.
-
-The eagle struck Williams on the head with her wing, and at the same
-moment Williams lashed at the bird with his stick. Such was the fury
-and strength of the creature, however, that the stick flew from
-Williams’s hand and went whirling through space to the bottom of the
-canyon, far below.
-
-Again the eagle turned sharply and swooped down on the man, now
-left defenceless, with only a single bare hand to fight against the
-infuriated mother-bird’s sharp claws, powerful beak, and mighty wings.
-
-Pecking, clawing, and striking stunning blows with her terrible wings,
-the big bird beat the air in front of Williams’s face, holding her
-position and tearing savagely at the head and face of the would be
-despoiler of her home. Her screams were incessant.
-
-Meanwhile, on top of the cliff, there was utter consternation. The
-attention of one man was necessarily taken up with the rope, and a slip
-on his part meant instant death to Williams in the way of a fall to the
-rocks at the foot of the precipice. With a rifle in his hand the other
-man watched that nightmare fight in mid air, far below him. He could
-not shoot without endangering Williams even more than the eagle.
-
-Just then things were going very badly with the nest-robber. Blood was
-flowing from a dozen cuts on his head and face, his hand was lacerated,
-the clothing about his shoulders was cut into ribbons. Moreover, he was
-half stunned, and but for the loop in the end of the rope would have
-fallen to his death. He had no time to give directions to his comrades,
-and simply had to fight the battle out alone.
-
-[Illustration: MR. WILLIAMS AFTER HIS ENCOUNTER WITH THE EAGLE.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-Presently the old bird darted away, preparing for another swoop at the
-defenceless man. When she was ten feet distant a rifle-shot rang out
-from the top of the cliff, and Williams knew his friends were doing
-what they could. But the old bird did not falter for a second, although
-a couple of feathers from her terrible right wing floated away on the
-wind. In his haste to send a second bullet downward the man with the
-rifle managed to “jam” the weapon, and with a despairing cry threw the
-now useless weapon to the ground.
-
-The eagle returned to the attack with even greater fury, and for a few
-minutes Williams thought his last moments had arrived. But still he
-fought on, pulling great handfuls of feathers from the bird and beating
-at her desperately with his bare fist, receiving in return many cuts
-and slashes, as well as stunning blows from the madly-flapping wings.
-He was almost ready to loose his hold on the rope and go crashing down
-to the bottom of the canyon when the eagle suddenly wheeled away for
-another attack.
-
-As she came back again, screaming and beating the air, something the
-size of Williams’s head struck her on the back, and down she went like
-a stone, whirling over and over. Williams’s friend above had hurled
-a small rock at the bird, and, luckily for Williams, the boulder had
-struck her fairly on the back, between the immense wings.
-
-“Hold on tight and we’ll let you down to the bottom,” sang out the
-man at the top of the cliff, leaning far over. Then Williams showed
-the sterling stuff of which he was made. Though bleeding from a dozen
-wounds, breathless and exhausted, he was still determined to fulfil his
-errand.
-
-“Hold me here until I get these little birds,” he shouted, feebly. “I
-came after them, and I’m going to have them.”
-
-With that the plucky fellow crawled back into the niche, put the two
-little eaglets in his bag, thrust his leg through the loop, grasped the
-rope with both hands, and was safely lowered to the floor of the canyon.
-
-Within a few feet of where he landed lay the old mother-eagle. Williams
-staggered over to her and gave her a kick. To his amazement she moved,
-stood up on her feet, and flew away!
-
-One of Williams’s companions came sliding down the rope, and reached
-him just as the injured man fainted from loss of blood and excitement.
-The punishment he had received was terrible, but fortunately his eyes
-had escaped injury.
-
-After casting off the rope the third man made his way down the mountain
-to where Williams and his friend were. They managed to stop the flow of
-blood, and between them got the wounded man on his horse and brought
-him to Riverton. Williams spent several days in bed and was covered
-with bandages for two weeks, but received no lasting injuries.
-
-As souvenirs of his terrible fight, he has two little eagles and a
-dozen or more big scars to show his friends.
-
-
-
-
-UP IN A BALLOON.
-
-BY A. SODEN.
-
-
-It was a delightful September afternoon some six years back--the close
-of a week during which there had been much discussion in the newspapers
-concerning a great balloon race versus cyclists, to be fought out on
-this identical Saturday. The late Rev. G. M. Bacon, of Newbury, the
-“ballooning parson,” and Mr. Percival Spencer, the well-known aeronaut,
-were to compete against Volunteer cyclists in an endeavour to settle
-the much-debated question as to whether, in time of war, a hostile
-balloon could escape from the speedy military wheelman. I am not a
-Volunteer, and certainly was at that time far from being a balloonist;
-I am less so now.
-
-[Illustration: MR. A. SODEN, WHO HERE DESCRIBES HIS EXPERIENCES IN A
-RUNAWAY BALLOON.
-
-_From a Photo. by Sternberg & Co., Kingston-on-Thames._]
-
-At four-forty-five in the afternoon of this particular Saturday, while
-I was still debating what to do with myself, what should I see to
-the north-east but the war balloon, released from its anchorage at
-Stamford Bridge grounds, being carried by a gentle September breeze in
-the direction of Epsom. At all times the sight of a balloon excites
-peculiar interest, and I had soon made up my mind--I would try my hand
-at catching the aeronauts, and try to beat the military cyclists! I
-rushed for my machine, and was presently in full chase, pedalling fast
-through the lovely lanes of Malden. On and on I went, riding hard,
-alternately glancing at the road to see that all was clear and then at
-the balloon, calculating how high it was, how far away, and where it
-was likely to descend.
-
-[Illustration: THE BOY WHO WAS WITH MR. SODEN IN THE BALLOON.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-Mile after mile I chased the drifting balloon, until at last, much
-to my joy, I saw that it was undoubtedly nearing the earth, and it
-eventually descended in a harvested field at Bookham. On approaching
-the balloon I soon discovered I was not alone, for cyclists
-representing various Volunteer regiments and civilian riders were
-there by the score; and a number of farm labourers who had been busy
-harvesting in the neighbouring fields also appeared on the scene, eager
-to inspect closely so formidable a beast as a war balloon.
-
-The formal “capturing” of the balloonists by the soldiers was soon
-over, and then, at the urgent request of the onlookers, and to the
-intense delight of the local element, Mr. Spencer was good enough to
-grant permission for those who wished to go for short trips in the
-balloon, now held captive by the anchor-rope. There were many willing
-hands to relieve the balloon of ballast, grappling-irons, and sundries,
-and in a remarkably short time the great gas-bag was free of its
-accoutrements. A trail-rope was attached for those on the ground to
-hang on, to prevent the balloon from sailing away, and Mr. Spencer,
-with his usual foresight, arranged for parties of six to go up at a
-time. The passengers were given strict instructions that when the
-balloon touched ground each was to get out singly, so that there should
-be no sudden alteration of weight that would cause the balloon to shoot
-up again.
-
-All went merrily, and several car-loads went up, we on the ground
-hanging tight to the rope and hauling the great bag down on the word
-of command from Mr. Spencer. At length came the call, “The last time!”
-and in I jumped. There were five of us in the car, four men and a
-boy--a Volunteer, a farm labourer, and two others. Surely, I thought,
-as the great sphere began to rise, I am well repaid for my long ride by
-this novel experience. It was grand to be sailing up in the air with
-the ground gradually sinking away beneath us and our late companions
-becoming mere specks dotted about on the ground. At last we arrived
-at the end of our upward journey, and the men below began hauling at
-the trail-rope. Down we went, and presently touched ground. Then,
-contrary to all instructions, out jumped the Volunteer and a civilian
-named Tickner. As they leapt they collided with the men who held the
-controlling ropes, knocking them over and causing much confusion.
-
-[Illustration: “HIGHER AND HIGHER WE WENT, WITH THE HAPLESS MAN
-DANGLING.”]
-
-The balloon, relieved of the heavy load, at once shot up again. There
-were wild cries of “Seize the rope!” “Hang on to her!” “Hold her
-down!” But all the shouts were of no avail; the balloon continued to
-rush upwards, while we peered helplessly over the edge of the car.
-Several men, realizing the dangerous position we were in, soaring up
-aloft at great speed, rushed into the middle of the crowd of excited
-onlookers and seized the trailing rope, but all to no purpose; it
-was now impossible to check the balloon’s rapid ascent. “Let go!”
-roared somebody, and by the sudden bound our car gave we knew the
-men had obeyed. All, that is, save one. He, Tickner, a hard-working,
-much-respected farm labourer, clung to the rope like a monkey, only
-to be drawn up into the air as the balloon rose. Higher and higher we
-went, with the hapless man dangling two hundred feet below us and the
-crowd watching with horror in their eyes. Presently, when he was about
-eighty feet from the earth, the poor fellow’s strength gave out and he
-was compelled to let go, falling with an awful thud to the ground.
-
-Then, for the first time since the accident, I found my tongue. “Good
-heavens! this is awful!” I cried. “Where shall we drop?” I could say
-no more, for my knees shook under me and my very blood seemed frozen
-with horror. Still, steadily and inexorably, the balloon continued to
-rise. I dared not look over the side, but I knew we must have reached a
-considerable altitude. What would happen to us, and should we ever see
-our homes again?
-
-All this time the boy beside me, shivering with fright, yet not
-realising his desperate position, kept dinning into my ears in a
-whining monotone, “They’ve let us go! They’ve let us go!”
-
-There was nothing to be seen around us now but mountains of
-clouds--clouds white, black, and grey. I saw them, and yet, somehow or
-other, I could not bring myself to realize what they meant. I could not
-think, but simply stood there, bewildered and dazed, leaning against
-the side of the car. On my right hand the boy still continued his
-maddening wail; on the left my second companion, a man, kept asking
-what his father and mother would think. Our peril seemed to have
-temporarily turned his brain.
-
-[Illustration: 2 SEPTEMBER 1902.
-
-BALLON DISASTER.
-
-A LEATHERHEAD LABORER KILLED.
-
-THRILLING ADVENTURES OF AMATEUR AERONAUTS.
-
-The ballon versus cyclists, which was arranged by the Rev. G. M. Bacon,
-of Newbury, the ballooning enthusiast, with the sanction of the War
-Office, and which took place from Stamford-bridge athletic grounds on
-Saturday, was, it was transpire, attended with an accident of a very
-serious character, resulting in the death of one man, injuries to
-several others, and an experience which three of those involved are
-never likely to forget as long as they live. The
-
-A CUTTING FROM THE “MORNING LEADER” REFERRING TO THE BALLOON DISASTER.]
-
-I glanced at the altitude-registering instrument; we were up two
-thousand feet! Then, suddenly, without the slightest warning, my
-brain cleared, and I remembered the valve, the opening of which would
-cause the great gas-bag to descend. But where was it? Which was the
-valve-rope? The car seemed all ropes as I turned anxiously this way and
-that. I tried one after another, and at last, to my joy, I felt one
-give. Then I smelt the escaping gas, and knew that I had struck the
-right cord. Very soon I realized that our upward way was checked, and
-that instead we were descending. I do not know how long we took over
-the downward trip. I only remember that I pulled the rope, then slacked
-it, and so on alternately until we could faintly hear the shouts of
-those below. Presently the boy plucked up courage to look over the
-side of the car, and, wild with joy, called out that we were saved.
-Fortunately for us, there was practically no wind; we went up straight
-and came down straight, landing safely in a field only some two hundred
-yards from the spot where we ascended. I collapsed as they helped
-me out of the car, and the other man, directly he alighted, rushed
-headlong away--the ordeal had turned his brain.
-
-Giving evidence before the coroner the following Monday at the inquest
-on poor Tickner, I still felt decidedly shaky, and to my dying day I
-shall never forget my trip in the runaway balloon.
-
-[Illustration: THE FIELD IN WHICH THE BALLOON DESCENDED.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-
-
-
-Some “Freak” Memorials.
-
-BY T. W. WILKINSON.
-
-    When a man, especially a wealthy man, sets out to erect a
-    memorial to something or somebody, there is no knowing what
-    eccentricity he will not commit. Scattered up and down this
-    country, as the writer shows, are a number of most remarkable
-    memorials--“freaks” of the first water, from whatever
-    standpoint one judges them.
-
-
-Who shall impose limits on the intent and form of memorials? He
-would be a brave man indeed who attempted the task; yet, though it
-is very difficult to say precisely where the line should be drawn,
-there are a number of such things in existence which, judged by the
-commonly-accepted standards, are distinctly “freakish.” They range from
-public statues plain to all men to small stones in arcadian aloofness,
-and, as a whole, go far to justify the oft-repeated taunt of the
-“intelligent foreigner”--a taunt amounting to an implication--that
-memorials afford an outlet for much of the Englishman’s eccentricity
-and sheer “pig-headedness.”
-
-There are some very curious monuments to animals scattered over the
-countryside. The one with the most remarkable story crowns Farley
-Mount, near Winchester. Underneath it lies buried, as an inscription
-on the exterior records, “a horse, the property of Paulet St. John,
-Esq., that in the month of September, 1733, leaped into a chalk-pit
-twenty-five feet deep a-fox-hunting, with his master on his back,
-and in October, 1734, won the Hunters’ Plate on Worthing Downs, and
-was rode by his owner, and entered in the name of Beware Chalk Pit.”
-This inscription, which is a copy of the original, was restored by
-the Right Hon. Sir William Heathcote, Bart., in 1870. A duplicate is
-in the interior, which is provided with three seats intended for the
-accommodation of wayfarers.
-
-[Illustration:
-
-A MONUMENT TO A HORSE THAT LEAPED INTO A CHALK-PIT AND AFTERWARDS WON A
-RACE.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-Of the memorials to dogs the most imposing of modern date is “Tell’s
-Tower,” a structure on the seashore near West Kirby, Cheshire. It is
-in honour of the Great St. Bernard dog, Tell, “ancestor of most of the
-rough-coated champions of England, and himself winner of every prize in
-the kingdom. He was majestic in appearance, noble in character, and of
-undaunted courage.” Built by the late Mr. J. Cumming Macdona, the tower
-is a sort of summer-house, in the base of which is a vault containing
-Tell’s remains, guarded by an effigy of that remarkable animal.
-
-To a whole series of such freaks of commemoration there hangs a
-singular tale. In Oatlands Park, Weybridge, there are two or three
-scores of memorials to dogs. These animals, some of which have handsome
-epitaphs inscribed to their many virtues, are popularly supposed to
-have been pets of Frederica Duchess of York; but, as a fact, Her Royal
-Highness had not sufficient warm affection to bestow a goodly portion
-on so many dumb creatures. What human being, indeed, ever had? She was
-presented with many dogs, which she could neither refuse without giving
-pain, nor keep unless the whole house was turned into kennels. So they
-were given a dose of opium, buried, and then commemorated in verse.
-But, while the Duchess was not so foolish as is generally believed
-by those who visit Oatlands, she was certainly responsible for the
-monuments.
-
-[Illustration: “TELL’S TOWER,” ERECTED TO THE MEMORY OF A ST. BERNARD
-DOG--IN THE FOUNDATIONS IS A VAULT CONTAINING THE ANIMAL’S REMAINS.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-Strange, then, that her own memorial is the prime curiosity of
-Weybridge! Its history is this: After her death the inhabitants of
-the town were desirous of commemorating her thirty years’ residence
-among them, and it suddenly struck them that a way was ready to hand.
-Till about fifty years earlier there had stood in Seven Dials a pillar
-supporting a sundial which presented a face to each of the streets.
-It was from this adornment, indeed, that the classic district got its
-name. Believing that treasure was buried beneath the pillar, some
-night-birds threw it down and excavated beneath it, to find nothing.
-Rumour, they discovered, was a lying jade. The stones, instead of
-being set up again on their old site, were conveyed to Sayes Court,
-Addlestone, with a view to their re-erection there, but this was not
-done, the column remaining dismembered till the occupier of Oatlands
-died. Now this bit of London out of town the inhabitants resolved
-should be converted into a memorial of the Duchess. So the stones
-were purchased and set up on the green, with the substitution of a
-ducal crown for the block on which were the dials. This was used for
-some time afterwards as a mounting stone at an inn hard by. It then
-constituted a puzzle, because, though in Seven Dials--according to the
-testimony of everybody who described it--there were seven faces, the
-number on close examination proved to be only six.
-
-[Illustration: THE “SEVEN DIALS” PILLAR, AT WEYBRIDGE, SURREY.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-Another class of “freak” memorials have a twofold peculiarity: they
-are singular in themselves and are also remarkable by reason of the
-tardiness with which they were erected. Maud Heath’s Column, on
-Bremhillwick Hill, near Chippenham, is as good an instance as any.
-The title of the good lady to grateful remembrance is that she left a
-bequest by which a causeway was constructed in 1474 from Chippenham
-to the shoulder of Bremhillwick Hill. Her claim was from the outset
-acknowledged, inscriptions along the route of the causeway expressing
-gratitude to her for having made it. But this was not enough for a
-former vicar of Bremhillwick. After pedestrians had for more than three
-centuries been called upon to bless the public-spirited lady, and had
-been told, moreover, precisely where her causeway began and where
-it ended, the vicar came to the conclusion that she ought to have a
-statue, and moved himself to that end. A preliminary difficulty was
-that no portrait of Maud Heath was known to exist; but ultimately, with
-the co-operation of the Marquess of Lansdowne, the clergyman triumphed,
-and the column on Bremhillwick Hill--which was set up in 1836--is the
-result. The sculptor of the statue on the top of it had to fall back
-on his imagination, and he represented a woman in fifteenth century
-costume, with a staff in her hand and a basket by her side.
-
-[Illustration: A BELATED MONUMENT--IT WAS ERECTED IN 1836 TO THE MEMORY
-OF A LADY WHO LIVED IN 1474, AND THE ARCHITECT HAD TO FALL BACK UPON
-HIS IMAGINATION FOR THE PORTRAIT!
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-[Illustration: A HIGHWAYMAN’S GRAVE AT BOXMOOR COMMON.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-A belated memorial of a different class is at the head of a
-highwayman’s grave on Boxmoor Common. The knight of the road buried
-here, Snooks by name, was long a terror to travellers on the London
-road, which runs by his resting-place. At last, emboldened by many
-successes, he had the audacity to rob the Royal mail, whereupon he
-was hunted down, and eventually hanged near the scene of many of
-his crimes. He was, it is said, the last highwayman to suffer the
-extreme penalty in the district. Buried in unconsecrated ground, he
-was intended to be forgotten; but till about four years ago his grave
-was re-turfed periodically, and then a small stone, simply inscribed,
-“Robert Snooks, 1803,” was placed at its head. That tribute is one
-proof out of many that there is still a certain admiration for the race
-of which Dick Turpin is the popular hero.
-
-[Illustration: THE “ROUND HOUSE,” NEAR FINEDON, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE, WHICH
-IS SUPPOSED TO OVERLOOK A TRACT OF COUNTRY EXACTLY RESEMBLING THE FIELD
-OF WATERLOO.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-Among our battle memorials are several of the “freak” order. The Round
-House, near Finedon, Northamptonshire, must certainly be so classified.
-Formerly an inn, it is now a dwelling, from the roof of which, it is
-said, there can be obtained a “panorama of Waterloo.” It was built on
-this spot, as a memorial of Wellington’s great victory, because the
-surrounding country is believed to be very much like the theatre of
-the momentous battle. There is a parallel duplicate in Kent. Crown
-Point, between Sevenoaks and Maidstone, takes its name from a place in
-Canada where Sir Jeffrey Amherst gained a great victory over the North
-American Indians. It is said to bear a remarkably close resemblance to
-its namesake.
-
-Waterloo is also commemorated by an Alnwick memorial. Locally dubbed
-a “folly,” it stands on Camphill, where it is surrounded by tall fir
-trees, which prevent it from being seen except at close quarters. Its
-creator was the late Mr. H. S. Selby, whose object was to place on
-record the policy of Pitt, the victories of Wellington and Nelson, and
-the restoration of peace in 1814. He appears to have been doubtful
-afterwards whether the column would be sufficient to prevent all these
-events from being forgotten by posterity, because in celebration of the
-Battle of Waterloo he set up a beautiful statue of Peace in front of
-his mansion.
-
-[Illustration: A HILL-TOP FREAK--THE COLUMN COMMEMORATES QUITE A LOT OF
-THINGS, BUT IS SO SURROUNDED BY TREES AS TO BE INVISIBLE SAVE AT CLOSE
-QUARTERS.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-Still more singular a memorial of our fighting prowess is the Red
-Lion of Martlesham. The Red Lion, originally a ship’s figure-head,
-is now the sign of an inn at Martlesham, on the high road between
-Ipswich and Woodbridge, and is painted a most brilliant and aggressive
-red. Indeed, “As red as the Red Lion of Martlesham” is a proverbial
-expression throughout East Suffolk. The grotesque object is a relic of
-a British victory over the Dutch in Sole Bay. It was brought inland as
-a trophy of our success, and was ultimately converted to its present
-use--that of an inn sign.
-
-[Illustration: THE RED LION, OF MARTLESHAM, WHICH HAS GIVEN RISE TO A
-SUFFOLK PROVERB.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-One of the best-known memorials of battles fought on English soil--the
-obelisk at Naseby--is a “freak,” and a strange one, too. Its
-distinction lies in the fact that it has misled thousands, including
-Carlyle and Dr. Arnold. “To commemorate,” so runs the inscription,
-“that great and decisive battle fought in this field on the XIV day
-of June, MDCXLV, between the Royalist Army, commanded by King Charles
-the First, and the Parliament Forces, headed by the Generals Fairfax
-and Cromwell ... this pillar was erected by John and Mary Frances
-Fitzgerald, Lord and Lady of the Manor of Naseby.” But nothing is
-more certain than that the battle was not fought in “this field.” It
-actually took place on Broadmoor, about a mile away. Appropriately,
-therefore, did Liston call the obelisk the “obstacle.” Edward
-Fitzgerald was conscious of this strange blunder, to which he refers in
-one of his letters (the monument, he says, “planted by my papa on the
-wrong site”), and which he proposed to remedy by removing the obelisk
-to the real battlefield. The scheme, however, was not carried out,
-presumably on the score of expense.
-
-[Illustration: A MONUMENT IN THE WRONG PLACE--THE NASEBY MEMORIAL,
-WHICH DOES NOT STAND UPON THE BATTLEFIELD AT ALL.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-Besides the Round House, Finedon possesses a representative of a large
-class of “freak” memorials--those which bear no inscription, and the
-object of which is consequently doubtful. These differ from the many
-strange things which serve as memorials without being plainly stamped
-as such. In Lancaster, for instance, a large horse-shoe is embedded in
-the middle of the roadway, and there is nothing to inform the stranger
-of its intent. It is actually there owing to a tradition that a horse
-ridden by John o’ Gaunt, the town’s patron saint, cast a shoe near
-the spot. The silent reminder of the incident--which, of course, has
-been renewed many times--was some years ago polished every morning. An
-eccentric man turned up with the utmost regularity, went down on his
-knees, and made it as bright as the proverbial new pin. Unfortunately
-his zeal was not admired by the authorities, who ultimately prosecuted
-him for obstructing the traffic.
-
-A unique milestone, again, serves as a memorial. It stands in the
-hamlet of Newbold, Gloucestershire, and is surmounted by a cross. On
-the south side are the directions:--
-
-                6 miles
-    To Shakespeare’s town, whose name
-      Is known throughout the earth;
-    To Shipston 4, whose lesser fame
-      Boasts no such poet’s birth.
-
-And on the north face appears a “sermon in stone”:--
-
-            Crux mea lux.
-    After darkness, light.
-      From light hope flows,
-    And peace in death,
-      In Christ a sure repose.
-            Spes, 1871.
-
-Nothing on the milestone denotes that it is intended to be a memorial,
-but a local gentleman, it is understood, erected it as such after the
-death of a member of his family.
-
-There are, however, many memorials of conventional form which are much
-more puzzling than such “freaks.” Above the white horse at Cherhill,
-Wilts, is one on which not a single letter or figure appears. Several
-stories are told locally of its origin and purpose. Of the same cryptic
-character is the Finedon memorial--a pillar standing in a garden at
-the cross-roads. It is generally supposed to commemorate a mail-coach
-robbery which took place near the spot in or about the year 1810; but,
-as it was in existence before this event took place, the popular belief
-must be erroneous. The most probable theory is that it was set up
-during the rejoicings at the recovery of George III. from his illness.
-There was an ebullition of patriotism at that time, and before the
-fever subsided several memorials sprang up in different parts of the
-country.
-
-[Illustration: WHAT IS IT? AN OBELISK WITHOUT AN INSCRIPTION.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-Burial-grounds contain numerous “freak” memorials, notwithstanding that
-clergymen, as a rule, discountenance that form of eccentricity which
-strives after novelty in post-mortem advertisement. The most curious
-churchyard memorial in England, perhaps, is at Pinner. It resembles
-a church tower, and half-way up it a coffin projects on each side.
-Beneath, and supporting the structure, are arches filled in with
-ironwork, bearing the words, “Byde-my-Tyme.” The “my” appears to stand
-for one William London, who was interred (or interned) here in 1809.
-
-[Illustration: “’TWIXT EARTH AND SKY”--AN EXTRAORDINARY GRAVE IN PINNER
-CHURCHYARD.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-Legends cluster round this strange object. The stone coffin, according
-to the most circumstantial, contains the remains of a Scotch merchant,
-whose descendants retain his property as long as he “remains above
-ground.” Nothing definite, however, is known about the tomb. If its
-constructor wished to furnish posterity with an insoluble puzzle, he
-has succeeded to perfection.
-
-[Illustration: ANOTHER REMARKABLE MEMORIAL--A LIGHT BURNS IN THE TOWER
-NIGHT AND DAY.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-Of the “freak” memorials in public cemeteries, a lighthouse is easily
-first. This is at Ulverston, and is not merely a stonemason’s model,
-for it actually contains a plate-glass lantern, in which a gas-jet
-is burning continuously day and night. The most remarkable thing
-about this elaborate token of affection, perhaps, is that it is not
-a glorified tombstone. It was erected by a daughter in memory of her
-father, who is buried elsewhere, and was placed on its present site
-because the two had paid several visits to Ulverston Priory. Neither
-had any real connection with the town. A feature which differentiates
-this handsome tribute from all, or nearly all, others is obvious, and
-that is the cost of maintenance consequent on the gas consumed in the
-lantern.
-
-Public memorials include numbers of “freaks,” the singularity of some
-of which is greatly heightened by their surroundings. This is notably
-so in the case of a drinking fountain which stands in the middle of the
-East Anglian town of Swaffham. Unromantic as its environment is, this
-structure is a modern heart shrine, containing as it does the cardiac
-organ of a local magnate, Sir William Bagge, who died in 1880. It was
-at his own request that his heart was deposited within the memorial,
-that he might remain after death, in a sense, in a place which he had
-loved so well in life.
-
-[Illustration: A MODERN “HEART SHRINE,” AT SWAFFHAM, NORFOLK.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-The last class of people to whom one would expect to see “freak”
-memorials are preachers, and yet there are two or three to such men.
-Decidedly the most picturesque, though not the most _outré_, is a
-massive chimney-stack at Coleman Green, Herts. It is preserved, as a
-tablet on it records, because in the cottage which was attached to it
-Bunyan occasionally preached.
-
-[Illustration: “JOHN BUNYAN’S CHIMNEY” AT COLEMAN GREEN, HERTFORDSHIRE.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-Strange as some of the foregoing memorials are, they are surpassed by
-certain monstrosities in private parks, which unquestionably contain
-the most remarkable “freaks” of the kind in England. In several cases
-the public are forbidden to enter such domains, not because it is
-feared that they commit damage, but in order that they shall not see
-some colossal absurdity of which the descendants of its creator are
-ashamed. Nearly the first thing one gentleman did, on entering into
-possession of the estate which he now holds, was to ascertain whether
-he had power to sweep off it a memorial which was ridiculed by the
-whole countryside and pointed out to every stranger to the district.
-Finding that he could not remove the eyesore, he at once gave orders
-that the park wall should be raised four feet all the way round!
-
-
-
-
-DOWN THE CHUTE: A Miner’s Extraordinary Experience.
-
-BY C. A. O. DUGGAN, OF KIMBERLEY, SOUTH AFRICA.
-
-    An account of a miraculous triple escape--an escape in which
-    the odds were as a million to one on death. Mr. Wood’s
-    adventure created quite a sensation in South Africa, for it is
-    unique in the annals of the diamond fields. The photographs
-    illustrating the story are published by kind permission of the
-    general manager of the De Beers Consolidated Mines.
-
-
-The following narrative, describing a miner’s miraculous escape
-from what appeared certain death, forms one of the most sensational
-episodes in the history of South African mining in general and of the
-world-famous De Beers Diamond Mines of Kimberley in particular. Miners
-who have spent many years in the wonderful underground workings of the
-Kimberley diamond mines, and who have become thoroughly familiar with
-the perils and thrilling incidents synonymous with underground mining,
-were dumbfounded at the truly unique experience which befell Mr.
-Charles Wood at the De Beers Company’s Wesselton Mine, Kimberley, South
-Africa, on Tuesday, 11th August, 1908. Mr. Wood’s story is here given
-as related to the author.
-
-       *       *       *       *       *
-
-I am twenty-nine years of age, and have been for some years engaged in
-various capacities in the many departments of the underground workings
-of the Kimberley diamond mines. During that period I have witnessed
-many hairbreadth escapes from the innumerable perils of the treacherous
-subterranean workings, and have seen men launched into eternity in a
-single second by one or other of those unavoidable happenings which of
-necessity form part of the miner’s precarious occupation. Personally,
-however, I have been very fortunate, for my own mining experience has
-been uneventful--until last week, when I was the victim of a string of
-events probably unparalleled in the annals of the diamond mines.
-
-On the morning of Tuesday, 11th August, 1908, I went to work as usual,
-and arrived at the mine shaft a few minutes before six o’clock, feeling
-in high spirits after a brisk and invigorating three-mile bicycle ride
-in a calm, bracing, and typical South African dawn, which heralded the
-commencement of a day that was to prove the most eventful and memorable
-of my life. Precisely as the mine “hooter” sounded, I, with several
-others, boarded the huge iron man-cage, and in another moment its human
-freight was being lowered some five hundred feet down the perpendicular
-shaft to the main working level of the mine.
-
-Our destination was reached in due course, and the cage came to a
-standstill at the entrance to the main level, which here resembles a
-large arch-shaped room, about eighteen feet high and twenty-five feet
-wide, with sides and roof of solid rock. On the one side is the main
-vertical shaft, leading to the headgear on the surface above and to
-the further levels below, while directly opposite, and extending in
-a straight, horizontal line for nearly half a mile into the bowels
-of the earth, is the main tunnel to the mine, suggestive of some
-great corridor, with many side galleries and minor branch tunnels on
-either side, leading in contrary directions. There is a double track
-of rails, one for empties returning from the tips and the other for
-the loaded trucks, which are detached from the electric locomotives
-at an apex some thirty yards from the loading chute, and from which
-they run by gravitation, in sets of eight, along the “full-way,” round
-the left side of the shaft, to the automatic tips, which are situated
-immediately behind the shaft and on the opposite side of the main
-tunnel. Here the trucks are mechanically overturned and the contents
-discharged into the loading chute, a large steel receptacle some twenty
-feet deep, fifteen feet long, and four feet wide. From this point
-the trucks run along the “empty-way,” or right side of the shaft, in
-a semicircle towards the main tunnel, to be finally coupled to the
-locomotive, and drawn, in trains of sixteen, to the different passes to
-be reloaded.
-
-In the mine I am known as the “tipman,” and my duties--directing the
-discharge of the diamond-laden “ground” into the chutes--commence when
-the trucks, laden with the “ground,” reach the automatic tips.
-
-I was soon at my accustomed post, and before many minutes had elapsed
-the distant rumbling of the moving trucks in the tunnels became
-audible. The day’s operations had begun.
-
-I am constantly engaged in superintending the working of the tipping
-arrangements, and in watching the running of trucks on the proper
-tracks, which here almost entirely encircle the main shaft, through
-which the “ground” is eventually raised to the surface in the giant
-hoisting skips.
-
-On this particular morning I worked without the shortest break, and
-nothing interrupted the monotonous rolling of the trucks as they went
-backwards and forwards again and again to be refilled at the loading
-passes and emptied at the loading chutes, until nearly one o’clock,
-when, through a slight but unfortunate mishap, I became the victim of a
-catastrophe which now seems to me like some horrible nightmare, or the
-effect of temporary delirium, rather than an actual occurrence.
-
-[Illustration: THE FIVE HUNDRED FEET LEVEL OF THE WESSELTON MINE,
-SHOWING AUTOMATIC TIPS AND TRUCK TIPPING INTO THE CHUTE INTO WHICH WOOD
-WAS THROWN.
-
-_From a Photo by J. A. Glennie, Kimberley._]
-
-As before-mentioned, the train of sixteen trucks is divided into two
-sets of eight trucks each. One set is emptied into No. 1 chute and the
-other into No. 2 chute. At about a quarter to one my attention was
-drawn to what appeared to be a slight irregularity in the tipping of
-the trucks at No. 2 chute. A train had just reached the tips, and the
-first set of eight trucks was emptied in the usual manner into No. 1
-chute, while the second set was directed on to No. 2 chute.
-
-As the last set of trucks passed round the “empty-way” I stepped on
-to the track, immediately over the No. 2 chute, in order to verify
-my suspicion that something was wrong. As I did so I heard a loud
-clattering noise, as of loaded trucks coming clown the “full-way”
-incline to the chute. I did not look to ascertain the cause of this
-noise at that moment, but an instant later I instinctively turned my
-head and looked up towards the entrance to the chute. Then, to my utter
-dismay and consternation, I saw, within a few feet, two fully-loaded
-trucks rushing headlong on to the No. 2 tip, where I was standing. In
-an instant the awful truth flashed through my brain. Only six trucks of
-the last set had tipped, two having become uncoupled up the incline,
-and here was I standing on the track immediately over the chute,
-without the remotest possibility of escape!
-
-For a moment I was petrified with horror, and before I could make any
-arrangement the foremost of the two trucks had struck me full in the
-back, just above the hips, and I was precipitated violently into the
-chute, some twenty feet below, while at the same time, with a fearful,
-deafening noise, the two trucks overturned, and two tons of rock and
-hard blue “ground” came crashing into the chute on top of me. For a few
-seconds I was completely buried, but with a frantic effort I got the
-upper part of my body free, all the time gasping wildly for breath,
-while temporarily deprived of sight by the mass of falling “ground,”
-and nearly asphyxiated by the immense cloud of dust, which seemed to
-hang over the chute like a pall.
-
-[Illustration: “I WAS PRECIPITATED VIOLENTLY INTO THE CHUTE.”]
-
-As I gradually gained control of my scattered senses I became aware
-of my miraculous escape from a terrible death, and with a shudder of
-horror realized that my situation was still one of extreme peril. In
-another second the doors of the chute would be opened, and I should
-either be plunged, with the great quantity of “ground” amidst which
-I lay, into the hoisting-skip below, or else crushed to a pulp by
-the next consignment of “ground” from the tip above. With almost
-superhuman strength I endeavoured to extricate myself from the mass
-of “ground” by which I was well-nigh covered, and with all the power
-of which I was capable I shouted vociferously for help. It was all in
-vain, however; my cries for assistance were lost amidst the din of the
-constantly-moving trucks on the level above.
-
-[Illustration: PORTION OF THE HEADGEAR SHOWING THE HOISTING-SKIP
-(INDICATED BY A CROSS) IN WHICH WOOD MADE HIS RAPID BUT UNCOMFORTABLE
-JOURNEY TO THE SURFACE.
-
-_From a Photo. by J. A. Glennie, Kimberley._]
-
-Just as I made another desperate attempt to free myself I heard the
-ominous creak of the levers, which foretold that the slides at the
-bottom of the chute were about to be opened, and--quite helpless and
-filled with an overwhelming despair--I resigned myself to my fate; I
-was doomed to a death from which there could be no possible escape.
-My whole frame was trembling with the fear of impending death, as,
-with a loud creak, the slides at the bottom of the chute separated,
-and I felt myself violently overturned and forced irresistibly through
-the opening. Thence I plunged head-first into the great hoisting-skip
-below, amidst the thunderous crash of the eight tons of blue “ground.”
-In a second the sliding doors of the chute had closed, the skip was
-loaded, and the relentless downpour of “ground” and hard lumps ceased.
-I was again completely buried, but with a ferocious struggle managed to
-get my head uncovered.
-
-[Illustration: THE ENGINE-HOUSES AND HEADGEAR WHERE WOOD WAS HOISTED TO
-THE SURFACE.
-
-_From a Photo. by J. A. Glennie, Kimberley._]
-
-[Illustration:
-
-  KIMBERLEY,
-
-  26th August, 1908.
-
-_TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN_:
-
-I, the undersigned, hereby certify that the account of my experience
-at Wesselton Mine, Kimberley, Cape Colony, as written by Mr. C. A. O.
-Duggan, is true and correct in every detail, and, further, I hereby
-give to Mr. C. A. O. Duggan the full and exclusive right to publish the
-particulars and account above referred to in any newspaper, periodical
-or magazine he may choose.
-
-  Charles Wood
-  KIMBERLEY, S. A. 26th August, 1908.
-
-  AS WITNESSES:--
-
-  JJ Armstrong
-  BW Freislich
-
-The abovementioned copyright of Mr. Charles Wood’s experience at
-Wesselton Mine, Kimberley, C. C. is hereby given to the Proprietors of
-the “Wide World Magazine”, London, England.
-
-  C.A.O. Duggan]
-
-
-  MR. WOOD’S SIGNED STATEMENT VOUCHING FOR THE ACCURACY OF THIS STORY.]
-
-Dazed and just able to realize my terrible situation, I gasped for
-breath, and, although quite oblivious of the nature and extent of my
-injuries, I was vaguely conscious that I was still alive, and that
-for the second time in a few minutes my life had been miraculously
-preserved. Securely pinned down by the tremendous weight of the
-“ground,” I lay unable to move, and after making a feeble and vain
-effort to shout for assistance, I gave up my futile struggle to free my
-aching body and sank down from sheer exhaustion, staring vacantly in
-the semi-darkness at an enormous, treacherous-looking boulder that had
-lodged a few inches above me, and which appeared likely to find a fresh
-resting-place on my unprotected head at any moment.
-
-For an instant there was a death-like stillness. Nearly distracted by
-the awful suspense, I lay helpless in the great iron skip, expecting
-each instant to feel the peculiar jerk of the hauling-rope that would
-mean the commencement of my lightning upward journey to the headgear on
-the surface, nearly six hundred feet above.
-
-[Illustration: PORTION OF HEADGEAR SHOWING BOX LEVERS, WITH CHARLES
-WOOD STANDING ALMOST IMMEDIATELY UNDER THE LOADING-BOX WHERE HE WAS
-TAKEN OUT HEAD FIRST.
-
-_From a Photo. by J. A. Glennie, Kimberley._]
-
-What would be my fate when the skip tipped automatically on the
-surface? Should I be crushed to death or buried alive by the enormous
-quantity of “ground,” or should I meet with a more terrible death by
-being dashed to pieces against the steel sides or cross-bars of the
-loading-box, to be found later--a mangled and unrecognisable mass of
-humanity?
-
-All these thoughts and countless vivid recollections of my childhood,
-boyhood, and early manhood flashed through my now disordered brain with
-startling rapidity, and I sobbed with anguish as I thought for a moment
-of my home, my children, and my wife, who was soon to be a widow and
-whom I should never see again. With a sickening terror I now grasped
-the fact that in a few seconds the great winding engine on the surface
-would be set in motion. Oh, the irony of it all! I had escaped death
-at the tip, and again at the loading-chute, only to end my existence
-when the skip eventually shot its eight-ton cargo into the steel
-loading-boxes above! Each moment now seemed a lifetime, and I prayed
-fervently that my suspense and agony might be ended.
-
-At last the hauling-rope strained and tightened, and with a sudden jerk
-the skip started on its upward journey through the inky-black shaft,
-gaining in rapidity at every yard, and each second carrying me nearer
-to death. The skip flew up at a terrific pace, and in a few seconds I
-was aware of its approach to the surface by the faint streaks of light
-that penetrated down the shaft. Another moment and I should be no more!
-The light of day became more and more intense, and with startling
-suddenness I shot out into the momentary and welcome brightness of the
-sunlight, past the level of the surface, and up to the automatic tip
-on the giant head-gear. Then, with a sharp click, the skip reached its
-tipping level and overturned, and I felt myself being thrown through
-space towards the yawning iron loading-boxes.
-
-As the skip capsized I became unconscious, and was consequently
-spared the further mental torture consequent upon my precipitation
-into the yawning surface loading-boxes. At last, however, I opened my
-eyes, as if awakening from a profound sleep, and--amazed and utterly
-bewildered--gradually recognised that for the third time in as many
-minutes I had escaped a frightful death in a wonderful and miraculous
-manner. I found that I was lying awkwardly and with feet uppermost in
-the north side loading-box. While still trying to realize what had
-happened the slides of the box separated, and the next moment startled,
-anxious faces were peering in at me.
-
-[Illustration: “STARTLED, ANXIOUS FACES WERE PEERING IN AT ME.”]
-
-[Illustration: CHARLES WOOD AS HE APPEARED AFTER HIS ALARMING ADVENTURE.
-
-_From a Photo. by J. A. Glennie, Kimberley._]
-
-Gently the amazed men lifted me through the door and carried me to
-the mine change-house, where my injuries were promptly attended to.
-Incredible as it may seem, I was not seriously hurt, only suffering
-from several bruises about the body and from slight cuts on the head
-and above one eye. I was duly sent to the Kimberley Hospital, from
-which I was discharged eight days after the chapter of accidents here
-related, having completely recovered from the effects of my remarkable
-adventure.
-
-
-
-
-Where Women Wear Trousers.
-
-BY L. VAN DER VEER.
-
-    There is a place up in the mountains of Switzerland where from
-    time immemorial the women have worn the garb and done most of
-    the work of their men-folk, who stop at home and smoke or mind
-    the babies, while their be-trousered wives and daughters toil
-    in the hayfields or among the live stock. In this article Miss
-    Van der Veer describes a visit to this strange and little-known
-    community.
-
-
-Away up in the mountains of one of the most beautiful cantons of
-Switzerland, the Valais, the peasant women have for years found it
-expedient to don the garb of their men-folk and work in the hayfields
-and among the grazing cattle on the slopes, while their lords and
-masters lounge their days away in ease and the quiet of their log huts.
-
-Curious to relate, they all seem perfectly contented with this inverted
-order of things--the men in particular. They brew the herbs, fry the
-tough-as-leather mountain meat, and look after the babies, while their
-buxom wives are wrestling with the sterner duties of field and stable.
-
-[Illustration: A SHEPHERDESS ON THE MOUNTAINS.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-During the summer of 1908 I spent some days in Champéry, the little
-village in the valley at the foot of the mountains where these
-strenuous women work and their lazy husbands smoke. At first I felt
-great disappointment at not seeing them about the village streets, but
-soon found that they seldom or never came down the mountain-side in
-their strange garb, or, at any rate, walked about the village in it.
-Tourists have become so numerous of recent years, and their curiosity
-so troublesome, that the village fathers have forbidden the women
-to come into the hamlet without skirts over their masculine nether
-garments. So whoever cares to behold them in the strange clothes of
-their choosing must scramble and toil their way up the mountain-side.
-On Sunday mornings it is highly entertaining to watch these women and
-young girls come down the zigzag footpaths to the tiny village chapel,
-where, just outside its doors, they halt and throw their skirts on over
-their heads in the most unconcerned fashion, as thoughtlessly as the
-fashionable dame gives her hat a furtive touch as she enters the church
-doors.
-
-[Illustration: WASHING-DAY.
-
-_From a Photo. by Jullien Bros._]
-
-It is difficult to trace the origin of this strange custom of the
-Champéry dames donning masculine nether garments. When one asks the
-peasants about it they do their best to look reflective, but always
-end in declaring that “it was always so.” “Our men-folk like best the
-fires, and we like best the fields,” is about the only intelligible
-explanation I could get out of them. They are fine, sturdy-looking
-beings, mostly red-cheeked and strong of limb, and many of the younger
-ones are strikingly handsome.
-
-[Illustration: COOKING THE DINNER.
-
-_From a Photo. by Jullien Bros._]
-
-One can scarcely call their costume a becoming one, though it certainly
-looks better than one would expect, and, after the first novelty of
-seeing them wears off, its absolute suitability disarms criticism.
-
-[Illustration: MOWING ON THE HILLSIDE.
-
-_From a Photo. by Jullien Bros._]
-
-The most amusing thing about it is that the upper part of the costume
-remains feminine--the ordinary rough bodice of the peasant woman, often
-in bright colours of red or blue, worn with the most nondescript cut of
-trousers, of the “home-made” variety. That such a costume is necessary
-for women who take upon themselves the work of their men-folk in such
-a region of the world is quite apparent to any woman who attempts to
-follow them at their work for even ten minutes.
-
-[Illustration: OFF TO THE VILLAGE.
-
-_From a Photo. by Jullien Bros._]
-
-[Illustration: AMONG THE COWS ON THE MOUNTAIN PASTURES--THE WOMEN DO
-ALL THE MILKING AND BUTTER-MAKING.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-The constant tramping along rough mountain ways and following cows over
-dangerously narrow ledges, the cutting of hay on inclines so acute as
-to be seemingly almost perpendicular, the going in search of lost sheep
-in thickets and snowdrifts, are but a few of the things which make the
-tyranny of skirts altogether impossible. These women do not seem to
-mind in the least being stared at and questioned as to their clothes.
-In fact, they rather feel the pride of distinction their garments
-confer upon them. “We have never known any others,” they say quite
-simply, “so why should we feel queer in them? Besides, we all prefer
-them to skirts.”
-
-[Illustration: A BE-TROUSERED MILKMAID.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-The most surprising thing is that, in spite of their male attire, the
-women do not walk or sit in the masculine manner. Anyone can see at a
-glance that they are women in men’s clothes, though some green--very
-green--tourists often make ridiculous mistakes. At a mountain hut I
-once heard an English traveller declare that he never heard of men
-doing the family knitting until he came over the pass where these
-people live. He had evidently not the faintest suspicion that he had
-come across the men-garbed women of the mountain region, for they often
-sit knitting as they herd the sheep and cows on the hillsides.
-
-Another thing that strikes one absurdly is that, while wearing
-trousers, these women nearly always sit sideways on horseback and
-get over fences by first mounting to the top rail and sliding down
-women-fashion, instead of striding over man-fashion. In truth, I
-observed no end of evidence that the inconsistency of the weaker sex
-cannot be quenched by anything so delectable as clothes.
-
-One morning, when a heavy mist hung over the mountain-tops, quite
-obscuring everything, I sat outside the comfortable little chalet where
-a happy family of four sturdy daughters, with their mother, donned
-trousers every morning and disappeared up the mountain-side to work,
-while their stalwart “Pap,” as they called him, pottered round the
-house, pipe in mouth.
-
-I could hear the women sharpening their scythes now and again, and
-catch snatches of mountain ditties as they sang at their mowing. Later
-on, as the mist lifted, I walked up to where they were working, and the
-first thing I noticed was that their trousers were so long as to be
-quite dripping with mud, just as their skirts would have been had they
-worn them. When the old man went out he turned his up.
-
-[Illustration: A FAMILY GROUP.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-Another feminine absurdity is the wearing of a long sort of toga, which
-trails down their backs and gets in the way whenever they bend over or
-go through the tangles of the mountain wood.
-
-“Why don’t you wear a cap or small felt hat like the men?” I asked an
-old woman once.
-
-“We have always covered our heads so,” was her explanation--an
-explanation, in her opinion, that was all-sufficing; peasants from one
-generation to another do everything simply because their forefathers
-did the same.
-
-[Illustration: A HALT FOR REST.
-
-_From a Photo. by Jullien Bros._]
-
-One would imagine that on Sundays and fête days these women,
-particularly the young ones, would yield to the eternal feminine
-instinct of assuming the finery of their sex, but not they. Rest-time
-and feast-time always finds them in their usual garments. They have
-better-looking ones for these occasions, I confess, but they have no
-hankering for the trammels of skirts even during their courting hours.
-I was highly amused at seeing the pretty girls sauntering along the
-picturesque trails with their sweet-hearts’ arms around their waists,
-looking to the casual stranger for all the world like two young men
-gone “loony.”
-
-One can scarcely imagine a wedding-party with bride and groom dressed
-in the same kind of garments, but I have seen one in the mountains,
-when the bride wore a white bodice, white trousers, and a bunch of
-white violets in her hair! She was as pretty as a picture, too, despite
-the attire, and quite as blushing and shy as any bride out of a convent.
-
-The man of her choice, a perfect giant of a peasant, was resplendent in
-native costume, the chief glory of which, a green waistcoat with large
-brass buttons, could be seen a long way off.
-
-Most of the weddings of recent years have been held in the little
-chapel of the village down in the valley, where the regulation “slip
-over” skirt is donned at the chapel door, to be discarded before the
-tramp up the mountain-side is begun.
-
-One day I was told in the village that a funeral was to be held in
-the little mountain settlement above Champéry, and I trudged up the
-zigzag pathway as hurriedly as the occasion would allow, for I confess
-to having a penchant for witnessing these mournful conclaves in every
-foreign country I may visit.
-
-I had no trouble in discovering the house of mourning, as a crowd of
-peasants hung about the door. Soon the little procession, headed by the
-priest and his attendants, filed out of the door and moved with solemn
-chant down the mountain-side towards the little churchyard below.
-
-On inquiry, I learned that the departed one was the elderly husband
-of a bent and weather-beaten old peasant woman, who tottered along in
-faded black garments, the nether portion of which looked for all the
-world as if she had donned the “left-overs” of her dear departed. On
-her head was a crisp new crape toga, however, and as she hobbled along
-I confess that she made a pathetic as well as an incongruous figure.
-
-[Illustration: THE VILLAGERS POSSESS LARGE HERDS OF FINE MILCH-GOATS,
-WHICH THE WOMEN LOOK AFTER WHILE THEIR MEN-FOLK STOP AT HOME.
-
-_From a Photo. by Jullien Bros._]
-
-Despite the fact that the women work hard out of doors, summer and
-winter, exposed to the worst of weathers, they are mostly long-lived
-and seldom know what illness is. I often saw them working in the
-hayfields with their babies lying blinking in the sunlight near by.
-At noon they lounged under the trees, talking mother-foolishness to
-the wee things, and their queer garments never seem so hideous and
-altogether distasteful as when they are nursing the children.
-
-The lack of even the simplest understanding of remedies for either
-illness or accident has always struck me as most remarkable among the
-Swiss peasantry. They may live several hours’ journey away from a
-doctor or chemist without ever making the least attempt at learning
-what to do for even the simplest ailments.
-
-I once knew one of these Champéry women to have sunstroke so badly that
-she became quite unconscious, and continued so long in that state that
-I was certain she would die.
-
-[Illustration: “MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB”--THIS PHOTOGRAPH SHOWS CLEARLY
-THE “HOME-MADE” CUT OF THE TROUSERS AND THE CURIOUS HEAD-DRESS WORN BY
-THE WOMEN.]
-
-There were any number of old men and women gathered round wailing, but
-none of them seemed to know what to do in such a case. The woman’s
-mother suggested giving her a cup of coffee, which was attempted, most
-of it being spilt over her. Then someone took off her shoes and began
-slapping the soles of her feet with a piece of board.
-
-I chanced to have a “first aid” case with me, and--greatly to the
-distrust of the peasants--administered what suitable remedies I had;
-I also insisted on one going post-haste down the valley for a medical
-man. But they would do nothing except wail and shake their heads.
-Finally the patient came round all right, saying that her head “felt
-full of hot things,” and the next morning, when I called to inquire
-after her, I found that she was at work in the hayfields, hatless,
-under the scorching sunlight, as usual. At another time a little child
-of three was taken with convulsions from having eaten too much cheese,
-and died without having anything done to save the little creature; the
-old women simply wagging their heads wisely and muttering something
-about their all “going” when taken like that. With them it is evidently
-a case of the survival of the fittest.
-
-Last summer I was in Champéry at the time of the great Swiss national
-holiday, when everybody celebrates Swiss freedom by making as much
-noise as possible during the day and lighting huge bonfires at night.
-Everyone was dressed in holiday finery, many of the younger women
-appearing in grey-check trousers and hats with artificial flowers!
-One happy family party, consisting of the father and mother and four
-children, had evidently a decided fondness for royal purple--or perhaps
-this was the colour of their clan--for the six of them, even to the
-babe in arms, were arrayed in the purple of kings and emperors!
-
-The baby in particular attracted my interest insomuch that I ventured
-to take the little creature in my arms in the hope that I might slip
-it out of the cartridge-like swaddling-case in which these poor little
-wretches are carried about. I might just as well have tried to pull off
-the muzzle of a gun; the babe was as tightly fixed in his terribly hot
-case as though it were a vice. And yet I doubt not he will grow into
-a fine stalwart son of the mountains, though how they ever manage to
-expand or lengthen at all is a mystery to me.
-
-I once sat talking to an old goatherd who certainly looked as if he had
-sat in the same nook in the mountains for at least a century. He was so
-bent and rheumaticky-looking that I quite failed to see how he could
-possibly make his way along the steep and slippery paths. His “old
-woman,” as he called her, was off down the valley gathering faggots.
-“She be a great worker,” he told me, and never got tired the way he
-did. I asked him if he liked the idea of the women doing most of the
-hard work; he answered by saying that it “was their way.” It suited the
-women to work at the hay, he seemed to think; and, besides, they hadn’t
-to smoke, which was evidently sufficient occupation for the men.
-
-This old man had never seen a railway until this last summer, when a
-branch line was run on to the village of Champéry, at the foot of his
-mountain home. I asked him what he thought of it, and he grumbled out a
-long tale of how it had already killed a lot of goats and sheep!
-
-Any sort of progress is looked upon with the greatest prejudice and
-suspicion by these people, who will undergo any fatigue and discomfort
-rather than change the routine of centuries.
-
-Coming down a mountain path one evening, I ran into a party of peasant
-girls toiling up with huge baskets of provisions strapped to their
-backs. In the half light I mistook them for men from their garb, but
-coming nearer I recognised their red togas, and later their women’s
-voices.
-
-[Illustration: A MOUNTAIN IDYLL.
-
-_From a Photo. by Jullien Bros._]
-
-Stopping to talk with them, I found that they were of the well-to-do
-natives who owned cows and mules, but they seldom thought of taking the
-mules along to carry up the provisions or themselves.
-
-It had always been the custom of their women to make pack-baskets out
-of their backs, and they would never think of doing otherwise. It is
-not easy to get these people to talk of themselves to strangers; they
-often resent being asked questions about their work and ideas.
-
-Yet the young women take interest in the pretty clothes of strangers.
-One of them came up to me and touched a blue lapis-lazuli ring I was
-wearing, her eyes simply devouring it, and the other trinkets I wore of
-the same stone. Finally, she exclaimed that she liked them very much,
-and also the frock of the same colour. I am quite certain there was a
-momentary pang of feminine envy in her heart, and a hatred for her own
-incongruous garments.
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration: RETRIBUTION.
-
-BY CAPTAIN G. F. PUGH.]
-
-    A story of the bad old “shanghaiing” days, showing how a
-    villainous crimp had the tables turned upon him in dramatic
-    fashion. Captain Pugh heard the first part of the story while
-    in Newcastle, N.S.W., as mate of a ship, and its sequel upon a
-    return voyage.
-
-
-In 1872 Newcastle, New South Wales, was a busy, thriving little
-seaport. The harbour was full of large sailing ships, loading and
-waiting to load coal, and bound chiefly to China, San Francisco, and
-the Pacific Coast ports.
-
-Very few of these ships had their full complement of seamen on board.
-Most of the sailors deserted during the vessels’ stay in port--and one
-cannot blame them, when it is remembered that the pay in these ships
-from British ports was two pounds ten a month, with the poorest quality
-of food that it was possible for the ship-owner to buy, and only just
-sufficient of that to keep body and soul together.
-
-The pay out of the Australian ports was, for homeward-bounders, five
-pounds ten, and in the coast and inter-Colonial traders seven pounds a
-month, with a sufficiency of good, nourishing food. In addition to the
-inducements offered by the coast traders, there was plenty of work to
-be found on shore, for the Queensland, Victorian, and South Australian
-goldfields were in full swing. The consequence was that there was great
-difficulty in getting men to man the ships when they were ready for sea.
-
-Like most seaports in those days of sailing-ships, the town was full
-of sailors’ boarding-houses. The tactics and ways of procuring men
-employed by the proprietors of these places were not such as would
-stand the light of day, but nevertheless they did a thriving business.
-
-One of the most noted characters in the town was a boarding-house
-keeper named Dan Sullivan, a scoundrel to the backbone. He was
-notorious for the number of men he had “shanghaied” out of the port,
-but, strange to say, he had gained a certain amount of power in the
-town, and shipmasters requiring men were, under the circumstances,
-compelled to deal with him, although at the same time many of them had
-the utmost contempt for the fellow.
-
-Sullivan kept a low-class drinking saloon with a free-and-easy
-dancing-room attached to it. The boarders lived in the rooms overhead.
-This was the only dancing saloon in the town, and was thronged with
-sailors every night. The liquor sold was, needless to say, vile
-stuff, but men who have been living for months on weevily biscuit and
-“salt-horse” have very little taste left in their mouths, and as long
-as the decoction was hot and came out of a bottle it passed muster.
-
-Sullivan was an adept at drugging liquor, and he always kept materials
-at hand for that purpose. Just a little tobacco ash dropped in the
-glass when pouring out the drinks, and the thing was done. When he
-required a few sailors for a ship ready to sail, he picked out the
-likeliest men in the room--usually strangers--and when the seamen, hot
-and thirsty with dancing, ordered drinks through the women who acted as
-waitresses, these Delilahs would bring the prepared stuff, and soon the
-men would feel muddled and sleepy and would go into the side room and
-sink down on the benches.
-
-Sullivan would then slip in among them.
-
-“Halloa, mates! What’s the matter? Feel queer, eh? Ah, it’s the dancing
-and the hot weather. I’ll send you a good tot that will put you all
-right.”
-
-He would then send one of the girls in with a good glass of hot
-whisky--drugged, and that would be all the men would know for some
-time. When they came to their senses they found themselves in a
-strange ship, out of sight of land, without a stitch of clothes beyond
-what they stood up in. Of course, there was generally a row, but it
-invariably ended in their turning to work and making the best of a bad
-bargain.
-
-[Illustration: “HALLOA, MATES! WHAT’S THE MATTER?”]
-
-One day in February, 1872, it happened that there were three British
-ships lying at the buoys, loaded and ready to sail, but each was in
-want of a few seamen to make up her complement. Not a man could be
-got at the shipping-office for love or money--the news of a fresh
-gold-field on the Barrington had reached Newcastle that morning, and
-all the disengaged men had made tracks for that district. So the only
-possible way to get hands for the vessels ready to sail was to obtain
-them from the ships that had lately arrived, and which would have some
-time to wait for a loading berth.
-
-The captains of the ships at the buoys sent for Sullivan, and arranged
-with him to supply them with four men each that night, as the trio
-would sail at the turn of the tide. When Sullivan got back on shore,
-he sent some of his runners to quietly let the crews of the ships in
-harbour know there was to be a free concert and dance at his place,
-with plenty of whisky into the bargain.
-
-When night came the saloon was packed with seamen, and among the lot
-were six fine young American sailors from the ship _Jeremiah Crawford_,
-of New Bedford. Now, New Bedford ships are very often “family
-ships”--that is to say, the captain, officers, and seamen are related
-to each other. Of the six young fellows who went to this dance, two
-were nephews of the captain, one was a relative of the mate, and the
-others were related to members of the crew.
-
-Long before the dance was over there were several seamen lying
-helplessly drugged in the side room. Just before midnight, and while
-the dance was still going on, Sullivan and his fellow-crimps removed
-the helpless men down to a boat, and took them off to the ships at the
-buoys. Then Sullivan pocketed his blood-money, and before daylight the
-vessels were at sea under all plain sail.
-
-The following day, when the six American seamen did not turn up on
-board the _Jeremiah Crawford_, inquiries were quietly made, and it was
-soon found out what had become of them; they had been among the twelve
-men “shanghaied” aboard the three waiting ships. The men’s shipmates,
-boiling with anger, wanted to go and wreck Sullivan and his saloon, but
-the captain called all hands aft, and from the poop told them they must
-not let it be known that they knew where their shipmates were.
-
-“I know how you feel over it,” he said, “and I know how I feel too, but
-I intend to pay that rascal in his own coin. Those Britishers are off
-to ‘Frisco, and we are bound there, too; and you can bet your bottom
-dollar I mean to make the ship move when we start. And what is more, I
-intend to take that rascal Sullivan with me!”
-
-“All right, captain,” answered the men. “Mum’s the word. We will wait
-events.”
-
-Two days afterwards Captain Monk, of the _Jeremiah Crawford_, told
-Sullivan to get him six men by the time the ship was loaded.
-
-Sullivan agreed, on condition that he was paid three pounds per man.
-This Captain Monk agreed to, and when the ship was finished and hauled
-out to the buoys, Sullivan sent word to the captain that he would bring
-the men off about eight p.m.
-
-Now, that day a young Irish police-constable had been transferred from
-Sydney to Newcastle, and promoted. He was appointed to this district
-with a view to watching the goings-on at Sullivan’s, rumours of which
-had reached police head-quarters.
-
-The constable was married to a fine strapping Irish lass, who was a
-great help to her husband. She wore her hair short like a man’s, and
-was not a stranger to the wearing of men’s clothes. It was partly owing
-to her, in fact, that her husband had got his position.
-
-The constable knew he was there to get proof of Sullivan’s shady
-doings, and it was accordingly arranged that his wife should disguise
-herself as a seaman--as she had done before--and watch the inside while
-her husband watched the outside of Sullivan’s saloon. The policeman’s
-wife was a splendidly-built woman, as straight as a reed, and muscular
-as well.
-
-So it happened that, when Sullivan was picking out the men he wanted
-for his purpose that night, he saw this likely-looking young fellow
-among them. But he was not taking any liquor--only a bottle of
-ginger-ale. Sullivan obligingly opened a bottle for him, and it was a
-simple matter, as the stuff fizzed out, to knock the ash from his cigar
-into the glass with his little finger, and the mischief was done.
-
-Presently one of his spies cautioned the crimp that there was a
-constable knocking about in the street.
-
-“We must get the beggar out of the way, Mike,” said Sullivan. “I’ll
-soon settle him. You watch him.”
-
-Going outside, Sullivan walked up the street past the constable,
-smoking a splendid cigar. The constable got a whiff and wished he
-had one like it. In a few minutes the crimp returned, still puffing
-away at the cigar. As he passed the policeman he quietly dropped his
-cigar-case. The constable, just behind him, saw the case and picked it
-up, and, seeing there were two or three fine cigars in it, succumbed to
-temptation and put it in his pocket.
-
-He could not long resist the mute appeal of those cigars, so, slipping
-into the shadow behind some houses, he lit one, and was soon enjoying a
-good smoke. It had a wonderfully soothing influence, and he leaned up
-against the wall, thinking of the sharp bit of work that had brought
-him promotion. He felt that already he had Sullivan in his power, and
-he saw himself in imagination with his sergeant’s stripes. Then, all
-of a sudden, he smiled a sickly smile, his head fell forward, his legs
-gave way beneath him, and he sank in a heap on the ground.
-
-A few minutes afterwards the spy, who had been watching him all
-the time, cautiously approached. He took the cigar-case out of the
-unconscious man’s tunic, removed the remains of the drugged cigar from
-his mouth, and left him there.
-
-The night was dark, and about eight p.m., while the dancing and singing
-were still in full swing, Sullivan and his tools got the selected men
-off in a boat. The tug was ahead of the ship, all ready to start.
-When the crimp got alongside with his men the _Jeremiah Crawford_ was
-hanging to a slip-rope, and the captain was in his cabin waiting for
-Sullivan and the sailors.
-
-“Hurry up and get those chaps on board,” the mate called out. “I want
-to get under way.”
-
-“All right, Mister Mate,” answered one of the crimps. “We’ll soon have
-them on board. Get out of that, you brutes!” he added, giving one of
-the dazed men a kick.
-
-Sullivan and his men soon got their victims on board, but on getting
-on deck one of the fellows, a fine-built young Swede, seemed to partly
-recover his senses.
-
-“I don’t belong to this ship,” he said, and made for the gangway. With
-an oath Sullivan sprang at him. A terrific blow on the side of the
-head, and the poor fellow dropped senseless on the deck. They then
-bundled the lot forward.
-
-[Illustration: “EACH OF THEM WAS KNOCKED SENSELESS WITH A BLOW BEHIND
-THE EAR FROM A KNUCKLE-DUSTER.”]
-
-Finding no light in the forecastle Sullivan and his men stepped inside,
-and were in the act of striking matches, when each of them was knocked
-senseless with a blow behind the ear from a knuckle-duster. They were
-then dropped into the fore-peak and the hatch fastened down, while the
-new men were lifted into berths to sleep off the effects of the drugged
-liquor.
-
-In the meantime, the second mate slipped down the gangway, and,
-standing on one side of Sullivan’s boat, capsized her. When she filled
-with water he cast her off and let her drift up-river.
-
-The tug-boat dropped down, the tow-rope was secured, the buoy cast off,
-and before midnight the ship was outside the Nobbies and under all sail.
-
-At daylight the “shanghaied” men were getting over the effects of the
-drug, and the captain called all hands aft to give them a good glass
-of grog. The new men were in a terrible state when they came to their
-senses and found they had been “shanghaied.” One young fellow, in
-particular, sat down on the hatch and, placing his head on his hands,
-seemed to give way to despair. He took no heed of what was going on,
-and spoke no word to anyone.
-
-The young Swede who had been so brutally struck by Sullivan stepped up
-to the captain.
-
-“Who brought us on board?” he asked.
-
-“Dan Sullivan,” replied the mate. “He said you were his boarders. I
-saw him come alongside, and then I went forward, and have not seen him
-since.”
-
-“Did you pay him any advance for us, captain?”
-
-“No; I have not seen him,” said the skipper. “He must have gone on
-shore again. I cannot understand it. I do not know the man,” added
-Captain Monk. “I wrote him to get me six men, and told him I would sign
-them on board. I heard him come alongside with you, and when I came out
-of my cabin I saw no boat alongside, and we got under way at once.”
-
-“Thank you, captain,” replied the Swede. “Sullivan and I will meet
-again some day.”
-
-“Halloa, halloa! What’s all that about?” rang out from the forecastle,
-accompanied by a heavy thumping.
-
-The mate started to run forward, and all hands turned, to behold a
-remarkable sight.
-
-Out of the forecastle bolted three men. Casting their eyes in the
-direction of the land they rushed aft, past the seamen, and were about
-to mount the poop-ladder, when the mate barred the way.
-
-“Get down out of this, you skunks!” he roared. “Who are you fellows,
-and where do you come from?”
-
-“You know jolly well who I am,” roared the biggest of the three. “And
-you had better land us as quick as you can, or it will be a bad job for
-you, so I tell you.”
-
-The mate looked at him in silence for a moment; then the skipper chimed
-in.
-
-“Who the deuce are you?” demanded Captain Monk; “and what are you doing
-aboard my ship?”
-
-“What are you trying to get at, captain?” cried the crimp, furiously.
-“You know very well I’m Dan Sullivan. I brought you six men last night,
-and when we took them into the forecastle--”
-
-There was a shuffle among the men, and the next minute the young Swede
-had sprung at Sullivan’s throat and the two were tossing about the deck
-battering each other like wild beasts.
-
-“Stand back, everybody!” cried the mate. “Let them have it out.”
-
-Sullivan was the bigger and heavier man, but the Swede was a perfect
-young athlete, and had a cruel wrong to wipe out. The muscles of his
-arms and neck stood out like strong cords as the two rolled from side
-to side.
-
-Not a word was uttered by the officers or crew, who stood calmly
-looking on.
-
-Suddenly, by a quick movement, the Swede pinned Sullivan against the
-fife-rail around the mainmast, and with his right hand battered his
-face unmercifully. Then, seizing him by the throat, he flung him into
-the lee-scuppers, where he lay without movement.
-
-The Swede looked at his foe for a moment, then coolly walked over and
-wiped his boots on him. Next, turning towards the poop where Captain
-Monk and the officers stood, he touched his cap and said:--
-
-“I am second mate of the Swedish ship _Oscar Brandi_, and my father
-is captain. I went on shore for a walk, and hearing the music I went
-into a saloon and called for a drink. I sat down to watch the dancers,
-and knew no more until I found myself on board this ship. What will my
-father say or think? What will my employers say?”
-
-He stopped abruptly, and walked forward with his head bent, overwhelmed
-with his grief.
-
-Within another minute the two remaining crimps were hotly engaged with
-two of the ship’s crew whose relatives had been “shanghaied” aboard the
-Britishers. The sailors made short work of the crimps, and fairly wiped
-the deck with them.
-
-Captain Monk then ordered the hapless three to be locked up in separate
-cabins and fed on bread and water for a few days.
-
-“It will give them time to repent,” he said to the mate. “It won’t do
-to put them with the crew yet awhile--there would be murder done. In a
-few days they can go forward, and the crew will save us dirtying our
-hands with the scoundrels. Our chaps will lead them a dance, and they
-will wish to Heaven they had never laid their hands on my crew.”
-
-Just then the mate noticed the young fellow sitting on the hatch with
-his head in his hands. He seemed utterly dejected and oblivious of
-everything about him. The rest of the men had gone forward, and were
-excitedly discussing the matter of Sullivan and his mates being on
-board, each one swearing to have his pound of flesh out of the hated
-“shanghaiers.”
-
-The captain and the mate walked along to the young fellow on the hatch.
-Putting his hand kindly on his bowed head, Captain Monk said: “Come,
-come, young man; you must not give way like that. Sailors should always
-make the best of everything.”
-
-Lifting his head at the kindly touch and words, the young fellow
-replied:--
-
-“Oh, captain, whatever shall I do? I am not a sailor.”
-
-“Oh, never mind that,” said the mate. “You will soon learn here; so get
-forward with the others.”
-
-“Oh, captain, take pity on me!” cried the supposed young man,
-tremulously. “For Heaven’s sake, take pity on me! I am a respectable
-married woman! My husband is Police-constable Hogan of the Newcastle
-police.”
-
-The captain and mate were astounded, and for a moment could do nothing
-but stare at her. Then, seeing some of the men forward looking at them,
-Captain Monk said: “Come aft to the saloon and I will hear your story.”
-
-When they got into the cabin Mrs. Hogan told how the authorities at
-Sydney had heard something of the doings of Sullivan and his crimps,
-and had sent her husband to the district to get evidence against him.
-She had assisted him before, and on this occasion had dressed up in
-her present clothes and joined the sailors in the dance room to watch
-Sullivan and his satellites.
-
-“I called for a bottle of ginger-ale,” she said. “I watched him open
-the bottle, and I am sure there was nothing in the glass, for I saw
-it standing upside down on the counter; but I had not drunk it many
-minutes before I felt my head getting light, and I remember no more
-until I found myself on board this ship. I have abundant evidence
-against that blackguard Sullivan now, but it is no good as he is on
-board here. What shall I do? I have no clothes but these. I cannot go
-among those men.”
-
-“Steamer ahead, sir! Coming this way,” rang out the cry.
-
-“Aye, aye!”
-
-Captain Monk took a look at her through the telescope.
-
-“Run the ‘Urgent’ signal up!” he shouted. “It is the Union Company’s
-boat bound to Melbourne. I will send a letter and this woman on board.
-Back the mainyard, and get the boat out quick.”
-
-Up went the signal, and the steamer bore down towards the ship. Her
-decks were crowded with passengers.
-
-“You will go in the boat, Mrs. Hogan,” said the skipper, “and you had
-better explain things to the captain at once. My letter will tell him
-also. Mr. Patter, you go with the boat, and take four of our own hands
-with you. As soon as you give the letter to the captain, put this woman
-on board and return at once.”
-
-“Aye, aye, sir. Ship your oars! Let go forward!”
-
-The boat shot away and was soon alongside the steamer, and the mate and
-Mrs. Hogan climbed on board. Going along the bridge, Mr. Patter handed
-the letter to the captain, who read it and said:--
-
-“All right. Tell Captain Monk that I will take the woman to Melbourne.
-I am glad he has that blackguard on board. Good-bye.”
-
-The mate got back into his boat, the engines were rung ahead, the
-ensign was dipped three times, and before the boat was on board again
-the steamer was out of sight.
-
-Then the sails were filled once more and the _Jeremiah Crawford_ stood
-on her course.
-
-Five days afterwards Sullivan and his mates were released and sent to
-live in the forecastle. Sullivan was put into the mate’s watch and the
-two crimps in the second mate’s watch.
-
-There was another row at once, and again the blackguards got a good
-thrashing. They were put to the most menial work, were made to wait on
-the others, and do all the dirty work about the decks; in fact, their
-lives were made a misery to them from morning till night. Hardly a day
-passed that one or other of the scoundrels did not get a licking. They
-had a taste of the misery they had caused many another man, and, as the
-captain had prophesied, they had time to repent of their misdeeds.
-
-When the _Jeremiah Crawford_ arrived at San Francisco the pilot
-informed them that two British ships had just gone to the anchorage,
-adding that he noticed they were from Newcastle. This was good news to
-all but Sullivan and his crimps.
-
-As they moved up the harbour to their anchorage they passed close to
-the _Commonwealth_. On board her were some of the _Jeremiah Crawford’s_
-crew, and as they passed, one of the sailors called out, “We have
-Sullivan on board!”
-
-After the sails were unbent, all the running-gear triced up, and the
-decks washed down, the crew were dismissed.
-
-“Pay off to-morrow,” said the mate.
-
-“Aye, aye!” answered the crew.
-
-All hands went on shore, and Sullivan was forced, much against his
-will, to go with them. On the wharf where they landed stood the six
-American sailors whom Sullivan and his mates had “shanghaied” from
-Newcastle! Let us mercifully draw a veil over the crimp’s final
-punishment.
-
-Neither of the three blackguards turned up when the crew were paid
-off; no questions were asked, and no explanations given. But two
-years afterwards Sullivan appeared again at New South Wales--not the
-unscrupulous bully and braggart, but a broken, decrepit old man.
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration: Mountain Tragedies of the Lake District.]
-
-BY A MEMBER OF THE ALPINE CLUB.
-
-    A contribution appealing to climbers and non-climbers
-    alike. Although the writer prefers to remain anonymous, he
-    is a well-known mountaineer. In this article he gives an
-    authoritative and most interesting account of the various
-    climbing fatalities which have occurred in the English Lake
-    District, pointing out exactly how each disaster occurred.
-    Photographs by G. P. Abraham, Keswick.
-
-
-In these days of hurry-scurry mountaineering, when the words of the
-wise are on every climber’s tongue and the intention to obey them in
-few men’s minds, a great deal is written concerning the perils of the
-mountains. The object of the greater part of these writings has been to
-elaborate in detail the various phases of mountaineering dangers and
-how to obviate them: in other words, how best to avoid accidents.
-
-[Illustration: MICKLEDORE RIDGE AND THE BROAD STAND--THE CIRCLE MARKS
-THE SPOT FROM WHICH MR. HAARBLEICHER FELL AND THE CROSS THE POINT WHERE
-MR. PETTY LOST HIS BALANCE.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-It is a somewhat singular fact that, beyond a few generalities and
-platitudes evolved by non-climbing reporters, no record has been
-written of the accidents themselves. And yet, in the case of the
-accidents that have occurred in the Lake District, much is to be
-learnt. Every disaster on the mountains, if properly understood,
-should teach a lesson, for the majority of them are only accidents in
-part, and have been directly due to the disregard or violation of some
-cardinal law governing the sport of mountaineering.
-
-If a man who has never been on a mountain in his life before endeavours
-to scale a steep precipice and loses his life in the attempt, can such
-be truly called an accident? Surely it would be more of an accident if
-he succeeded in winning through without mishap; a fatal fall may under
-such circumstances be called a tragedy--a disaster, but surely not an
-accident.
-
-And yet the circumstances of the so-called accident to Mr.
-Haarbleicher, a Manchester merchant, in 1892, were almost in accordance
-with the above instance.
-
-He arrived at Wastdale Head Hotel with his sister, and, being “anxious
-to climb his first mountain,” ascended Scawfell.
-
-[Illustration: SCAWFELL PINNACLE--PROFESSOR MARSHALL HAD JUST RETURNED
-FROM THIS CLIMB WHEN HE MET WITH HIS FATAL ACCIDENT.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-In attempting to descend to Mickledore by way of the Broad Stand,
-at the bottom of which is a steep cliff, he jumped downward on to
-a scree-covered slab, his feet shot from under him, and he fell a
-distance of more than a hundred feet. As a result of his injuries he
-succumbed shortly after.
-
-This lower cliff of the Broad Stand was responsible for another
-fall, which, however, did not prove fatal. A Mr. Petty was climbing
-Mickledore Chimney with a large party, amongst whom was his _fiancée_.
-The late J. W. Robinson was the leader. At the place where the Chimney
-is left and a step across to the Broad Stand effected, Mr. Petty took
-off the rope in order to let the leader throw the end of it down to the
-others of the party.
-
-An agonized shout from Petty caused Mr. Robinson to turn sharply, and
-he saw his companion shooting head downwards with terrific velocity
-to the screes below. The distance, carefully measured afterwards, was
-a hundred and seven feet. Some of the party, still at the foot of the
-Chimney, were horrified to see Mr. Petty hurtling through the air
-towards them, and narrowly escaped being struck.
-
-He fell face downward. The angle of his body conformed exactly to
-the slope of the screes, and his entire length struck the slope at
-once. It seems incredible that he could survive such a fall, and his
-friends never hoped to find him alive. His injuries was terrible, but
-nevertheless he still lived, and, by careful nursing, regained his full
-strength.
-
-[Illustration: THE PILLAR ROCK--THIS IS THE CLIMB THE NOVICES WERE
-ATTEMPTING WHEN MR. WALKER WENT TO THEIR ASSISTANCE.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-This is surely the most wonderful bit of luck that ever befell a
-climber. It transpired afterwards that he had grown impatient of
-waiting for the others to come up and had begun to fill in the time by
-a little desultory climbing on a steep slab directly above him. Off
-this he had just slipped when he shouted and drew the attention of Mr.
-Robinson and the others.
-
-[Illustration: THE PILLAR ROCK AND SHAMROCK (NORTH SIDE)--THE CROSS
-SHOWS THE CLIFF MR. WALKER SLID OVER, NOW KNOWN AS “WALKER’S GULLY.”
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-Would that Professor Milnes Marshall, who was killed the following year
-on the opposite side of Scawfell, could have had such a providential
-escape! His fall could not have been one of more than twelve feet, and
-yet it proved too great.
-
-In company with the late Owen Glynne Jones and Joseph Collier,
-Professor Marshall had just previously climbed Scawfell Pinnacle by way
-of Steep Ghyll, returning down Deep Ghyll to the foot of the crags,
-where they had lunch together. Being anxious to obtain a photograph of
-the Ghyll, Professor Marshall scrambled up the fell side opposite to
-its entrance.
-
-The nature of the ground was so easy and well broken up, although
-rocky and steep, that his companions never for a moment dreamt of
-disaster. Hearing a noise of falling stones they looked round and
-saw a cube of rock, about two feet in diameter, rolling down the
-mountain side. This was followed by the body of Professor Marshall.
-Both came to rest on the scree slope below the Lord’s Rake, where, to
-their great astonishment and horror, Messrs. Jones and Collier found
-the life of their companion quite extinct. Exactly how the accident
-happened will never be known, but it was surmised at the time that Mr.
-Marshall had stepped on the cube of rock and that it had given way
-with him. It has become proverbial that “it is on the easy places that
-accidents happen,” and no doubt it was the easy nature of the ground
-that caused a temporary carelessness on the part of a man who, in all
-mountaineering circles, was recognised as a most careful and cautious
-climber.
-
-We may pass over briefly the death of the Rev. James Jackson, who fell
-on the Pillar and was killed in May, 1878. He was alone at the time,
-but his body was found at the foot of a steep cliff, near the summit of
-the mountain. In walking along the top of the cliff he had evidently
-slipped over, but what caused him to do so will never be known. The
-fact that the reverend gentleman had attained to the ripe age of
-eighty-two years may suggest a broad reason.
-
-[Illustration: SCAWFELL PINNACLE AND DEEP GHYLL, SHOWING THE GHYLL AS
-IT APPEARED WHEN MR. GOODALL GLISSADED DOWN IT TO HIS DEATH.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-At Easter, nearly five years later, a party of novices were trying
-to climb the Pillar Rock from the east side. For some time they were
-unsuccessful. Just then another party reached the top of the Pillar
-Mountain; one of them, a Whitehaven youth of the name of Walker, had
-climbed the rock some time before. Seeing the predicament of the
-novices, he set off down a snow-slope towards them, intending to direct
-their ascent. He had only gone a few feet when he slipped on to his
-back and shot off down the snow. Gathering terrific and uncontrollable
-impetus as he slid, he reached the Rock, which juts out of the side of
-the mountain, in a few moments and dashed into it. His body bounded off
-it and then fell into a gully on the right. This was filled with hard
-snow, which carried him swiftly downward until the crest of a sheer
-cliff was reached. Over this, for five hundred feet, he plunged, and
-far into the Ennerdale valley below, death, of course, being inevitable.
-
-[Illustration: SCAWFELL AND MICKLEDORE--THE DOUBLE CROSSES INDICATE THE
-LEDGE FROM WHICH THE PARTY OF FOUR FELL; THE SINGLE CROSS DENOTES WHERE
-PROFESSOR MARSHALL SLIPPED; AND THE CIRCLE SHOWS WHERE ALL THE BODIES,
-INCLUDING THAT OF MR. GOODALL, WERE FOUND.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-Of the witnesses of this accident two subsequently lost their reason,
-and the death of another shortly afterwards was attributed to the
-shock. And all for the want of a little caution and forethought on
-a snow-slope! Still, “out of evil comes good,” and no doubt the
-remembrance of this terrible tragedy and its contributory cause has
-ultimately saved many valuable lives. Only once since then has it been
-forgotten in the Lake District, and this led to the last tragedy that
-has happened. This was to poor Alexander Goodall, a Keswick youth, who
-deliberately set off glissading down the snow at the top of Deep Ghyll
-on Scawfell.
-
-To those of us who know the frightful velocity that is attained in a
-few feet on steep snow, and the long years of practice necessary to
-control this speed, such an act would appear quite inexplicable. But
-to him, whose first day on snow it was, and in entire ignorance of its
-insidious dangers, that downward slide would present no terrors, until,
-with balance gone and ice-axe snatched out of his grasp by the snow
-in which he wildly dug it, his mistake flashed across his mind with
-terrible meaning. Alas! he learnt his lesson too late; he did not live
-to profit by it, for his body dashed downward, crashing into the rocks
-as it sped, until it came to rest on the scree-slope five hundred feet
-below, within a few feet of the place on which Professor Marshall fell.
-
-A short three months before this same spot witnessed the most terrible
-of all the Lakeland tragedies, when a party of skilful climbers fell
-from the north face of Scawfell Pinnacle. Even the historical accident
-on the first ascent of the Matterhorn, when all of a large party were
-killed but Mr. Whymper and two guides, palls before this home disaster,
-for here four Englishmen in the prime of their youth were suddenly
-called away.
-
-On September 21st, 1903, Messrs. Broadrick, Garrett, Jupp, and
-Ridsdale started from Wastdale Head for Scawfell, intent upon climbing
-the Pinnacle by the difficult route from Deep Ghyll. This they
-successfully accomplished, and afterwards redescended to the foot of
-the Pinnacle, where they had lunch with another climbing party, which
-was under Mr. W. E. Webb’s leadership.
-
-After lunch Mr. Webb’s party bade them _au revoir_ and went off to
-climb one of the cracks on the far end of the crags. After their climb
-they foregathered on Mickledore Ridge, and thence set off along the
-base of the cliff to regain their knapsacks, which had been left at the
-lunching-place.
-
-As they neared the foot of the Pinnacle they heard a shout, but thought
-it came from the valley below. Leisurely they rounded a corner, and
-there, about fifty yards away, in the vicinity of the screes where they
-had lunched, saw four figures stretched out and lying quite still.
-
-In a disconnected way they thought at first that these four figures
-were asleep, though it was a peculiar place to fall asleep in; then
-something unusual about their attitudes became apparent, and not till
-then did the awful reality flash upon them.
-
-They tore across the rough intervening ground and made a dreadful
-discovery. Only Mr. Ridsdale was alive, and even he was obviously too
-terribly injured to recover. As they approached he raised his head.
-“I’ve been shouting for hours,” he murmured. “I’m afraid the others are
-all gone, but look after them and don’t mind me.” As he feared, they
-were past human aid, and death had evidently visited them with merciful
-swiftness, for their bodies were already cold.
-
-It was now nearly six o’clock, and little could be done for poor
-Ridsdale, but Mr. Webb and another of his party stayed with him whilst
-the other ran down to Wastdale for help.
-
-From that time until nearly ten o’clock they did all in their power
-to alleviate the sufferings of the survivor, who was in great pain.
-Darkness set in before seven o’clock, and their lonely vigil, with the
-wind sighing weirdly through the crags above their heads, their three
-erstwhile friends lying dead around them, and poor Ridsdale moaning
-and but half conscious most of the time, must have been an awful
-experience. The remembrance of Ridsdale’s heroic appeal to them to tend
-the others before him, and afterwards the manly efforts of Mr. Webb
-and his friend to help and sustain their dying comrade in such awful
-circumstances through those long, dark hours of waiting, must ever
-linger with pride in the hearts of all true Englishmen. We may be a
-degenerate race; but, if this Scawfell tragedy has done nothing else,
-it has proved that there are still men amongst us.
-
-Little more remains to be told. The rescue party arrived through the
-darkness with a stretcher, and by the light of the lanterns, after
-strenuous labour and weary suspense, succeeded in conveying the
-survivor downward over the rough stones and shale, only to find, alas!
-that their effort was in vain, for their burden expired about an hour
-before they gained the shelter of the inn.
-
-From what Mr. Ridsdale let fall in his delirium, and by an
-investigation of the face of the Pinnacle from which the party fell,
-it was not difficult to reconstruct their doings before the accident.
-After Mr. Webb’s party had left them they started up the north face of
-the Pinnacle, a climb that had not hitherto been accomplished, with Mr.
-Broadrick leading. He must subsequently have relinquished it, however,
-for their position on the rope when found showed that Mr. Garrett had
-taken over the lead. From a narrow ledge about two hundred feet up the
-sheer rock-face Mr. Garrett slipped, and the others, not being well
-placed to sustain a shock, were plucked one after another from their
-holds and dashed to the screes below.
-
-Apart from Mr. Garrett’s slip, there were two prime contributory causes
-of the accident. The first was the perseverance of the party beyond
-where good anchorage (a place where the leader could be checked by
-the rope in case of a slip) was obtainable; and the second was in not
-turning back and abandoning the climb when Mr. Broadrick, by far the
-most experienced and careful man in the party, gave up the leadership.
-
-It is easy to be wise after the event, but similar circumstances may
-arise some day on another climb. If the Scawfell Pinnacle disaster
-and its lesson are then recalled, it may be the means of working the
-salvation of future climbers, and the loss of four valuable men,
-plucked off in their prime, may not have been in vain.
-
-[Illustration]
-
-
-
-
-_Cupid and the Dentist._
-
-BY DR. PAUL S. COLEMAN.
-
-    The man who interferes in the love affairs of the passionate,
-    hot-blooded people of Central America is likely to find he has
-    stirred up a veritable hornets’ nest, and will be lucky if
-    he escapes with his life. Such, at least, was Dr. Coleman’s
-    experience in Salvador, but fortunately everything ended
-    happily for all concerned.
-
-
-Those readers of THE WIDE WORLD who are familiar with my
-former narrative, entitled “Fallen Among Thieves,”[1] will remember
-that my object in going into Central America was for the purpose of
-practising dentistry.
-
-[1] See April, 1908, issue.--ED.
-
-While actively engaged in my profession in the Salvadorean city of
-Santa Ana, the following series of incidents occurred, which served to
-put a great deal of excitement into what might otherwise have been a
-somewhat humdrum existence.
-
-Before going farther it is necessary that the reader should understand
-some of the characteristics of the Salvadoreans, who are descendants of
-the ancient Spanish adventurers, with an admixture of native blood.
-
-The women, in my humble opinion, are for intelligence, character,
-and beauty the superiors of any other nation inhabiting the southern
-portion of the Western Hemisphere. As for the men, the Spanish
-blood seems to predominate in point of passion, for, besides being
-the most valiant soldier in time of war of any Central American
-race, the Salvadorean is also the most ardent lover and the most
-jealously-inclined towards his inamorata of any person upon the face of
-the earth. That also is my humble opinion, and that I have good grounds
-for my statement will presently appear.
-
-There are just two things the foreigner in Salvador must not do: he
-must not poke his nose into political squabbles or try to interfere in
-a love affair. Ten times out of ten, if you do, it will be to your very
-great sorrow not counting the danger you run.
-
-Now, when the wealthy coffee-planter or “hacienda” owner has need
-of the services of a doctor or dental surgeon he never thinks of
-leaving his plantation, but rounds up his mule-train, heads it with
-an excellent saddle animal, sends it off to the doctor, and invites
-the latter to pay him a visit. Experience has taught the practitioners
-that these invitations are very remunerative, and when the call comes
-business must certainly be very brisk to warrant a refusal. I, for
-one, have never found it advisable to decline, and so it happened that
-one Sunday afternoon I received a polite note requesting me to visit
-the Señor Don Eduardo Castillo, owner of the immense coffee plantation
-known as “Las Flores.” I should mention here that I have been compelled
-to use assumed names, for the family concerned is one of the most
-prominent in Salvador, and would not care for the notoriety which the
-publication of their name would give them.
-
-Next morning found me with my entire dental paraphernalia packed
-upon the backs of a number of mules, and myself, under the escort of
-half-a-dozen servants, traversing the mountain trails leading around
-the base of the big volcano eight miles north of Santa Ana, upon
-the way to the “finca” of Las Flores. The journey was made without
-incident, though it was far into the night before we arrived, the
-distance traversed being something like forty-five miles.
-
-Señor Eduardo met me at the door, and after partaking of a late dinner,
-being very much fatigued, I retired to my room, which was situated at
-the extreme end of the immense building. In point of furnishings and
-size the place constituted a small palace. Indeed, the manner in which
-the wealthy owners of these South American coffee plantations have
-managed to gather the comforts of life and many luxuries at so great a
-distance from a seaport or railroad is perfectly astounding. They have
-practically every modern convenience, and many others which you or I
-have never been used to.
-
-It was late next morning when I awoke, very sore and stiff from my long
-ride. I found, however, that I was just in time for “coffee,” which is
-usually served at ten o’clock. Here I had the pleasure of meeting the
-members of the family, consisting of the mother, an aunt, one son, and
-two very charming daughters, both of whom spoke perfect English, having
-attended a school in the City of London for several years. I decided
-immediately that my four weeks’ visit was going to be very enjoyable,
-and I flattered myself that I had made a fairly good impression upon my
-hosts.
-
-Life upon the “finca” was indeed delightful. Situated as it was at
-an altitude of over four thousand feet above sea-level, the days
-and nights were exhilaratingly cool and pleasant. I soon struck up
-a friendship--which still lasts--with the son of the house, and we
-enjoyed many pleasant hours in riding over the surrounding country. To
-the left, adjoining the plantation, was the immense cattle ranch owned
-by a young man named Gonzales, who, I found out later, was very much
-in love with the elder of Don Eduardo’s daughters, while three leagues
-farther on was another coffee plantation owned by an old man named
-Vasquez, whose son, I understood, had been paying much attention to the
-younger girl.
-
-Two weeks passed very happily and speedily. Very early in my visit I
-became acquainted with how matters stood as regards the two courtships.
-The younger Vasquez, Roberto, had already proposed and had been
-accepted, while the other young man, Enrique, had been calling for
-several years--indeed, he often came two or three times a day--but as
-yet had never declared himself.
-
-Being by this time well acquainted with Roberto and his betrothed, I
-laughingly suggested one afternoon to the two daughters and himself
-that it would be a good idea, as a means of finding out exactly what
-Enrique’s intentions were, for me to kiss the Señorita Hortensia one
-day when Enrique called, doing it in such a manner that the bashful
-lover could not fail to see, but so that his witnessing the act should
-appear an accident. The señorita, being full of girlish fun, had no
-objection, and so it came to pass that the very next afternoon, when
-we saw Enrique coming over, Miss Hortensia and I repaired to a very
-secluded spot upon the veranda, but one which was clearly visible
-from the road. There, in plain view of the approaching Enrique, I
-administered the salute--much to my satisfaction. If I could have
-foreseen its outcome, however, I should certainly have thought twice
-about my action.
-
-Enrique saw me kiss the señorita just as he was dismounting, and, with
-an almost imperceptible start, he remounted his horse and galloped
-away. Then things began to happen. Hortensia--girl-like--retired to
-her room and commenced to weep, while her sister Leonia became very
-distant and chilly in her manner towards me, impressing upon me that
-if anything unpleasant occurred it would be all my fault. The only
-ones with whom I seemed to be upon anything like decent terms were
-the son and the elder people, who knew nothing about the state of
-miniature warfare I had thoughtlessly provoked. Dinner that evening, in
-consequence, was a very formal affair.
-
-As, somewhat disconsolately, I pondered over the matter that night
-before retiring, I resolved to hunt out Enrique early next day, explain
-things fully, and endeavour to bring about a reconciliation. Having
-settled the affair satisfactorily in my own mind, I climbed into bed
-for the night, and, after reading a short while, dropped off to sleep,
-leaving a lamp burning at my bedside.
-
-How long I slept I do not know, but suddenly something woke me, and
-I opened my eyes to behold, standing at the foot of the bed, calmly
-surveying my person, a disreputable-looking Indian! In his right hand
-he held a “machete,” or huge cane knife, about four feet long, and as
-I watched him he ran his finger along the edge, seemingly to ascertain
-whether or not it was sharp enough for the business he intended it for.
-Grabbing my pillow, I sprang to my feet on the bed and backed against
-the wall--just in time to catch a heavy blow from the machete upon the
-pillow, which I held in front of me as a shield. For the moment I had
-forgotten all about the revolver which I usually kept under my head,
-and which now lay exposed in the lamplight. As I reached for it the
-would-be assassin’s nerve failed him, and with a rush he fled out of
-the door. A moment later I heard him mount a horse and make off at a
-gallop down the road.
-
-There was, of course, no more sleep for me until daylight. I had no
-doubt that Enrique, maddened by jealousy, was the prime mover in the
-performance, which, needless to say, upset me very badly. Nevertheless,
-I had resolved to see Enrique that day, and now I was more than ever
-anxious to clear up the unfortunate misunderstanding that had arisen.
-So, saddling early, I proceeded towards the cattle ranch, taking with
-me the boy servant who had been kindly assigned to me by Don Eduardo.
-When we were about a mile from the ranch the boy, to my amazement,
-suddenly doubled up and began to howl. Springing from my horse and
-running to him, I found a bullet-hole through the fleshy part of his
-thigh, from which the blood flowed freely. The wound had undoubtedly
-been caused by a high-power rifle bullet, fired at such a distance that
-it was impossible to hear the report. Dressing the wound as best I
-could, I took the lad up behind me and made for Las Flores, where I put
-him to bed and redressed the wound. Things were getting a good bit too
-lively for my liking, and I would much rather have been in Santa Ana
-just then than where I was. If I had not been afraid of assassination
-on the road I would certainly have made my departure immediately.
-
-This second adventure, of course, caused considerable excitement in
-the family, as I had already mentioned my night’s alarm, and I was the
-object of much sympathy from the young ladies, who now began to take
-my part. I sent several notes over to Enrique’s place, and Don Eduardo
-also went across to look him up, but he was not to be found.
-
-[Illustration: “ENRIQUE SAW ME KISS THE SEÑORITA JUST AS HE WAS
-DISMOUNTING.”]
-
-About this time another misfortune befell me. Roberto came over and
-found me holding a very earnest conversation with his betrothed.
-Knowing nothing of previous happenings, this fiery-tempered young
-man became violently enraged, and, without asking any explanation,
-immediately attacked me with a heavy riding-whip. We had a smart
-struggle, but I succeeded in wresting it from him and knocking him down
-with a blow from my fist. Springing to his feet with a snarl, he made
-off as fast as his legs would carry him, leaving his horse tied to the
-gate. The señorita promptly swooned, and the last glimpse Roberto got
-of us showed me carrying the young lady in my arms into the house. I
-have a faint recollection of seeing him shake his fist at me and grind
-his gleaming white teeth.
-
-Well, now I was “up against it” properly, with two heart-broken girls
-on my hands and two lovers vowing to have my life. I discussed the
-matter at length with Don Eduardo, explaining to him that, while I
-liked the young ladies very much indeed and valued their friendship
-greatly, I was not in love with them and had done nothing to warrant
-anyone in thinking I was, the “kiss incident” notwithstanding. It
-seemed very hard lines that I should go in peril of my life and get
-into general hot water through trying, by means of a harmless joke, to
-bring a bashful or undecided lover “up to the scratch.”
-
-Needless to say, I was very much worried by the turn things were
-taking, and for several days I got very little sleep. One night, while
-tossing wakefully upon my bed, I seemed to feel some danger in the air,
-so much so that I got up and lit the lamp to get rid of the feeling of
-depression which seemed to overwhelm me. Lying down again, I fell into
-a light slumber. Presently I was awakened by something touching me upon
-the shoulder. Opening my eyes, I saw right above me, with his head and
-one shoulder through the window, the same old Indian who had previously
-visited me. He was trying to slip a noose over my head by means of a
-long stick, but the instant I opened my eyes he disappeared. A moment
-later the noose slipped over the bed-post, dragging the entire end out
-bodily and jerking it against the wall. There followed a snort and a
-grunt outside, and the sound of a horse dashing off.
-
-Next morning revealed a broken saddle to which the rope had been tied,
-it evidently being the intention to jerk me through the window--which
-stood eleven feet from the ground--thus breaking my neck most
-effectually.
-
-In spite of this little interlude, the night’s adventures were not yet
-over by any means, and I had scarcely got over this first shock when a
-bundle was flung through the window, landing upon the mattress by my
-side. Shoving it hurriedly off on to the floor, I found it contained
-a hissing and squirming mass of snakes, and soon the room was filled
-with a score or so of the vipers usually known in the medical world as
-“corals”--the only really deadly reptiles in that part of the country,
-their bite being often known to kill in thirty minutes.
-
-As I slept some distance from anyone else I did not care to arouse the
-household in the middle of the night, so I spent the remaining hours
-perched upon a bookcase, out of reach of harm. It is needless to say
-that before the slaying of the reptiles was over next morning the
-commotion upon the “finca” was at fever-heat and no work was done at
-all, the labourers being dispatched in different directions in a vain
-effort to find either of the two revengeful youths.
-
-At night, when no trace had been found of either of them, Señor
-Eduardo, greatly perturbed, dispatched a note to the nearest Alcalde
-for police protection. This, however, could not arrive until the
-second day, and in the meanwhile I also took a trip over to the two
-plantations in an effort to locate the belligerents and explain matters.
-
-That night nothing out of the ordinary happened, but I took pains to
-fasten my room securely, and obtained a good night’s rest. Next day I
-again endeavoured to locate Messrs. Roberto and Enrique, but without
-success. The following evening I happened to be strolling up and down
-the long front veranda with the Señorita Hortensia, who had now become
-somewhat reconciled to the new state of affairs. We had stopped to
-look at the reflection of the moon upon a lake a mile or so down the
-valley, when, without the slightest warning, a figure rose silently
-from the shadow of a bush and hurled an immense knife directly at the
-young lady. The father and son, who were sitting upon the steps, saw
-the movement, and leapt to their feet with yells of alarm. As in the
-other cases, however, Providence seemed to be with us, and the dagger
-merely pierced the señorita’s dress, though it missed her body only by
-a couple of inches.
-
-Seeing that no harm had occurred, we three men sprang forward and
-captured the would-be assassin just as he was in the act of flinging
-another of his murderous missiles at the fainting girl. It proved to be
-Enrique, and he put up a nasty fight before he was finally landed by
-the heels. At this stage Hortensia, having recovered from the shock,
-took the lead in the affair and immediately appropriated the prisoner
-to herself. When we finally got through explaining things to him, he
-came round completely and apologized most generously for all that he
-had done. That night there was much rejoicing at Las Flores, and the
-announcement was made that Enrique and Hortensia were to be married
-very shortly.
-
-Everyone seemed to have temporarily forgotten about the Señorita Leonia
-and her troubles, but Enrique suddenly remembered them and volunteered
-to go immediately and fetch Roberto. An hour later the two young men
-returned together, and another reconciliation took place. Don Eduardo,
-all smiles now, settled things for the lovers, and the billing and
-cooing was quite affecting. Next night a grand “biallie,” or dance, was
-held at the “finca,” and the whole countryside was invited. Soon after
-the banns were posted for a double wedding, at which, several weeks
-later, the girls’ brother and myself acted as “best men.” There is now
-a little Enrique and a little Roberto, to say nothing of a young Pablo,
-named in my honour, and of whom I am the proud godfather. Master Pablo
-little knows, however, what a time his worthy godparent had of it when
-he foolishly tried to adjust the love affairs of the aforesaid Master
-Pablo’s parents.
-
-[Illustration: “SHOVING IT HURRIEDLY OFF ON TO THE FLOOR, I FOUND IT
-CONTAINED A HISSING AND SQUIRMING MASS OF SNAKES.”]
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration: My Experiences in Algeria.
-
-BY THE BARONESS DE BOERIO.]
-
-    The Baroness’s husband, an officer in the French army, was
-    ordered to Algeria, and took his wife and children with him.
-    There, located at a tiny post far from civilization, in the
-    midst of fierce and unruly tribes, the authoress met with some
-    very strange adventures, which she here sets forth in a chatty
-    and amusing fashion.
-
-III.
-
-
-We climbed into the regimental brake very gladly, had a good breakfast
-at Boghar, and then, at four o’clock in the afternoon, started for
-the first caravanserai, Ain Ousera, on the way to Laghouat, where we
-ought to have arrived at about half-past seven. However, half-past
-nine came, and still no caravanserai was in sight. The night was of an
-inky blackness, and we began to suspect that we had lost our way. My
-husband accordingly stopped the carriage and questioned the driver, who
-acknowledged that he had only been that way once before, and was not
-very sure of his route. In this country, where there are no roads, one
-always follows the direction of the telegraph posts.
-
-“Where are they?” asked my husband.
-
-The Spahi hung his head abashed.
-
-“I have not seen one since it grew dark,” he confessed.
-
-[Illustration: ARAB WOMEN WASHING IN A STREAM.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-There was no use being angry and abusing him, so my husband set to work
-to gain some idea of our position. Happily we met an Arab, who gave us
-the indication required, and we set out again at a good pace. Whether
-the Arab gave us the wrong direction, or whether the driver deviated,
-I cannot say; but we were spinning along, making up for lost time,
-when suddenly the horses were flung back on their haunches and a voice
-yelled, “Back! Back! _Malheureux_!” The Spahi fortunately obeyed the
-command, and my husband jumped out quickly to see what new adventure
-had befallen us. This one, however, came very near being our last, for
-we had been stopped by the guardian on the very brink of a quarry!
-Another few yards and we should have leapt into space and fallen down
-a precipice some thirty feet deep. My husband was afraid to trust the
-soldier driver any more, so he arranged with the quarry guardian to
-guide us, and we ultimately arrived at Ain Ousera towards 2 a.m., tired
-out and as hungry as wolves. We woke up the landlord and asked for beds
-and food. There was nothing to be had, he said, but bread, potatoes,
-and eggs, but we told him that would do if some strong, hot coffee
-accompanied it. An hour later we were all snoring.
-
-[Illustration: “THE HORSES WERE FLUNG BACK ON THEIR HAUNCHES AND A
-VOICE YELLED, ‘BACK! BACK!’”]
-
-The rest of our journey was less adventurous. At a caravanserai called
-Gelt Es Stel we were to send back the regimental brake and continue our
-road in a carriage sent by the Bach-Agha of Laghouat. We waited in vain
-for the promised vehicle, however, and when, on the second day, the
-mail and passenger coach came in, we decided it was better to continue
-our journey by that. The _coupé_--a small compartment for three in
-the front of the coach--was all that was available, so in we got--my
-husband, myself, three children, and four dogs! I shall never forget
-that journey. My legs were too long for the space, and the cramp at
-last grew unbearable, while the roof was so near my head that I had to
-sit perfectly still, with a swanlike curve of the neck which, though
-perhaps very graceful, was also excruciatingly uncomfortable. No one
-was more devoutly thankful than myself when at last we finally reached
-our destination.
-
-Laghouat, or, properly speaking, El-Aghouath, the “Pearl of the South,”
-as the Arabs call it, is built on and around two rocks rising out of
-the burning plain and cutting the oasis in two, thus giving it the form
-of a green horse-shoe. A small canalized stream passes between the two
-rocks, watering first the north and then the south oasis.
-
-[Illustration: THE TOWN OF LAGHOUAT, ON THE EDGE OF THE DESERT.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-From the top of these rocks the view, to the lover of Sahara beauty, is
-magnificent. Away to the south stretches the desert, sterile and naked,
-save for the tufts of vegetation here and there, yet the lights and
-shades of colour are so variable and rich that it is a pure joy to gaze
-over its infinity. On the north the undulating flatness is relieved by
-a low line of rocky barren hills, round the top of which is a curious
-dark line, which one could swear was a high-water mark. On a hot summer
-day these hills rise black as coal out of the flame of golden sand
-around them; then, as evening draws nigh, some become pale rose-colour,
-others deepest pansy purple, or bright ochre yellow, and all so vivid,
-so luminous, that the artist despairs of transferring their colours to
-his canvas.
-
-Nearly all the houses at Laghouat are built of mud bricks, mixed with
-straw and baked in the sun. As a child I used to be very much perplexed
-by the Israelites’ complaint during their Egyptian captivity, “How can
-we make bricks, for we have no more straw?” No one could explain the
-matter to me satisfactorily, but now I understood. In these parts, when
-the earth is not sand, it is clay. This clay is well wetted and patted,
-in the way dear to the childish heart, and then mixed and rolled in
-very short straw. Afterwards it is put in a square wooden frame, well
-patted once more, turned out in rows, and left to bake in the sun for a
-fortnight. The bricks are then stacked up ready for use.
-
-Personally, I liked these houses immensely; it was so easy to put nails
-in the walls solidly. As a rule, things I nail up fall down suddenly,
-without any warning, on some revered head--never on mine, because I
-take care not to place myself underneath the work of my own hands. In
-the Laghouat houses, however, you can plant a good long nail boldly.
-It enters as though into butter, you hang up your picture, or whatever
-it is, and then go outside and hang a pot of flowers or a water-pot on
-the point which has come through--and there you are, perfectly balanced
-on both sides! But these mud houses have one rather serious drawback.
-When it rains--fortunately this only occurs at very rare intervals--the
-buildings, unless strongly white washed, have a tendency to fall down
-and melt away into shapeless mud-heaps. This is all in the day’s work
-to the Arab, and does not upset him overmuch, unless a child--or what
-is to him worse, a sheep or horse--is buried in the ruins. He just
-camps out under a camel hair tent in the highest part of his garden,
-or, if he hasn’t a tent, under a carpet--everyone has a carpet. Then,
-when it ceases raining, he serenely rebuilds. “Tu cha Allah!” he
-says--“It is the will of God.”
-
-The rain-storms, though infrequent, are really terrifying when they
-do come. I have seen waves several feet high turning the corner of my
-house, and that half an hour after a downpour began. The river of sand,
-Oued M’zi, which becomes Oued Djdid farther on, fills with water in
-the twinkling of an eye, and is soon a deep, roaring torrent two miles
-broad; it is perfectly incredible the rapidity with which the floods
-rise.
-
-[Illustration: A LAGHOUT MUD-HOUSE--DURING THE RAIN-STORMS THESE
-BUILDINGS HAVE AN AWKWARD HABIT OF MELTING AWAY!
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-This Oued M’zi is supposed by the Roman historian Juba to be the real
-source of the Nile. It is an uncanny river, disappearing underground
-at various points for several days’ march. It finally disappears
-altogether at Cholt Melghir, but the Roman historian points out that
-after twenty days’ march it reappears as the source of the Nile.
-
-Some seven years before I arrived at Laghouat, I was informed, the M’zi
-rose to such a height that it bore all before it on the north side of
-the oasis. Men, women, children, tents, and herds were carried away for
-many kilometres, and the deaths by drowning numbered several hundred.
-
-I remember once passing a night of anguish when my husband was away
-in the south. I had changed my house during his absence and taken a
-smaller one, with a huge garden, in the north oasis, some hundred
-yards from the river. The autumn rains began, and soon my garden and
-outer court were under water. The river came thundering down, and the
-mud house seemed to quiver. Towards ten at night the sound of the
-swift-rushing flood grew so terrific that my heart almost stood still,
-and I remembered the catastrophe of seven years back. “Why, oh, why did
-I leave our solid stone house to inhabit this dangerous hole?” I asked
-myself.
-
-I tramped across the court, knee-deep in water, to my Arab servant’s
-room.
-
-“Mohammed,” I cried, “come with me to see if the pathway to town is
-in a good enough state to take the children to the hotel. The water
-frightens me; we shall be drowned like rats in a trap.”
-
-We tried to open the garden door giving on the wall-lined pathway along
-which the irrigation stream ran, and which was the only road to the
-town for the houses or gardens of the northern oasis. The door opened
-outward, and fortunately for us the pressure of water against it was so
-heavy that our united strength could not move it half an inch.
-
-Mohammed accordingly climbed on the wall and looked down. The water was
-nearly six feet deep! He descended hastily, observing calmly, with a
-critical look at the wall, “It’s a very old wall. It must be the will
-of Allah that it does not fall.”
-
-There was obviously nothing to be done, so I retired indoors and
-changed my clothes, for I was soaking wet. The waters thundered and
-swirled all about us, and I was thankful indeed when daylight came and
-the flood gradually began to subside.
-
-The women of Laghouat never go out by day, and at night are closely
-veiled as they journey under escort from one relation’s house to
-another; even the lower classes and the dancing women faithfully
-observe this custom. Only on two feasts, which last three and seven
-days--the “Aid el Srir” and “Aid el Kebir,” the “little” and “great”
-Feast of the Sheep, which correspond with the Jewish Passover and
-killing of the Paschal lamb--do the latter ladies don their finest
-clothes and strut about barefaced.
-
-Their costumes are indeed splendid--silks and brocades of the very best
-quality and the most lovely hues, with gold, silver, and gem-studded
-embroideries. The veils hanging from their bejewelled head-dresses are
-of cloth of silver and gold, their bosoms are covered with precious
-stones, and the noise of the numerous bracelets they wear on arms and
-legs can be heard some way off.
-
-[Illustration: A SCENE IN THE SAHARA.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-The dancing women of the province of Algiers and Oran are nearly all of
-the tribes of the Ouled Najls. The women of these tribes have chosen
-dancing as their profession, and when quite young they go forth to earn
-their dowry by “tripping on the light fantastic toe.” When they have
-earned it they generally return home, marry, and make as good wives and
-mothers as the rest of womenkind.
-
-[Illustration: A GROUP OF DANCING GIRLS OF THE OULED NAJL.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-There are now about thirty-eight tribes of Ouled Najls, stretching
-from Biskara to the Djebel-Amour, all pastoral, wandering wherever
-the blessed rain of heaven falls and grasses grow, without taking any
-notice of distance or frontiers. The supreme happiness of a Najl is to
-find a quiet corner where the grass is green and abundant, and there to
-snooze under the sun’s rays, watching his sheep and camels fatten, and
-fattening himself as well, for he lives chiefly on their milk. Later he
-exchanges his flocks for corn, dates, and everything necessary for his
-existence. Truly these people are still in the age of Abraham.
-
-[Illustration: THE BACH-AGHA OF THE LARBAAS, AN IMPORTANT ARAB CHIEF.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-A fortnight after I arrived at Laghouat the Bach-Agha of the Larbaas
-(a tribe of warriors who have always been faithful to France) gave a
-“diffa” in our honour. Warned by my experience of painful memory at
-Teniet-el-Haad, I did not try to partake of all the twenty-five dishes
-which were served in weary succession. After the repast was over we
-paid a visit to the chief’s two wives. The favourite, a young woman
-of twenty-four, was most beautifully dressed in eau-de Nil brocade.
-The costume was that of the Algiers women, full trousers closing in
-tightly round the small, silk-socked, golden-slippered feet. Then came
-a three-quarter skirt of the same material and a much-embroidered
-tight-fitting bodice. The front of this latter garment was so covered
-with jewels that the stuff was hardly visible. The head-dress was
-composed of silk handkerchiefs and chains of gold and precious stones.
-She had two children, a boy of eight and a girl ten years old. She
-told me she was very happy, that she had been married to the Bach-Agha
-since she was twelve years old, and that he had only beaten her once,
-when she had broken one of her pieces of jewellery in a temper. She
-showed us the very piece, with much laughter--a big, finely-worked gold
-filigree disc.
-
-“You did not laugh so loudly when you felt the _matraque_ on your
-shoulders,” said a grim voice behind her.
-
-Without another word she pulled one of her handkerchiefs over her
-face and stood motionless. It was now our turn to laugh, which we did
-heartily, for we had seen the Bach-Agha come in, and had understood his
-sign for us not to betray him.
-
-After teasing her a little the good old man--he was sixty--told her to
-unveil, but not to boast too much of her one beating, or he should have
-to make it two.
-
-We much admired the beautiful carpets and embroidered cushions on the
-marble floor, and the handsome silver and brass jugs, cups, and plates
-which adorned the Arab brackets, but we thought the four-poster bed,
-with white muslin curtains, which stood in the far corner, rather out
-of place.
-
-The young wife’s apartments consisted of two big rooms, about fourteen
-yards long by four wide, both leading out into a big square court with
-pink marble pillars, where palms and various other exotic plants
-flourished. In the centre was a fountain where goldfish glinted.
-
-Then we went to see the other wife, old, like her husband. Her room was
-big, her bed comfortable, her clothing good, but everything was of the
-simplest. Her only jewel was a tiny gold brooch fastening a drapery
-drawn round the head under the chin. She seemed too weary to talk.
-
-“Life is over for me,” she said. “My children are dead; my husband
-has not spoken to me for years. I, too, shall soon be gone.” And she
-clacked her tongue in her cheek in a dismally resigned fashion. I felt
-heavy-hearted as I went out.
-
-“How sad!” I said to Ben Aouda, one of the Bach-Agha’s three grown-up
-sons. “I thought she was your mother.”
-
-“My mother and my brothers’ mother has been dead a long time,” he
-replied. “That one”--and I distinguished a shade of contempt in his
-voice--“only gave my father daughters--feeble creatures who died young.”
-
-If an Arab woman wishes to retain any power she may ever have had over
-her husband, she must first be a mother, and, secondly, the mother of
-male children, strong and lusty. There are, of course, exceptions; I
-knew of one at Laghouat later. The two longed for a family. They made
-pilgrimages to all sorts of outlandish places. In accordance with
-Arab superstitions, the husband tore the still-throbbing heart out of
-countless jackals’ palpitating bodies and devoured it warm, while his
-wife wore all sorts of horrible fetishes round her neck and drank the
-blood of hyenas. It was all of no avail, but despite the advice and
-worrying of his family he refused to divorce her or to take another
-wife, as the law allowed him. But he was a very rare exception to the
-general rule.
-
-Besides the Bach-Agha’s, I used to visit at the rival house, where
-lived descendants of other rulers of Laghouat. Here I was often amused
-by the harmless little intrigues I came across. The master of the house
-possessed three very pretty and very young wives, ruled and guarded by
-his mother--one of the jolliest, gayest old ladies I have ever met. She
-was always draped in a spotless fine woollen _melhafa_, bordered with
-green.
-
-It was extraordinary, seeing the secluded life they led, how familiar
-these young wives were with Laghouat society.
-
-Peeping through their closely-latticed window, looking on to the road,
-they would say: “Ah! there goes Lieutenant This, or Captain That,” and
-then they would tell me stories concerning these officers that I had no
-idea of, and enjoy my surprise.
-
-“We may be shut up, but we know everything that goes on and have plenty
-of fun,” they would say. One day when I arrived, however, I found their
-harmony disturbed. Zohra, an Algiers Moor, kept apart, silent and
-sullen, darting looks of hatred at Aicha, who was happily nursing her
-lately-born son.
-
-Hennia, the youngest, following my gaze, whispered: “She is mad with
-jealousy because Aicha has a son, and our lord is pleased with Aicha
-and angry with Zohra, who has been four years married and has given him
-no offspring.”
-
-“And you?” I inquired.
-
-She shrugged her slender shoulders. “It is only six months since he
-brought me to his house, and the last wife is never the least until
-many moons have waned.”
-
-Worried by Zohra’s look I returned shortly, but she sullenly refused to
-speak to me. Then, suddenly, one day as I was leaving, she ran after
-me and drew me aside. “I hate her! I hate her!” she panted. “She has
-stolen his love from me. Help me, O Roumia, help me, or I shall die.”
-
-“What can I do for you?” I inquired, rather upset by her burning gaze
-and passionate whisper.
-
-“Bring me the little white powder,” she breathed, “the dear little
-powder, to sweeten her coffee and make her sleep, sleep, sleep!”
-
-She seized my wrists and held me fast, her eyes blazing like those of a
-madwoman.
-
-“To do evil that good may come” is not usually one of my principles,
-but on this occasion I thought it excusable. So I promised her the
-powder, and, what is more, I took her not one, but two! One, for her
-rival, was composed of chalk and sugar, and the other, for herself, of
-Epsom salts.
-
-“For these powders to have any effect you must take another at the
-same time,” I told her, impressively. “If Aicha has really stolen
-your share of your lord’s love from you she will surely die; but if
-you have accused her wrongly, then you yourself will be the one to
-suffer. You will not die, but you will suffer.” She eagerly agreed--and
-she certainly suffered, too; but her jealousy was effectually cured,
-and my next visit found the trio reunited and full of their usual
-light-hearted tittle-tattle. When I told the story to the husband he
-laughed as Arabs seldom laugh.
-
-
-THE END.
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration:
-
-Ways That Are Dark.
-
-Some Records of Roguery.]
-
-BY RALPH STOCK, R. L. C. MORRISON, AND A. E. MACGROTTY.
-
-    “For ways that are dark and tricks that are vain,” says Bret
-    Harte’s famous poem, “the heathen Chinee is peculiar.” The
-    subjoined examples of clever rascality, however, show that
-    the Celestial has by no means a monopoly of the gentle art of
-    living at other people’s expense.
-
-I.--MY ADVENTURES IN ‘FRISCO.
-
-BY RALPH STOCK.
-
-
-It was on the first anniversary of the great earthquake that I found
-myself in San Francisco. The city was a forest of scaffolding and
-steam-cranes; huge blocks of stone and concrete hung suspended above
-the streets on their way to clothe the towering “quake-proof” steel
-frameworks that rose from the _débris_ of former buildings like
-gigantic skeletons. Hills of bricks, mortar, and plaster confronted
-the pedestrian at every turn, and the dust from these and the streets
-generally made the city a blinding, choking wilderness.
-
-The demand for labour in rebuilding had drawn to San Francisco the very
-dregs of humanity throughout the Americas, and strikes, street riots,
-and robberies with violence were of daily occurrence. The authority
-of the police was a sinecure; fat, good-natured giants in white,
-uniforms and helmets, with truncheons swinging from their wrists, leant
-against hoardings at street corners and smoked cigarettes, or earnestly
-requested a striker who became more than usually vociferous to “Cut it
-out” or “Go way back and sit down.”
-
-It appears that in “’Frisco” the cheapest way of living is by drinking,
-for by buying five cents’ worth of inferior beer one is entitled to
-eat at a “free lunch counter” adjacent to the bar and have a cut
-from the joint and cheese and biscuits _ad lib_. To a world-wanderer
-like myself, whose income was, to say the least, precarious, this
-was a great institution; and it was at one of these counters that
-I met a would-be guide, philosopher, and friend in the form of a
-gaunt youth who, after a brief exchange of civilities, professed the
-desire to show me a little of ‘Frisco under-life--at my expense. He
-promised me Chinese opium and gambling dens and orgies in subterranean
-dancing-halls, with attendant excitements undreamed of by my prosaic
-mind.
-
-Such an appeal to the adventure-loving spirit that lies hidden in most
-of us was irresistible. I closed with the offer, and after investing
-in a cheap revolver, that was quite as likely to hurt the man behind
-it as the one in front, we set out for the less frequented parts of
-the city. Down by the docks the streets were dark and deserted, and my
-guide improved the occasion by relating the various “sand-baggings” and
-assaults that had distinguished the quarter during the past week.
-
-The only lighted shop we passed was a small tobacco booth, where
-I stopped to buy cigarettes. This could hardly have taken me more
-than two minutes, yet when I stepped out into the street I found my
-unfortunate guide lying face downwards on the pavement, with a thin
-stream of red creeping from his forehead towards the gutter. For a
-brief moment I thought he had fainted; then I saw his clothes had been
-rifled, and, glancing up the street, discerned the dim outline of three
-dark figures trotting silently and apparently without haste into the
-gloom.
-
-A wave of anger took possession of me; the cowardly assailants
-evidently thought they would get off scot-free after an easy and
-profitable night’s work. I longed to give them at least a scare for
-their money.
-
-Leaving my companion, still insensible, to the care of the tobacconist,
-I dashed up the street in pursuit. My footfalls echoed along the
-deserted thoroughfare like rifle-shots, so I hastily discarded my boots
-and continued the chase in socks.
-
-Rather to my surprise I soon came in sight of the three figures in
-front, who had now dropped into a leisurely walk. This confidence in
-their security for some reason angered me the more, and in the deep
-shadows of a wall I crept nearer and drew the revolver from my pocket.
-
-I had never shot a man in my life, and for the first time I experienced
-the dread of doing this in cold blood. Then I remembered my companion’s
-gaunt figure prone on the pavement, and the fact that but for a
-packet of cigarettes I should have certainly shared the same fate. I
-fired--low down.
-
-The men scattered like startled rabbits; two darted down by-streets on
-opposite sides of the road, while the third took an abrupt seat on the
-pavement and examined his leg, evidently more concerned about his wound
-than the chances of escape.
-
-As I rushed down the turning to the left I sighted my second quarry
-scrambling over a mound of bricks; he turned and saw me at the same
-instant, and then began a chase and obstacle race combined under
-conditions that are probably unique. Over mounds of sand, lime, and
-broken brick; through mazes of scaffolding, barrels, planks, and
-wheelbarrows, pools of muddy water, and quagmires of soft mortar we
-went. My bootless feet were soon battered and bruised, but the fever of
-the chase was in my veins, and as long as my quarry was in sight I felt
-incapable of abandoning the pursuit.
-
-The fugitive was now hardly thirty feet ahead, and I dashed after him
-round a corner of scaffolding, confident that I had run him to earth;
-and I did, but not in the way expected. He had crouched low just round
-the corner, and, unable to stop myself, I fell headlong over his body.
-It was an old trick, and I scrambled to my feet anathematizing myself
-for a fool, but my man had vanished. With slightly cooler blood and
-a bruised head I had just decided to leave matters where they stood,
-when I heard a gentle rasping, and looked up to find him clinging to a
-scaffold-pole above my head. I could see his white face looking down at
-me.
-
-“What are you going to do about it?” he demanded, breathlessly.
-
-“Come down and you’ll see,” said I, sternly.
-
-When at last we stood facing each other, however, I found myself
-at a loss. He was a mere boy, with a wizened, old-young face and
-cunning eyes that took me in from hatless head to socked feet with a
-callous insolence that rather appealed to me. What _was_ I going to do
-about it? The police of San Francisco were either asleep or smoking
-cigarettes in more salubrious quarters of the city; and it was next to
-impossible to give him in charge, so I took the law into my own hands.
-
-“Hand over what you took,” said I, “and you shall go.”
-
-“The others went through him,” he replied, sullenly; “I don’t know how
-much they got.”
-
-“Shall we call it twenty-five dollars as a minimum?” I suggested.
-
-His face expressed neither approval nor dissent, but he drew from a
-ragged pocket a large gold watch.
-
-“Guess that’ll cover it,” he said, coolly, and on examination I found
-that it did, by fully another twenty-five dollars.
-
-When, after considerable difficulty, I found my way back to the
-tobacconist, my companion had recovered consciousness and, with a
-bandaged head, sat up to hear my report.
-
-“How much did you lose?” was my first question.
-
-“Nothing,” he said; “I haven’t a cent in the world.”
-
-“Then here’s something to be going on with,” said I, and handed him the
-watch.
-
-After the foregoing, it is with some reluctance that I relate what
-happened two days later, but the experience is so typical of San
-Franciscan under-life that I can hardly allow it to pass unrecorded.
-My own part in the affair was entirely reprehensible, and I need say
-no more, for everyone knows that, while confession may be good for the
-soul, it is rarely compatible with personal dignity.
-
-I wished to go to a certain theatre, and asked the way of the first
-pedestrian I met. He smilingly informed me that I was going in
-precisely the opposite direction, and that, as he happened to be
-passing the doors himself, he would show me the way. During the
-next five minutes I learnt that my guide was also a stranger to
-San Francisco, and that he had come from Canada. As I had lived
-there myself for four years this supplied a connecting link in our
-reminiscences, and we entered the first bar to improve the occasion.
-He certainly knew the Canadian prairie like a book, and his anecdotes
-of ranch and bush life were so interesting that the theatre was soon
-forgotten and we settled down for a chat.
-
-[Illustration: “UNABLE TO STOP MYSELF, I FELL HEADLONG OVER HIS BODY.”]
-
-It appeared that he had tired of the rough life of the plains, and
-after a course of study had become a telegraph operator in Denver.
-
-While there he had been approached by a gang of wire-tappers[2] with
-a view to his becoming a confederate, but he had refused. A few
-weeks later he heard of their capture, and went to see the trial and
-conviction of the entire gang.
-
-[2] Those who intercept telegraph messages by establishing secret
-connections on branch wires, thus gaining news of races in advance of
-the general public.
-
-Now, however, they were again at large, for he had recognised their
-leader that very day in the streets of San Francisco, and without a
-doubt he was engaged in his old nefarious business.
-
-My companion’s idea was to make a round of the city pool-rooms, where
-they received news of the races by wire, and, if he encountered the
-“wire-tapper,” force him by threats of exposure to divulge what horses
-he was going to back. “There might be some brisk fun,” he said. “Would
-you care to come and see it?”
-
-This appealed to me rather more than the theatre, and we accordingly
-started a careful tour of every pool-room in the city. They were dark,
-dusty places, swarming with a heterogeneous collection of humanity that
-ceaselessly shuffled and elbowed round boards bearing notices of the
-odds and winners, while a sleek gentleman in faultless attire stood on
-a rostrum at the end of the room and acted as “bookie.”
-
-The fruitlessness of my companion’s search was growing a trifle
-monotonous, when, on entering the fourth of these rooms, he seized my
-arm and nodded in the direction of a tall, stout man who had emerged
-from the crowd and stood counting over a large roll of bills. At last
-he seemed satisfied, slipped an elastic band round the roll, and strode
-out into the street.
-
-“Come on,” whispered my companion, excitedly; “that’s my man.”
-
-Not far from the door he tapped the stranger on the shoulder. The tall
-man faced about with surprising swiftness.
-
-“What do you want?” he snapped.
-
-“I know all about you,” said my companion, evenly.
-
-The collapse was sudden; the tall man’s jaw dropped perceptibly.
-
-“Come farther away and I’ll listen to you,” he said, with a furtive
-glance at the pool-room doors.
-
-Round a quiet corner my companion stated his business, and the
-wire-tapper brought out his roll of bills and fingered them feverishly.
-
-“This is blackmail,” he whined; “but how much do you want?”
-
-“It’s not blackmail, and I want none of your money,” protested my
-companion, indignantly. “All you have to do is to take _my_ money and
-place it on the right horse. Here are ten dollars for a start. I shall
-watch you go in and come out of the pool-room from this corner.”
-
-The wire-tapper had hardly left us when a little boy of thirteen or
-fourteen ran up to him with a note; then he disappeared through the
-swinging doors.
-
-Presently the wire-tapper came out and, without a word, counted thirty
-dollar bills into the other’s hand.
-
-“The price was only two to one,” he explained, apologetically.
-
-“Never mind,” said my companion; “better luck next time. Just place
-this thirty dollars for me, and that will do--for the present.”
-
-The process was repeated, and this time ninety dollars changed hands;
-but the wire-tapper was evidently nervous and anxious to be gone, and
-when my companion tentatively suggested a third attempt he refused
-point-blank, on the ground that if he won any more that day it would
-arouse suspicion. This objection, however, was overruled by the other
-offering to place the money himself.
-
-“And we’ll make the amount worth while; shall we?” he added, turning to
-me. “Do you feel inclined to join me in a hundred-dollar bet?”
-
-Fifty dollars meant a good deal to me then, but the two or three
-hundred it would bring in meant a great deal more, so I took the
-plunge. After another note had changed hands between the wire-tapper
-and the boy, he told us to back Rough Diamond for the next race, and
-threw in fifty dollars as his own stake; then we took up our position
-on the opposite pavement and waited expectantly.
-
-To my surprise my companion soon appeared and exultantly informed us
-that he had succeeded in placing our stake on Rough Diamond to win at
-three to one.
-
-“To win?” roared the wire-tapper.
-
-“Yes, to win,” retorted the other, feebly.
-
-The wire-tapper literally danced on the pavement.
-
-“You fool!” he spluttered; “I told you to back the horse for a _place_
-this time--it has come in third.” He turned to me. “Didn’t I say for a
-place?” he snapped, vehemently.
-
-But I took no further interest in the proceedings. In Western parlance,
-I had been “done brown.” The men were confederates, and all that was
-left for me to do was to swallow my medicine without grimacing. So I
-smiled blandly, congratulated them on their acting, and left them to
-marvel at man’s credulity.
-
-It all sounds very foolish and easy, set down in black and white, but
-the San Franciscan “confidence man,” by long and unhampered practice,
-has reduced his methods to a fine art; and although it is hardly likely
-that any respectable, level-headed reader of THE WIDE WORLD
-would fall a victim to his wiles, such a thing has been known to occur
-to others, and if the foregoing personal experience helps to put these
-on their guard, the purpose of its recounting will be served.
-
-
-
-
-II.--A SHARP LESSON.
-
-BY R. L. C. MORRISON.
-
-
-In November of the year 1885, when I had reached the mature age of
-seventeen, I found myself in Glasgow, my native city, in the service of
-an uncle of mine named Mr. James Thomson, who was a merchant tailor and
-Colonial outfitter in Hope Street.
-
-One afternoon towards the end of the month my uncle gave me
-instructions to call at the offices of a well-known firm in the
-neighbourhood of Jamaica Street.
-
-I was to collect an account, whose total represented a substantial
-sum, and give a receipt for the money. There would, I was told, be no
-difficulty about drawing what was due, as the firm in question had duly
-intimated to my uncle that if he would present the account on a certain
-date payment would be made then and there.
-
-It was close upon three o’clock when I put in an appearance at the
-counting-house of the firm, taking up my position in a somewhat
-extended queue of clerks and others who had arrived on the same errand
-as myself.
-
-The queue was arranged in single file along a passage of considerable
-length on the second storey, to reach which a flight of something like
-a score of steps had to be ascended.
-
-Right away at the far end of this passage was what had all the
-appearance of a railway station booking office, where, behind a square
-aperture of limited dimensions, stood the sharp-witted cashier.
-
-I took my turn with the rest, and in due course found myself in front
-of the pigeon-hole, where I presented my uncle’s account.
-
-“All right; receipt it,” exclaimed the cashier, as he returned it.
-
-I did so, receiving the amount of the account in Bank of Scotland pound
-notes, a couple of score of them, or more, which I quickly folded into
-a kind of roll and thrust deep into my trousers pocket, keeping my hand
-over them for safety’s sake.
-
-Pleased with the thought that I had got the money, I briskly threaded
-my way among the nondescript crowd in the passage, and even more
-briskly negotiated the stairs.
-
-I had scarcely walked the length of the side thoroughfare which led
-into Jamaica Street, however, when I heard hurrying footsteps behind
-me, and, looking round, was surprised to see a very stylishly-dressed
-man, whose appearance was enhanced by his faultlessly-groomed hair and
-moustache. As soon as I looked in his direction he held up his hand and
-beckoned me to stop.
-
-Wondering what he could want with me I obeyed without further ado,
-waiting for him to come up with me.
-
-“Excuse me, sir,” he said, with much politeness, at the same time
-slightly raising his hat, “but I believe this is your handkerchief.” As
-he spoke he swept round his hand, which he had held behind his back,
-and displayed to view a blue silk specimen in the handkerchief line. It
-was mine; there was no doubt about that, and as I advanced my hand he
-extended it towards me.
-
-“I saw you drop it as you came down the stairs of Messrs. ----’s
-office” (mentioning the name of the firm), he explained.
-
-I thanked him and was about to resume my way when he asked if I could
-direct him to Hope Street.
-
-As everyone who knows anything about Glasgow is aware, it does not take
-long to reach Hope Street from Jamaica Street, and I was beginning to
-explain this to him when he cut me short with the remark that before we
-went any farther I must have a drink with him. As I was a teetotaller,
-however, I promptly declined his proffered hospitality, and once more
-resumed my walk.
-
-The next moment he laid a daintily-gloved hand on my shoulder, and,
-with an engaging smile, said, with the utmost good humour, “But surely
-a glass of lemonade or ginger-beer cannot do you any harm?”
-
-There was a strange magnetism about the man which carried me away, and
-I meekly surrendered myself to his will.
-
-“Let us turn up this street,” he said, suddenly. “I know a nice little
-quiet place where we can have a drink in comfort.”
-
-I followed him. Strange as it may seem, I was for the time being
-incapable of resistance. Perhaps my new-found friend was a hypnotist,
-or something of the kind; if he did not actually possess occult powers,
-he certainly had the gift in a very marked degree of ingratiating
-himself with strangers.
-
-As we walked along side by side he kept up a lively and interesting
-conversation, touching lightly upon a variety of subjects. He evidently
-possessed a well-stored mind, for his fund of knowledge and anecdote
-seemed almost inexhaustible.
-
-I became so interested in what he was telling me--wonderful adventures
-he said he had had in South America, and a graphic description of how
-diamonds are found--that I did not notice where I was being led. All I
-know is that we traversed street after street, until at length the man
-whom I had offered to guide to Hope Street had taken me to a part of
-the city in which I never remember having previously been.
-
-[Illustration: “’EXCUSE ME, SIR,’ HE SAID, WITH MUCH POLITENESS, AT
-THE SAME TIME SLIGHTLY RAISING HIS HAT, ‘BUT I BELIEVE THIS IS YOUR
-HANDKERCHIEF.’”]
-
-Then suddenly he halted in front of a most respectable-looking whisky
-shop--in England we call them public-houses--situated in a broad
-thoroughfare, busy with plenty of pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
-It did not strike me as being a particularly “quiet” place; in fact,
-whilst it may have been comfortable enough inside, its exterior
-surroundings were not likely to recommend it to those in search of
-solitude.
-
-“Here we are, my young friend,” he said, with that smile which had now
-become almost irresistible to me.
-
-The inside fittings of the place were what may be termed “flashy,”
-immense gilded mirrors and crimson-covered seats being the outstanding
-features in the general scheme of furnishing and decoration. A
-mahogany, tumbler-laden bar, with shelves of massed bottles in the
-background, ran the whole length of the apartment, whilst on the other
-side were a range of what I can best describe as cubicles, though in
-public-house parlance I suppose they would be called “snugs.” There was
-a door to each of these box-like apartments, though the ceiling of the
-saloon was common to them all.
-
-“Come in here,” urged my friend, tugging at my coat-sleeve. “It will be
-quieter, and no one will disturb us.”
-
-We entered the “snug,” which contained a long narrow table, with
-horsehair-padded seats on either side, an oblong window, half screened,
-serving to let in a rather subdued light.
-
-Scarcely had I got both my feet inside when I observed with surprise
-that the place had already an occupant, a benevolent-looking old
-gentleman, who at that moment was studiously engaged in perusing the
-columns of a newspaper.
-
-My companion, noticing my hesitation, exclaimed in a cheery voice,
-“It’s all right, my boy; I’m sure our friend won’t object.”
-
-Looking up from his paper “our friend” adjusted his spectacles and
-regarded us both with a quizzical expression.
-
-“Come in; don’t mind me,” he said at length, as if satisfied with our
-appearance, and we sat down at the table, my companion on one side, I
-on the other, the first occupant taking no further notice of us.
-
-“I’m going to have a toothful of whisky,” said my fashionably-dressed
-_vis-à-vis_. “Will you have the same?”
-
-I diffidently demurred at the proposal, as all alcoholic beverages were
-then to me as a sealed book, and in the end a bottle of lemonade was
-ordered for me.
-
-And there I sat, sipping the lemonade and nervously fingering the
-bundle of notes in my trousers pocket.
-
-I had found my friend very agreeable, very pleasant, and very
-entertaining, and would not have objected to remaining a little longer
-with him, but that I felt my employer would be expecting my return with
-the money he had sent me out to collect. Accordingly, drinking up my
-beverage, I presently rose and said I was afraid I must be going.
-
-“Oh, there is no hurry, my boy,” he said, with such cordiality that I
-sat down again--but it should be only for a couple of minutes, I told
-myself.
-
-“That’s right; make yourself comfortable, and we’ll have another drink
-in.”
-
-I protested that I had had quite sufficient and that I must not linger,
-as I was expected back.
-
-“A few minutes more or less will hardly make any difference,” he
-remarked, “and, besides, if you will only wait I shall be coming your
-way, for you know you promised to show me the way to Hope Street.”
-
-I am afraid my resolutions about going were somewhat feeble, for he
-again persuaded me to sit down.
-
-Meanwhile the old gentleman at the other end of the narrow table went
-on reading his paper. He might have had the place to himself for all
-the notice he took of us.
-
-Suddenly my companion ceased speaking to me (the conversation had by
-some means or other turned on the subject of trains), and diving his
-hand into a side pocket produced a new railway-carriage key, very
-bright and very shiny.
-
-I wondered what he intended to do with it, and even got so far as
-speculating upon whether he was a manufacturer of this class of goods,
-or travelled for the people who made them.
-
-Then he tapped the key lightly on the edge of the table, and,
-addressing the old gentleman, said, politely: “Is this article of any
-service to you, sir? Excuse the apparent liberty, but I can offer you
-these keys at the small sum of sixpence each.”
-
-I looked in the direction of the old gentleman and saw that he had put
-his paper on one side and was regarding my companion with a pleasant
-smile.
-
-“I am much obliged to you, sir,” he replied, softly; “but as I very
-rarely travel I have no use for such a key.”
-
-“Never mind,” remarked the other; “I’ll tell you what we’ll do--we’ll
-just ‘cut’ for it,” and without any further explanation at the moment
-he drew from his breast pocket what I took to be three ordinary
-playing-cards. The same pattern embellished the back of each, but when
-they were turned face upwards I observed that two of them were blanks,
-whilst on the other was a highly-coloured representation of a lady’s
-head and shoulders. I recollect that the hues in which the charms of
-this female were depicted were very varied, so that in combination they
-presented a dazzling picture.
-
-Although the word “cut” had been made use of as applicable to the
-cards, it was rather a misnomer. “Double shuffle,” with a peculiar
-movement, would more fittingly describe what subsequently happened.
-
-“Now, whichever of you two can first tell me where the lady is I will
-present with this key as a prize,” said the young man. As he spoke
-he made a pretence of shuffling the cards up in his hands, and then
-proceeded to lay them face downwards on the table, but before he
-finally allowed them to remain he exhibited the face of each card, so
-that I thought nothing could possibly be easier than to indicate where
-the lady’s head lay.
-
-“You try first, sir,” said my friend to the old gentleman, and he
-singled out the card which I was absolutely certain was the wrong one,
-and so it was, as it turned out.
-
-“Your turn, my boy,” cried the stranger, having rearranged the cards,
-and without the slightest hesitation I displayed the female’s head to
-view.
-
-“Very good; here’s your prize,” and he pushed the key across the table
-to me.
-
-“Just by way of a change, I will bet each of you sixpence that neither
-of you can pick out the lady’s head _this_ time,” he said; but hardly
-had the words been spoken than the door of the “snug” was quietly
-opened and an elderly man stood framed in the open space.
-
-“I beg your pardon, gentlemen,” he apologized; “I didn’t mean to
-intrude.”
-
-“Won’t you come in and join us, sir?” cried my companion,
-insinuatingly. “Just a quiet little game together; only sixpenny
-stakes.”
-
-“Oh, well, I don’t mind if I do,” replied the new-comer, and without
-further ceremony he seated himself on the other side of me and fixed
-his eyes intently on the cards, which the other was manipulating with
-both hands.
-
-By this time the old gentleman gave every sign of being deeply
-interested in the proceedings, and had taken a number of sixpences from
-his pocket, which he placed in a little heap at his side.
-
-The new-comer and I also produced the necessary coin and staked it on
-the “lady.”
-
-The old gentleman was the first to try his luck, but he failed to
-locate the whereabouts of the fair one.
-
-Then the cards were taken up and rearranged, when the new arrival had a
-flutter, but he likewise parted with his sixpence.
-
-“How stupid these men must be!” I thought, as the cards were being
-prepared for a third set out, when, of course, I immediately spotted
-the “lady” and was paid over the sixpence.
-
-“Double stakes now,” cried the manipulator.
-
-Nothing loath, I put my shilling down, and again I was the only victor.
-
-Well, to cut a long story short, my companion went on doubling the
-stakes until they stood at sixteen shillings. Up to now I had been the
-only winner. I had not lost a single penny; as a matter of fact, I was
-fifteen and sixpence to the good, but when I tried to find the “lady”
-when the stakes stood at sixteen shillings I signally failed, and had
-to pay over all my winnings, with an additional sixpence.
-
-By this time I was fairly infected with the game, and had thrown all
-discretion to the winds with regard to my return to the office. I
-felt confident that I could win a lot of money, and up to this point
-had not the faintest suspicion that I was in the midst of a gang of
-card-sharpers of whose _modus operandi_ of working the business I was
-now being given a practical demonstration. Therefore, when the leader
-of the coterie, the man, who had “hooked” me outside, suggested that
-the stakes should be thirty-two shillings I made no demur, but blindly
-accepted, fondly imagining that by exercising a little care in watching
-where the cards were placed I should be able to spot the “lady.”
-
-“Now, gentlemen,” cried the card manipulator, deliberately holding up
-the picture card to our view every two or three shuffles, so that I was
-able to follow its fortunes with the greatest ease, “there is the lady!
-Just watch carefully where I place her.”
-
-As I had been the last loser it was my turn to pick out the picture,
-and as he placed the winning card in the centre (I could have sworn
-he did) I did not hesitate to indicate my choice by at once turning
-it face upwards, when, lo and behold! all that met my gaze was a
-plain white surface. Instead of being in the middle, the “lady” was
-at the right of me, though how this sleight-of-hand trick had been
-accomplished under my very eyes without my detecting it was past my
-comprehension.
-
-“Thank you,” said the swindler, suavely; “thirty-two shillings,
-please”; and after some fumbling in my trousers pocket I succeeded in
-detaching two pound notes from the roll.
-
-“Eight shillings change,” he remarked, genially, and handed me over the
-silver.
-
-Inconceivable as it may appear, it is nevertheless the fact that even
-this “fleecing” did not arouse my suspicion as to the _bona fides_ of
-the proceedings in which I was being made the victim. Possibly I was
-too excited at the moment to give this aspect of the matter a thought.
-My chief concern just then was to recover the money I had lost--not my
-own money, it should be remembered, but my employer’s.
-
-At the suggestion of the old gentleman, who had not up to the
-present won a penny, and yet struck me as taking his “bad luck” very
-philosophically, the stakes were increased to three pounds--“so as to”
-(I use his own ingenuous phrase) “give the young gentleman and myself a
-chance.”
-
-I sprang at the bait. Indeed, I was desperately in earnest, and
-mentally vowed that I must win this time at all costs.
-
-Need it be recorded that I lost?
-
-The card on the left--my choice--was _not_ the “lady,” and three more
-notes were separated from the roll in my pocket.
-
-Then, and not till then, did the real situation dawn upon me--I was
-in the hands of a gang of “three-card” tricksters. I had over forty
-pounds, which was not mine, on me, and the fashionably-attired stranger
-who had ingratiated himself into my good graces by some mysterious
-means was fully aware of that fact. The whole thing, in short, was a
-cleverly-laid plot to despoil me of my employer’s money.
-
-As the full truth burst upon me I rose from my seat without a word and
-made my way to the door, intending to seek the landlord’s assistance.
-
-But it was _locked from outside!_ Bending down and applying my eye to
-the lock I saw the key inserted on the saloon side. This discovery I
-accepted as furnishing positive proof of the existence of a conspiracy
-to rob me. As I stood at the locked door, making up my mind that the
-next step should be on my part, the man who had lured me into the place
-plucked me by the coat-sleeve and begged me with gentle words to resume
-my seat and “talk matters over.”
-
-“Give me my money back!” I cried, impetuously, pointing to the five
-notes which lay on the table. “It does not belong to me,” I went on,
-entreatingly. “It is my employer’s, and I cannot return to him without
-it.”
-
-The two other confederates looked at me with sympathetic glances; then
-I fancied I saw an exchange of eye telegraphy between them and the
-leader.
-
-“Of course, none of us want to get you into trouble,” he said,
-soothingly, at the same time pushing me gently back into my seat and
-taking his place opposite me, “but you must admit that you were willing
-enough to play the game. No one forced you to it, and what you have
-lost has been lost in square play.”
-
-“But why is the door locked if it is all fair and above-board?” I
-shouted, excitedly.
-
-“What! the door locked?” they cried in chorus, with well-simulated
-amazement.
-
-“Yes, locked from outside,” I continued.
-
-“Ah, from the outside,” replied the leader, smilingly. “That proves we
-have nothing to do with it. It is an accident, a mistake on the part of
-someone in the saloon.”
-
-Although I did not believe a word of this, for I was now fully
-convinced that the landlord was also in league with these scoundrels,
-I made no further allusion to it, having made up my mind to a certain
-plan by which I hoped to regain possession of the money and make my
-escape from this den.
-
-I instinctively knew that a proposal for further play was going to be
-made me on the plea of giving me a chance of recouping my losses, and
-for the purposes of the desperate plan I had decided upon this was
-exactly what I wanted.
-
-“Now, my boy,” began the leader, in his friendly way, “I’ll tell you
-what I’ll do to give you a chance. I’ll lay you ten pounds to two
-pounds on the next round, and only you and I will play. You shall watch
-me as closely as you like, and no doubt you will win.”
-
-“I will agree,” I assented, “on condition that the door is unlocked and
-the key brought inside and placed on the table.”
-
-It was a bold move on my part, and I trembled for the answer, because
-upon this one point depended to a very great extent the success of the
-desperate plan I had thought of to escape, and at the same time regain
-my employer’s money.
-
-Evidently sure of their quarry, and all unsuspicious as to my
-intentions, the trio at once agreed to the proposal.
-
-The landlord was called--and bullied--the door unlocked, and the key
-placed on the table by my side.
-
-Then the cards were laid out afresh, and I made another effort to
-“spot” the “lady,” although I was morally certain that I should fail.
-
-I did, and handed over two more pound notes, which the dealer placed
-with the five others, lying loosely by his side.
-
-In my jacket pocket I had a large sailors’ clasp knife, with a
-murderous-looking blade nearly five inches long, and while my
-_vis-à-vis_ was picking up the cards preparatory to another deal, I
-having consented to play for the same stakes again, I surreptitiously
-got this weapon out and opened it under cover of the table.
-
-The seven Bank of Scotland pound notes lay carelessly bunched together
-opposite me on the side of the table and within easy reach, whilst the
-door of the “snug” was but a couple of feet away from where I sat, I
-being nearest to it.
-
-The next moment I saw my opportunity and seized it.
-
-As the dealer manipulated the cards, he, as he had done all through,
-spread out his hand over a card for a couple of seconds. I clutched the
-open knife firmly in my right hand, and before any one of those present
-could have the slightest idea of my intentions I bounded to my feet,
-raised my arm in the air, and the next instant had pinned the sharper’s
-hand to the table with the long, keen blade!
-
-With his scream of agony ringing in my ears, and the sight of the
-knife quivering in his hand photographed, as it were, upon my vision,
-I grabbed at the loose notes which lay in front of me, bunched them up
-into the palm of my hand, and, leaving the knife where I had driven it,
-flung open the door of the “snug” and bounded through the saloon and
-out into the busy street.
-
-[Illustration: “THE NEXT INSTANT I HAD PINNED THE SHARPER’S HAND TO THE
-TABLE WITH THE LONG, KEEN BLADE!”]
-
-Though the recital of this incident occupies some little time in the
-telling, it was all accomplished in the space of a few seconds, and as
-soon as I found myself mixed up with the traffic outside I considered I
-was safe from pursuit--if, indeed, it had ever been likely any attempt
-would be made by the sharpers to run me to earth.
-
-I reached my uncle’s place of business an hour or two later than I
-should have done in the ordinary course, but gave some plausible excuse
-for my delay.
-
-He was inclined to be angry at first, but as I produced the money
-all right he did not pursue the matter further, although it was not
-until a considerable time afterwards that I ventured to give any of my
-relations an account of my exciting adventure with the card-sharpers.
-
-
-
-
-III.--“SEEING IT OUT.”
-
-BY ALBERT E. MACGROTTY.
-
-
-The simple-minded and innocent Britisher may, on his first trip to the
-States, now and then walk into a very pretty little trap, neatly and
-carefully planned, like the web of the wily spider in wait for the
-inoffensive, curiosity-prompted, blundering fly.
-
-I suppose I must have a somewhat unsophisticated aspect, which
-disguises all my dark and deep wisdom, and this appearance caused me to
-be selected as the victim of the little adventure I am going to recount.
-
-It was at the close of my first visit to the States, and the day
-previous to my embarking for old England--all my business finished, and
-nothing to do but to say “Good-bye” to my friends and take a last look
-round.
-
-I left the Astor House, valise in hand, and walked to the steamer
-_Teutonic_ lying alongside the wharf, ready to sail for Liverpool on
-the following day. Having put my bag in my state-room, I strolled into
-Houston Street with the intention of getting on a cable car for the
-Broadway, where I was to lunch with a cousin. No cable car being in
-sight, I leisurely lit a cigar and turned round to inspect the goods
-in a store window. I had not been gazing therein more than a moment
-when I heard a buggy drive up and stop behind me, and someone shout,
-“Hey!” I paid no attention, being almost a stranger in New York, and
-not supposing that the call was addressed to me, especially as Houston
-Street is one of the most crowded thoroughfares in the city.
-
-The call was repeated, but still I took no notice. When I had finished
-my inspection of the window I turned round, and to my astonishment saw
-that a respectable-looking man in the buggy was endeavouring to attract
-my attention. I went up to him and asked what his business was with
-me; he replied that he wished to know if I could tell him when the
-steamer left for England. “Do you mean the _Teutonic_?” I said, and he
-answered, “Yes.”
-
-“To-morrow morning at seven,” I replied. He thanked me, and was just
-whipping up his horse to drive on, when he suddenly pulled up again
-sharply, and said:--
-
-“Excuse me, sir, but the reason I asked you about the steamer is that
-my guv’nor told me to try to find a respectable old gent who was
-sailing in the boat for England, and ask him if he would mind looking
-after his nephew, who is a boy of ten.”
-
-“I hope you’ve found one,” I told him, smiling.
-
-[Illustration: MR. ALBERT E. MACGROTTY.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-“I’ve come across no one, except yourself,” replied the man.
-
-“Well,” said I, “as the boy is going over alone, if your master will
-bring him on to the steamer I will look out for him, and endeavour to
-keep an eye upon him during the voyage and make the trip pleasant to
-him.”
-
-He thanked me most effusively, and said he was sure that I would be
-the right person to look after the boy, adding that his master would
-not think of giving me this trouble unless I would consent to receive
-payment, say a hundred dollars. I was taken aback by this latter
-suggestion, and rapidly came to the conclusion that the man’s so-called
-“guv’nor” must be one of the sharpers of New York. Up to this time, I
-must acknowledge, I had fully believed the fellow’s statements to be
-genuine.
-
-I replied that I could not accept any such payment for the little I
-could do for the boy on the ship, whereupon the man again thanked me
-warmly, and asked me if I would come to his master’s house in order
-that he might introduce me. I declined; but, seeing no cable car coming
-along, it flashed across my mind that I would make use of him a little,
-so I asked which way he was driving, as I wanted to get to the upper
-end of Broadway.
-
-“Jump in, sir!” he cried, whereupon I thanked him, and accepted the
-invitation.
-
-I should not, of course, have done this had I not been fairly well
-acquainted with New York and able to tell that he was taking me in the
-right direction. We drove rapidly, and his conversation was clever and
-amusing. He asked me if I knew California?
-
-“Yes, I have just come from there,” I told him. He seemed greatly
-pleased at this. Did I know Governor Stanford? I had not that pleasure,
-though I knew him well by name. My driver said that he was sorry for
-that, as the Governor was a relative of his master’s.
-
-By this time we were in the Broadway, close to my cousin’s office, and
-seeing this I asked the man to pull up, but he begged me to go on and
-see his guv’nor, as it was only one block farther.
-
-I still had half an hour to spare before lunch, and, though my
-suspicions were now thoroughly aroused, some impish spirit prompted me
-to “see the thing out,” so I said, “Very well, drive on.”
-
-The man pulled up at the end of the block, and fixed his horse to the
-halter found in all New York streets for that purpose. I jumped out
-and we entered a stable, I taking care to keep close to the large open
-door. Needless to say, I scrutinized the floor closely and rapidly for
-trap-doors, but none appeared. My companion asked an ostler, who was
-rubbing down one of several horses, if the “guv’nor” was in. The man
-said “no,” but he would be back in a few minutes. I then informed the
-driver that I could not wait, and had better see him in the morning on
-the steamer.
-
-“One minute,” replied the fellow; “if you will be good enough, I have
-only to go to No. 4, and will bring my guv’nor back with me.” With that
-he disappeared.
-
-While we waited the ostler made one or two friendly remarks concerning
-the weather, and a moment later a gentleman, attired in a very
-handsome fur-lined coat, silk hat, and kid gloves of a light and
-delicate tint, walked into the stable from the street outside. My late
-companion followed, and, addressing me, said: “This is Dr. Coombs,
-sir,” observing to the doctor that I had offered to look after his
-nephew on the steamer without any payment. Dr. Coombs thanked me in a
-gentlemanlike manner, and appeared in all respects a well-bred man.
-
-The doctor then turned to his coachman and told him to fetch the boy,
-explaining to me that his nephew was a ward in Chancery, and that he
-would become possessed of a fortune of over ten million dollars on
-attaining his majority. Being the boy’s guardian, he was anxious that
-some responsible person should keep an eye upon him during his voyage
-to England, where another uncle would meet him. We were only talking
-for a short time, but I noticed that the doctor was somewhat restless,
-moving frequently towards the stalls containing the horses, all of
-which, he remarked, belonged to his nephew. Still I could not shake off
-a certain suspicion of my surroundings, and would not move from the
-door.
-
-We had been waiting about five minutes when a big, horsy-looking fellow
-lounged in from the street, shouting at the top of a loud voice: “Is
-the boss in?”
-
-My friend in the fur coat came forward, politely raised his hat, said
-he was the master, and asked the stranger’s business.
-
-The new-comer, pointing to a grey mare in one of the stalls, replied,
-“I had that mare out yesterday, and I want to know, boss, what you’ll
-take for her,” at the same time handing the doctor his card. Both men
-were at a little distance from me, and a few words passed between them
-which I did not hear. Then the fur-coated gentleman came up to me,
-saying, “Excuse me a minute; I can’t understand why the boy is so long;
-I will go and fetch him myself!” With that he left me with stranger
-number three.
-
-This fellow continued to examine the horses, making remarks upon them
-to the ostler, and then, to my surprise, suddenly said to me, pointing
-to the grey mare, that he wanted to buy it; but “the boss” could not
-sell it to him, as he was an agent in Boston for buying and selling
-horses, the same line as “the boss” himself was in, and there was a
-State law prohibiting dealings between agents in the same business. He
-next asked me if I would help him in the transaction. I replied that I
-was sorry I could not see my way to do so.
-
-“I wish you could,” said the stranger. “I would give eight hundred and
-fifty dollars for the mare; she is a valuable beast.” As he spoke the
-doctor returned. The Bostonian promptly told him he could see a way to
-a deal, as that gentleman (pointing to me) would buy the mare with his
-money, and then he in turn would purchase her from me, adding, “Now,
-boss, what’s your price?”
-
-“Eight hundred dollars,” replied the doctor.
-
-“There,” said the Boston dealer to me; “I told you I would give eight
-hundred and fifty dollars. Complete the purchase, and I will pay you
-the fifty dollars for commission.”
-
-The doctor chimed in that he also would give me five per cent.--forty
-dollars.
-
-“Gentlemen,” I said, laughing, “that is ninety dollars--a good
-morning’s work. But do you expect me to be carrying eight hundred
-dollars in my pocket through the streets of New York?”
-
-They looked depressed at this; then the Bostonian, becoming suddenly
-cheerful, suggested that if “the gentleman” would pay ten per cent,
-of the value of the mare, he would pay the balance. The doctor agreed
-immediately, and the Bostonian pulled out a roll of green-backs from
-his pocket. Asking me to take the money, he placed a twenty-dollar note
-in my hand, and while he was taking another from the roll I raised it
-slightly as if I was weighing it; I saw at once that the note was a
-forged one--some of the letters upon it were smudged. It was not even a
-good imitation.
-
-Both men read in my face that I had detected their fraud, and the
-expression of their countenances became diabolical. However, the Boston
-man went on pushing notes in my hand until he reached one hundred and
-fifty dollars, when the doctor pulled him up, saying that he must
-have the ten per cent. from me first. I saw the time had come for
-action, and so, allowing the notes to drop to the floor, I told them
-sternly that if I had been remaining in New York I should have had them
-arrested. I then left the premises immediately. Looking back, I saw the
-“doctor” rushing down some steps in front of the building, hurriedly
-throwing off his fur coat as he went, and the other man walking rapidly
-down the street in the opposite direction.
-
-[Illustration: “ALLOWING THE NOTES TO DROP TO THE FLOOR, I TOLD THEM
-STERNLY THAT IF I HAD BEEN REMAINING IN NEW YORK I SHOULD HAVE HAD THEM
-ARRESTED.”]
-
-In conclusion, I may say that I was very glad to arrive at the Sinclair
-House and drink a stiff glass of brandy, as I was a trifle shaky,
-swearing to myself that I would never again risk pocket and life with
-mysterious strangers in the city of New York, even for the sake of
-“seeing it out.”
-
-
-
-
-IN THE LAND OF THE REINDEER.
-
-BY H. CHUSSEAU-FLAVIENS.
-
-[Illustration: A WINTER SCENE IN “THE LAND OF THE REINDEER”--A LAPP
-MAGNATE MAKING THE ROUND OF HIS ESTATE.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-    An article dealing with a strange and little-known people--the
-    Lapps. Living in a country where practically nothing grows,
-    their whole lives are occupied with the reindeer, the one
-    product of Lapland. A man’s wealth is reckoned in reindeer; he
-    eats its flesh and drinks its blood for food, and his clothes
-    are made of its skin. Small wonder, therefore, that the moss
-    on which the animals live is more important to him than cereal
-    crops, and that the highest form of Lapp art finds expression
-    in the carving of reindeer bones. Photographs by the Author.
-
-
-Some little time ago I was in Sweden, and was strongly advised by my
-friends to take the opportunity of visiting Lapland, that strange
-country of reindeer and semi-savages. I was given a letter of
-introduction to a certain Lapp magnate, who, I was assured, was the
-most educated and advanced person in the country, and who would see
-that I saw everything worth seeing. “Go and interview him,” said my
-informant, “though I cannot promise that you will be able to get him
-to talk. The Lapps are very reticent; they will never tell you, for
-instance, how many reindeer they possess. Mickel Nilsson Nia, to whom I
-am giving you this letter of recommendation, is wealthy and educated,
-yet he covers himself with reindeer skins like the humblest of his
-herdsmen, drinks the warm blood of the animal he kills, and thinks no
-dish more succulent than a sort of cake made of reindeer blood mixed
-with flour! He is a splendid specimen of a people who have at once
-assimilated and resisted civilization.”
-
-I began to think it might be worth my while to visit these curious
-folk, and in pursuit of information sought out another acquaintance, a
-colonel in the Swedish army.
-
-He told me that the Lapps are very fond of stimulating drinks; they
-think nothing of drinking fifteen or twenty cups of coffee a day, while
-their consumption of punch is on a vast scale. It is no uncommon thing
-to see numbers of helplessly drunk natives in the streets of Tromsö,
-especially when the sale of reindeer flesh has been profitable. Yet
-robbery and, indeed, crime in general are practically unknown among
-them; the innate honesty of the people is quite extraordinary. The
-colonel gave me an example. “As, perhaps, you may have heard,” he said,
-“I am very keen on hunting both the wolf and the bear. On one occasion,
-accompanied by a Laplander, I was out after an enormous she-wolf, but
-the animal succeeded in completely baffling us. Finally, despairing of
-success, I abandoned the pursuit. A few days subsequently I was much
-surprised to receive a visit from my Lapp. With him he brought the
-wolf’s skin, which he insisted on my accepting; he had come up with
-the creature and killed it after a long, weary chase of many hours.
-I told him that the skin belonged to him, but he would listen to no
-argument. ‘You must be paid back for the trouble you have had,’ he kept
-repeating, with a smile. ‘It would not be fair for me to keep all the
-advantage for myself.’
-
-[Illustration: A LAPP MOTHER AND CHILD IN HOLIDAY ATTIRE--SO TIGHTLY
-SWATHED IS THE INFANT IN ITS CURIOUS “CASE” THAT IT SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE
-FOR THE POOR LITTLE MITE TO GROW.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-“But go to the country and see things for yourself,” concluded my
-friend. “Try and speak with Mickel Nilsson Nia; but, above all things,
-make up your mind to practise patience. Nobody in Lapland appreciates
-the value of time in the slightest degree; a Lapp thinks nothing of
-turning up at an appointment six hours too soon or six hours too late.
-You must also be careful to be invariably most scrupulously polite to
-them. Their pride is boundless; they are persuaded they are almost
-divine. Their account of their origin is that, God having decided to
-submerge the world in the Deluge, everything living was drowned by the
-heavy rain, with the exception of two Laplanders, a man and a woman.
-These two God took under his charge and led to Vasso-Varra, where the
-couple separated, the man proceeding in one direction, the woman in
-another. For three years they pursued their respective paths, and at
-the end of that time found themselves again at Vasso Varra. On their
-travels neither had encountered a living soul. Three separate times did
-they repeat the experience. When nine years had elapsed they came to
-the conclusion that in the whole world they were the only inhabitants,
-and consequently they decided to marry one another. They had a very
-large family, and to-day the whole earth is peopled with their
-children; those who do not live in Lapland are degenerates!”
-
-[Illustration: A TYPICAL LAPP PEASANT.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-Well, I went to Lapland, eager to see the semi-savages of whom I had
-heard so much. It is unnecessary to describe the earlier stages of my
-journey. Tromsö, Hammerfest, and Lyngseedt, though much frequented,
-are but large villages in the neighbourhood of which the nomad Lapps
-pasture their reindeer. The animals feed on a sort of lichen, termed
-reindeer moss, which, during the autumn, covers the mountains with what
-looks like a mantle of snow.
-
-The natives live in primitive wattle and mud huts, and I found
-entire families living in paternal promiscuity with their animals
-in what--judged by the usual standards--was a most pestilential
-atmosphere, the predominating feature of which was a nauseous mingled
-odour of leather and boiled coffee.
-
-As to the people themselves, the typical Laplander, with whom I grew
-familiar, was, by no means a disagreeable type. Many of the older men
-bear a strange resemblance to French peasants, having the same dark
-skin, black hair, large mouth, thin face, prominent cheek-bones, and
-long, pointed chin. Even in the most wretched hovels I was offered a
-cup of coffee, accompanied by polite gestures that would have been
-appropriate for the bestowal of Royal hospitality. In exchange for this
-courtesy I usually presented my hosts with chocolate sweetmeats, which
-were received with transports of gratitude. My general impression,
-however, was that I was among a very primitive peasant race, but I am
-bound to admit that the Laplanders fell in with all my requirements as
-a photographer with the utmost good grace; they invariably took the
-pose I required better than my own people, and never displayed any
-unseemly curiosity.
-
-I had not forgotten the famous Mickel Nilsson Nia, and when I reached
-Nawick a Lapp schoolmistress there was kind enough to serve me as
-guide to the abode of her celebrated countryman. We walked for an
-hour through a most desolate stretch of country, which gave one the
-impression that it had been abandoned after some mighty natural
-cataclysm. In this landscape of death the only persons we met were a
-stray herdsman or two, miserably attired, driving before them a few
-attenuated reindeer. Suddenly my guide stopped, exclaiming, “Here is
-Mickel’s house.”
-
-[Illustration: A LAPP WOMAN OF THE BETTER CLASS--MOST OF THE FEMALES
-HAVE A MARKED PREDILECTION FOR TOBACCO.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-On the threshold two women were engaged in tanning reindeer hides. One
-of the women was elderly, the other quite young, yet they were attired
-in an almost identical manner. Each wore a short, coarse brown woollen
-skirt, beneath which were visible garments that resembled trousers made
-of bands of tightly-wound cloth. On their shoulders were grey shawls,
-on their feet enormous shoes of reindeer leather, on their heads
-bonnets of some blue material covered with lace. The colours usually
-employed in Lapp costumes, by the way, are white, black, grey, blue,
-and green; brighter hues are seldom seen.
-
-At sight of us the two women ceased working to stare, and then broke
-out into a hearty laugh--not of derision, but of welcome. The Laplander
-is of an extremely jovial disposition, and invariably prides himself
-on the possession of some nickname--not always complimentary--bestowed
-upon him in jest. My guide addressed herself to the younger of the
-two women, who, in addition to the garments I have enumerated, wore
-some splendid reindeer furs. Then a young peasant came out of the hut,
-and there ensued a tremendous discussion, the result of which was
-to convince us that we had made a mistake--Mickel Nilsson’s hut was
-farther on. The young man volunteered to accompany us there.
-
-[Illustration: MICKEL NILSSON NIA, THE “LAPP ROTHSCHILD,” WHO POSSESSES
-NINE THOUSAND HEAD OF REINDEER.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-Finally, we came up to a group of men and women, in the centre of
-which, busily talking, a veritable Triton among minnows, was the person
-I sought. On the road I had, through my interpreter, been questioning
-our new companion, and had thus learned that Mickel Nilsson Nia was a
-sort of Lapp Rothschild, and possessed nine thousand head of reindeer.
-As each animal may be put down as worth roughly about a sovereign, the
-fortune of the little Lapp before me--who, hearing the object of my
-mission, had now put his finger to his cap and was wringing my hand
-with great affability--might be estimated at nine thousand pounds.
-
-We had come upon him on a holiday, it appeared, and Mickel Nilsson
-Nia was arrayed in his very best clothes. On his head he wore a tall
-sugarloaf, peaked cap, topped by a bright red “pompon,” which gave it
-a most extraordinary aspect. His body was covered by a superb white
-reindeer skin--the gala costume--and on his vest glittered the medal
-bestowed upon him by King Oscar as a reward for his success in breeding
-reindeer. The man’s whole appearance, with his moustache, short
-beard, cunning eyes, and perpetual smile, reminded me strongly of Li
-Hung Chang, the Chinese statesman of illustrious memory, and also the
-richest man in his country.
-
-Mickel Nilsson Nia courteously invited me to enter his hut. I hesitated
-for a moment, and then, with head bent low, bravely dashed into the
-malodorous atmosphere of leather and boiled coffee which I had already
-learned to dread. In the semi-gloom of the interior a mass of animals
-were wallowing about, though I could not see them very distinctly. I
-sank into a wicker arm-chair.
-
-“A cup of coffee?”
-
-“Many thanks.”
-
-Into my hands was thrust a grotesquely-coloured cup, bearing the
-fateful legend, “Made in Germany.” Like a hero I gulped down the
-mixture it contained; to tell the truth, it was not unsavoury. Then I
-commenced to ask him a few questions.
-
-“Are things prospering in the reindeer breeding?” I inquired.
-
-[Illustration: FRATERNAL AFFECTION--FAMILY TIES ARE STRONG IN LAPLAND,
-AND EVEN THE BOYS LOOK AFTER THEIR BABY BROTHERS WITH THE UTMOST
-SOLICITUDE.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-Mickel’s answer was strictly non-committal--neither a decided “yes” nor
-a “no.”
-
-“How many animals do you possess?”
-
-Again he evaded the direct answer with an unsatisfactory “Not so
-many as I once had.” Then he called my attention to a herd of some
-three hundred animals or so on the neighbouring hillside, but added
-immediately, as though fearing he had hinted too much, “They do not
-all belong to me, however; some are the property of my neighbours. The
-herdsman we share between us.”
-
-After this I thought it as well to abandon commercial matters for
-literature. Mickel Nilsson Nia is a man of letters, devoting to books
-all the leisure his nomadic pursuits leave him. Of the literature of
-Lapland he spoke with pride.
-
-“With us,” added Mickel, “literature is essentially popular. Our poets
-sing only of what they have actually under their eyes; they celebrate
-our daily life, our labours.” Here is a specimen of our poetry:--
-
-    The reindeer are in full flight.
-    Look at their wild flowing manes!
-    Look at the capricious animals!
-    Look how the noble creatures bound fleet-footed over the plain
-        through the world!
-    At his topmost speed the man pursues them, sweat standing out in
-        great beads.
-    “Ah, how fatigued I am!” he cries.
-    “And yet what would I not do to catch them!”
-    Oh, the precious animal!
-    What flesh, what a skin, what horns, what veins, what bones!
-    How excellent is all about him!
-    How excellent he is himself!
-    Ah, ah, ah!
-    Look! Look!
-    Two hundred, three hundred, thousands together!
-    Ever do they flee.
-    Into the lakes, into the snow do they cast themselves, seeking to
-        get refreshed.
-    Only when the sun has set will they come forth.
-    Now the night has come; forth they dart.
-    Now it is day and they hide themselves; only the plaintive bleats
-        of the young fall on the ear.
-
-[Illustration: A VENDER OF SOUVENIRS--HE HAS DONE WELL AT HIS TRADE,
-AND HAS ACCORDINGLY TREATED HIMSELF TO A SPECIALLY-SMART CAP AND
-LUXURIOUS LAPP BOOTS.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-As I was begging my interpreter to convey to Mickel Nilsson Nia my
-admiration of this stirring epic of hunting, my host picked up a bundle
-of Swedish illustrated papers from the corner and proceeded to make
-comments upon them. Just then, however, a herdsman entered with news of
-importance, so I rose and took my leave.
-
-Accompanied by my two companions, I retraced my steps through the wild,
-desolate country, in which none but the most intrepid of sportsmen
-could find any pleasure. It is a land in which there are neither
-hotels nor houses; a land which seems to take one back to some remote
-age of innocence, when simple, honest human beings drove their flocks
-and herds before them, chanting the while a hymn to the delights of a
-pastoral life.
-
-What souvenirs, you ask, can one carry away from this strange country,
-where the reindeer rules supreme, and which, without the presence of
-that useful animal, would sink into a condition of abject poverty and
-utter desolation? Appropriately enough, there is nothing but carved
-reindeer bones. Some are carved in so extraordinarily realistic and
-expert a fashion that more than one eminent sculptor to whom I have
-shown them has lifted his hands in admiration.
-
-[Illustration: LAPP ARTISTS AT WORK CARVING REINDEER BONES.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-Like all true artists worthy the name--like the Japanese, for
-instance--the Laplander will only reproduce what he sees. Consequently,
-in nine cases out of ten his carved reindeer bones show only
-reindeer--reindeer at rest, reindeer jumping, reindeer harnessed
-to sledges, and reindeer browsing. The thing becomes an absolute
-obsession. And what realism is displayed by these unconscious artists!
-What long hours of patient observation are implied by the life-like
-attitudes they depict, and which might almost have been photographed,
-so true are they to Nature! One gets the impression, watching the Lapp
-carver at work, that one is in the presence of an artisan of a bygone
-age, before rules had been laid down and become stereotyped--an age
-when each individual worker was guided by his personal inspiration
-alone.
-
-After all, then, in this strange country, where there is supposed to
-be “nothing but reindeer,” one may still find among these half-savage
-people financiers--like Mickel Nilsson Nia--poets, and artists--types
-which certainly go to show that the Lapps possess some of the
-attributes of a civilized nation. Music alone is unknown in Lapland,
-and this may be because the Lapp, with his boundless pride of race,
-considers he has no need of its chastening and refining influence.
-
-[Illustration: BUYING SOUVENIRS--STRIKING A BARGAIN WITH THE CURIO
-PEDLARS IS A LONG AND COMPLICATED BUSINESS.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-
-
-
-“TAPU.”
-
-BY D. W. O. FAGAN, OF MANGAPAI, WHANGAREI, AUCKLAND, NEW
-ZEALAND.
-
-    The author writes: “I can vouch for this story in every
-    particular. I hope it may prove interesting to ’Wide World’
-    readers, as illustrating the endless ramifications of the old
-    Maori law of ‘tapu,’ and the absurd predicaments in which
-    Europeans coming under its influence occasionally found
-    themselves.”
-
-
-In the old days of thirty-five years ago, especially in the
-out-districts, the Maoris still retained many of their ancient customs.
-
-Among other inconvenient practices they had an insane habit of
-depositing the bones of the dead in any kind of handy spot that took
-their fancy--on the top of an island, in a hollow tree, in the crevices
-of rocks--anywhere that was most convenient.
-
-Afterwards the place became “tapu” (sacred, forbidden, prohibited).
-Consequently any unwary and unsuspecting stranger who, happening along,
-chanced to lean against the tree or tread on the rocks became himself
-“tapu” (meaning, in this connection, accursed, unclean), and was hunted
-from the tribe as a social leper and outcast. Like Cain, every man’s
-hand was against him, though it was forbidden to kill him; and unless
-he was a man of mark and could get the “tohunga” (priest) to “lift the
-‘tapu’ off him” he speedily succumbed to a general sense of misery and
-superstitious bedevilment.
-
-It is not my intention to attempt an explanation of the working of the
-“tapu” law. That has already been done by far abler pens than mine. My
-own opinion is that no one ever did properly understand it--not even
-the Maoris themselves.
-
-In the beginning, probably, the thing was a decent and workable law
-enough, as laws go, but in the course of ages, what with amendments
-and addenda, it got beyond everything and was entirely indigestible by
-human intellect; finally becoming an incubus--a kind of religio-legal
-nightmare from which they couldn’t wake up.
-
-I only know that any place, person, or thing could become “tapu.” Food,
-fire, air, and water were not free from it. Man, woman, and child were
-subject to it. For any trivial cause and without his knowledge a man
-might be made “tapu.”
-
-Sometimes it was partial, affecting only the feet or hands, and on
-these occasions a man could put a “tapu” on himself by walking about or
-scratching his own head!
-
-Anyhow, if you got a bad dose of it, things became pretty uncomfortable.
-
-White men could generally escape by affecting to ignore the thing and
-taking ship for another country.
-
-Unfortunately, as the reader will perceive, circumstances prevented my
-adoption of this course.
-
-At the time I am telling of I was superintending their northern trading
-station at Te Mata for Messrs. Franks, Backhouse, and Co., a big
-Auckland firm. Puketawa--whom I have mentioned in previous WIDE
-WORLD contributions--a native of the South Island, educated at a
-mission school, was by way of being my servant and store-help. Having
-lived much with Europeans, and being ridiculously proud of the little
-the mission school had taught him, he affected to despise the Maoris of
-the neighbourhood. “Ignorant savages,” he called them, and stood aloof
-in the light of superior wisdom. At times he even permitted himself
-a mild remonstrance at what he considered my undue intimacy with the
-heathen. Education had made Puketawa a bit of a snob; but, for all
-that, he was a very good fellow.
-
-The store, residence, and outbuildings stood on the shore of the tidal
-estuary of the Mangapai River. Over a low range of hills running
-parallel with the coast, at a distance of about half a mile, was the
-Maori “kainga” (village), having a population of about nine hundred
-souls.
-
-It was with the object of bringing the blessings of civilization
-to these benighted inhabitants and--of course, quite
-incidentally--securing a profit to themselves that my principals had
-established the trading post.
-
-Being the only station within a radius of fifty miles, trade was good,
-and neither merchants nor agent had reason for complaint on the score
-of value or bulk of the cargoes of native produce picked up by the
-firm’s trading steamer on its quarterly round.
-
-By largess of sweets to the piccaninnies and gauds of cheap jewellery
-to their mothers, I had gained a certain popularity. With Te Horo, the
-chief, I was on terms of close friendship. I had quite won the old
-fellow’s heart by a timely gift of an imitation pearl necklace to his
-youngest and favourite wife. By careful tutelage I was fast inducing
-in these children of Nature a craving for the things of the white man’s
-higher life as represented by cotton goods, sugar, tea, tobacco, etc.
-For obvious reasons, therefore, I was anxious to retain their good
-will, and careful lest by any infringement of custom or superstition I
-should unwittingly offend. In the light of what follows this should be
-remembered.
-
-The snipe were thick that autumn on the tidal flats at the river’s
-mouth, and as a break to the monotony and with a view to change of
-diet I would often close the store on Saturday afternoons and, with
-Puketawa, drop down stream on a gunning expedition.
-
-It was on one of these weekly excursions that misfortune fell upon
-us. The birds were shy that day, and we followed them far over the
-sand-flats. Intent on our sport, neither of us noticed the signs of an
-ominous change in the weather, till, chancing to look seaward, I became
-suddenly aware of it. The blue water had changed in colour to a leaden
-grey and the horizon was hidden in a dense shroud of mist, which, with
-the wind behind it, was rapidly rolling up towards us. There was no
-time to lose. Our boat was at anchor a mile away on the inner edge of
-the sand-flat. It would be a race between us and the fog. If overtaken
-on those interminable banks we might wander, hopeless, till the
-returning tide drowned us like rats in a trap.
-
-Fortune favoured us. We reached the boat, and, breathless, had just
-tumbled into it and hoisted sail, when the sea-fog shut down like a
-curtain. Sky, cliffs, and river channel were blotted out in an instant.
-No pretence at keeping a course was possible. The river ran due west,
-and, the wind coming from the east, it only remained to sit tight and
-let the boat scud before it, trusting to luck that we did not ram any
-one of the hundred rocky islets studding the river’s mouth.
-
-Our vision, beyond a small circle of heaving grey water immediately
-around us, was shut in by the wall of thick white vapour. With Puketawa
-at the sheet, I at the steer-oar, we drove along in a little world of
-our own.
-
-[Illustration: “IT ONLY REMAINED TO SIT TIGHT AND LET THE BOAT SCUD.”]
-
-Suddenly, at a yell from Puketawa, I looked up. A wall of rock loomed
-dark through the mist, before and above us! “Luff!” he screamed, but
-there was no time. Ere I could sweep her round with the oar a grey
-roller lifted under our stern, caught us broadside on its crest, rushed
-us through a providential cleft in the rocks, and, rolling over and
-over, we, with our belongings, were strewn broadcast on a little, sandy
-beach. The boat, though shaken, was still sound, and we quickly hauled
-it beyond the reach of the waves.
-
-A short examination showed us we had been cast up on one of the
-very islands we had hoped to escape. Still, unpleasant though our
-predicament was, it could easily have been worse. In that thick haze
-we might well have been driven on the bluff cliffs of the headland and
-pounded to a jelly in the surf. At all events, we were on terra firma
-and could make the best of it till the fog lifted. In our drenched
-condition the wind was decidedly unpleasant, so, after securing the
-boat, we made haste to seek shelter on the lee side of the island.
-
-As we groped our way up the rocks and over the top we came across a
-low-spreading puriri tree. Beneath it we found plenty of dry sticks,
-and, breaking off some dead branches also, we carried with us a good
-stock of firewood. I had matches in a waterproof case, and soon, in a
-snug rock-niche, we were warm and comfortable beside a roaring fire.
-We had managed to save some six brace of birds from the shipwreck, and
-these, skinned and toasted on the embers, with the contents of my flask
-to wash them down, made an excellent supper, with sufficient to spare
-for breakfast.
-
-Dawn broke clear and calm, with just enough wind to take us on our
-homeward way. I had sent Puketawa for a further supply of wood, when a
-shout from above brought me scrambling up the rocks. There he stood,
-a living embodiment of terror. With wide eyes and dropping jaw he was
-staring at the hollow tree-trunk. Then I saw what it was. From the
-orifice, ghastly in the dim light, grinned two fleshless skeletons.
-Around the hole was heaped a pile of human bones and skulls, while
-other death’s-heads peered at us from crevices of the rocks. We were in
-a Maori “wahi-tapu” (cemetery).
-
-[Illustration: THE ESTUARY OF THE MANGAPAI RIVER.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-It was yet another instance of the sheer “cussedness” of things
-in general. There were half a hundred islands to choose from; yet
-malignant Fate, aided by that confounded fog, must needs fix upon
-Taupiri on which to cast us up--Taupiri, the sacred island, where
-for centuries the bones of the chiefs had been deposited. It was
-consecrated to the “mana” (holiness) of their spirits, and frightfully
-“tapu.” No man might put foot on it and live. And we had not only
-passed the night there, but--horror of horrors!--had eaten food cooked
-with wood from the sacred tree! The loose stones, among which we
-had stumbled in the foggy night and had kicked from our path, were
-the skulls of the great dead. There was no doubt about it--we were
-“tapued” up to our necks. That it was purely accidental and through no
-fault of our own didn’t in the least matter. From the Maori point of
-view, indeed, it made the case infinitely worse. For Puketawa, whose
-civilization was, after all, only skin-deep, it was likely to prove
-a most serious affair. Brought thus face to face with the terrors of
-ancient superstition, his white man’s education fell to pieces. His
-mind swung back to the faith of his forbears and the fears of the
-old beliefs gripped his heart. He was for fleeing the accursed place
-at once, but, “tapu” or no “tapu,” I wasn’t going without breakfast.
-Puketawa refused food. Already I fancied he was getting “pourri”
-(depressed)--no light thing with a Maori, for I had known them before
-then to die of sheer melancholy. I realized that the accident was
-bad for me also if the thing should get known. I did not fancy being
-ostracized by the tribe, my goods confiscated and destroyed, and my
-house and store burnt by way of purification and to avert the anger of
-the gods.
-
-[Illustration: “THERE HE STOOD, A LIVING EMBODIMENT OF TERROR.”]
-
-Though, on the way home, I was angry and contemptuous by turns,
-Puketawa refused to be comforted. To my ridicule or reproaches he
-answered only with a sickly smile. “No good,” he said. He was “tapu”
-right enough--could feel the spell “working inside him.” In vain I
-pointed out that the island was six miles distant from the “kainga,”
-hidden by a bend of the river, and that we had landed at night in a
-dense fog and had left again before sunrise.
-
-“Ah!” he answered. “Te tohunga very wise. He know wi’out seein’.”
-
-On arrival, contrary to custom, we found the beach below the store
-deserted. Not a soul was in sight. No Sunday crowd of mothers chatted
-as they squatted around the buildings; no piccaninnies dabbled in the
-water, and waited anxiously for sweets on my return. I knew these
-latter would not forego the weekly dole unless for serious cause. Could
-Puketawa be right after all? Had our infringement of “tapu” become
-known in some incomprehensible manner? It began to look very like it.
-That night at supper also Puketawa declined food. He even refused
-rum-punch, and when Puketawa refused rum things must be looking black
-indeed. He lay in his bunk with his face to the wall, silent save for
-long, shuddering sighs. So it went on through the night. Protests,
-reproaches, even vigorous shakings were of no avail; he lay like a log,
-with closed eyes, making no sign.
-
-This was beyond a joke. No possibility of pretence was here. The man
-was dying, visibly, of sheer funk. Unless I could rouse him he would
-not live another day. I could not let him die, and, base surrender
-to heathen jugglery though it was, made up my mind to seek out the
-“tohunga” next day and entreat him to remove the spell.
-
-In the long, dark watches I began to feel pretty queer myself. The
-silence seemed tangible, heavy, impermeable. I was not exactly
-frightened; the feeling was indescribable--a sort of nameless terror
-at nothing, a horror of some unknown impending fate against which it
-was useless to struggle and from which there was no escape. Mutuality,
-sympathy, hypnotism--call it what you will--a weight of fear lay on my
-senses, a veritable obsession of dread.
-
-Was there any truth in heathen devilry after all, I wondered? Had the
-confounded “tapu” got me too? With an effort I shook off the growing
-lethargy and paced the floor through the night. In the morning I could
-eat nothing; food was repulsive. Shortly after sunrise I took my way to
-the “kainga.”
-
-Within fifty yards of the gate I was warned by the young warriors to
-keep my distance. Presently Te Horo himself appeared in full war-paint
-of “korowai” (kilt) and feather mat, a spear in his hand.
-
-“Thy sin is known,” he cried, sternly. “Come not near to bring
-contamination upon us. Thou and thy servant are accursed. It may be
-ye shall both die; I know not. Begone! At noon the ‘tohunga’ comes to
-confer with thee.”
-
-As I sat beside the bewitched man and awaited the coming of the
-priest the night fears that had assailed me passed, giving place to
-a feeling of rising anger at the whole thing. Here was I--a fairly
-decent Englishman, reared in the Anglican faith and living in the
-nineteenth century--hindered from going about my business, outcast,
-excommunicated, shunned as a leper, my servant dying; all on account of
-some fiendish diablerie of heathen fetish. The affair was preposterous,
-incredible, ludicrous. Then I looked at poor Puketawa, moaning, prone
-in his bunk, and was answered. That at least was real.
-
-Punctually at twelve o’clock the old “tohunga” came over the hill. He
-was a tall man, grey-headed and handsome, and in his full robes of
-office he looked imposing enough. Halting at a short distance he called
-us to come forth. I started forward to expostulate, but he waved me
-sternly back.
-
-“Approach not,” he commanded. “You are unclean, you have incurred the
-anger of the great spirits. Yet will I intercede, and it may be purge
-you of the offence. Now, therefore, bring out your ‘taonga’ (goods) and
-everything that you have touched, in order that I may destroy it and
-the purging be complete.”
-
-This was beyond a joke. Give up my household goods and knick-knacks to
-be burnt? Never! I’d see him hanged first.
-
-“Be off, you old scallywag!” I shouted. “Give you my things, indeed!”
-And I began to tell him what I thought about it. He stood impassive,
-inexorable.
-
-“Young man,” he answered, “be not mad. Fool! Can you fight the spirits?
-Look to your servant. Delay not, lest he die.”
-
-This was unanswerable. I surrendered, and we carried the things
-out, Puketawa moving as though in a mesmeric dream. All my
-bachelor treasures, bedding, rugs, chairs, cooking-pots, and
-crockery--everything went. The pots and crockery he smashed with his
-tomahawk, the house and all else he burnt to ashes. Luckily, I had not
-been near the store, or that and its contents would have gone too.
-
-What next, I wondered? Had the old heathen done with us? Evidently not.
-
-“Remove your clothing,” he commanded. Here was a pretty state of
-things! Being naturally of a modest disposition, I demurred, at which
-he lost his temper.
-
-“Hinder me not,” he cried. “Your life or death is naught to me. Beware,
-lest I depart and leave you to your fate.”
-
-There was nothing for it but to comply. So, whilst our clothes were
-burning, Puketawa and I stood before him naked and unashamed.
-
-Down to the creek, to the pool beneath the waterfall, the old priest
-drove us. The stream was full of snow-water from the mountains, and
-bitterly cold.
-
-“Enter,” he ordered.
-
-“Needs must when the devil drives,” and with a gulp we plunged in and
-stood shivering up to our necks, while for ten interminable minutes the
-old fellow chanted prayers and wove his “karakia” (spells) on the bank.
-
-[Illustration: THE AUTHOR’S STORE ON THE BANKS OF THE MANGAPAI RIVER.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-At last it was over. We climbed out, and the “tohunga” sprinkled each
-of us, separately and solemnly, with a fern frond dipped in the water
-of the pool.
-
-“It is enough,” he said. “The ‘tapu’ is lifted,” and walked away.
-
-The humour of the situation appealed to me, and, cold and dripping
-though I was, I shouted with laughter. And you will admit the thing
-_was_ fairly humorous. Imagine us, if you can, standing there, stripped
-of our worldly goods, naked and shivering--Puketawa, a prize convert
-from a mission station, and I, a Christian--brought to such a pass by
-miserable heathen wizardry that we had been glad to submit ourselves to
-the sorceries of the arch-wizard himself to escape the consequences of
-the spells that had been cast over us!
-
-All the same, the effect of the hanky-panky on Puketawa was truly
-wonderful. Moribund before the arrival of the “tohunga,” he was a new
-man after the performance. He laughed with me, his dull eyes again
-became clear and bright, and he got quite chirpy; while, laugh as you
-will, even I, who had submitted to go through it only on Puketawa’s
-account and for the sake of trade, must confess to a sense of spiritual
-well-being to which I had been a stranger for some days.
-
-With trade clothing from the store we clad our nakedness. The baptism
-business had given us an appetite, and we soon rummaged out a cold
-collation. Maoris are always fair trenchermen, but I never saw one put
-away such a feed as Puketawa did then. Eat? Long after I had finished
-I sat and watched the stuff disappearing--tinned salmon, potted beef,
-spiced ox-tongue, dried fish, ham and chicken, pine-apple, Worcester
-sauce. King Solomon in all his glory never had such an appetite.
-
-Next day, as though to make amends for the inconvenience we had
-suffered, and show that the popular feeling was not directed against
-us but against the “tapu” alone, the Maoris flocked to the store with
-cash and barter, and I did the best day’s trade of my life. In two days
-they had built me a better house than that destroyed. It was as if the
-ceremony of purification had conferred a sort of brotherhood upon me,
-and I found myself on a better footing with them than ever before. I
-never discovered, however, how they learnt of our transgression.
-
-To this day the question of how the “tohunga” became aware of our
-accidental presence on the sacred island remains a mystery. That we
-were alone there I am certain. Under the circumstances of the storm and
-the thick mist, it is equally certain our presence was not observed
-from the shore. The “kainga” was six miles distant, a range of hills
-intervening. It was a black night; Maoris are chary of being out
-after dark. Altogether the possibility of our having been seen may
-be dismissed. Puketawa, of course, leaned to the supernatural. Old
-stories of occultism practised by the priests, of spiritualism and
-uncanny mental telepathy with the spirit world, he told for my benefit.
-I do not like mystery, and have no leaning towards the occult, but,
-dismissing all this as unworthy of credence, there yet remains the
-query of how the “tohunga” knew of our “breaking of the ’wahi-tapu’”
-(breach of the sanctity of a burial-place).
-
-In the fullness of his heart at my successful whitewashing, old Te Horo
-offered to give me his youngest and prettiest daughter in marriage,
-with a thousand acres of tribal land as a dowry. Between you and me,
-there have since been times when I have regretted that I didn’t clinch
-the bargain.
-
-
-
-
-The Finches’ Festival.
-
-A BIRD-SINGING COMPETITION IN FLANDERS.
-
-BY A. PITCAIRN-KNOWLES.
-
-    Bird-singing competitions, in which substantial money prizes
-    are awarded to the owner of the songster making the greatest
-    number of “trills” in a specified time, are very popular in
-    the North of France and Flanders. In this article the author
-    describes and illustrates a typical bird-singing festival in a
-    Flemish village. From photographs by the author.
-
-
-The inhabitants of the rural district of that part of Belgium which
-goes by the name of Flanders seem to be possessed of a genius almost
-unique for instituting and organizing quaint and curious competitions
-designed to administer to that keen taste for friendly rivalry which is
-so characteristic of the population of King Leopold’s little domain.
-Any stranger penetrating into the heart of the country at the time
-of the year when many of the hamlets are about to hold their annual
-fairs--spun out to last a week, or even longer--cannot fail to be
-interested in the long posters adorning the walls of every “estaminet,”
-announcing a separate event for each day of the festive season, and
-testifying to the great hold this healthful spirit of emulation
-exercises upon the minds of these simple peasants.
-
-Being one of those strangers in a strange land, I was overcome by a
-spirit of curiosity when a very limited acquaintance with the Flemish
-tongue helped me to the conclusion that the “Prijskamp voor Blinde
-Vinken,” announced for a certain Sunday at the untimely hour of seven
-in the morning, was a competition in which blind birds were to be the
-candidates for honour and distinction, and I resolved to be present at
-what promised to be a curiously interesting spectacle.
-
-[Illustration: THE FINCH-OWNERS’ MEETING-PLACE AND HEADQUARTERS.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-Setting out on my bicycle in the early dawn of a stormy morning, I
-was borne with the wind through one sleeping hamlet after another.
-The pulse of life had scarcely begun to stir; but when I reached my
-destination, as the clock struck six, and wended my way to the street
-with the well-nigh unpronounceable name where the great event was
-to take place, all was alive and bustling. Peasants of both sexes,
-representing every stage from tender childhood to decrepit old
-age, were strolling up and down or standing about in groups eagerly
-discussing the all-absorbing event which was about to commence--the
-contest of the blind finches.
-
-[Illustration: ONE OF THE CAGES, SHOWING THE DOUBLE FRONT TO PROTECT
-THE LITTLE OCCUPANT FROM CATS.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-At intervals men and boys clattered along in _sabots_, or proceeded
-with shuffling gait in gorgeously-coloured carpet slippers, bearing
-mysterious wooden boxes under their arms. I inquired into the nature
-of their burdens, and discovered that they contained cages which
-housed the chaffinches destined to take part in the competition. These
-cases, varying in size, bore little similarity to each other either
-in design or workmanship, for while some were roughly put together
-without any attempt at decoration, others, though evidently the work
-of the amateur, revealed traces of minute care and originality of
-construction, one being adorned with a rudely carved representation
-of the little imprisoned inmate, a work of art presumably executed
-by the owner himself or some village genius. A few of the boxes were
-really elaborate constructions, one in particular being made of
-highly-polished mahogany, on which figured a bird with outstretched
-wings, executed in relief ironwork.
-
-[Illustration: THE BANNER OF A FINCH-OWNERS CLUB.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-[Illustration: ONE OF THE JUDGES IN POSITION, READY TO SCORE THE
-NUMBER OF “TRILLS” EMITTED BY THE BIRD IN FRONT--NOTICE THE CURIOUS
-TALLY-STICK USED IN SCORING.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-There was one spot in particular towards which the future competitors
-seemed to be attracted, a rustic inn, over whose portals the flag of
-the local finch-owners’ club waved lustily in the vigorous breeze, and
-the cheery greeting, “Vinkeniers Welkom,” attracted the attention of
-the passers-by. It was here that the organizers and competitors met for
-the purpose of settling all matters pertaining to the bird-singing
-contest. Even at 6 a.m. beer has irresistible fascination for the true
-native of Flanders, and it goes without saying that every entry for
-the competition called forth a request for at least one “bock” on the
-part of the competing bird-owner. Others, who came as mere spectators,
-followed his example, and soon the stream of conviviality flowed freely.
-
-[Illustration: THE COMPETITORS AND JUDGES IN POSITION.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-A few men and boys were already opening their boxes, and tenderly
-lifting out strong little wooden cages with double wire fronts,
-designed to withstand the attacks of that relentless foe to bird
-life--the domestic cat. Meanwhile numbers had been chalked on to
-the wall along the side of the road with the object of showing each
-competitor his place, and one by one the owners of the feathered
-songsters took up their positions, until I counted fifty-six
-competitors seated by the roadside, waiting for the signal to begin
-the contest. Some of these men had walked as far as twenty miles, and,
-having placed their boxes three yards apart, sat down with evident
-relief.
-
-[Illustration: A JUDGE AT WORK--EACH MAN SCORES FOR SOMEONE ELSE’S
-BIRD, AND STEWARDS KEEP A CHECK UPON THEM TO INSURE FAIR PLAY.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-During the interval of waiting I gathered from several communicative
-candidates that it is necessary to blind the little birds in these
-“concours,” as they would stop singing immediately they found
-themselves to be under observation. The eye itself is not injured,
-however, the closed eyelids being merely glued together, so to speak,
-by means of a slight touch with a hot iron. Needless to say, this
-operation must be performed by an experienced hand, otherwise part of
-the lid may be left open, in which case the front of the cage must be
-covered, or the shy little occupant will not sing. One is relieved
-to know that it is quite possible to restore the bird’s sight by
-separating the closed lids.
-
-As the Belgian law does not permit such cruelty to be openly practised
-in the country, the birds are imported--or, to be more accurate, are
-supposed to be imported--from France. Even the catching of birds for
-the purpose of employing them in these curious contests is looked upon
-as illegal in Belgium, but laws of this kind are more easily made than
-enforced. Probably the Government thinks that by keeping this pastime
-under a control which appears to be severe it is doing its duty, and
-with this object in view it demands that each owner shall carry on his
-person a certificate containing the following words:--
-
-“The undersigned, burgomaster of the town of ----, hereby declares
-that Mr. ----, of such a trade, living at ----, is the owner of blind
-chaffinches, with which he travels, and that he does not practise the
-trade of bird-selling.” For this guarantee a fee of a hundred francs
-is charged, it being necessary to obtain a new signature from the
-authorities every fortnight.
-
-The success or failure of a bird entered in a contest depends upon the
-number of perfect “trills” made by the little competitor in a certain
-time--usually an hour. The best result my informant had ever known at
-a “concours” was one thousand and nineteen trills in the hour, and
-after setting up this record the bird readily sold for a hundred and
-twenty francs. As money prizes are invariably offered, these feathered
-songsters are often sources of profit as well as sport to their owners,
-a good chaffinch easily adding a hundred francs to the family exchequer.
-
-But now let me relate how these competitions are managed and carried
-on. I doubt whether any of my readers have ever witnessed such a scene
-as I am about to describe, and a brief sketch of what came to pass in
-that out-of-the-way spot can hardly fail to interest those who enjoy a
-glimpse of peculiar, old-world practices.
-
-[Illustration: A WELL-EARNED REST--HANGING THE WINNING BIRD UP IN THE
-SUNSHINE AFTER THE CONTEST.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-As the clock of the village church laboriously chimed out its seventh
-stroke the manager of the competition, in a loud voice, issued the
-order for the contest to begin. At this there was a general stir. Each
-man took up a more or less business-like attitude in front of the
-cage of one of his opponents, every competitor acting as judge for
-someone else’s bird. Having produced his curious-looking marker--a
-thing resembling a four-sided yard-stick, painted black, with a handle
-either in the form of a knob or a ring at the top end--the men at once
-proceeded to chalk certain cabalistic signs thereupon, which a close
-observation showed me stood for the number of trills made by each
-bird--“Chuie, chuie, chuie, chuie, chuiep” being a perfect trill. It
-is the fifth and last part of the warble upon which success really
-depends. If the final “chuiep” is not heard the feat is incomplete, and
-the little warbler is not credited with a chalk mark.
-
-The silence was scarcely broken save for the shrill piping of the
-birds, and the seriousness exhibited by competitors and spectators
-alike would have done credit to the mourners at a funeral. It was
-curious to note the manner in which some of the less gravely-disposed
-owners spent the interval of waiting for their charges to distinguish
-themselves. Some were lightening the serious business of marking by
-occasional draughts of beer from huge tumblers, which they had, with
-wise forethought, placed close at hand. Others, with that calmness
-that comes from long practice, were puffing contentedly at short clay
-pipes, while the greater number--among whom were some very youthful
-competitors, evidently on their first trial--wore anxious expressions,
-never letting their eyes rest upon any other object than the cage and
-the scoring-stick entrusted to their care.
-
-[Illustration: COLLECTING THE TALLY STICKS.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-All this time the subdued talking among the group of interested
-spectators scarcely rose above the continued chirping of the birds,
-which seemed to become more and more shrill and vigorous as the
-moments passed, until, after the lapse of half an hour or so, each of
-the little songsters seemed ready to burst its little throat in its
-determination to make itself heard above its neighbours.
-
-[Illustration: PLACING THE NET AND DECOY-BIRDS TO CAPTURE FINCHES.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-At the commencement of the competition I had been under the pleasant
-impression that the little creatures, although selfishly deprived of
-the blessing of sight in order to administer to a somewhat barbaric
-form of human enjoyment, sang their early morning songs out of pure
-gladness of heart and “the wild joy of living,” but my fond delusion
-was soon nipped in the bud, for unmistakable notes of anger were by
-this time distinct, and it needed not the assurance of one of the
-spectators to convince me that, in its wild state, this particular
-species of the winged creation, at all events, is far from preserving
-that unity and perfect agreement in the home circle ascribed to it by
-one of our poets and pointed out for man’s emulation. It is in order
-to stimulate an artificially-produced anger, considered necessary for
-the success of the “concours,” that these matches are held in the early
-morning hours, while the birds of the trees and hedges are singing most
-lustily. The chirping of the imprisoned songsters proceeds from a wild
-frenzy of desire to do battle-royal with those of their brethren still
-enjoying freedom, and by degrees the longing grows for an encounter
-with their competing neighbours.
-
-[Illustration: CAUGHT!--THE CAPTURE OF A FUTURE COMPETITOR.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-These matches are under the strictest control, both as regards
-discipline and fairness, and any candidate found guilty of dishonesty
-in marking is punished by summary expulsion from his club. Stewards
-controlling the judging parade up and down with their eyes upon the
-markers, so that cheating under such close supervision is well-nigh
-impossible.
-
-As the most successful of the finches trilled forth its five hundred
-and eighteenth “Chuie, chuie, chuie, chuie, chuiep” the order was
-passed along the line to cease scoring and make known the final
-results. With startling promptness each candidate sprang to his feet
-and began to add his score. The owner of the champion bird, a cripple,
-showed calm pleasure as he proceeded to replace in its box his little
-favourite’s cage, upon which was painted a landscape which succeeded in
-defying every law of perspective.
-
-During the summer months these “concours” are held at very frequent
-intervals in the country districts of both France and Belgium, and a
-competitor is frequently the possessor of several birds, which are
-usually caught by means of a net, but almost every method is productive
-of quick results, for the chaffinch is an eager wooer, his addresses
-to his lady-love rendering him totally blind to his own danger. He is
-beset with rivals, and as the female bird invariably smiles upon the
-strongest suitor she is the cause of innumerable battles, in which
-it is usual for several lovers to be left dead upon the field. The
-chaffinch is very easily trapped by using a tame finch to stir up his
-jealousy. A limed twig is attached to the tame bird, who is allowed
-to run about where the twittering of the wild birds is heard. As soon
-as the latter become conscious of the presence of an alien in their
-midst an onslaught is made, which generally ends in the capture of
-one, if not more, of the attackers. Another method of capturing the
-chaffinch, and the one most in vogue among the Flemish “Vinkeniers,”
-is represented in two of the accompanying photographs. A stuffed finch
-fixed to a small peg is placed in the grass, clearly visible to the
-birds in the trees, while a live decoy, in a cage, carefully covered
-up with loose grass and twigs, so as not to attract any attention, is
-concealed not many yards away. A long net, spread out on the ground
-between the two decoy birds, lies in readiness to make prisoners of the
-little feathered warriors as soon as they cluster round the stuffed
-bird, incited by the clamours of the caged enticer. A pull of the
-long strings, leading into the ambush of the bird-catchers, may cause
-as many as thirty finches at a time to fall into the hands of the
-trappers.
-
-
-
-
-[Illustration: THE FIGHT AT THE A-T RANCH.
-
-BY FRANK BRANSTED.]
-
-    The story of one of the most sanguinary “cattle wars” the
-    West has ever known. The long-standing feud between the big
-    cattlemen and the homesteaders, whose advent means the doom of
-    the open range, led in this instance to a most extraordinary
-    state of affairs, in which one side raised a regiment of
-    ruffians to wipe out their enemies, while the other retorted by
-    laying siege to their opponents’ head-quarters with rifle-pits
-    and dynamite bombs! “The narrative is absolutely true,” writes
-    the author, “only the names of the cattlemen concerned being
-    changed.”
-
-
-With a rattle of wheels over stones and frozen ground the buckboard
-swung round the bend and down across the muddy creek flats. The driver,
-Ranger Jones, one of the pioneers of Northern Wyoming, drew off his
-leather glove and rubbed his chilled hands on the buffalo robe to
-restore circulation. The sun was low in the west, and, after placing
-his hand on the heavy Colt that lay reassuringly beside him on the
-seat, he drew on his glove and spoke sharply to his team. A moment
-later they struck the bridge, and after clattering across the shaky
-wooden structure began the ascent of the south bank.
-
-Scarcely had the buckboard left the bridge than from underneath it was
-thrust the barrel of a rifle. A sharp report rang out, followed by two
-others in rapid succession, and with his fingers groping vainly for his
-pistol Ranger Jones, the best rider and one of the bravest men of the
-Big Horn country, fell forward off the seat. Shot three times through
-the back, he was dead before his head struck the dashboard.
-
-Jones’s death was but one of the brutal murders that about 1890
-horrified the settlers east of the Big Horns and north of the Powder
-River. This country, which had formerly belonged exclusively to the
-cattle kings, had of late years been invaded by homesteaders and other
-settlers, who had begun to stretch their hated wire fences along the
-creeks and around the water-holes on the alkali flats to the east.
-Early in the winter all the settlers in this district had received
-warnings that they had been tried by “a jury of their betters” and
-found guilty of cattle rustling, and warning them that if they did not
-leave the country within thirty days their lives would be forfeited.
-These warnings were signed by the “White Cap Protective League.” The
-letters, which were known to be the work of the Cattle Association, or
-of some of its members, were for the most part disregarded.
-
-The death of Ranger Jones fanned to a white heat the flames of rage
-that had been aroused by the previous murders, and a meeting was
-called at which Frank Benton, an ex-sheriff of Johnson County, was
-by common assent adjudged the person guilty of Ranger Jones’s death,
-and he was sentenced to die by the hand of the first of the settlers
-who had a chance to pot him. It was further agreed to discover, if
-possible, the ringleaders of the “White Caps,” and either to lynch them
-or drive them from the country. But the searchers were unable to find
-Benton, who, having heard of the plans laid for his taking-off, held a
-hasty consultation with Dr. Hays and Ben Williams, two of the leading
-cattlemen, and then boarded a train at Cheyenne and fled to Texas.
-Once there, he began scouring the country for “bad men.” Any man who
-had some other man’s blood on his hands found favour with Benton, and
-at the little town of Utica, where he made his head-quarters, he soon
-gathered together as choice a collection of “toughs” and murderers as
-could be found in any one hundred square miles on earth. These men
-he hired to go with him to Wyoming and kill “Rustlers.” They signed
-a contract to stay with him for six months and were to receive fifty
-dollars apiece per month, and one hundred dollars were to be divided
-amongst the bunch for every man that they killed.
-
-Late in April the band, consisting of sixty men, with Benton and a
-negro cook, boarded a train on the M. K. T. for the north. At Omaha,
-where they outfitted, they bought up practically all the ammunition in
-the town, as well as large quantities of provisions, bedding, tents,
-and other articles. They were joined here by Dr. Hays, who, after
-expressing himself as being well pleased with the appearance of the men
-selected, informed Benton that horses and supply wagons awaited him at
-Douglas, Wyoming. Before parting from Benton he gave him a revised list
-of some forty men of whom the cattle kings were desirous of ridding the
-country.
-
-On Thursday, the 27th of April, the little town of Douglas was
-surprised and terrified by the appearance of sixty armed men who
-alighted from the Elkhorn train. The strangers paid but little
-attention to the townspeople, but hastened out to the E----Y ranch near
-the town, where their horses awaited them. Here they pitched camp for
-the night, and at daylight the next morning set off for the north-west,
-camping that night on the banks of Wild Horse Creek, some forty miles
-from Douglas. By Saturday night they were within sight of the Powder
-River, but were halted by Benton in the hills south of the river until
-it became dark, when they advanced, and, after fording the river,
-camped in a large cottonwood grove for the night. At two o’clock in the
-morning they were awakened, and followed their leader on foot for a
-couple of miles, when, just as day was breaking, they came to a little
-log-house near the banks of the Powder River. The building was on the
-claim of a small rancher named Ben Champion, and stopping with him at
-the time was another rancher named Billy Ray. Both men had received
-White Cap notices, and were living together for greater security.
-
-Swiftly the men under Benton--who were known thereafter as White
-Caps--surrounded the ranch and lay concealed, awaiting the appearance
-of the hapless ranchers, who were to be their first victims. About five
-o’clock the door opened and Billy Ray stepped out.
-
-“Get breakfast, Ben, and I will look after the horses,” he called out,
-cheerily, as he started for the log stable near the river bank.
-
-Half-way there he paused and partly turned as if to retrace his steps.
-Thinking that they had been discovered in their hiding-place, Benton
-gave the order to fire, and poor Ray fell riddled with bullets.
-
-“Now for the house, boys! Get the other one!” yelled Benton, and he
-headed a rush at the log building. The rush, however, ended in a wild
-stampede for shelter, for, regardless of the bullets smashing into
-the logs around him, Ben Champion appeared in the doorway with a
-six-shooter in either hand streaming fire and lead. One White Cap lay
-dead close beside the body of Billy Ray, and another one was painfully
-trying to drag himself into shelter with a broken leg trailing behind
-him.
-
-From all sides a perfect hail of bullets was now poured into the log
-cabin, and but for the seasoned logs stopping a large proportion of the
-bullets no man could have lived inside for five minutes. As it was,
-bullets were constantly getting in through the chinks and crevices
-between the timbers. After the first charge failed, Champion, knowing
-that it was only a question of time before the White Caps killed him,
-sat down at his table and wrote a letter of farewell to his mother and
-sisters in far-away Vermont. He also, from time to time, wrote down
-short comments on the battle in progress. This blood-stained diary,
-which is now the property of the State Historical Society at Cheyenne,
-reads as follows:--
-
-“Six o’clock.--It is just about an hour since they killed Billy, and,
-while bullets have been buzzing around in here pretty lively ever
-since, I am still untouched. I just wrote a letter to my mother.
-
-“Seven o’clock.--As I was writing in this book before a bullet smashed
-up my left arm pretty badly, but I have it tied up and the bleeding
-stopped. Now I have got my revenge, too, for as I shifted from one end
-of the shack to the other I caught one fellow trying to run up here
-with a bunch of burning brush in his hands. He’ll not need brush to
-keep warm where he is now.
-
-“Nine o’clock.--Still on deck, but getting kind of wobbly on the pins
-from loss of blood. Have been hit four times.
-
-“Nine-forty a.m.--Well, good-bye everyone. They set a load of hay on
-fire and let it run down the hill against the side of the shack and the
-roof is all ablaze. I am waiting till the smoke settles over the main
-bunch a little thicker and then I will try to get in amongst them with
-my six-shooter, if I can, before they down me. Good-bye.--BEN.”
-
-A whiff of wind from the north blew a heavy cloud of smoke low down
-over a bunch of White Caps lying in the shelter of a small creek some
-fifty yards from the cabin, and when it lifted Ben Champion stood
-amongst them with a smoking revolver in his hand. A moment later he lay
-dead on the sand with over forty bullets through his body, but in that
-short space of time his deadly Colt had sent two more of the White Caps
-to their last reckoning.
-
-[Illustration: “BEN CHAMPION APPEARED IN THE DOORWAY WITH A SIX-SHOOTER
-IN EITHER HAND STREAMING FIRE AND LEAD.”]
-
-While the White Caps were burying their dead, the horses and wagons
-were brought up and the outfit cooked their breakfast on the embers
-of the burning logs. Then, placing their wounded comrade in a supply
-wagon, they moved up the river in search of more victims. Surrounding
-two ranches, they crept up to them, only to find them vacant; they were
-too late, for their firing had attracted the attention of a rancher
-named Whitmore as he stopped to water his horse at the ford a mile
-below Champion’s ranch, and he had ridden up close enough to see the
-finish of the unequal fight, and had then spurred his horse up the
-river, warning the settlers that the much-talked-of White Cap invasion
-had begun. The news spread over the country like wildfire, and, instead
-of fleeing from the danger-zone, the ranchers and cow-punchers buckled
-on their guns and headed for the scene of the fight. They started
-in ones and twos, but as they got closer in they began to gather in
-bunches of ten or twelve, all spoiling for a fight, if there was a
-prospect of avenging the death of their comrades.
-
-In vain did Benton and his regiment try to close with any of these
-bunches; their horses were fresh, and they would run as long as chased
-by the White Caps; but once let the chase cease and they were back
-again, waiting for a chance to sneak up under cover of a hill or
-ravine to pour in a volley of bullets and again take to their heels
-if pursued. By three o’clock there were fully fifty men harassing
-the White Caps, and Benton decided to make for the shelter of the
-A--T ranch on Crazy Woman Creek, some fifty miles to the north-west.
-The first few miles was an orderly march, but the “Rustlers,” as the
-other side called them, were constantly increasing in numbers and
-pressing in closer behind. At five o’clock Benton gave his men the
-order to strap their ammunition on to the backs of the wagon horses
-and to abandon the wagons and supplies. From an orderly march their
-ride had now degenerated into a wild dash over the barren sage brush
-flats for refuge in the far-off ranch. Darkness alone saved them from
-extermination, and as it was, only forty-five powder-stained, worn-out
-White Caps rode up to Dr. Hays’s A--T ranch just as the sun rose on
-Monday morning.
-
-After a hasty breakfast they set to work barricading the windows and
-doors of the stout log-house, as well as building a fort of stones
-around the well and cutting a trench from there to the house and the
-barn, a large two-storey frame structure which was rendered almost
-bullet-proof by lining it with bales of hay. Noon found them well
-prepared for a siege--found, too, close on three hundred Rustlers
-watching them from the surrounding hill-tops.
-
-A long-range fusillade was kept up all day on Monday without effect on
-either side, and Monday night also passed uneventfully. Tuesday found
-the Rustlers entrenched in rifle-pits and stone forts within easy range
-on all sides of the ranch buildings. They had received large quantities
-of ammunition from Buffalo, which was only fifteen miles north of them,
-and had also brought up the tents and provisions abandoned by the White
-Caps near the Powder River. All day long the numbers of the Rustlers
-kept constantly increasing, till by nightfall fully five hundred men
-were pouring lead into the buildings and forts on the A--T. The firing
-kept up all Tuesday night, and under cover of the darkness the Rustlers
-advanced their rifle-pits to within two hundred yards of the ranch
-buildings. Seated on the top of a pile of earth and thinking himself
-safe in the darkness, young Tommy Arnold, of the Rustlers, fired a shot
-at the dark mass of buildings in the valley. Quick as lightning came an
-answering shot, fired at the flash of his gun, and young Arnold pitched
-forward, shot through the breast. Angered at the death of Arnold,
-several Rustlers digging a pit near him seized their rifles and poured
-in a volley of bullets at the spot where they had seen the gun-flash
-in the valley. With five further shots, however, the hidden marksman
-wounded two of them and threw dirt into the faces of a couple more, so
-that they were soon glad to quit the unequal duel. The man who did this
-shooting was afterwards discovered to be an ex-United States marshal
-from Oklahoma, named Smith. He was wounded on the last day of the
-fight, and afterwards died from his wounds.
-
-On Tuesday afternoon Bob Snelling and John Pettybone, two of the
-richest ranchers among the Rustlers, rode over to Fort McKinney and
-offered the commander there two thousand dollars for the use of his
-cannon for one day. Of course, the commandant had to refuse, and he
-further took warning, so that that night, when a party of Rustlers, led
-by Tom Ray, arrived with the intention of stealing the gun they found
-it had been wheeled into the guard-house and a sentry stationed over
-it. Not to be daunted by these failures to secure a big gun, old Jack
-Flagett, a veteran of the Civil War, essayed to make one. He secured a
-team and drove to Buffalo, returning with a number of lengths of iron
-piping. He first placed a three-inch pipe around a two-inch and pounded
-the intervening space full of wet sand, repeating the performance with
-a four and six inch pipe. The whole affair was then chained securely
-to the stump of a tree on the top of a hill about five hundred yards
-from the A--T buildings. Next the amateur artillerist rammed in a
-couple of pounds of powder, and, for a projectile, put in five pounds
-of dynamite. Then he called out to some near-by Rustlers: “Come over,
-boys, and watch me blow that White Cap outfit to Hades!”
-
-He was about to set a match to the touch-hole when one Fred Johnston
-interfered.
-
-“Better set it off with a fuse, Jack,” he said.
-
-“Well, to satisfy you, I will,” replied Flagett; “but there is no
-danger, as this gun can stand anything.”
-
-A six-inch fuse was then placed in the gun and lighted, and everyone
-retired into an adjacent pit, dragging old Jack with them. For a moment
-all was silence; then came an awful ear-splitting report, and a cloud
-of dust settled over the rifle pit. When it cleared away all trace of
-Flagett’s cannon and the stump as well had disappeared. Not a piece
-of either was ever found, though Hall Smith, who was in charge of the
-cook-camp half a mile farther back, swore that he heard a piece of pipe
-whistle over his head a few seconds after the explosion.
-
-Wednesday night passed very quietly, the White Caps being short of
-ammunition, and the Rustlers busy in the construction of a movable
-fort on wheels. They placed three mountain wagons in the shape of the
-letter V, and built a framework of poles between them. This frame they
-covered with bales of hay and suspended other bales from it clear to
-the ground. There was room within this curious fort for twenty men,
-and loopholes were left in the front sides for firing through as they
-slowly propelled it forward. It was the intention to roll this up
-within throwing distance of the ranch buildings, and then to demolish
-them with dynamite bombs.
-
-On Thursday morning, just at sunrise, the ponderous engine began to
-crawl forward on its half-mile journey. Slowly but surely it crept
-along, till at ten o’clock it was less than three hundred yards from
-the ranch. In vain did the White Caps concentrate their fire on the
-moving fortress; their bullets were absorbed by the hay as water by a
-sponge. Inside the beleaguered ranch all was excitement and terror.
-Only too well did they know the fate that awaited them unless the grim
-monster advancing on them was checked. Benton called his boys together.
-“Boys, we must stop that fort or die like rats in a trap,” he said. “I
-want twenty men to follow me. Each will take a torch in one hand and
-his six-shooter in the other, and I promise one thousand dollars to the
-first man to fire the hay walls of the fort.”
-
-The moving fort was now less than a hundred yards from the house, and
-the furious fire from the hills and pits that had covered its advance
-died down as the Rustlers lay, with their loaded rifles silent, waiting
-for some move on the part of the White Caps.
-
-Within the ranch-house all was quiet. The twenty men selected for the
-dash stood with their right hands clenched around the butts of their
-heavy Colts and their lefts grasping kerosene-soaked torches. All eyes
-were fixed on their leader, who stood next to big Ben Williams, who
-was noiselessly removing the bars from the door. “Ready, boys!” came
-in clear, low tones from Benton as the last bar was lifted from its
-socket. Every man braced himself for the leap--ready, in fact, anxious,
-to have the dreadful suspense at an end, though each well knew that
-the opening of the door would be a signal for five hundred rifles to
-sweep the space between the house and the fort with a perfect hail of
-lead. Quickly the door swung open, and Benton leaped out. His eyes
-swept the surrounding hills; then he turned and tried to leap back into
-the protection of the log walls again. But all in vain! Quicker than
-thought came a flash of fire from a loophole in the fort, and Benton
-fell in the doorway with a bullet from Tom Champion’s rifle through his
-lungs.
-
-“Keep back, boys!” he gasped. “Stay inside. You’re saved--the troops
-are coming.” They dragged him in, but these were his last words; the
-heavy hand of the avenging angel had fallen on him, and he had gone for
-a final reckoning.
-
-“To the loopholes, boys!” shouted Williams, who had now taken command.
-“Shoot as you never shot before. If we can hold them in check for five
-minutes we are saved.”
-
-From loopholes and cracks thirty-five rifles concentrated their fire
-on the hay fort, and the furious storm of lead caused Champion and the
-twenty men behind the bales to lie low and hug the ground. They knew
-that the fire could not long be sustained at that rate, and that when
-it slackened they could advance with fewer casualties. Glancing from
-a loophole to the north, Tom Champion saw two lines of brown-coated
-men, riding furiously in the midst of a cloud of dust, sweep over the
-hills less than a mile away. “Boys, the troops are coming!” he shouted.
-“Quick! light a fuse and try a throw from here.”
-
-Hastily the bomb was prepared and thrown. The five-pound parcel of
-dynamite circled through the air and fell only ten feet short of the
-wall. For an instant there was silence; then came the explosion, and
-for a few minutes all was hid in a blinding cloud of dust. When it
-settled it revealed a gaping hole in the side of the house and the dim
-forms of men inside striving desperately to replace the dislocated logs.
-
-“To the loopholes, boys! Pick them off!” cried Champion, but before
-a shot could be fired, between them and the house swept a line of
-cavalry, and the fight at the A---T had passed into history.
-
-Clothed in the uniform and authority of the United States army, fifty
-men from the Thirteenth Cavalry robbed five hundred raging Rustlers of
-their prey. No true American can fire on the army uniform, and cursing
-and furious, but powerless to interfere, the Rustlers could only stand
-by and watch thirty-five men--all that were left of the invaders--come
-forth and surrender themselves to Captain Watterson and his men, to be
-transported to Cheyenne for trial for the murder of Ray, Champion, and
-others. They were ultimately released without the formality of a trial
-after some of the moneyed cattle kings had conferred with the State
-officials.
-
-[Illustration: “BENTON FELL IN THE DOORWAY WITH A BULLET FROM TOM
-CHAMPION’S RIFLE THROUGH HIS LUNGS.”]
-
-Dr. Hays, Ben Williams, and other of the leading cattlemen fled from
-the country, never to return. Their buildings were burned, their horses
-and cattle shot on sight by the Rustlers, while their calves bore the
-brand of the first man to see them. Many a wealthy rancher in that
-district to-day owes his start to the calves he gathered up when the
-big outfits went to pieces.
-
-So ended one of the most sanguinary cattle wars that the West has
-ever witnessed. All that remains to-day to recall it is a group of
-bullet-scarred buildings, surrounded by weed-grown rifle-pits, some two
-hours’ ride south-east of Buffalo, near the junction of Muddy Creek
-with the north fork of the Crazy Woman.
-
-
-
-
-THE WIDE WORLD: In Other Magazines
-
-
-A HETEROGENEOUS COLLECTION.
-
-[Illustration]
-
-For one wishing to study the ways of the lowest dregs of this earth,
-I would advise him to give the slums of London a rest, and watch
-the throngs who besiege the offices of the agents who undertake to
-supply the cattlemen with help at Montreal. German and Russian Jews,
-Dukhobhors, Italians, negroes, Dr. Barnardo boys, homesick for their
-beloved slums; broken-down “sharks” and “confidence men” from the
-large cities of the States; one-time moneyed youths from the larger
-English towns, who have run through the capital given them to start
-in business, and are returning on the chance of getting more. All
-bustling and hustling each other after the same prize--a free passage
-to London, the home, and often the grave, of the desperate.--“THE
-CAPTAIN.”
-
-
-TRAVELLING IN ICELAND.
-
-By the average individual (unless he happens to be a salmon-fisher)
-Iceland is imagined to be a place somewhere within the region of
-the Arctic Circle and to be a land of eternal winter. The fishing
-enthusiast knows it only as a paradise of his craft and values it
-accordingly. Some tourists visit the island for a week or so in summer,
-and get as far as Thingvellir, or if they are not too saddle-sore they
-may see Geysir. But only a very select few have travelled for weeks on
-the hardy little ponies and known to the full the exceeding delight
-of day after day spent in the wonderful Icelandic air and of riding
-through the green valleys and fording the numberless rivers and streams
-of Iceland. To those who can ride and are keen on an open-air life and
-who are lovers of scenery the island should appeal, and this should
-apply even more so to those tired of the ways of cities, for there are
-no railways in Iceland, no motors, and there were until very recently
-no telegraphs.--“WOMAN’S LIFE.”
-
-
-A LUCKY FALL OF SNOW.
-
-On the Trans-Siberian Railway not long ago some train-wreckers,
-anticipating the Continental express, had been busily engaged for some
-hours tearing up the permanent way. But, in the meantime, so heavy a
-fall of snow had occurred that the mail had been completely blocked
-some few miles before reaching the work of destruction. In this way
-the robbers were defeated of their prey, and the gangs of workmen who
-afterwards went out to clear the line discovered the damage on digging
-away the snow.--“TIT-BITS.”
-
-
-WOMEN’S SPORT IN SWEDEN.
-
-In no other European country do sports occupy so large a place in
-women’s lives as they do in Sweden. This is especially the case in
-winter, when traffic and social intercourse are hindered by the snow
-and, but for outdoor games and exercises, life in the great castles and
-country estates would be monotonous and dull for the women of the upper
-classes. This is the time, however, when the Swedish ladies most enjoy
-themselves, for they pass their days in skating, skiing, tobogganing,
-coasting, and in training for the races which take place at Stockholm
-and in most of the more populated parts of the country.--“THE
-LADIES’ FIELD.”
-
-
-AN UNCONVENTIONAL AMUSEMENT.
-
-The “Mengeleusha,” or “slippery place,” near Kuala Kangsar, Perak,
-Federated Malay States, is a solid piece of granite, about seventy or
-eighty feet long, standing in a stream of water and forming a sort of
-waterfall. The water flowing down this rock makes it as slippery as
-glass, and the amusement is to slide down the rock and splash into
-the pool beneath. This snapshot shows an Englishman half-way down the
-slide.--“THE STRAND MAGAZINE.”
-
-[Illustration]
-
-
-
-
-Odds and Ends.
-
-A Battle-Royal “You Dirty Boy”--Bavarian “Death-Boards”--An
-Extraordinary Sacrifice, etc., etc.
-
-
-Our first photograph represents what must have been a battle-royal, and
-one which ended fatally for all concerned. It took place during the
-night, in the back yard of a house in Central Queensland, Australia,
-and the combatants were all found dead in the morning exactly as seen
-in the photograph. It is supposed that the snake must have bitten the
-kitten, and the mother cat, coming to its rescue, fought the snake and
-broke its back, but not before she had been fatally bitten herself.
-Cats are well known to be very clever at breaking snakes’ backs with
-their claws.
-
-[Illustration: A BATTLE ROYAL WHICH ENDED FATALLY FOR ALL
-CONCERNED--THE SNAKE KILLED THE KITTEN, AND THE MOTHER, COMING TO THE
-RESCUE, KILLED THE SERPENT, BUT SUCCUMBED HERSELF TO THE SNAKE’S BITE.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-The top snapshot on the next page was taken during a tramp through the
-jungly district around Sourabaya, a small town in Java. The picture
-shows a Javanese woman washing her child under a falling stream of
-water. Evidently the youngster is not enjoying the performance,
-and evinces his disapproval of the proceedings by kicking out in
-all directions and struggling vigorously. As a result of these
-contortions the outline of his body in the picture is rather obscure.
-It is interesting to note how the water has been brought to the
-rudely-constructed circle of masonry which serves as a reservoir.
-Having no system of pipes to facilitate the distribution of water, the
-natives fall back on Nature to assist them in this direction. They cut
-down betelnut trees, split them in half from top to bottom, and scoop
-out the inside substance, thus making a series of cylindrical troughs.
-These are dried in the sun, after which a number of them, joined end to
-end and placed at a gentle slope, will convey water from any natural
-source to within convenient distance of a village or group of houses.
-The end of one of these artificial water-courses is seen in the picture.
-
-[Illustration: “YOU DIRTY BOY”--A JAVANESE MOTHER WASHING HER CHILD IN
-A “HOME-MADE AQUEDUCT.”
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-Here is a curious little snapshot from Java. The ancient cannon seen
-in the photograph is situated near the railway station at Batavia, the
-capital of the island, and is believed by the natives to possess the
-peculiar power--particularly strange in the case of so incongruous an
-object as a cannon--of enabling childless married people to raise a
-family. In pursuance of this strange belief many offerings are placed
-by the superstitious near the cannon; three are seen in the foreground
-of the photograph. Another legend which attaches to this particular
-gun is to the effect that when it and another piece of ordnance, which
-is also situated somewhere in the island, are brought together, the
-Javanese will become a great and independent nation.
-
-[Illustration: AN ANCIENT CANNON TO WHICH PEOPLE MAKE OFFERINGS IN THE
-BELIEF THAT IT ASSIST THEM TO RAISE A FAMILY.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-In the eastern half of Bavaria, on the borders of Bohemia, lies the
-so-called Bavarian Forest. This part of the country, although it boasts
-beautiful scenery, is seldom visited by tourists, probably for the
-reason that the charms of the region are little known even in Germany.
-This part of Bavaria has been in many ways untouched by civilization,
-and owing to its seclusion from the outer world some very strange
-customs are still in vogue, strongly reminding one of the Middle Ages.
-One of these strange customs, strictly observed by the population,
-is the way in which they keep alive the memory of their dead by the
-erection of what are called “totenbretter,” or “death-boards.” These
-are wooden planks cut in the shape of tombstones and roughly painted.
-Sometimes they bear also the image of a saint. They are erected--often
-in a row of thirty and more--on the roadside, in fields and meadows,
-near chapels and crucifixes, in the village streets--in short,
-everywhere; they are even nailed to houses and barns. They do not mark
-burial-places, as might be supposed. As soon as a person has died the
-corpse is put on a board, and there it lies in state until it is put
-into the coffin shortly before the funeral. These boards, then, are the
-so-called “death-boards,” and after the funeral they are cut into a
-suitable shape, and decorated with an inscription containing the name
-of the deceased, his age, and, in most cases, some lines of poetry.
-These short poems, which are, of course, meant in sober earnest, are
-occasionally very amusing. The boards are then stuck somewhere near
-the road, or in the fields, where they sometimes accumulate to an
-alarming number. In the poorer districts these boards are not always
-cut into shape and painted, but are simply deposited just as they are
-at the foot of some crucifix, where they remain untouched until they
-moulder away. It must be admitted that the custom, though interesting,
-seems open to objection from a hygienic point of view, nor is it very
-exhilarating for the tourist to be reminded of death wherever he may
-turn.
-
-[Illustration: BAVARIAN “DEATH-BOARDS”--THEY DO NOT MARK BURIAL-PLACES,
-AND ARE TO BE FOUND IN ALL SORTS OF ODD SITUATIONS.
-
-_From a Photo. by Kester, Berlin._]
-
-This wonderful fungus, found in the Garo Hills in Assam, has been
-supplied by Nature with a delicate network of fine translucent
-material, which seems to be intended to protect the stalk from the
-attacks of insect life. The head of the plant, on the other hand,
-is covered with some substance which attracts minute flies in great
-numbers. For further defence Nature has given this weird fungus the
-power of spreading around it a most offensive smell.
-
-[Illustration: AN EXTRAORDINARY FUNGUS--IT GROWS IN A NIGHT AND BY
-MID-DAY HAS ENTIRELY WITHERED.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-The beautiful white tracery grows up in the night, commences to droop
-as soon as the first rays of the sun reach it, and by midday has
-entirely withered away.
-
-[Illustration: IN SOME PARTS OF CHINA IT IS STILL CONSIDERED A VERY
-MERITORIOUS ACT FOR A WIDOW TO COMMIT SUICIDE AFTER THE DEATH OF HER
-HUSBAND--THIS PHOTOGRAPH SHOWS A WIDOW ABOUT TO MAKE AWAY WITH HERSELF
-IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IMMENSE AND ADMIRING CROWD.]
-
-Old customs die very hard in China, and in several parts of the
-Celestial Empire it is still considered a high act of virtue for a
-woman to commit suicide after the death of her husband. According to
-the law the proceeding is actually legal in some provinces, and such is
-the state of public opinion that in districts where it is officially
-prohibited the authorities rarely interfere. The striking photograph
-which we reproduce on this page shows one of these extraordinary
-voluntary sacrifices about to take place, with the widow herself,
-clad in white--the Chinese mourning colour--the gallows erected for
-the occasion, and the immense crowd gathered to witness the gruesome
-spectacle.
-
-[Illustration: AN ARIZONA BEDROOM--SO HOT IS THE CLIMATE, AND SO
-NUMEROUS THE INSECTS AND REPTILIAN PESTS, THAT THE DWELLERS ON THE
-VERGE OF THE DESERT FIND IT NECESSARY TO SLEEP IN WIRE CAGES SIMILAR TO
-THAT HERE SHOWN.
-
-_From a Photograph._]
-
-The desert bordering on the Colorado River, in Southern Arizona, is
-probably the hottest part of the United States in summer, where the
-condition humorously generalized at “a hundred and forty in the shade,
-and no shade,” prevails from June until September. The intense heat
-of the sun-baked houses then makes them unbearable even at night to
-the average sleeper, and open-air sleeping apartments are accordingly
-needful for comfort. The photograph shows one of these airy adjuncts
-to a desert home. The wire screen that encloses the little room, like
-a bird-cage, serves to keep out pestiferous insects, snakes, and other
-vermin.
-
-[Illustration: THE MAP-CONTENTS OF “THE WIDE WORLD MAGAZINE,” WHICH
-SHOWS AT A GLANCE THE LOCALITY OF EACH ARTICLE AND NARRATIVE OF
-ADVENTURE IN THIS NUMBER.]
-
-
-Transcriber's Note:
-
-Table of Contents added.
-
-Inconsistent spelling and hyphenation are as in the original.
-
-
-
-
-
-End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Wide World Magazine - Vol. 22, No.
-131, February 1909, by Various
-
-*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WIDE WORLD MAGAZINE, FEBRUARY 1909 ***
-
-***** This file should be named 51061-0.txt or 51061-0.zip *****
-This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
-        http://www.gutenberg.org/5/1/0/6/51061/
-
-Produced by Victorian/Edwardian Pictorial Magazines,
-Jonathan Ingram, Wayne Hammond and the Online Distributed
-Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
-
-Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will
-be renamed.
-
-Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright
-law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works,
-so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United
-States without permission and without paying copyright
-royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part
-of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project
-Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm
-concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark,
-and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you receive
-specific permission. If you do not charge anything for copies of this
-eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook
-for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports,
-performances and research. They may be modified and printed and given
-away--you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks
-not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the
-trademark license, especially commercial redistribution.
-
-START: FULL LICENSE
-
-THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
-PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
-
-To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
-distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
-(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project
-Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full
-Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at
-www.gutenberg.org/license.
-
-Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project
-Gutenberg-tm electronic works
-
-1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm
-electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
-and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
-(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all
-the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or
-destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your
-possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a
-Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound
-by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the
-person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph
-1.E.8.
-
-1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be
-used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
-agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few
-things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
-even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See
-paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project
-Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this
-agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm
-electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below.
-
-1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the
-Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection
-of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual
-works in the collection are in the public domain in the United
-States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the
-United States and you are located in the United States, we do not
-claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing,
-displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as
-all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope
-that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting
-free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm
-works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the
-Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily
-comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the
-same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when
-you share it without charge with others.
-
-1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
-what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are
-in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States,
-check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this
-agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing,
-distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any
-other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no
-representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any
-country outside the United States.
-
-1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
-
-1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other
-immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear
-prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work
-on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the
-phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed,
-performed, viewed, copied or distributed:
-
-  This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and
-  most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no
-  restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it
-  under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this
-  eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the
-  United States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you
-  are located before using this ebook.
-
-1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is
-derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not
-contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the
-copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in
-the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are
-redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project
-Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply
-either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or
-obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm
-trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
-
-1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted
-with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
-must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any
-additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms
-will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works
-posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the
-beginning of this work.
-
-1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm
-License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
-work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
-
-1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
-electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
-prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
-active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
-Gutenberg-tm License.
-
-1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
-compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including
-any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access
-to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format
-other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official
-version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site
-(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense
-to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means
-of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain
-Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the
-full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
-
-1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
-performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works
-unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
-
-1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
-access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
-provided that
-
-* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
-  the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method
-  you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed
-  to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has
-  agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project
-  Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid
-  within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are
-  legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty
-  payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project
-  Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in
-  Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg
-  Literary Archive Foundation."
-
-* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
-  you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
-  does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
-  License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all
-  copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue
-  all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm
-  works.
-
-* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of
-  any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
-  electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of
-  receipt of the work.
-
-* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
-  distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
-
-1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project
-Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than
-are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing
-from both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and The
-Project Gutenberg Trademark LLC, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm
-trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.
-
-1.F.
-
-1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
-effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
-works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project
-Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm
-electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may
-contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate
-or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other
-intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or
-other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or
-cannot be read by your equipment.
-
-1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right
-of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
-Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
-Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
-Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
-liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
-fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
-LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
-PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
-TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
-LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
-INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
-DAMAGE.
-
-1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
-defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
-receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
-written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you
-received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium
-with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you
-with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in
-lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person
-or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second
-opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If
-the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing
-without further opportunities to fix the problem.
-
-1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
-in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO
-OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT
-LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
-
-1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
-warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of
-damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement
-violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the
-agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or
-limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or
-unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the
-remaining provisions.
-
-1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
-trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
-providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in
-accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the
-production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm
-electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses,
-including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of
-the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this
-or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or
-additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any
-Defect you cause.
-
-Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
-
-Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of
-electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of
-computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It
-exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations
-from people in all walks of life.
-
-Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
-assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's
-goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will
-remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project
-Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
-and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future
-generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary
-Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see
-Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at
-www.gutenberg.org
-
-
-
-Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
-
-The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit
-501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
-state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
-Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification
-number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary
-Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by
-U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
-
-The Foundation's principal office is in Fairbanks, Alaska, with the
-mailing address: PO Box 750175, Fairbanks, AK 99775, but its
-volunteers and employees are scattered throughout numerous
-locations. Its business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt
-Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up to
-date contact information can be found at the Foundation's web site and
-official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact
-
-For additional contact information:
-
-    Dr. Gregory B. Newby
-    Chief Executive and Director
-    gbnewby@pglaf.org
-
-Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
-Literary Archive Foundation
-
-Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide
-spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of
-increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
-freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest
-array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations
-($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
-status with the IRS.
-
-The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
-charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
-States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
-considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
-with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations
-where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND
-DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular
-state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate
-
-While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
-have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
-against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
-approach us with offers to donate.
-
-International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
-any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
-outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
-
-Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation
-methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other
-ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To
-donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate
-
-Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works.
-
-Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project
-Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be
-freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and
-distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of
-volunteer support.
-
-Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed
-editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in
-the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not
-necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper
-edition.
-
-Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search
-facility: www.gutenberg.org
-
-This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm,
-including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
-Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
-subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
-
diff --git a/old/51061-0.zip b/old/51061-0.zip
deleted file mode 100644
index 1a6924b..0000000
--- a/old/51061-0.zip
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h.zip b/old/51061-h.zip
deleted file mode 100644
index c3a7284..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h.zip
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/51061-h.htm b/old/51061-h/51061-h.htm
deleted file mode 100644
index ce5bfe7..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/51061-h.htm
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,9431 +0,0 @@
-<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.1//EN"
-    "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml11/DTD/xhtml11.dtd">
-<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en">
-  <head>
-    <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" />
-    <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" />
-    <title>
-    Wide World - Vol. 22, No. 131, by Wide World Magazine. -- a Project Gutenberg eBook
-    </title>
-    <style type="text/css">
-
-a {
-    text-decoration: none}
-
-#coverpage {
-    margin: 2em auto}
-
-body {
-    padding: 4px;
-    margin: auto 10%}
-
-p {
-    text-align: justify}
-
-p.drop:first-letter {
-    float: left;
-    font-family: Times, Georgia,serif;
-    vertical-align: top;
-    font-size: xx-large;
-    font-weight: bold;
-    line-height: 0.85em;
-    margin-right: 0.03em;
-    margin-bottom: 0em}
-
-img.drop-cap {
-    float: left;
-    margin: 0 0.5em 0 0;}
-
-p.drop-cap:first-letter {
-    color: transparent;
-    visibility: hidden;
-    margin-left: -0.9em;}
-
-.script {
-    font-style: oblique;
-    font-family: Respective, "Apple Chancery", "Brush Script MT", "Comic Sans", cursive, "URW Chancery L", sans-serif }
-.i8 {
-    padding-left: 4em}
-
-.upper-case {
-    text-transform: uppercase}
-
-.hidden
-
-.medium {
-    font-size: medium}
-
-.large {
-    font-size: large}
-
-.xlarge {
-    font-size: x-large}
-
-.xxlarge {
-    font-size: xx-large}
-
-.table {
-    display: table;
-    margin: auto}
-
-.tcell {
-    display: table-cell}
-
-.tcell p {
-    margin: auto 1em}
-
-.trow {
-    display: table-row}
-
-h1, h2, h3 {
-    text-align: center; /* all headings centered */
-    clear: both;
-    margin: 2em auto}
-
-p.author {
-    text-align: right;
-    margin: auto 5%}
-
-hr {
-    border-top: 4px double #8c8b8b;}
-
-hr.tb  {
-    width: 45%; margin: 2em 27.5%; clear: both}
-
-hr.chap {
-    width: 65%; margin: 2em 17.5%; clear: both}
-
-table {
-    margin: auto}
-
-.tdr {
-    text-align: right;}
-
-.tdc {
-    text-align: center;}
-
-.bbox {
-    border-collapse: collapse;
-    border: solid 2px;}
-
-.copy {
-    font-size: small;
-    text-align: center}
-
-.center {
-    text-align: center;}
-
-.smcap {
-    font-variant: small-caps;}
-
-.caption  {
-    font-size: small;
-    text-align: center}
-
-.w100 {width: 100%}
-.w400 {max-width: 400px}
-
-/* Images */
-img {
-    border: none;
-    max-width: 100%}
-
-.figcenter   {
-    clear: both;
-    margin: 2em auto;
-    text-align: center;}
-
-.figcenter p  {
-    font-size: small;
-    margin: 0.5em 2em;}
-
-.figcenter td  {
-    vertical-align: top;
-    font-size: small;
-    margin: 0.5em 2em;}
-
-/* Footnotes */
-.fnanchor {
-    vertical-align: super;
-    font-size: small;
-    line-height: .1em;
-    text-decoration: none;
-    white-space: nowrap  /* keeps footnote on same line as referenced text */}
-
-.footnote {
-    text-indent: -.5em;
-    padding-left: 2em}
-
-.footnote p {
-    text-indent: 0em;
-    padding-left: 2em;
-    margin: 1em}
-
-.label {
-    display: inline-block;
-    text-indent: -2em;
-    text-align: right;
-    text-decoration: none}
-
-/* Transcriber's notes */
-.transnote {
-    background-color: #E6E6FA;
-    border: silver solid 1px;
-    color: black;
-    margin: 2em auto 5em auto;
-    padding: 1em}
-
-/* Poetry */
-
-.poetry {
-    margin: auto;
-    text-align: center}
-
-.poem {
-    margin: auto;
-    display: inline-block;
-    text-align: left}
-
-.poem .stanza {
-    margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;}
-
-.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */
-  /*  visibility: hidden;  */
-    color: silver;
-    position: absolute;
-    right: 1em;
-    font-size: small;
-    text-align: right;
-} /* page numbers */
-    .poem span.i0     {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;}
-    .poem span.i12     {display: block; margin-left: 6em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;}
-    .poem span.i2     {display: block; margin-left: 1em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;}
-    .poem span.i8     {display: block; margin-left: 4em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;}
-
-
-@media handheld
-{
-  img.drop-cap
-
-  p.drop-cap:first-letter
-  {
-    color: inherit;
-    visibility: visible;
-    margin-left: 0;
-  }
-
-  p.drop:first-letter {
-    float: left;
-    font-family: Times, Georgia,serif;
-    vertical-align: top;
-    font-size: xx-large;
-    font-weight: bold;
-    line-height: 0.85em;
-    margin-right: 0.03em;
-    margin-bottom: 0em
-  }
-}
-    </style>
-  </head>
-<body>
-
-
-<pre>
-
-The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Wide World Magazine - Vol. 22, No. 131,
-February 1909, by Various
-
-This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most
-other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions
-whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of
-the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at
-www.gutenberg.org.  If you are not located in the United States, you'll have
-to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook.
-
-Title: The Wide World Magazine - Vol. 22, No. 131, February 1909
-
-Author: Various
-
-Release Date: January 28, 2016 [EBook #51061]
-
-Language: English
-
-Character set encoding: UTF-8
-
-*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WIDE WORLD MAGAZINE, FEBRUARY 1909 ***
-
-
-
-
-Produced by Victorian/Edwardian Pictorial Magazines,
-Jonathan Ingram, Wayne Hammond and the Online Distributed
-Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
-
-
-
-
-
-
-</pre>
-
-
-<div id="coverpage" class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/cover.jpg"
-alt="" />
-<p class="copy">The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.</p>
-</div>
-
-<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. -->
-<hr class="chap" />
-
-<h2>Table of Contents</h2>
-
-<table>
-  <tr>
-    <th class="tdr" colspan="2">Page</th>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td><a href="#SHORT_STORIES">Short Stories.</a></td>
-    <td class="tdr">419</td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td><a href="#WHALE_v_SHARKS">Whale <i>v.</i> Sharks.</a></td>
-    <td class="tdr">419</td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td><a href="#A_BATTLE_IN_MID-AIR">A Battle in Mid-air.</a></td>
-    <td class="tdr">422</td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class="i2"><a href="#UP_IN_A_BALLOON">Up in a Balloon.</a></td>
-    <td class="tdr">425</td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td class="i2"><a href="#Some_Freak_Memorials">Some “Freak” Memorials.</a></td>
-    <td class="tdr">428</td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td><a href="#DOWN_THE_CHUTE_A_Miners_Extraordinary_Experience">DOWN THE CHUTE: A Miner’s Extraordinary Experience.</a></td>
-    <td class="tdr">436</td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td><a href="#Where_Women_Wear_Trousers">Where Women Wear Trousers.</a></td>
-    <td class="tdr">443</td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td><a href="#RETRIBUTION">Retribution.</a></td>
-    <td class="tdr">451</td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td><a href="#Mountain_Tragedies_of_the_Lake_District">Mountain Tragedies of the Lake District.</a></td>
-    <td class="tdr">457</td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td><a href="#Cupid_and_the_Dentist">Cupid and the Dentist.</a></td>
-    <td class="tdr">464</td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td><a href="#My_Experiences_in_Algeria">My Experiences in Algeria.</a></td>
-    <td class="tdr">469</td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td><a href="#MY_ADVENTURES_IN_FRISCO">I.&mdash;MY ADVENTURES IN ‘FRISCO.</a></td>
-    <td class="tdr">476</td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td><a href="#II_A_SHARP_LESSON">II.&mdash;A Sharp Lesson.</a></td>
-    <td class="tdr">480</td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td><a href="#III_SEEING_IT_OUT">III.&mdash;“Seeing It Out.”</a></td>
-    <td class="tdr">485</td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td><a href="#IN_THE_LAND_OF_THE_REINDEER">In the Land of the Reindeer.</a></td>
-    <td class="tdr">489</td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td><a href="#TAPU">“Tapu.”</a></td>
-    <td class="tdr">497</td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td><a href="#The_Finches_Festival">The Finches’ Festival.</a></td>
-    <td class="tdr">503</td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td><a href="#THE_FIGHT_AT_THE_AT_RANCH">The Fight at The A-T Ranch.</a></td>
-    <td class="tdr">509</td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td><a href="#THE_WIDE_WORLD_In_Other_Magazines">THE WIDE WORLD: In Other Magazines</a></td>
-    <td class="tdr">515</td>
-  </tr>
-  <tr>
-    <td><a href="#Odds_and_Ends">Odds and Ends.</a></td>
-    <td class="tdr">516</td>
-  </tr>
-</table>
-
-<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. -->
-
-<hr class="chap" />
-
-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_418">418</span></p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i001.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">“WILLIAMS LASHED AT THE BIRD WITH HIS STICK.”<br />
-(<a href="#Page_424">SEE PAGE 424.</a>)
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_419">419</span></p>
-</div>
-
-<h1 id="The_Wide_World_Magazine"><span class="smcap">The Wide World Magazine.</span></h1>
-
-<p class="table w100">
-<span class="tcell">Vol. XXII.</span>
-<span class="tcell tdc">FEBRUARY, 1909.</span>
-<span class="tcell tdr">No. 131.</span>
-</p>
-<hr />
-
-<div id="SHORT_STORIES" class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i002.jpg" alt="" />
-</div>
-<h2 class="hidden">SHORT STORIES</h2>
-
-<blockquote>
-
-<p>Another instalment of a fascinating budget of adventure narratives. This month we publish accounts
-of a fight to the death between a whale and a school of thresher sharks; a nest-robber’s terrible
-battle with an infuriated mother-eagle; and the nerve-trying experience which befell a Surrey cyclist
-while out for a Saturday afternoon spin.</p></blockquote>
-
-<hr class="chap" />
-<h2 id="WHALE_v_SHARKS">WHALE <i>v.</i> SHARKS.<br />
-
-<span class="medium smcap">By Victor Pitt-Kethley.</span></h2>
-
-<div>
-<img class="drop-cap" src="images/e.jpg" alt="E" />
-</div>
-
-<p class="drop-cap"><span class="upper-case">Early</span> on the morning of August
-14th last, while engaged in building
-new quarters for the lighthouse-keeper
-at Breaksea Island, near
-Rottnest, Western Australia, the
-contractor and his men noticed a bull whale,
-with a cow and calf, passing the island some
-distance off. They watched them with interest
-for awhile, noting the immense size of the two
-parents and the methodical regularity with
-which columns of water rose from their blowholes,
-and then resumed their labours.</p>
-
-<p>An hour or so later&mdash;about nine o’clock, to be
-exact&mdash;the men were startled by an extraordinary
-noise, apparently coming from the eastern end
-of the island, a noise unlike anything they had
-ever heard before. Dropping their tools and
-staring towards the east, they beheld such a sight
-as it falls to the lot of few people to witness.
-There, not five hundred yards from the shore,
-was being waged a battle to the death&mdash;a fight
-between the great cow whale previously seen
-and a school of thresher sharks. The calf was
-swimming about distractedly, but the old bull
-had disappeared, having basely deserted his
-family at the first approach of danger.</p>
-
-<p>The sharks, as though acting in accordance
-with some preconcerted plan, had completely
-surrounded the two whales, and, apparently
-realizing that nothing was to be feared from the
-calf, concentrated all their efforts upon the cow.
-Again and again they charged in upon her, their
-jaws snapping, tearing at her mighty sides until
-the sea was red with blood. Meanwhile the
-cow lashed her tail furiously, hurling up sheets
-of reddened water and occasionally crashing
-down with terrific force upon one of her voracious
-opponents. Maddened with pain and
-rage, she dashed this way and that, but the
-sharks hung to her side with a persistency and
-ferocity that made the fascinated onlookers
-shudder. Now and again the wildly-lashing
-tail would catch one of the assailants, driving it
-beneath the waves&mdash;no doubt killed or disabled&mdash;but
-the remainder rushed in undismayed,
-tearing viciously at the mammal’s bleeding flanks
-or butting her with the force of battering-rams.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<a href="images/i003-lrg.jpg">
-<img src="images/i003.jpg" alt="" /></a>
-<p class="caption">“BY A SUPREME EFFORT SHE HURLED HER
-WHOLE GREAT BULK CLEAR OF THE WATER.”</p>
-</div>
-
-<p>Presently the spellbound spectators realized
-two facts&mdash;firstly, that the calf had disappeared
-in the <i>m&ecirc;l&eacute;e</i>, and secondly, that, the tortured
-whale was undoubtedly becoming weaker. It
-was obvious that the unequal struggle could
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_420">420</span>
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_421">421</span>
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_422">422</span>
-have only one ending. Still, however, she
-fought on doggedly, winning admiration and
-sympathy by her exhibition of hopeless courage.
-Altering her tactics, by a supreme effort she
-hurled her whole great bulk clear of the
-water for a moment, and
-the fascinated onlookers
-beheld the sharks hanging
-from various parts of her
-gleaming body by their
-serrated teeth. Then down
-she went again, with a crash
-like thunder, and for an
-instant whale and sharks
-were buried amidst masses
-of foam, heavily coloured
-with the poor mammal’s
-life-blood. Rising again,
-she essayed another
-change of plan, making for
-the rocks and desperately
-striving to rub off the
-clinging sharks against
-their edges. But the
-threshers were equal to
-the occasion; while those
-on the outside maintained
-their grip, the others dived under their enemy
-and charged her anew, tearing at the whale’s side
-in an ecstasy of ferocity that was bloodcurdling
-to witness.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter w400">
-<div class="bbox">
-<p class="center"><span class="xlarge">TERRIFIC BATTLE AT BREAKSEA
-ISLAND.</span><br />
-<br />
-<span class="large">WHALE KILLED BY THRASHER
-SHARKS.</span><br />
-<br />
-A THREE HOURS’ FIGHT.<br />
-<br />
-A SEA OF BLOOD.<br />
-<br />
-<span class="medium">(By An Eye Witness.)</span></p>
-
-<p>Much has been written about fights
-between the larger denizens of the sea,
-but it has fallen to the lot of very
-few to witness such a battle as one
-which took place off Breaksea Island
-on Friday, the 14th inst., between a
-school of thrasher sharks and a cow</p>
-</div>
-<p class="caption">A CUTTING FROM THE “WEST AUSTRALIAN,” OF PERTH,
-W.A., REFERRING TO THE BATTLE BETWEEN A WHALE
-AND THRESHER SHARKS.<br />
-<a href="images/i005.jpg">Click here for image.</a></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>More and more feeble grew the whale’s
-struggles, and at last&mdash;to the heartfelt relief of
-the spectators, for her death-fight had been
-terrible to behold&mdash;the great body turned over
-and sank beneath the red-tinted water. The
-unequal battle was over, having lasted from
-nine o’clock until noon&mdash;as awe-inspiring a
-contest as man was ever
-privileged to witness. It
-is a thousand pities that
-there was no camera on
-the island to make a
-pictorial record of the
-struggle. The men went
-back to their work greatly
-impressed by the unique
-spectacle, and expressions
-of sympathy for the whale
-were heard on every
-side.</p>
-
-<p>Forty-eight hours afterwards
-the whale’s carcass,
-which had in the meantime
-become distended
-with gas, rose to the
-surface, and exploded with
-a roar like a miniature
-powder-magazine, causing
-the startled people to flock
-to the shore to discover what had happened.
-On examination of the remains it was discovered
-that every shred of the outer flesh of the whale
-had been torn off by the sharks, who had now,
-doubtless, gone off to repeat their tactics upon
-some other hapless leviathan.</p>
-
-<hr class="chap" />
-<h2 id="A_BATTLE_IN_MID-AIR">A BATTLE IN MID-AIR.<br />
-
-<span class="medium smcap">By T. R. Porter.</span></h2>
-
-<p>Swinging like a pendulum at the end of a two-hundred-and-fifty-foot
-rope against the side of a
-five-hundred-foot cliff, with jagged rocks far below,
-and nothing but one bare hand with which to
-fight off the fierce onslaught of an immense
-eagle, whose nest he was attempting to rob&mdash;this
-was the awful predicament in which Arthur
-Williams, a young man of Riverton, Wyoming,
-found himself one day early in June last year.
-With the welfare of her nestlings at stake, the
-great bird attacked the despoiler of her home
-with inconceivable fury, and only to a lucky
-chance does Williams owe his life.</p>
-
-<p>Riverton is a new town on that portion of
-the Cheyenne and Arapahoe Indian reservation
-which was opened to settlement last year, and in
-the country thereabouts mountain lions, timber
-wolves, coyotes, eagles, bears, etc., are still to
-be found. The principal industry is sheep-raising,
-and continual warfare exists between the
-flockmasters and the wild things, especially the
-eagles, which annually kill and carry off hundreds
-of young lambs. Because of this heavy drain on
-their flocks, every shepherd and owner of sheep
-in Wyoming takes great pains to kill the birds
-and to destroy their nests whenever they are
-discovered.</p>
-
-<p>Before the Indian reservation was formally
-opened to the whites for settlement, the flockmasters
-were permitted to graze their sheep over
-the country, and it gradually became known
-among the sheepmen that over in Lost Well
-Canyon there were a pair of eagles who made a
-speciality of devouring young lambs. Try as
-they might, however, the shepherds were unable
-to get a shot at either of these great birds, and
-for several years they were the terrors of the
-district.</p>
-
-<p>It was discovered that the old birds made
-their nest in a cleft in the face of a five hundred-foot
-perpendicular wall, which formed one side
-of the canyon. Here they safely raised brood
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_423">423</span>
-after brood of young ones, which were turned
-loose in due course to prey on the community.</p>
-
-<p>Hunters, with their Winchester rifles, often
-lay in wait for the big birds, hoping to get a shot
-at them, but, with the proverbial keen eyesight
-of such creatures, the eagles detected the
-Nimrods and never came within gun-shot when
-the nest was being watched.</p>
-
-<p>During the spring of 1908 the two old eagles
-were more successful than ever in raiding the
-flocks of the sheepmen, and accordingly a
-special effort was made to exterminate them.
-To that effort Arthur Williams owes the
-appalling adventure which befell him.</p>
-
-<p>Williams and two friends made a trip out to
-Lost Well Canyon to investigate the chances of
-trapping the eagles in their nest. A ride of
-eight miles, over rough mountain trails, brought
-them to the canyon, half-way up the perpendicular
-side of which they saw the horizontal
-cleft in which the wise old birds had built their
-nest. At the foot of the cliff, directly under
-the cleft, was a pile of bones&mdash;the remains of
-lambs, thrown out of the nest by the eagles after
-they had been picked clean.</p>
-
-<p>“We ain’t any nearer that
-nest down here than when we
-were at home,” remarked
-Williams to his comrades.
-“Nothing but a balloon or
-an airship can help us from
-down here. Let us go up to
-the top of the cliff and see
-what we can do from there.”</p>
-
-<p>For two hours the three
-young men struggled to reach
-the top of the mountains. A
-wide <i>d&eacute;tour</i> was necessary, but
-at last this was accomplished
-and they stood on the brink
-of the cliff, half-way down
-which the eagles’ nest had
-been built.</p>
-
-<p>“There’s nothing to be
-done from here, either,” said
-one of the men, despondently.
-“We might just as well go
-back home; we shall never
-reach that nest.”</p>
-
-<p>While the men stood and
-talked, from far down below
-them there arose the shrill
-piping call of young birds.</p>
-
-<p>“Young ones!” said
-Williams. “I wish we could get them alive;
-they would be worth money to us.”</p>
-
-<p>“No use to bother; you’ll have to take it
-out in wishing,” said the third member of the
-party. “Come on; let’s go home.”</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i006.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">MR. A. E. WILLIAMS, WHO FOUGHT THE EAGLE
-IN MID-AIR.<br />
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>“All right. I’ll go home now, but I’m
-coming back to-morrow after those birds,” said
-Williams.</p>
-
-<p>The next day found the three young men
-back at the cliff. They had mapped out a
-scheme whereby they hoped to get the young
-birds, and had brought with them seven hundred
-and fifty feet of stout rope, far more than enough
-to reach from the top of the cliff down to the
-bottom of the canyon. To make quite sure of
-this, however, they first lowered the rope,
-weighted with a stone, down the face of the
-rock, and saw that, while there yet remained a
-big coil at their feet, the weighted end of the
-rope rested on the floor of the canyon.</p>
-
-<p>Then the rope was hauled back and a tight
-loop made in one end. This was paid out over
-the edge of the cliff until it hung directly in
-front of the eagles’ nest. The other end of the
-rope was hitched round a convenient tree.</p>
-
-<p>During all this time the men kept close
-watch for the old eagles, but saw nothing of
-them.</p>
-
-<p>“Off hunting lambs, I suppose,” said one of
-the young fellows.</p>
-
-<p>Then Williams stepped forward,
-laid hold of the rope,
-and quickly disappeared over
-the side, sliding slowly downward,
-using one leg, around
-which the line was wrapped,
-as a brake to keep himself
-from going too fast.</p>
-
-<p>Across his shoulders was
-slung a stout bag, in which
-he intended placing the little
-eagles when he secured them.
-In one hand he carried a
-stout stick for use in an emergency:
-the other hand grasped
-the rope.</p>
-
-<p>Down, down he went until
-just in front of the eyrie.
-Then he slipped one leg
-through the loop at the end
-of the cord and turned to
-look into the dark hole, where
-he could hear the eaglets
-“talking.”</p>
-
-<p>Slowly he swung round,
-bracing his foot against the
-rocky wall, until he faced the
-cleft and could give his attention
-to the nest.</p>
-
-<p>Suddenly, screaming wildly with rage and
-fright, out from the dark cleft came the old
-mother-bird. Like a stone from a catapult she
-flung herself at Williams’s face.</p>
-
-<p>Dismayed by the suddenness of the attack,
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_424">424</span>
-Williams recoiled; his foot slipped from the
-wall, and his body spun round and out of reach
-as the huge bird went past him. He did not
-escape altogether scathless, for one claw, like a
-knife blade, cut across his cheek, and in an
-instant the blood was flowing from a cut half
-an inch deep.</p>
-
-<p>Only a few yards did the old eagle fly; then
-she wheeled and, with the speed of an arrow,
-shot once more at the man hanging at the end
-of the rope before her nest.</p>
-
-<p>This time Williams braced himself and, with
-his stout stick ready in his right hand, awaited
-the onslaught of the big bird. His left hand
-grasped the rope.</p>
-
-<p>The eagle struck Williams on the head with
-her wing, and at the same moment Williams
-lashed at the bird with his stick. Such was the
-fury and strength of the creature, however, that
-the stick flew from Williams’s hand and went
-whirling through space to the bottom of the
-canyon, far below.</p>
-
-<p>Again the eagle turned sharply and swooped
-down on the man, now left defenceless, with
-only a single bare hand to fight against the
-infuriated mother-bird’s sharp claws, powerful
-beak, and mighty wings.</p>
-
-<p>Pecking, clawing, and striking stunning
-blows with her terrible wings, the big bird
-beat the air in front of Williams’s face, holding
-her position and tearing savagely at the head
-and face of the would be despoiler of her home.
-Her screams were incessant.</p>
-
-<p>Meanwhile, on top of the
-cliff, there was utter consternation.
-The attention
-of one man was necessarily
-taken up with the rope, and
-a slip on his part meant
-instant death to Williams
-in the way of a fall to the
-rocks at the foot of the
-precipice. With a rifle in
-his hand the other man
-watched that nightmare fight
-in mid air, far below him.
-He could not shoot without
-endangering Williams
-even more than the eagle.</p>
-
-<p>Just then things were
-going very badly with the
-nest-robber. Blood was
-flowing from a dozen cuts
-on his head and face, his
-hand was lacerated, the
-clothing about his shoulders was cut into
-ribbons. Moreover, he was half stunned, and
-but for the loop in the end of the rope would
-have fallen to his death. He had no time to
-give directions to his comrades, and simply had
-to fight the battle out alone.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i007.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">MR. WILLIAMS AFTER HIS ENCOUNTER WITH THE EAGLE.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>Presently the old bird darted away, preparing
-for another swoop at the defenceless man. When
-she was ten feet distant a rifle-shot rang out
-from the top of the cliff, and Williams knew his
-friends were doing what they could. But the
-old bird did not falter for a second, although a
-couple of feathers from her terrible right wing
-floated away on the wind. In his haste to send
-a second bullet downward the man with the
-rifle managed to “jam” the weapon, and with a
-despairing cry threw the now useless weapon to
-the ground.</p>
-
-<p>The eagle returned to the attack with even
-greater fury, and for a few minutes Williams
-thought his last moments had arrived. But still
-he fought on, pulling great handfuls of feathers
-from the bird and beating at her desperately
-with his bare fist, receiving in return many cuts
-and slashes, as well as stunning blows from the
-madly-flapping wings. He was almost ready to
-loose his hold on the rope and go crashing down
-to the bottom of the canyon when the eagle
-suddenly wheeled away for another attack.</p>
-
-<p>As she came back again, screaming and beating
-the air, something the size of Williams’s head
-struck her on the back, and down she went like
-a stone, whirling over and over. Williams’s
-friend above had hurled a small rock at the bird,
-and, luckily for Williams, the boulder had struck
-her fairly on the back, between the immense
-wings.</p>
-
-<p>“Hold on tight and we’ll
-let you down to the bottom,”
-sang out the man at
-the top of the cliff, leaning
-far over. Then Williams
-showed the sterling stuff of
-which he was made. Though
-bleeding from a dozen
-wounds, breathless and exhausted,
-he was still determined
-to fulfil his errand.</p>
-
-<p>“Hold me here until I
-get these little birds,” he
-shouted, feebly. “I came
-after them, and I’m going
-to have them.”</p>
-
-<p>With that the plucky
-fellow crawled back into
-the niche, put the two little
-eaglets in his bag, thrust
-his leg through the loop,
-grasped the rope with both
-hands, and was safely lowered to the floor of
-the canyon.</p>
-
-<p>Within a few feet of where he landed lay the
-old mother-eagle. Williams staggered over to
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_425">425</span>
-her and gave her a kick. To his amazement
-she moved, stood up on her feet, and flew away!</p>
-
-<p>One of Williams’s companions came sliding
-down the rope, and reached him just as the injured
-man fainted from loss of blood and excitement.
-The punishment he had received was terrible,
-but fortunately his eyes had escaped injury.</p>
-
-<p>After casting off the rope the third man made
-his way down the mountain to where Williams
-and his friend were. They managed to stop the
-flow of blood, and between them got the
-wounded man on his horse and brought him to
-Riverton. Williams spent several days in bed
-and was covered with bandages for two weeks,
-but received no lasting injuries.</p>
-
-<p>As souvenirs of his terrible fight, he has two
-little eagles and a dozen or more big scars to
-show his friends.</p>
-
-<hr class="chap" />
-<h2 id="UP_IN_A_BALLOON">UP IN A BALLOON.<br />
-
-<span class="medium smcap">By A. Soden.</span></h2>
-
-<p>It was a delightful September
-afternoon some six years back&mdash;the
-close of a week during which
-there had been much discussion
-in the newspapers concerning a
-great balloon race versus cyclists,
-to be fought out on this identical
-Saturday. The late Rev. G. M.
-Bacon, of Newbury, the “ballooning
-parson,” and Mr. Percival
-Spencer, the well-known aeronaut,
-were to compete against Volunteer
-cyclists in an endeavour to settle
-the much-debated question as
-to whether, in time of war, a
-hostile balloon could escape from
-the speedy military wheelman.
-I am not a Volunteer, and certainly
-was at that time far from
-being a balloonist; I am less
-so now.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i008a.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">MR. A. SODEN, WHO HERE DESCRIBES
-HIS EXPERIENCES IN A RUNAWAY
-BALLOON.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photo. by Sternberg &amp; Co.,
-Kingston-on-Thames.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>At four-forty-five in the afternoon
-of this particular Saturday,
-while I was still debating what
-to do with myself, what should I
-see to the north-east but the
-war balloon, released from its anchorage at
-Stamford Bridge grounds, being carried by a
-gentle September breeze in the direction of
-Epsom. At all times the sight
-of a balloon excites peculiar
-interest, and I had soon made
-up my mind&mdash;I would try my
-hand at catching the aeronauts,
-and try to beat the military
-cyclists! I rushed for my
-machine, and was presently in
-full chase, pedalling fast through
-the lovely lanes of Malden.
-On and on I went, riding hard,
-alternately glancing at the road
-to see that all was clear and
-then at the balloon, calculating
-how high it was, how far away,
-and where it was likely to
-descend.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i008b.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">THE BOY WHO WAS WITH MR. SODEN IN
-THE BALLOON.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>Mile after mile I chased the
-drifting balloon, until at last,
-much to my joy, I saw that it was
-undoubtedly nearing the earth,
-and it eventually descended in a
-harvested field at Bookham. On
-approaching the balloon I soon
-discovered I was not alone,
-for cyclists representing various
-Volunteer regiments and civilian
-riders were there by the score;
-and a number of farm labourers
-who had been busy harvesting in
-the neighbouring fields also appeared
-on the scene, eager to
-inspect closely so formidable a
-beast as a war balloon.</p>
-
-<p>The formal “capturing” of
-the balloonists by the soldiers
-was soon over, and then, at the
-urgent request of the onlookers,
-and to the intense delight of the
-local element, Mr. Spencer was
-good enough to grant permission
-for those who wished to go for
-short trips in the balloon, now
-held captive by the anchor-rope. There were
-many willing hands to relieve the balloon of
-ballast, grappling-irons, and sundries, and in a
-remarkably short time the great
-gas-bag was free of its accoutrements.
-A trail-rope was
-attached for those on the
-ground to hang on, to prevent
-the balloon from sailing away,
-and Mr. Spencer, with his usual
-foresight, arranged for parties
-of six to go up at a time. The
-passengers were given strict instructions
-that when the balloon
-touched ground each was to
-get out singly, so that there
-should be no sudden alteration
-of weight that would cause the
-balloon to shoot up again.</p>
-
-<p>All went merrily, and several
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_426">426</span>
-car-loads went up, we on the
-ground hanging tight to the
-rope and hauling the great bag
-down on the word of command
-from Mr. Spencer. At length
-came the call, “The last time!”
-and in I jumped. There were
-five of us in the car, four men
-and a boy&mdash;a Volunteer, a farm
-labourer, and two others. Surely,
-I thought, as the great sphere
-began to rise, I am well repaid
-for my long ride by this novel
-experience. It was grand to be
-sailing up in the air with the
-ground gradually sinking away
-beneath us and our late companions
-becoming mere specks
-dotted about on the ground.
-At last we arrived at the end
-of our upward journey, and the
-men below began hauling at
-the trail-rope. Down we went,
-and presently touched ground.
-Then, contrary to all instructions,
-out jumped the Volunteer
-and a civilian named Tickner.
-As they leapt they collided with
-the men who held the controlling
-ropes, knocking them over
-and causing much confusion.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i009.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">“HIGHER AND HIGHER WE WENT, WITH THE HAPLESS MAN DANGLING.”</p>
-</div>
-
-<p>The balloon, relieved of the
-heavy load, at once shot up
-again. There were wild cries
-of “Seize the rope!” “Hang
-on to her!” “Hold her down!”
-But all the shouts were of no
-avail; the balloon continued to
-rush upwards, while we peered
-helplessly over the edge of the
-car. Several men, realizing the
-dangerous position we were in,
-soaring up aloft at great speed,
-rushed into the middle of the
-crowd of excited onlookers and
-seized the trailing rope, but all
-to no purpose; it was now impossible
-to check the balloon’s
-rapid ascent. “Let go!” roared
-somebody, and by the sudden
-bound our car gave we knew
-the men had obeyed. All, that
-is, save one. He, Tickner, a
-hard-working, much-respected
-farm labourer, clung to the rope
-like a monkey, only to be drawn
-up into the air as the balloon
-rose. Higher and higher we
-went, with the hapless man
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_427">427</span>
-dangling two hundred feet below us and the
-crowd watching with horror in their eyes. Presently,
-when he was about eighty feet from the
-earth, the poor fellow’s strength gave out and
-he was compelled to let go,
-falling with an awful thud to
-the ground.</p>
-
-<p>Then, for the first time since
-the accident, I found my
-tongue. “Good heavens! this
-is awful!” I cried. “Where
-shall we drop?” I could say
-no more, for my knees shook
-under me and my very blood
-seemed frozen with horror.
-Still, steadily and inexorably,
-the balloon continued to rise.
-I dared not look over the
-side, but I knew we must
-have reached a considerable
-altitude. What would happen
-to us, and should we ever
-see our homes again?</p>
-
-<p>All this time the boy beside
-me, shivering with fright, yet
-not realising his desperate
-position, kept dinning into
-my ears in a whining monotone,
-“They’ve let us go! They’ve let us go!”</p>
-
-<p>There was nothing to be seen around us now
-but mountains of clouds&mdash;clouds white, black,
-and grey. I saw them, and yet, somehow or
-other, I could not bring myself to realize what
-they meant. I could not think, but simply
-stood there, bewildered and dazed, leaning
-against the side
-of the car. On
-my right hand
-the boy still
-continued his
-maddening
-wail; on the
-left my second
-companion, a
-man, kept asking
-what his
-father and
-mother would
-think. Our
-peril seemed to
-have temporarily
-turned his
-brain.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter w400">
-<div class="bbox">
-<p class="center">
-<span class="xlarge">2 SEPTEMBER 1902.</span><br />
-<br />
-<span class="xxlarge">BALLON DISASTER.</span><br />
-<br />
-<span class="xlarge">A LEATHERHEAD LABORER KILLED.</span><br />
-<br />
-<span class="large">THRILLING ADVENTURES OF AMATEUR AERONAUTS.</span><br />
-</p>
-
-<p>The ballon versus cyclists, which
-was arranged by the Rev. G. M. Bacon, of
-Newbury, the ballooning enthusiast, with
-the sanction of the War Office, and which
-took place from Stamford-bridge athletic
-grounds on Saturday, was, it was transpire,
-attended with an accident of a very serious
-character, resulting in the death of one man,
-injuries to several others, and an experience
-which three of those involved are never
-likely to forget as long as they live. The</p>
-</div>
-<p class="caption">A CUTTING FROM THE “MORNING LEADER”
-REFERRING TO THE BALLOON DISASTER.<br />
-<a href="images/i010a.jpg">Click here for image.</a></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>I glanced at the altitude-registering instrument;
-we were up two thousand feet! Then,
-suddenly, without the slightest warning, my
-brain cleared, and I remembered the valve, the
-opening of which would cause
-the great gas-bag to descend.
-But where was it? Which
-was the valve-rope? The car
-seemed all ropes as I turned
-anxiously this way and that.
-I tried one after another, and
-at last, to my joy, I felt one
-give. Then I smelt the
-escaping gas, and knew that
-I had struck the right cord.
-Very soon I realized that our
-upward way was checked, and
-that instead we were descending.
-I do not know how
-long we took over the downward
-trip. I only remember
-that I pulled the rope, then
-slacked it, and so on alternately
-until we could faintly
-hear the shouts of those
-below. Presently the boy
-plucked up courage to look
-over the side of the car, and,
-wild with joy, called out that we were saved.
-Fortunately for us, there was practically no wind;
-we went up straight and came down straight,
-landing safely in a field only some two hundred
-yards from the spot where we ascended. I
-collapsed as they helped me out of the car, and
-the other man, directly he alighted, rushed
-headlong away&mdash;the
-ordeal
-had turned his
-brain.</p>
-
-<p>Giving evidence
-before
-the coroner the
-following Monday
-at the inquest
-on poor
-Tickner, I still
-felt decidedly
-shaky, and to
-my dying day
-I shall never
-forget my trip
-in the runaway
-balloon.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i010b.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">THE FIELD IN WHICH THE BALLOON DESCENDED.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i>
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_428">428</span></p>
-</div>
-
-<hr class="chap" />
-<h2 id="Some_Freak_Memorials">Some “Freak” Memorials.<br />
-
-<span class="medium smcap">By T. W. Wilkinson.</span></h2>
-
-<blockquote>
-
-<p>When a man, especially a wealthy man, sets out to erect a memorial to something or somebody,
-there is no knowing what eccentricity he will not commit. Scattered up and down this country,
-as the writer shows, are a number of most remarkable memorials&mdash;“freaks” of the first water, from
-whatever standpoint one judges them.</p></blockquote>
-
-<div>
-<img class="drop-cap" src="images/w.jpg" alt="W" />
-</div>
-
-<p class="drop-cap"><span class="upper-case">Who</span> shall impose limits on the intent
-and form of memorials? He would
-be a brave man indeed who attempted
-the task; yet, though it is
-very difficult to say precisely where
-the line should be drawn, there are
-a number of such things in existence
-which, judged by the commonly-accepted
-standards, are distinctly
-“freakish.” They range from public
-statues plain to all men to small
-stones in arcadian aloofness, and,
-as a whole, go far to justify the
-oft-repeated taunt of the “intelligent
-foreigner”&mdash;a taunt amounting
-to an implication&mdash;that
-memorials afford an outlet for
-much of the Englishman’s eccentricity
-and sheer “pig-headedness.”</p>
-
-<p>There are some very curious
-monuments to animals
-scattered over the countryside.
-The one with the
-most remarkable story
-crowns Farley Mount,
-near Winchester. Underneath
-it lies buried, as an
-inscription on the exterior
-records, “a horse, the
-property of Paulet St.
-John, Esq., that
-in the month of
-September,
-1733, leaped into
-a chalk-pit
-twenty-five feet
-deep a-fox-hunting,
-with his
-master on his
-back, and in
-October, 1734,
-won the Hunters’
-Plate on Worthing
-Downs, and
-was rode by his
-owner, and
-entered in the
-name of Beware Chalk Pit.” This inscription,
-which is a copy of the original, was restored by
-the Right Hon. Sir William Heathcote, Bart.,
-in 1870. A duplicate is in the interior, which
-is provided with three seats intended for the
-accommodation of wayfarers.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i011.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">A MONUMENT TO A HORSE THAT LEAPED INTO A CHALK-PIT AND AFTERWARDS WON A RACE.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>Of the memorials to dogs the
-most imposing of modern date is
-“Tell’s Tower,” a structure on the
-seashore near West Kirby, Cheshire.
-It is in honour of the Great St.
-Bernard dog, Tell, “ancestor of
-most of the rough-coated champions
-of England, and himself
-winner of every prize in the kingdom.
-He was majestic in appearance,
-noble in character, and of
-undaunted courage.” Built by the
-late Mr. J. Cumming Macdona,
-the tower is a sort of summer-house,
-in the base of which is a
-vault containing Tell’s
-remains, guarded by an
-effigy of that remarkable
-animal.</p>
-
-<p>To a whole series of
-such freaks of commemoration
-there hangs a
-singular tale. In Oatlands
-Park, Weybridge,
-there are two or three
-scores of memorials
-to dogs.
-These animals,
-some of which
-have handsome
-epitaphs inscribed
-to their
-many virtues, are
-popularly supposed
-to have
-been pets of
-Frederica
-Duchess of York;
-but, as a fact,
-Her Royal Highness
-had not
-sufficient warm
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_429">429</span>
-affection to bestow
-a goodly portion
-on so many dumb
-creatures. What
-human being, indeed,
-ever had?
-She was presented
-with many dogs,
-which she could
-neither refuse
-without giving
-pain, nor keep unless
-the whole
-house was turned
-into kennels. So
-they were given a
-dose of opium,
-buried, and then
-commemorated in
-verse. But, while
-the Duchess was
-not so foolish as is
-generally believed
-by those who visit Oatlands, she was certainly
-responsible for the monuments.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i012a.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">“TELL’S TOWER,” ERECTED TO THE MEMORY OF A ST. BERNARD DOG&mdash;IN THE
-FOUNDATIONS IS A VAULT CONTAINING THE ANIMAL’S REMAINS.<br />
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>Strange, then, that her own memorial is the
-prime curiosity of Weybridge! Its history is
-this: After her death the inhabitants of the
-town were desirous of commemorating her
-thirty years’ residence among them, and it
-suddenly struck them that a way was ready to
-hand. Till about fifty years earlier
-there had stood in Seven Dials a
-pillar supporting a sundial which
-presented a face to each of the
-streets. It was from this adornment,
-indeed, that the classic district
-got its name. Believing that
-treasure was buried beneath the
-pillar, some night-birds threw it
-down and excavated
-beneath it, to find
-nothing. Rumour, they
-discovered, was a
-lying jade. The
-stones, instead of
-being set up again
-on their old site,
-were conveyed to
-Sayes Court,
-Addlestone, with a
-view to their re-erection
-there, but
-this was not done,
-the column remaining
-dismembered
-till the
-occupier of Oatlands
-died. Now
-this bit of London
-out of town the
-inhabitants resolved
-should be
-converted into a
-memorial of the
-Duchess. So the
-stones were purchased and set up on the green,
-with the substitution of a ducal crown for the
-block on which were the dials. This was used
-for some time afterwards as a mounting stone
-at an inn hard by. It then constituted a puzzle,
-because, though in Seven Dials&mdash;according to
-the testimony of everybody who described it&mdash;there
-were seven faces, the number on close
-examination proved to be only six.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i012b.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">THE “SEVEN DIALS” PILLAR, AT WEYBRIDGE, SURREY.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>Another class of “freak” memorials have
-a twofold peculiarity: they are singular in
-themselves and are also remarkable by
-reason of the tardiness with which they
-were erected. Maud Heath’s Column, on
-Bremhillwick Hill, near Chippenham, is as
-good an instance as any. The title of the
-good lady to grateful remembrance is that
-she left a bequest by which a causeway
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_430">430</span>
-was constructed in 1474 from Chippenham
-to the shoulder of Bremhillwick Hill. Her
-claim was from the outset acknowledged, inscriptions
-along the route of the causeway
-expressing gratitude to her for having made
-it. But this was not enough for a former
-vicar of Bremhillwick. After pedestrians had
-for more than three centuries been called
-upon to bless the public-spirited lady, and
-had been told, moreover, precisely where
-her causeway began and where it ended, the
-vicar came to the conclusion
-that she ought to
-have a statue, and moved
-himself to that end. A
-preliminary difficulty was
-that no portrait of Maud
-Heath was known to
-exist; but ultimately, with
-the co-operation of the
-Marquess of Lansdowne,
-the clergyman triumphed,
-and the column on Bremhillwick
-Hill&mdash;which was
-set up in 1836&mdash;is the
-result. The sculptor of the statue on the top
-of it had to fall back on his imagination, and
-he represented a woman in fifteenth century
-costume, with a staff in her hand and a basket
-by her side.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i013a.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">A BELATED MONUMENT&mdash;IT WAS ERECTED IN 1836 TO THE MEMORY OF A
-LADY WHO LIVED IN 1474, AND THE ARCHITECT HAD TO FALL BACK UPON HIS IMAGINATION FOR THE PORTRAIT!<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i013b.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">A HIGHWAYMAN’S GRAVE AT BOXMOOR COMMON.<br />
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>A belated memorial of a different class is at
-the head of a highwayman’s grave on Boxmoor
-Common. The knight of the road buried
-here, Snooks by name, was long a terror
-to travellers on the London road, which
-runs by his resting-place. At last, emboldened
-by many successes, he had the
-audacity to rob the Royal mail, whereupon
-he was hunted down, and eventually
-hanged near the scene of many of
-his crimes. He was, it is said, the last
-highwayman to suffer the extreme penalty
-in the district. Buried in unconsecrated
-ground, he was intended to be forgotten;
-but till about four years ago his grave was
-re-turfed periodically, and then a small
-stone, simply inscribed, “Robert Snooks,
-1803,” was placed at its head. That tribute
-is one proof out of many that there is
-still a certain admiration for the race of
-which Dick Turpin is the popular hero.
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_431">431</span></p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i014a.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">THE “ROUND HOUSE,” NEAR FINEDON, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE,
-WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO OVERLOOK A TRACT OF COUNTRY
-EXACTLY RESEMBLING THE FIELD OF WATERLOO.<br />
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>Among our battle memorials are several
-of the “freak” order. The Round House,
-near Finedon, Northamptonshire, must certainly
-be so classified. Formerly an inn, it
-is now a dwelling, from the roof of which,
-it is said, there can be obtained a “panorama
-of Waterloo.” It was built on this
-spot, as a memorial of Wellington’s great
-victory, because the surrounding country is
-believed to be very much like the theatre
-of the momentous battle. There is a parallel
-duplicate in Kent. Crown Point, between
-Sevenoaks and Maidstone, takes its name
-from a place in Canada where Sir Jeffrey
-Amherst gained a great victory over the
-North American Indians. It is said to
-bear a remarkably close resemblance to its
-namesake.</p>
-
-<p>Waterloo is also commemorated by an
-Alnwick memorial. Locally dubbed a “folly,”
-it stands on Camphill, where it is surrounded
-by tall fir trees, which prevent it
-from being seen except at close quarters.
-Its creator was the late Mr. H. S. Selby,
-whose object was to place on record the
-policy of Pitt, the victories of Wellington and
-Nelson, and the restoration of peace in 1814.
-He appears to have been doubtful afterwards
-whether the column would be sufficient to
-prevent all these events from being forgotten
-by posterity, because in celebration of the
-Battle of Waterloo he set up a beautiful statue
-of Peace in front of his mansion.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i014b.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">A HILL-TOP FREAK&mdash;THE COLUMN COMMEMORATES QUITE A LOT
-OF THINGS, BUT IS SO SURROUNDED BY TREES AS TO BE
-INVISIBLE SAVE AT CLOSE QUARTERS.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>Still more singular a memorial of our fighting
-prowess is the Red Lion of Martlesham.
-The Red Lion, originally a ship’s figure-head,
-is now the sign of an inn at Martlesham, on
-the high road between Ipswich and Woodbridge,
-and is painted a most brilliant and
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_432">432</span>
-aggressive red. Indeed, “As red as the Red
-Lion of Martlesham” is a proverbial expression
-throughout East Suffolk. The grotesque object
-is a relic of a British victory over the Dutch in
-Sole Bay. It was
-brought inland as a
-trophy of our success,
-and was ultimately
-converted to its present
-use&mdash;that of an
-inn sign.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i015a.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">THE RED LION, OF MARTLESHAM, WHICH HAS GIVEN RISE TO A SUFFOLK PROVERB.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>One of the best-known
-memorials of
-battles fought on
-English soil&mdash;the
-obelisk at Naseby&mdash;is
-a “freak,” and a
-strange one, too. Its
-distinction lies in the
-fact that it has misled
-thousands, including
-Carlyle and Dr.
-Arnold. “To commemorate,”
-so runs
-the inscription, “that
-great and decisive
-battle fought in this
-field on the XIV day
-of June, MDCXLV,
-between the Royalist
-Army, commanded
-by King Charles the
-First, and the Parliament Forces, headed
-by the Generals Fairfax and Cromwell ... this
-pillar was erected by John and
-Mary Frances Fitzgerald, Lord and Lady
-of the Manor of Naseby.” But nothing
-is more certain than that the battle was
-not fought in “this field.” It actually
-took place on Broadmoor, about a mile
-away. Appropriately, therefore, did
-Liston call the obelisk the “obstacle.”
-Edward Fitzgerald was conscious of this
-strange blunder, to which he refers in
-one of his letters (the monument, he
-says, “planted by my papa on the wrong
-site”), and which he proposed to remedy
-by removing the obelisk to the real
-battlefield. The scheme, however, was
-not carried out, presumably on the score
-of expense.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i015b.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">A MONUMENT IN THE WRONG PLACE&mdash;THE NASEBY MEMORIAL, WHICH DOES
-NOT STAND UPON THE BATTLEFIELD AT ALL.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>Besides the Round House, Finedon
-possesses a representative of a large class
-of “freak” memorials&mdash;those which bear
-no inscription, and the object of which
-is consequently doubtful. These differ
-from the many strange things which
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_433">433</span>
-serve as memorials without being plainly stamped
-as such. In Lancaster, for instance, a large
-horse-shoe is embedded in the middle of the
-roadway, and there is nothing to inform the
-stranger of its intent. It is actually there owing
-to a tradition that a horse ridden by John o’
-Gaunt, the town’s patron saint, cast a shoe near
-the spot. The silent reminder of the incident&mdash;which,
-of course, has been renewed many times&mdash;was
-some years ago polished every morning.
-An eccentric man turned up with the utmost
-regularity, went down on his knees, and made
-it as bright as the proverbial new pin. Unfortunately
-his zeal was not admired by the
-authorities, who ultimately prosecuted him for
-obstructing the traffic.</p>
-
-<p>A unique milestone, again, serves as a memorial.
-It stands in the hamlet of Newbold,
-Gloucestershire, and is surmounted by a cross.
-On the south side are the directions:&mdash;</p>
-
-<div class="poetry">
-<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
-<span class="i12">6 miles<br /></span>
-<span class="i0">To Shakespeare’s town, whose name<br /></span>
-<span class="i2">Is known throughout the earth;<br /></span>
-<span class="i0">To Shipston 4, whose lesser fame<br /></span>
-<span class="i2">Boasts no such poet’s birth.<br /></span>
-</div></div>
-</div>
-
-<p>And on the north face appears a “sermon in
-stone”:&mdash;</p>
-
-<div class="poetry">
-<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
-<span class="i8">Crux mea lux.<br /></span>
-<span class="i0">After darkness, light.<br /></span>
-<span class="i2">From light hope flows,<br /></span>
-<span class="i0">And peace in death,<br /></span>
-<span class="i2">In Christ a sure repose.<br /></span>
-<span class="i8">Spes, 1871.<br /></span>
-</div></div>
-</div>
-
-<p>Nothing on the milestone denotes that it is
-intended to be a memorial, but a local gentleman,
-it is understood, erected it as such after
-the death of a member of his family.</p>
-
-<p>There are, however, many memorials of conventional
-form which are much more puzzling
-than such “freaks.” Above the white horse at
-Cherhill, Wilts, is one on which not a single
-letter or figure appears. Several stories are told
-locally of its origin and purpose. Of the same
-cryptic character is the Finedon memorial&mdash;a
-pillar standing in a garden at the cross-roads. It
-is generally supposed to commemorate a mailcoach
-robbery which took place near the spot in
-or about the year 1810; but, as it was in existence
-before this event took place, the popular belief
-must be erroneous. The most probable theory
-is that it was set up during the rejoicings at the
-recovery of George III. from his illness. There
-was an ebullition of patriotism at that time, and
-before the fever subsided several memorials
-sprang up in different parts of the country.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i016.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">WHAT IS IT? AN OBELISK WITHOUT AN INSCRIPTION.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>Burial-grounds contain numerous “freak”
-memorials, notwithstanding that clergymen, as a
-rule, discountenance that form of eccentricity
-which strives after novelty in post-mortem
-advertisement. The most curious churchyard
-memorial in England, perhaps, is at Pinner.
-It resembles a church tower, and half-way up it
-a coffin projects on each side. Beneath, and
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_434">434</span>
-supporting the structure, are arches
-filled in with ironwork, bearing the
-words, “Byde-my-Tyme.” The
-“my” appears to stand for one
-William London, who was interred
-(or interned) here in 1809.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i017a.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">“’TWIXT EARTH AND SKY”&mdash;AN EXTRAORDINARY GRAVE IN PINNER CHURCHYARD.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>Legends cluster round this strange
-object. The stone coffin, according
-to the most circumstantial, contains
-the remains of a Scotch merchant,
-whose descendants retain his property
-as long as he “remains above
-ground.” Nothing definite, however,
-is known about the tomb. If its
-constructor wished to furnish
-posterity with an insoluble
-puzzle, he has succeeded to
-perfection.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i017b.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">ANOTHER REMARKABLE MEMORIAL&mdash;A LIGHT BURNS IN THE TOWER NIGHT AND DAY.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>Of the “freak” memorials in
-public cemeteries, a lighthouse
-is easily first. This
-is at Ulverston, and
-is not merely a stonemason’s
-model, for
-it actually contains
-a plate-glass lantern,
-in which a gas-jet is
-burning continuously
-day and night. The
-most remarkable thing about this
-elaborate token of affection, perhaps,
-is that it is not a glorified
-tombstone. It was erected by
-a daughter in memory of her
-father, who is buried elsewhere, and
-was placed on its present site
-because the two had paid several
-visits to Ulverston Priory. Neither
-had any real connection with the
-town. A feature which differentiates
-this handsome tribute from all, or
-nearly all, others is obvious, and
-that is the cost of maintenance consequent
-on the gas consumed in
-the lantern.</p>
-
-<p>Public memorials include
-numbers of “freaks,” the singularity
-of some of which is
-greatly heightened by their
-surroundings. This
-is notably so in the
-case of a drinking
-fountain which
-stands in the middle
-of the East Anglian
-town of Swaffham.
-Unromantic as its
-environment is, this
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_435">435</span>
-structure is a modern heart shrine,
-containing as it does the cardiac
-organ of a local magnate, Sir
-William Bagge, who died in 1880.
-It was at his own request that
-his heart was deposited within
-the memorial, that he might
-remain after death, in a sense,
-in a place which he
-had loved so well in
-life.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i018a.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">A MODERN “HEART SHRINE,” AT SWAFFHAM, NORFOLK.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>The last class of
-people to whom one
-would expect to see
-“freak” memorials
-are preachers, and
-yet there are two or
-three to such men.
-Decidedly the most
-picturesque, though
-not the most <i>outr&eacute;</i>,
-is a massive chimney-stack
-at Coleman
-Green, Herts. It is
-preserved, as a tablet
-on it records, because
-in the cottage
-which was attached
-to it Bunyan occasionally
-preached.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i018b.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">“JOHN BUNYAN’S CHIMNEY” AT COLEMAN GREEN, HERTFORDSHIRE.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>Strange as some
-of the foregoing
-memorials are, they
-are surpassed
-by certain monstrosities in private
-parks, which unquestionably contain
-the most remarkable “freaks”
-of the kind in England. In several
-cases the public are forbidden
-to enter such domains, not
-because it is feared that they
-commit damage, but in
-order that they shall
-not see some colossal
-absurdity of which
-the descendants of its
-creator are ashamed.
-Nearly the first thing
-one gentleman did,
-on entering into possession
-of the estate
-which he now holds,
-was to ascertain
-whether he had power
-to sweep off it a
-memorial which was
-ridiculed by the whole
-countryside and
-pointed out to every
-stranger to the district.
-Finding that
-he could not remove
-the eyesore, he at
-once gave orders
-that the park wall
-should be raised
-four feet all the way
-round!
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_436">436</span></p>
-
-<hr class="chap" />
-<h2 id="DOWN_THE_CHUTE_A_Miners_Extraordinary_Experience">DOWN THE CHUTE: A Miner’s Extraordinary Experience.<br />
-
-<span class="medium smcap">By C. A. O. Duggan, of Kimberley, South Africa.</span></h2>
-
-<blockquote>
-
-<p>An account of a miraculous triple escape&mdash;an escape in which the odds were as a million to one
-on death. Mr. Wood’s adventure created quite a sensation in South Africa, for it is unique in the
-annals of the diamond fields. The photographs illustrating the story are published by kind permission
-of the general manager of the De Beers Consolidated Mines.</p></blockquote>
-
-<div>
-<img class="drop-cap" src="images/t.jpg" alt="T" />
-</div>
-
-<p class="drop-cap"><span class="upper-case">The</span> following narrative, describing
-a miner’s miraculous escape from
-what appeared certain death, forms
-one of the most sensational episodes
-in the history of South African
-mining in general and of the world-famous
-De Beers Diamond Mines of Kimberley in
-particular. Miners who have spent many
-years in the wonderful underground workings
-of the Kimberley diamond mines, and who
-have become thoroughly familiar with the
-perils and thrilling incidents synonymous with
-underground mining, were dumbfounded at the
-truly unique experience which befell Mr.
-Charles Wood at the De Beers Company’s
-Wesselton Mine, Kimberley, South Africa, on
-Tuesday, 11th August, 1908. Mr. Wood’s
-story is here given as related to the author.</p>
-
-<hr class="tb" />
-
-<p>I am twenty-nine years of age, and have been
-for some years engaged in various capacities in
-the many departments of the underground
-workings of the Kimberley diamond mines.
-During that period I have witnessed many
-hairbreadth escapes from the innumerable
-perils of the treacherous subterranean workings,
-and have seen men launched into eternity in a
-single second by one or other of those unavoidable
-happenings which of necessity form part of
-the miner’s precarious occupation. Personally,
-however, I have been very fortunate, for my
-own mining experience has been uneventful&mdash;until
-last week, when I was the victim of a string
-of events probably unparalleled in the annals of
-the diamond mines.</p>
-
-<p>On the morning of Tuesday, 11th August,
-1908, I went to work as usual, and arrived at
-the mine shaft a few minutes before six o’clock,
-feeling in high spirits after a brisk and invigorating
-three-mile bicycle ride in a calm,
-bracing, and typical South African dawn, which
-heralded the commencement of a day that was
-to prove the most eventful and memorable of my
-life. Precisely as the mine “hooter” sounded,
-I, with several others, boarded the huge iron
-man-cage, and in another moment its human
-freight was being lowered some five hundred feet
-down the perpendicular shaft to the main
-working level of the mine.</p>
-
-<p>Our destination was reached in due course,
-and the cage came to a standstill at the entrance
-to the main level, which here resembles a large
-arch-shaped room, about eighteen feet high and
-twenty-five feet wide, with sides and roof of
-solid rock. On the one side is the main vertical
-shaft, leading to the headgear on the surface
-above and to the further levels below, while
-directly opposite, and extending in a straight,
-horizontal line for nearly half a mile into the
-bowels of the earth, is the main tunnel to
-the mine, suggestive of some great corridor, with
-many side galleries and minor branch tunnels on
-either side, leading in contrary directions.
-There is a double track of rails, one for empties
-returning from the tips and the other for the
-loaded trucks, which are detached from the
-electric locomotives at an apex some thirty
-yards from the loading chute, and from which
-they run by gravitation, in sets of eight, along
-the “full-way,” round the left side of the shaft,
-to the automatic tips, which are situated
-immediately behind the shaft and on the
-opposite side of the main tunnel. Here
-the trucks are mechanically overturned and
-the contents discharged into the loading
-chute, a large steel receptacle some twenty feet
-deep, fifteen feet long, and four feet wide. From
-this point the trucks run along the “empty-way,”
-or right side of the shaft, in a semicircle
-towards the main tunnel, to be finally coupled
-to the locomotive, and drawn, in trains of
-sixteen, to the different passes to be reloaded.</p>
-
-<p>In the mine I am known as the “tipman,”
-and my duties&mdash;directing the discharge of the
-diamond-laden “ground” into the chutes&mdash;commence
-when the trucks, laden with the
-“ground,” reach the automatic tips.</p>
-
-<p>I was soon at my accustomed post, and before
-many minutes had elapsed the distant rumbling
-of the moving trucks in the tunnels became
-audible. The day’s operations had begun.</p>
-
-<p>I am constantly engaged in superintending
-the working of the tipping arrangements, and in
-watching the running of trucks on the proper
-tracks, which here almost entirely encircle the
-main shaft, through which the “ground” is
-eventually raised to the surface in the giant
-hoisting skips.
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_437">437</span></p>
-
-<p>On this particular morning I worked without
-the shortest break, and nothing interrupted the
-monotonous rolling of the trucks as they went
-backwards and forwards again and again to be
-refilled at the loading passes and emptied at
-the loading chutes, until nearly one o’clock,
-when, through a slight but unfortunate mishap,
-I became the victim of a catastrophe which now
-seems to me like some horrible nightmare, or
-the effect of temporary delirium, rather than an
-actual occurrence.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i020.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">THE FIVE HUNDRED FEET LEVEL OF THE WESSELTON MINE, SHOWING AUTOMATIC TIPS AND TRUCK TIPPING INTO THE CHUTE INTO WHICH WOOD WAS THROWN.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photo by J. A. Glennie, Kimberley.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>As before-mentioned, the train of sixteen
-trucks is divided into two sets of eight trucks
-each. One set is emptied into No. 1 chute and
-the other into No. 2 chute. At about a quarter
-to one my attention was drawn to what appeared
-to be a slight irregularity in the tipping of the
-trucks at No. 2 chute. A train had just
-reached the tips, and the first set of eight trucks
-was emptied in the usual manner into No. 1
-chute, while the second set was directed on to
-No. 2 chute.</p>
-
-<p>As the last set of trucks passed round the
-“empty-way” I stepped on to the track, immediately
-over the No. 2 chute, in order to verify
-my suspicion that something was wrong. As I
-did so I heard a loud clattering noise, as of
-loaded trucks coming clown the “full-way”
-incline to the chute. I did not look to ascertain
-the cause of this noise at that moment, but an
-instant later I instinctively turned my head and
-looked up towards the entrance to the chute.
-Then, to my utter dismay and consternation,
-I saw, within a few feet, two fully-loaded trucks
-rushing headlong on to the No. 2 tip, where I
-was standing. In an instant the awful truth
-flashed through my brain. Only six trucks of
-the last set had tipped, two having become
-uncoupled up the incline, and here was I standing
-on the track immediately over the chute,
-without the remotest possibility of escape!</p>
-
-<p>For a moment I was petrified with horror, and
-before I could make any arrangement the foremost
-of the two trucks had struck me full in the
-back, just above the hips, and I was precipitated
-violently into the chute, some twenty feet below,
-while at the same time, with a fearful, deafening
-noise, the two trucks overturned, and two tons
-of rock and hard blue “ground” came crashing
-into the chute on top of me. For a few seconds
-I was completely buried, but with a frantic effort
-I got the upper part of my body free, all the
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_438">438</span>
-time gasping wildly for breath, while temporarily
-deprived of sight by the mass of falling “ground,”
-and nearly asphyxiated by the immense cloud of
-dust, which seemed to hang over the chute like
-a pall.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i021.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">“I WAS PRECIPITATED VIOLENTLY INTO THE CHUTE.”</p>
-</div>
-
-<p>As I gradually gained control of my scattered
-senses I became aware of my miraculous escape
-from a terrible death, and with a shudder of
-horror realized that my situation was still one of
-extreme peril. In another second the doors of
-the chute would be opened, and I should either
-be plunged, with the great quantity of “ground”
-amidst which I lay, into the hoisting-skip below,
-or else crushed to a pulp by the next consignment
-of “ground” from the tip above. With almost
-superhuman strength I endeavoured to extricate
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_439">439</span>
-myself from the mass of “ground” by which I
-was well-nigh covered, and with all the power of
-which I was capable I shouted vociferously for
-help. It was all in vain, however; my cries for
-assistance were lost amidst the din of the constantly-moving
-trucks on the level above.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i022.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">PORTION OF THE HEADGEAR SHOWING THE HOISTING-SKIP (INDICATED BY A CROSS) IN WHICH WOOD MADE HIS RAPID BUT UNCOMFORTABLE JOURNEY TO THE SURFACE.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photo. by J. A. Glennie, Kimberley.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>Just as I made another desperate attempt to
-free myself I heard the ominous creak of the
-levers, which foretold that the slides at the
-bottom of the chute were about to be opened,
-and&mdash;quite helpless and filled with an overwhelming
-despair&mdash;I resigned myself to my
-fate; I was doomed to a death from which
-there could be no possible escape. My whole
-frame was trembling with the fear of impending
-death, as, with a loud creak, the slides at the
-bottom of the chute separated, and I felt myself
-violently overturned and forced irresistibly
-through the opening. Thence I plunged head-first
-into the great hoisting-skip below, amidst
-the thunderous crash of the eight tons of blue
-“ground.” In a second the sliding doors of the
-chute had closed, the skip was loaded, and the
-relentless downpour of “ground” and hard lumps
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_440">440</span>
-ceased. I was again
-completely buried, but
-with a ferocious struggle
-managed to get my head
-uncovered.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i023a.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">THE ENGINE-HOUSES AND HEADGEAR WHERE WOOD WAS HOISTED TO THE SURFACE.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photo. by J. A. Glennie, Kimberley.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<div class="w400 figcenter">
-<div class="bbox">
-<p class="author">KIMBERLEY,<span class="i8">&nbsp;</span><br />
-26th August, 1908.</p>
-
-<p class="caption"><i>TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN</i>:</p>
-
-<p>I, the undersigned, hereby certify that the account of
-my experience at Wesselton Mine, Kimberley, Cape Colony, as
-written by Mr. C. A. O. Duggan, is true and correct in every
-detail, and, further, I hereby give to Mr. C. A. O. Duggan the
-full and exclusive right to publish the particulars and account
-above referred to in any newspaper, periodical or magazine he
-may choose.</p>
-
-<p class="table">
-  <span class="trow">
-    <span class="tcell" style="width: 40%">&nbsp;</span>
-    <span class="tcell script">Charles Wood</span>
-  </span>
-  <span class="trow">
-    <span class="tcell">AS WITNESSES:&mdash;</span>
-    <span class="tcell">KIMBERLEY, S. A. 26th August, 1908.</span>
-  </span>
-  <span class="trow">
-    <span class="tcell script">JJ Armstrong</span>
-    <span class="tcell">&nbsp;</span>
-  </span>
-  <span class="trow">
-    <span class="tcell script">BW Freislich</span>
-    <span class="tcell">&nbsp;</span>
-  </span>
-</p>
-
-<p>The abovementioned copyright of Mr. Charles Wood’s experience
-at Wesselton Mine, Kimberley, C. C. is hereby given to the
-Proprietors of the “Wide World Magazine”, London, England.</p>
-
-<p class="author script">C.A.O. Duggan</p>
-</div>
-<p class="caption">MR. WOOD’S SIGNED STATEMENT VOUCHING FOR THE ACCURACY OF THIS STORY.<br />
-<a href="images/i023b.jpg">Click here for image.</a></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>Dazed and just able
-to realize my terrible
-situation, I gasped for
-breath, and, although
-quite oblivious of the
-nature and extent of my
-injuries, I was vaguely
-conscious that I was still
-alive, and that for the
-second time in a few
-minutes my life had
-been miraculously preserved.
-Securely pinned
-down by the tremendous
-weight of the
-“ground,” I lay unable
-to move, and after making
-a feeble and vain
-effort to shout for assistance,
-I gave up my futile
-struggle to free my
-aching body and sank
-down from sheer exhaustion,
-staring vacantly
-in the semi-darkness at an
-enormous, treacherous-looking
-boulder that had
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_441">441</span>
-lodged a few inches above me, and which
-appeared likely to find a fresh resting-place on
-my unprotected head at any moment.</p>
-
-<p>For an instant there was a death-like stillness.
-Nearly distracted by the awful suspense, I lay
-helpless in the great iron skip, expecting each
-instant to feel the peculiar jerk of the hauling-rope
-that would mean the commencement of my
-lightning upward journey to the headgear on the
-surface, nearly six hundred feet above.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i024.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">PORTION OF HEADGEAR SHOWING BOX LEVERS, WITH CHARLES WOOD STANDING ALMOST IMMEDIATELY UNDER THE LOADING-BOX WHERE HE WAS TAKEN OUT HEAD FIRST.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photo. by J. A. Glennie, Kimberley.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>What would be my fate when the skip tipped
-automatically on the surface? Should I be
-crushed to death or buried alive by the
-enormous quantity of “ground,” or should I
-meet with a more terrible death by being dashed
-to pieces against the steel sides or cross-bars of
-the loading-box, to be found later&mdash;a mangled
-and unrecognisable mass of humanity?</p>
-
-<p>All these thoughts and countless vivid recollections
-of my childhood, boyhood, and early
-manhood flashed through my now disordered
-brain with startling rapidity, and I sobbed with
-anguish as I thought for a moment of my home,
-my children, and my wife, who was soon to
-be a widow and whom I should never see again.
-With a sickening terror I now grasped the fact
-that in a few seconds the great winding engine
-on the surface would be set in motion. Oh,
-the irony of it all! I had escaped death at the
-tip, and again at the loading-chute, only to end
-my existence when the skip eventually shot its
-eight-ton cargo into the steel loading-boxes
-above! Each moment now seemed a lifetime,
-and I prayed fervently that my suspense and
-agony might be ended.</p>
-
-<p>At last the hauling-rope strained and tightened,
-and with a sudden jerk the skip started on its
-upward journey through the inky-black shaft,
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_442">442</span>
-gaining in rapidity at every yard, and each
-second carrying me nearer to death. The skip
-flew up at a terrific pace, and in a few seconds
-I was aware of its approach to the surface by the
-faint streaks of light that
-penetrated down the shaft.
-Another moment and I
-should be no more! The
-light of day became more
-and more intense, and with
-startling suddenness I shot
-out into the momentary and
-welcome brightness of the
-sunlight, past the level of the
-surface, and up to the automatic
-tip on the giant head-gear.
-Then, with a sharp
-click, the skip reached its
-tipping level and overturned,
-and I felt myself
-being thrown through space
-towards the yawning iron
-loading-boxes.</p>
-
-<p>As the skip capsized I
-became unconscious, and
-was consequently spared
-the further mental torture
-consequent upon my precipitation
-into the yawning
-surface loading-boxes. At
-last, however, I opened my
-eyes, as if awakening from
-a profound sleep, and&mdash;amazed
-and utterly bewildered&mdash;gradually recognised
-that for the third time in as many minutes
-I had escaped a frightful death in a wonderful
-and miraculous manner. I found that I was
-lying awkwardly and with
-feet uppermost in the north
-side loading-box. While
-still trying to realize what
-had happened the slides of
-the box separated, and the
-next moment startled,
-anxious faces were peering
-in at me.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i025a.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">“STARTLED, ANXIOUS FACES WERE PEERING IN AT ME.”</p>
-</div>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i025b.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">CHARLES WOOD AS HE APPEARED AFTER HIS ALARMING
-ADVENTURE.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photo. by J. A. Glennie, Kimberley.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>Gently the amazed men
-lifted me through the door
-and carried me to the mine
-change-house, where my
-injuries were promptly attended
-to. Incredible as it
-may seem, I was not seriously
-hurt, only suffering
-from several bruises about
-the body and from slight
-cuts on the head and above
-one eye. I was duly sent
-to the Kimberley Hospital,
-from which I was discharged
-eight days after
-the chapter of accidents
-here related, having completely
-recovered from the
-effects of my remarkable
-adventure.
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_443">443</span></p>
-
-<hr class="chap" />
-<h2 id="Where_Women_Wear_Trousers">Where Women Wear Trousers.<br />
-
-<span class="medium smcap">By L. Van der Veer.</span></h2>
-
-<blockquote>
-
-<p>There is a place up in the mountains of Switzerland
-where from time immemorial the women
-have worn the garb and done most of the work of
-their men-folk, who stop at home and smoke or
-mind the babies, while their be-trousered wives
-and daughters toil in the hayfields or among the
-live stock. In this article Miss Van der Veer
-describes a visit to this strange and little-known
-community.</p></blockquote>
-
-<div>
-<img class="drop-cap" src="images/a.jpg" alt="A" />
-</div>
-
-<p class="drop-cap"><span class="upper-case">Away</span> up in the mountains of one
-of the most beautiful cantons of
-Switzerland, the Valais, the peasant
-women have for years found it
-expedient to don the garb of their
-men-folk and work in the hayfields and among
-the grazing cattle on the slopes, while their
-lords and masters lounge their days away in
-ease and the quiet of their log huts.</p>
-
-<p>Curious to relate, they all seem
-perfectly contented with this inverted
-order of things&mdash;the men
-in particular. They brew the herbs,
-fry the tough-as-leather mountain
-meat, and look after the babies,
-while their buxom wives are
-wrestling with the sterner duties
-of field and stable.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i026.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">A SHEPHERDESS ON THE MOUNTAINS.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>During the summer of 1908 I
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_444">444</span>
-spent some days in Champ&eacute;ry, the
-little village in the valley at the
-foot of the mountains where these
-strenuous women work and their
-lazy husbands smoke. At first I
-felt great disappointment at not
-seeing them about the village
-streets, but soon found that they
-seldom or never came down the
-mountain-side in their strange
-garb, or, at any rate, walked about
-the village in it. Tourists have
-become so numerous of recent
-years, and their curiosity so troublesome,
-that the village fathers have
-forbidden the women to come into
-the hamlet without skirts over their
-masculine nether garments. So
-whoever cares to behold them in
-the strange clothes of their choosing
-must scramble and toil their
-way up the mountain-side. On Sunday mornings
-it is highly entertaining to watch these
-women and young girls come down the zigzag
-footpaths to the tiny village chapel, where, just
-outside its doors, they halt and throw their
-skirts on over their heads in the most unconcerned
-fashion, as thoughtlessly as the
-fashionable dame gives her hat a furtive touch
-as she enters the church doors.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i027a.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">WASHING-DAY.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photo. by Jullien Bros.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>It is difficult to trace the origin of this strange
-custom of the Champ&eacute;ry dames donning masculine
-nether garments. When one asks the
-peasants about it they do their best to look
-reflective, but always end in declaring that “it
-was always so.” “Our men-folk like best the
-fires, and we like best the fields,” is about the
-only intelligible explanation I could get out of
-them. They are fine, sturdy-looking beings,
-mostly red-cheeked and strong of limb, and
-many of the younger ones are strikingly
-handsome.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i027b.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">COOKING THE DINNER.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photo. by Jullien Bros.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>One can scarcely call their costume a becoming
-one, though it certainly looks better than one
-would expect, and, after the first novelty of
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_445">445</span>
-seeing them wears off, its absolute suitability
-disarms criticism.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i028a.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">MOWING ON THE HILLSIDE.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photo. by Jullien Bros.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>The most amusing thing about it is that the
-upper part of the costume remains feminine&mdash;the
-ordinary rough bodice of the peasant woman,
-often in bright colours of red or blue, worn with
-the most nondescript cut of trousers, of the
-“home-made” variety. That such a costume
-is necessary for women who take upon themselves
-the work of their men-folk in such a region
-of the world is quite apparent to any woman
-who attempts to follow them at their work for
-even ten minutes.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i028b.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">OFF TO THE VILLAGE.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photo. by Jullien Bros.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i028c.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">AMONG THE COWS ON THE MOUNTAIN PASTURES&mdash;THE WOMEN DO ALL THE MILKING AND BUTTER-MAKING.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>The constant tramping along rough mountain
-ways and following cows over dangerously narrow
-ledges, the cutting of hay on inclines so acute
-as to be seemingly almost perpendicular, the
-going in search of lost sheep in thickets and
-snowdrifts, are but a few of the things which
-make the tyranny of skirts altogether impossible.
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_446">446</span>
-These women do not seem to mind in the least
-being stared at and questioned as to their
-clothes. In fact, they rather feel the pride of
-distinction their garments confer upon them.
-“We have never known any others,” they say
-quite simply, “so why should we feel queer in
-them? Besides, we all prefer them to skirts.”</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i029.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">A BE-TROUSERED MILKMAID.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>The most surprising thing is that, in spite of
-their male attire, the women do not walk or sit
-in the masculine manner. Anyone can see at
-a glance that they are women in men’s clothes,
-though some green&mdash;very green&mdash;tourists often
-make ridiculous mistakes. At a mountain hut
-I once heard an English traveller declare that
-he never heard of men doing the family knitting
-until he came over the pass where these people
-live. He had evidently not the faintest suspicion
-that he had come across the men-garbed women
-of the mountain region, for they often sit knitting
-as they herd the sheep and cows on the hillsides.</p>
-
-<p>Another thing that strikes one absurdly is
-that, while wearing trousers, these women nearly
-always sit sideways on horseback and get over
-fences by first mounting to the top rail and
-sliding down women-fashion, instead of striding
-over man-fashion. In truth, I observed no end
-of evidence that the inconsistency of the weaker
-sex cannot be quenched by anything so delectable
-as clothes.</p>
-
-<p>One morning, when a heavy mist hung over
-the mountain-tops, quite obscuring everything,
-I sat outside the comfortable little chalet where
-a happy family of four sturdy daughters, with
-their mother, donned trousers every morning
-and disappeared up the mountain-side to work,
-while their stalwart “Pap,” as they called him,
-pottered round the house, pipe in mouth.</p>
-
-<p>I could hear the women sharpening their
-scythes now and again, and catch snatches of
-mountain ditties as they sang at their mowing.
-Later on, as the mist lifted, I walked up to
-where they were working, and the first thing I
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_447">447</span>
-noticed was that their trousers were so long as
-to be quite dripping with mud, just as their skirts
-would have been had
-they worn them. When
-the old man went out
-he turned his up.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i030a.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">A FAMILY GROUP.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>Another feminine
-absurdity is the wearing
-of a long sort of
-toga, which trails down
-their backs and gets
-in the way whenever
-they bend over or go
-through the tangles of
-the mountain wood.</p>
-
-<p>“Why don’t you
-wear a cap or small
-felt hat like the men?”
-I asked an old woman
-once.</p>
-
-<p>“We have always
-covered our heads so,”
-was her explanation&mdash;an
-explanation, in her
-opinion, that was all-sufficing;
-peasants
-from one generation to
-another do everything simply because
-their forefathers did the same.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i030b.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">A HALT FOR REST.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photo. by Jullien Bros.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>One would imagine that on Sundays
-and f&ecirc;te days these women, particularly
-the young ones, would yield to the
-eternal feminine instinct of assuming the
-finery of their sex, but not they. Rest-time
-and feast-time always finds them in
-their usual garments. They have better-looking
-ones for these occasions, I confess,
-but they have no hankering for the
-trammels of skirts even during their
-courting hours. I was highly amused at
-seeing the pretty girls sauntering along
-the picturesque trails with their sweet-hearts’
-arms around their waists, looking
-to the casual stranger for all the world
-like two young men gone “loony.”</p>
-
-<p>One can scarcely imagine a wedding-party
-with bride and groom dressed in
-the same kind of garments, but I have
-seen one in the mountains, when the
-bride wore a white bodice, white trousers,
-and a bunch of white violets in her hair!
-She was as pretty as a picture, too,
-despite the attire, and quite as blushing
-and shy as any bride out of a convent.</p>
-
-<p>The man of her choice, a perfect giant
-of a peasant, was resplendent in native
-costume, the chief glory of which, a
-green waistcoat with large brass buttons,
-could be seen a long way off.</p>
-
-<p>Most of the weddings of recent years have
-been held in the little chapel of the village down
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_448">448</span>
-in the valley, where the regulation “slip over”
-skirt is donned at the chapel door, to be discarded
-before the tramp up the mountain-side is
-begun.</p>
-
-<p>One day I was told in the village that a
-funeral was to be held in the little mountain
-settlement above Champ&eacute;ry, and I trudged up
-the zigzag pathway as hurriedly as the occasion
-would allow, for I confess to having a penchant
-for witnessing these mournful conclaves in every
-foreign country I may visit.</p>
-
-<p>I had no trouble in discovering the house of
-mourning, as a crowd of peasants hung about the
-door. Soon the little procession, headed by the
-priest and his attendants, filed out of the door
-and moved with solemn chant down the mountain-side
-towards the little churchyard below.</p>
-
-<p>On inquiry, I learned that the departed one
-was the elderly husband of a bent and weather-beaten
-old peasant woman, who tottered along
-in faded black garments, the nether portion of
-which looked for all the world as if she had
-donned the “left-overs” of her dear departed.
-On her head was a crisp new crape toga, however,
-and as she hobbled along I confess that
-she made a pathetic as well as an incongruous
-figure.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i031.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">THE VILLAGERS POSSESS LARGE HERDS OF FINE MILCH-GOATS, WHICH THE WOMEN LOOK AFTER WHILE THEIR MEN-FOLK STOP AT HOME.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photo. by Jullien Bros.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>Despite the fact that the women work hard
-out of doors, summer and winter, exposed to
-the worst of weathers, they are mostly long-lived
-and seldom know what illness is. I often saw
-them working in the hayfields with their babies
-lying blinking in the sunlight near by. At
-noon they lounged under the trees, talking
-mother-foolishness to the wee things, and their
-queer garments never seem so hideous and
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_449">449</span>
-altogether distasteful as when they are nursing
-the children.</p>
-
-<p>The lack of even the simplest understanding
-of remedies for either illness or accident has
-always struck me as most remarkable among the
-Swiss peasantry. They may live several hours’
-journey away from a doctor or chemist without
-ever making the least attempt at learning what
-to do for even the simplest ailments.</p>
-
-<p>I once knew one of these Champ&eacute;ry women to
-have sunstroke so badly that she became quite
-unconscious, and continued so long in that state
-that I was certain she would die.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i032.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">“MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB”&mdash;THIS PHOTOGRAPH SHOWS CLEARLY THE “HOME-MADE” CUT OF THE TROUSERS AND THE CURIOUS
-HEAD-DRESS WORN BY THE WOMEN.</p>
-</div>
-
-<p>There were any number of old men and
-women gathered round wailing, but none of
-them seemed to know what to do in such a case.
-The woman’s mother suggested giving her a cup
-of coffee, which was attempted, most of it being
-spilt over her. Then someone took off her
-shoes and began slapping the soles of her feet
-with a piece of board.</p>
-
-<p>I chanced to have a “first aid” case with me,
-and&mdash;greatly to the distrust of the peasants&mdash;administered
-what suitable remedies I had; I
-also insisted on one going post-haste down the
-valley for a medical man. But they would do
-nothing except wail and shake their heads.
-Finally the patient came round all right, saying
-that her head “felt full of hot things,” and the
-next morning, when I called to inquire after
-her, I found that she was at work in the hayfields,
-hatless, under the scorching sunlight, as
-usual. At another time a little child of three
-was taken with convulsions from having eaten
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_450">450</span>
-too much cheese, and died without having anything
-done to save the little creature; the old
-women simply wagging their heads wisely and
-muttering something about their all “going”
-when taken like that. With them it is evidently
-a case of the survival of the fittest.</p>
-
-<p>Last summer I was in Champ&eacute;ry at the
-time of the great Swiss national holiday, when
-everybody celebrates Swiss freedom by making
-as much noise as possible during the day and
-lighting huge bonfires at night. Everyone was
-dressed in holiday finery, many of the younger
-women appearing in grey-check trousers and
-hats with artificial flowers! One happy family
-party, consisting of the father and mother and
-four children, had evidently a decided fondness
-for royal purple&mdash;or perhaps this was the
-colour of their clan&mdash;for the six of them, even to
-the babe in arms, were arrayed in the purple of
-kings and emperors!</p>
-
-<p>The baby in particular attracted my interest
-insomuch that I
-ventured to take
-the little creature
-in my arms in the
-hope that I might
-slip it out of the
-cartridge-like
-swaddling-case in
-which these poor
-little wretches are
-carried about. I
-might just as well
-have tried to pull
-off the muzzle of
-a gun; the babe
-was as tightly
-fixed in his terribly
-hot case as
-though it were a
-vice. And yet I
-doubt not he will grow into
-a fine stalwart son of the
-mountains, though how they
-ever manage to expand or
-lengthen at all is a mystery
-to me.</p>
-
-<p>I once sat talking to an old
-goatherd who certainly looked
-as if he had sat in the same nook in the
-mountains for at least a century. He
-was so bent and rheumaticky-looking
-that I quite failed to see how he could
-possibly make his way along the steep
-and slippery paths. His “old woman,” as he
-called her, was off down the valley gathering
-faggots. “She be a great worker,” he told me,
-and never got tired the way he did. I asked
-him if he liked the idea of the women doing most
-of the hard work; he answered by saying that it
-“was their way.” It suited the women to work
-at the hay, he seemed to think; and, besides,
-they hadn’t to smoke, which was evidently sufficient
-occupation for the men.</p>
-
-<p>This old man had never seen a railway until
-this last summer, when a branch line was run on
-to the village of Champ&eacute;ry, at the foot of his
-mountain home. I asked him what he thought
-of it, and he grumbled out a long tale of how it
-had already killed a lot of goats and sheep!</p>
-
-<p>Any sort of progress is looked upon with the
-greatest prejudice and suspicion by these people,
-who will undergo any fatigue and discomfort
-rather than change the routine of centuries.</p>
-
-<p>Coming down a mountain path one evening,
-I ran into a party of peasant girls toiling up with
-huge baskets of provisions strapped to their
-backs. In the half light I mistook them for men
-from their garb, but coming nearer I recognised
-their red togas, and later their women’s voices.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i033.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">A MOUNTAIN IDYLL.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photo. by Jullien Bros.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>Stopping to talk with them, I found that they
-were of the well-to-do natives who owned cows
-and mules, but they seldom thought of taking
-the mules along to carry up the provisions or
-themselves.</p>
-
-<p>It had always been the custom of their
-women to make pack-baskets out of
-their backs, and they would never
-think of doing otherwise. It is not
-easy to get these people to talk of
-themselves to strangers; they often
-resent being asked questions about
-their work and ideas.</p>
-
-<p>Yet the young women take
-interest in the pretty clothes
-of strangers. One of them
-came up to me and touched
-a blue lapis-lazuli ring
-I was wearing,
-her eyes simply
-devouring it, and
-the other trinkets
-I wore of the same
-stone. Finally,
-she exclaimed
-that she liked
-them very much,
-and also the frock
-of the same
-colour. I am
-quite certain
-there was a momentary
-pang of
-feminine envy in
-her heart, and
-a hatred for her
-own incongruous
-garments.
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_451">451</span></p>
-
-<hr class="chap" />
-
-<div id="RETRIBUTION" class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i034.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption smcap">By Captain G. F. Pugh.</p>
-</div>
-
-<h2 class="hidden">RETRIBUTION.</h2>
-
-<blockquote>
-
-<p>A story of the bad old “shanghaiing” days, showing how a villainous crimp had the tables
-turned upon him in dramatic fashion. Captain Pugh heard the first part of the story while in
-Newcastle, N.S.W., as mate of a ship, and its sequel upon a return voyage.</p></blockquote>
-
-<div>
-<img class="drop-cap" src="images/i.jpg" alt="I" />
-</div>
-
-<p class="drop-cap"><span class="upper-case">In</span> 1872 Newcastle, New South Wales,
-was a busy, thriving little seaport.
-The harbour was full of large sailing
-ships, loading and waiting to load
-coal, and bound chiefly to China,
-San Francisco, and the Pacific Coast ports.</p>
-
-<p>Very few of these ships had their full complement
-of seamen on board. Most of the
-sailors deserted during the vessels’ stay in port&mdash;and
-one cannot blame them, when it is remembered
-that the pay in these ships from British
-ports was two pounds ten a month, with the
-poorest quality of food that it was possible for
-the ship-owner to buy, and only just sufficient
-of that to keep body and soul together.</p>
-
-<p>The pay out of the Australian ports was, for
-homeward-bounders, five pounds ten, and in the
-coast and inter-Colonial traders seven pounds a
-month, with a sufficiency of good, nourishing
-food. In addition to the inducements offered
-by the coast traders, there was plenty of work to
-be found on shore, for the Queensland, Victorian,
-and South Australian goldfields were in full
-swing. The consequence was that there was
-great difficulty in getting men to man the ships
-when they were ready for sea.</p>
-
-<p>Like most seaports in those days of sailing-ships,
-the town was full of sailors’ boarding-houses.
-The tactics and ways of procuring
-men employed by the proprietors of these places
-were not such as would stand the light of day,
-but nevertheless they did a thriving business.</p>
-
-<p>One of the most noted characters in the town
-was a boarding-house keeper named Dan
-Sullivan, a scoundrel to the backbone. He was
-notorious for the number of men he had
-“shanghaied” out of the port, but, strange to
-say, he had gained a certain amount of power
-in the town, and shipmasters requiring men
-were, under the circumstances, compelled to
-deal with him, although at the same time many
-of them had the utmost contempt for the fellow.</p>
-
-<p>Sullivan kept a low-class drinking saloon with
-a free-and-easy dancing-room attached to it.
-The boarders lived in the rooms overhead.
-This was the only dancing saloon in the
-town, and was thronged with sailors every
-night. The liquor sold was, needless to say,
-vile stuff, but men who have been living for
-months on weevily biscuit and “salt-horse”
-have very little taste left in their mouths, and as
-long as the decoction was hot and came out of
-a bottle it passed muster.</p>
-
-<p>Sullivan was an adept at drugging liquor, and
-he always kept materials at hand for that
-purpose. Just a little tobacco ash dropped in
-the glass when pouring out the drinks, and the
-thing was done. When he required a few
-sailors for a ship ready to sail, he picked out the
-likeliest men in the room&mdash;usually strangers&mdash;and
-when the seamen, hot and thirsty with
-dancing, ordered drinks through the women
-who acted as waitresses, these Delilahs would
-bring the prepared stuff, and soon the men
-would feel muddled and sleepy and would go into
-the side room and sink down on the benches.</p>
-
-<p>Sullivan would then slip in among them.</p>
-
-<p>“Halloa, mates! What’s the matter? Feel
-queer, eh? Ah, it’s the dancing and the hot
-weather. I’ll send you a good tot that will put
-you all right.”</p>
-
-<p>He would then send one of the girls in with
-a good glass of hot whisky&mdash;drugged, and that
-would be all the men would know for some
-time. When they came to their senses they
-found themselves in a strange ship, out of sight
-of land, without a stitch of clothes beyond what
-they stood up in. Of course, there was generally
-a row, but it invariably ended in their turning to
-work and making the best of a bad bargain.
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_452">452</span></p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i035.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">“HALLOA, MATES! WHAT’S THE MATTER?”</p>
-</div>
-
-<p>One day in February, 1872, it happened that
-there were three British ships lying at the buoys,
-loaded and ready to sail, but each was in want
-of a few seamen to make up her complement.
-Not a man could be got at the shipping-office
-for love or money&mdash;the news of a fresh gold-field
-on the Barrington had reached Newcastle that
-morning, and all the disengaged men had made
-tracks for that district.
-So the only
-possible way to get
-hands for the vessels
-ready to sail was to
-obtain them from
-the ships that had
-lately arrived, and
-which would have
-some time to wait for
-a loading berth.</p>
-
-<p>The captains of
-the ships at the buoys
-sent for Sullivan, and
-arranged with him to
-supply them with four
-men each that night,
-as the trio would sail
-at the turn of the
-tide. When Sullivan
-got back on shore,
-he sent some of his
-runners to quietly let
-the crews of the ships
-in harbour know
-there was to be a
-free concert and
-dance at his place,
-with plenty of whisky
-into the bargain.</p>
-
-<p>When night came
-the saloon was packed
-with seamen, and
-among the lot were
-six fine young American
-sailors from the
-ship <i>Jeremiah Crawford</i>,
-of New Bedford.
-Now, New
-Bedford ships are
-very often “family
-ships”&mdash;that is to
-say, the captain,
-officers, and seamen
-are related to each
-other. Of the six
-young fellows who
-went to this dance,
-two were nephews of
-the captain, one was
-a relative of the
-mate, and the others were related to members
-of the crew.</p>
-
-<p>Long before the dance was over there were
-several seamen lying helplessly drugged in the
-side room. Just before midnight, and while the
-dance was still going on, Sullivan and his fellow-crimps
-removed the helpless men down to a
-boat, and took them off to the ships at the
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_453">453</span>
-buoys. Then Sullivan pocketed his blood-money,
-and before daylight the vessels were at
-sea under all plain sail.</p>
-
-<p>The following day, when the six American
-seamen did not turn up on board the <i>Jeremiah
-Crawford</i>, inquiries were quietly made, and it
-was soon found out what had become of them;
-they had been among the twelve men “shanghaied”
-aboard the three waiting ships. The
-men’s shipmates, boiling with anger, wanted to go
-and wreck Sullivan and his saloon, but the captain
-called all hands aft, and from the poop told
-them they must not let it be known that they
-knew where their shipmates were.</p>
-
-<p>“I know how you feel over it,” he said, “and
-I know how I feel too, but I intend to pay that
-rascal in his own coin. Those Britishers are off
-to ‘Frisco, and we are bound there, too; and
-you can bet your bottom dollar I mean to
-make the ship move when we start. And what
-is more, I intend to take that rascal Sullivan
-with me!”</p>
-
-<p>“All right, captain,” answered the men.
-“Mum’s the word. We will wait events.”</p>
-
-<p>Two days afterwards Captain Monk, of the
-<i>Jeremiah Crawford</i>, told Sullivan to get him six
-men by the time the ship was loaded.</p>
-
-<p>Sullivan agreed, on condition that he was
-paid three pounds per man. This Captain
-Monk agreed to, and when the ship was finished
-and hauled out to the buoys, Sullivan sent word
-to the captain that he would bring the men off
-about eight p.m.</p>
-
-<p>Now, that day a young Irish police-constable
-had been transferred from Sydney to Newcastle,
-and promoted. He was appointed to
-this district with a view to watching the
-goings-on at Sullivan’s, rumours of which had
-reached police head-quarters.</p>
-
-<p>The constable was married to a fine strapping
-Irish lass, who was a great help to her husband.
-She wore her hair short like a man’s, and was
-not a stranger to the wearing of men’s clothes.
-It was partly owing to her, in fact, that her
-husband had got his position.</p>
-
-<p>The constable knew he was there to get proof
-of Sullivan’s shady doings, and it was accordingly
-arranged that his wife should disguise herself as
-a seaman&mdash;as she had done before&mdash;and watch
-the inside while her husband watched the outside
-of Sullivan’s saloon. The policeman’s wife
-was a splendidly-built woman, as straight as a
-reed, and muscular as well.</p>
-
-<p>So it happened that, when Sullivan was
-picking out the men he wanted for his purpose
-that night, he saw this likely-looking young
-fellow among them. But he was not taking any
-liquor&mdash;only a bottle of ginger-ale. Sullivan
-obligingly opened a bottle for him, and it was a
-simple matter, as the stuff fizzed out, to knock
-the ash from his cigar into the glass with his
-little finger, and the mischief was done.</p>
-
-<p>Presently one of his spies cautioned the crimp
-that there was a constable knocking about in
-the street.</p>
-
-<p>“We must get the beggar out of the way,
-Mike,” said Sullivan. “I’ll soon settle him.
-You watch him.”</p>
-
-<p>Going outside, Sullivan walked up the street
-past the constable, smoking a splendid cigar.
-The constable got a whiff and wished he had
-one like it. In a few minutes the crimp
-returned, still puffing away at the cigar. As he
-passed the policeman he quietly dropped his
-cigar-case. The constable, just behind him, saw
-the case and picked it up, and, seeing there were
-two or three fine cigars in it, succumbed to
-temptation and put it in his pocket.</p>
-
-<p>He could not long resist the mute appeal of
-those cigars, so, slipping into the shadow behind
-some houses, he lit one, and was soon enjoying
-a good smoke. It had a wonderfully soothing
-influence, and he leaned up against the wall,
-thinking of the sharp bit of work that had
-brought him promotion. He felt that already
-he had Sullivan in his power, and he saw himself
-in imagination with his sergeant’s stripes.
-Then, all of a sudden, he smiled a sickly smile,
-his head fell forward, his legs gave way beneath
-him, and he sank in a heap on the ground.</p>
-
-<p>A few minutes afterwards the spy, who had
-been watching him all the time, cautiously approached.
-He took the cigar-case out of the unconscious
-man’s tunic, removed the remains of
-the drugged cigar from his mouth, and left him
-there.</p>
-
-<p>The night was dark, and about eight p.m.,
-while the dancing and singing were still in full
-swing, Sullivan and his tools got the selected
-men off in a boat. The tug was ahead of the
-ship, all ready to start. When the crimp got
-alongside with his men the <i>Jeremiah Crawford</i>
-was hanging to a slip-rope, and the captain
-was in his cabin waiting for Sullivan and the
-sailors.</p>
-
-<p>“Hurry up and get those chaps on board,”
-the mate called out. “I want to get under
-way.”</p>
-
-<p>“All right, Mister Mate,” answered one of
-the crimps. “We’ll soon have them on board.
-Get out of that, you brutes!” he added, giving
-one of the dazed men a kick.</p>
-
-<p>Sullivan and his men soon got their victims
-on board, but on getting on deck one of the
-fellows, a fine-built young Swede, seemed to
-partly recover his senses.</p>
-
-<p>“I don’t belong to this ship,” he said, and
-made for the gangway. With an oath Sullivan
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_454">454</span>
-sprang at him. A terrific blow on the side of
-the head, and the poor fellow dropped senseless
-on the deck. They then bundled the lot
-forward.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i037.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">“EACH OF THEM WAS KNOCKED SENSELESS WITH A BLOW BEHIND THE EAR FROM A KNUCKLE-DUSTER.”</p>
-</div>
-
-<p>Finding no light in the forecastle Sullivan
-and his men stepped inside, and were in the
-act of striking matches, when each of them was
-knocked senseless with a blow behind the ear
-from a knuckle-duster. They were then dropped
-into the fore-peak and the hatch fastened down,
-while the new men were lifted into berths to
-sleep off the effects of the drugged liquor.</p>
-
-<p>In the meantime, the second mate slipped
-down the gangway, and, standing on one side of
-Sullivan’s boat, capsized her. When she filled
-with water he cast her off and let her drift
-up-river.</p>
-
-<p>The tug-boat dropped down, the tow-rope was
-secured, the buoy cast off, and before midnight
-the ship was outside the Nobbies and under all
-sail.</p>
-
-<p>At daylight the “shanghaied” men were
-getting over the effects of the drug, and the
-captain called all hands aft to give them a good
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_455">455</span>
-glass of grog. The new men were in a terrible
-state when they came to their senses and found
-they had been “shanghaied.” One young fellow,
-in particular, sat down on the hatch and, placing
-his head on his hands, seemed to give way to
-despair. He took no heed of what was going
-on, and spoke no word to anyone.</p>
-
-<p>The young Swede who had been so brutally
-struck by Sullivan stepped up to the captain.</p>
-
-<p>“Who brought us on board?” he asked.</p>
-
-<p>“Dan Sullivan,” replied the mate. “He said
-you were his boarders. I saw him come alongside,
-and then I went forward, and have not
-seen him since.”</p>
-
-<p>“Did you pay him any advance for us,
-captain?”</p>
-
-<p>“No; I have not seen him,” said the skipper.
-“He must have gone on shore again. I cannot
-understand it. I do not know the man,” added
-Captain Monk. “I wrote him to get me six
-men, and told him I would sign them on
-board. I heard him come alongside with you,
-and when I came out of my cabin I saw no
-boat alongside, and we got under way at once.”</p>
-
-<p>“Thank you, captain,” replied the Swede.
-“Sullivan and I will meet again some day.”</p>
-
-<p>“Halloa, halloa! What’s all that about?”
-rang out from the forecastle, accompanied by
-a heavy thumping.</p>
-
-<p>The mate started to run forward, and all
-hands turned, to behold a remarkable sight.</p>
-
-<p>Out of the forecastle bolted three men.
-Casting their eyes in the direction of the land
-they rushed aft, past the seamen, and were
-about to mount the poop-ladder, when the mate
-barred the way.</p>
-
-<p>“Get down out of this, you skunks!” he
-roared. “Who are you fellows, and where do
-you come from?”</p>
-
-<p>“You know jolly well who I am,” roared the
-biggest of the three. “And you had better
-land us as quick as you can, or it will be a bad
-job for you, so I tell you.”</p>
-
-<p>The mate looked at him in silence for a
-moment; then the skipper chimed in.</p>
-
-<p>“Who the deuce are you?” demanded
-Captain Monk; “and what are you doing
-aboard my ship?”</p>
-
-<p>“What are you trying to get at, captain?”
-cried the crimp, furiously. “You know very
-well I’m Dan Sullivan. I brought you six men
-last night, and when we took them into the
-forecastle&mdash;”</p>
-
-<p>There was a shuffle among the men, and the
-next minute the young Swede had sprung at
-Sullivan’s throat and the two were tossing about
-the deck battering each other like wild beasts.</p>
-
-<p>“Stand back, everybody!” cried the mate.
-“Let them have it out.”</p>
-
-<p>Sullivan was the bigger and heavier man, but
-the Swede was a perfect young athlete, and had
-a cruel wrong to wipe out. The muscles of his
-arms and neck stood out like strong cords as
-the two rolled from side to side.</p>
-
-<p>Not a word was uttered by the officers or
-crew, who stood calmly looking on.</p>
-
-<p>Suddenly, by a quick movement, the Swede
-pinned Sullivan against the fife-rail around the
-mainmast, and with his right hand battered his
-face unmercifully. Then, seizing him by the
-throat, he flung him into the lee-scuppers, where
-he lay without movement.</p>
-
-<p>The Swede looked at his foe for a moment,
-then coolly walked over and wiped his boots on
-him. Next, turning towards the poop where
-Captain Monk and the officers stood, he touched
-his cap and said:&mdash;</p>
-
-<p>“I am second mate of the Swedish ship
-<i>Oscar Brandi</i>, and my father is captain. I went
-on shore for a walk, and hearing the music I
-went into a saloon and called for a drink. I
-sat down to watch the dancers, and knew no
-more until I found myself on board this ship.
-What will my father say or think? What will
-my employers say?”</p>
-
-<p>He stopped abruptly, and walked forward
-with his head bent, overwhelmed with his grief.</p>
-
-<p>Within another minute the two remaining
-crimps were hotly engaged with two of the
-ship’s crew whose relatives had been “shanghaied”
-aboard the Britishers. The sailors made
-short work of the crimps, and fairly wiped the
-deck with them.</p>
-
-<p>Captain Monk then ordered the hapless three
-to be locked up in separate cabins and fed on
-bread and water for a few days.</p>
-
-<p>“It will give them time to repent,” he said to
-the mate. “It won’t do to put them with the
-crew yet awhile&mdash;there would be murder done.
-In a few days they can go forward, and the
-crew will save us dirtying our hands with the
-scoundrels. Our chaps will lead them a dance,
-and they will wish to Heaven they had never
-laid their hands on my crew.”</p>
-
-<p>Just then the mate noticed the young fellow
-sitting on the hatch with his head in his hands.
-He seemed utterly dejected and oblivious of
-everything about him. The rest of the men
-had gone forward, and were excitedly discussing
-the matter of Sullivan and his mates being on
-board, each one swearing to have his pound of
-flesh out of the hated “shanghaiers.”</p>
-
-<p>The captain and the mate walked along to
-the young fellow on the hatch. Putting his
-hand kindly on his bowed head, Captain Monk
-said: “Come, come, young man; you must not
-give way like that. Sailors should always make
-the best of everything.”
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_456">456</span></p>
-
-<p>Lifting his head at the kindly touch and
-words, the young fellow replied:&mdash;</p>
-
-<p>“Oh, captain, whatever shall I do? I am
-not a sailor.”</p>
-
-<p>“Oh, never mind that,” said the mate.
-“You will soon learn here; so get forward with
-the others.”</p>
-
-<p>“Oh, captain, take pity on me!” cried the
-supposed young man, tremulously. “For
-Heaven’s sake, take pity on me! I am a
-respectable married woman! My husband is
-Police-constable Hogan of the Newcastle police.”</p>
-
-<p>The captain and mate were astounded, and
-for a moment could do nothing but stare at her.
-Then, seeing some of the men forward looking
-at them, Captain Monk said: “Come aft to the
-saloon and I will hear your story.”</p>
-
-<p>When they got into the cabin Mrs. Hogan
-told how the authorities at Sydney had heard
-something of the doings of Sullivan and his
-crimps, and had sent her husband to the district
-to get evidence against him. She had assisted
-him before, and on this occasion had dressed
-up in her present clothes and joined the sailors
-in the dance room to watch Sullivan and his
-satellites.</p>
-
-<p>“I called for a bottle of ginger-ale,” she said.
-“I watched him open the bottle, and I am sure
-there was nothing in the glass, for I saw it
-standing upside down on the counter; but I
-had not drunk it many minutes before I felt my
-head getting light, and I remember no more
-until I found myself on board this ship. I
-have abundant evidence against that blackguard
-Sullivan now, but it is no good as he is on
-board here. What shall I do? I have no clothes
-but these. I cannot go among those men.”</p>
-
-<p>“Steamer ahead, sir! Coming this way,”
-rang out the cry.</p>
-
-<p>“Aye, aye!”</p>
-
-<p>Captain Monk took a look at her through the
-telescope.</p>
-
-<p>“Run the ‘Urgent’ signal up!” he shouted.
-“It is the Union Company’s boat bound to
-Melbourne. I will send a letter and this woman
-on board. Back the mainyard, and get the boat
-out quick.”</p>
-
-<p>Up went the signal, and the steamer bore
-down towards the ship. Her decks were
-crowded with passengers.</p>
-
-<p>“You will go in the boat, Mrs. Hogan,” said
-the skipper, “and you had better explain things
-to the captain at once. My letter will tell him
-also. Mr. Patter, you go with the boat, and
-take four of our own hands with you. As soon
-as you give the letter to the captain, put this
-woman on board and return at once.”</p>
-
-<p>“Aye, aye, sir. Ship your oars! Let go
-forward!”</p>
-
-<p>The boat shot away and was soon alongside
-the steamer, and the mate and Mrs. Hogan
-climbed on board. Going along the bridge,
-Mr. Patter handed the letter to the captain, who
-read it and said:&mdash;</p>
-
-<p>“All right. Tell Captain Monk that I will
-take the woman to Melbourne. I am glad he
-has that blackguard on board. Good-bye.”</p>
-
-<p>The mate got back into his boat, the engines
-were rung ahead, the ensign was dipped three
-times, and before the boat was on board again
-the steamer was out of sight.</p>
-
-<p>Then the sails were filled once more and the
-<i>Jeremiah Crawford</i> stood on her course.</p>
-
-<p>Five days afterwards Sullivan and his mates
-were released and sent to live in the forecastle.
-Sullivan was put into the mate’s watch and the
-two crimps in the second mate’s watch.</p>
-
-<p>There was another row at once, and again
-the blackguards got a good thrashing. They
-were put to the most menial work, were made
-to wait on the others, and do all the dirty
-work about the decks; in fact, their lives were
-made a misery to them from morning till night.
-Hardly a day passed that one or other of the
-scoundrels did not get a licking. They had a
-taste of the misery they had caused many
-another man, and, as the captain had prophesied,
-they had time to repent of their misdeeds.</p>
-
-<p>When the <i>Jeremiah Crawford</i> arrived at San
-Francisco the pilot informed them that two
-British ships had just gone to the anchorage,
-adding that he noticed they were from Newcastle.
-This was good news to all but Sullivan
-and his crimps.</p>
-
-<p>As they moved up the harbour to their
-anchorage they passed close to the <i>Commonwealth</i>.
-On board her were some of the
-<i>Jeremiah Crawford’s</i> crew, and as they passed,
-one of the sailors called out, “We have Sullivan
-on board!”</p>
-
-<p>After the sails were unbent, all the running-gear
-triced up, and the decks washed down, the
-crew were dismissed.</p>
-
-<p>“Pay off to-morrow,” said the mate.</p>
-
-<p>“Aye, aye!” answered the crew.</p>
-
-<p>All hands went on shore, and Sullivan was
-forced, much against his will, to go with them.
-On the wharf where they landed stood the six
-American sailors whom Sullivan and his mates
-had “shanghaied” from Newcastle! Let us
-mercifully draw a veil over the crimp’s final
-punishment.</p>
-
-<p>Neither of the three blackguards turned up
-when the crew were paid off; no questions were
-asked, and no explanations given. But two
-years afterwards Sullivan appeared again at
-New South Wales&mdash;not the unscrupulous bully
-and braggart, but a broken, decrepit old man.
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_457">457</span></p>
-
-<hr class="chap" />
-<div id="Mountain_Tragedies_of_the_Lake_District" class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i040a.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption smcap">By a Member of the Alpine Club.</p>
-</div>
-
-<h2 class="hidden">Mountain Tragedies of the Lake District.</h2>
-
-<blockquote>
-
-<p>A contribution appealing to climbers and non-climbers alike. Although the writer prefers to
-remain anonymous, he is a well-known mountaineer. In this article he gives an authoritative and
-most interesting account of the various climbing fatalities which have occurred in the English Lake
-District, pointing out exactly how each disaster occurred. Photographs by G. P. Abraham, Keswick.</p></blockquote>
-
-<div>
-<img class="drop-cap" src="images/i.jpg" alt="I" />
-</div>
-
-<p class="drop-cap"><span class="upper-case">In</span> these days of hurry-scurry mountaineering,
-when the words of the
-wise are on every climber’s tongue
-and the intention to obey them in
-few men’s minds, a great deal is
-written concerning the perils of the mountains.
-The object of the greater part of these writings
-has been to elaborate in detail the various
-phases of mountaineering dangers and how to
-obviate them: in other words, how best to avoid
-accidents.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i040b.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">MICKLEDORE RIDGE AND THE BROAD STAND&mdash;THE CIRCLE MARKS THE SPOT FROM WHICH MR. HAARBLEICHER FELL AND THE CROSS THE POINT WHERE MR. PETTY LOST HIS BALANCE.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>It is a somewhat singular fact that, beyond a
-few generalities and platitudes evolved by non-climbing
-reporters, no record has been written
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_458">458</span>
-of the accidents themselves. And yet, in the
-case of the accidents that have occurred in the
-Lake District, much is to be learnt. Every
-disaster on the mountains, if properly understood,
-should teach a lesson, for the majority
-of them are only accidents in part, and have
-been directly due to the disregard or violation
-of some cardinal law governing the sport of
-mountaineering.</p>
-
-<p>If a man who has never been on a mountain
-in his life before
-endeavours to scale
-a steep precipice
-and loses his life
-in the attempt, can
-such be truly called
-an accident? Surely
-it would be more
-of an accident if he
-succeeded in winning
-through without
-mishap; a fatal
-fall may under such
-circumstances be
-called a tragedy&mdash;a
-disaster, but
-surely not an accident.</p>
-
-<p>And yet the circumstances
-of the
-so-called accident to Mr. Haarbleicher, a Manchester
-merchant, in 1892, were almost in
-accordance with the above instance.</p>
-
-<p>He arrived at Wastdale Head Hotel with his
-sister, and, being “anxious to climb his first
-mountain,” ascended Scawfell.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i041.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">SCAWFELL PINNACLE&mdash;PROFESSOR MARSHALL HAD JUST RETURNED FROM THIS CLIMB WHEN HE MET WITH HIS FATAL ACCIDENT.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>In attempting to descend to Mickledore by
-way of the Broad Stand, at the bottom of which
-is a steep cliff, he jumped downward on to a
-scree-covered slab, his feet shot from under
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_459">459</span>
-him, and he fell a distance of more than a
-hundred feet. As a result of his injuries he
-succumbed shortly after.</p>
-
-<p>This lower cliff of the Broad Stand was
-responsible for another fall, which, however,
-did not prove fatal. A Mr. Petty was climbing
-Mickledore Chimney with a large party, amongst
-whom was his <i>fianc&eacute;e</i>. The late J. W.
-Robinson was the leader. At the place where
-the Chimney is left and a step across to the
-Broad Stand effected, Mr. Petty took off the rope
-in order to let the leader throw the end of it
-down to the others of the party.</p>
-
-<p>An agonized shout from Petty caused Mr.
-Robinson to turn sharply, and he saw his companion
-shooting head downwards with terrific
-velocity to the screes below.
-The distance, carefully
-measured afterwards, was a
-hundred and seven feet. Some
-of the party, still at the foot
-of the Chimney, were horrified
-to see Mr. Petty hurtling
-through the air towards them,
-and narrowly escaped being
-struck.</p>
-
-<p>He fell face downward.
-The angle of his body conformed
-exactly to the slope
-of the screes, and his entire
-length struck the slope at
-once. It seems incredible
-that he could survive such a
-fall, and his friends never
-hoped to find him alive. His
-injuries was terrible, but
-nevertheless he still lived,
-and, by careful nursing, regained
-his full strength.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i042.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">THE PILLAR ROCK&mdash;THIS IS THE CLIMB THE NOVICES WERE ATTEMPTING WHEN MR. WALKER WENT TO THEIR ASSISTANCE.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>This is surely the most
-wonderful bit of luck that ever
-befell a climber. It transpired
-afterwards that he had
-grown impatient of waiting
-for the others to come up
-and had begun to fill in the
-time by a little desultory
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_460">460</span>
-climbing on a steep slab directly above him.
-Off this he had just slipped when he shouted
-and drew the attention of Mr. Robinson and
-the others.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i043.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">THE PILLAR ROCK AND SHAMROCK (NORTH SIDE)&mdash;THE CROSS SHOWS THE CLIFF MR. WALKER SLID OVER, NOW KNOWN AS “WALKER’S GULLY.”<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>Would that Professor Milnes Marshall, who
-was killed the following year on the opposite
-side of Scawfell, could have had such a
-providential escape! His fall could not have been
-one of more than twelve feet, and yet it proved
-too great.</p>
-
-<p>In company with the late Owen Glynne Jones
-and Joseph Collier, Professor Marshall had just
-previously climbed Scawfell Pinnacle by way of
-Steep Ghyll, returning down Deep Ghyll to the
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_461">461</span>
-foot of the crags, where they had lunch together.
-Being anxious to obtain a photograph of the
-Ghyll, Professor Marshall scrambled up the fell
-side opposite to its entrance.</p>
-
-<p>The nature of the ground was so easy and
-well broken up, although rocky and steep, that
-his companions never for a moment dreamt of
-disaster. Hearing a noise of falling stones they
-looked round and saw a cube of rock, about
-two feet in diameter, rolling down the mountain
-side. This was followed by the body of Professor
-Marshall. Both came to rest on the
-scree slope below the Lord’s Rake, where, to
-their great astonishment and horror, Messrs.
-Jones and Collier found the life of their companion
-quite extinct. Exactly how the accident
-happened will never be known, but it was surmised
-at the time that Mr. Marshall had stepped
-on the cube of rock and that it had given way
-with him. It has become proverbial that “it is
-on the easy places that accidents happen,” and
-no doubt it was the easy nature of the ground
-that caused a temporary carelessness on the
-part of a man who, in all mountaineering circles,
-was recognised as a most careful and cautious
-climber.</p>
-
-<p>We may pass over briefly the death of
-the Rev. James Jackson, who fell on the
-Pillar and was killed
-in May, 1878. He
-was alone at the
-time, but his body
-was found at the
-foot of a steep cliff,
-near the summit of the mountain. In walking
-along the top of the cliff he had evidently
-slipped over, but what caused him to do so
-will never be known. The fact that the
-reverend gentleman had attained to the ripe age
-of eighty-two years may suggest a broad reason.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i044.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">SCAWFELL PINNACLE AND DEEP GHYLL, SHOWING THE GHYLL AS IT APPEARED WHEN MR. GOODALL GLISSADED DOWN IT TO HIS DEATH.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>At Easter, nearly five years later, a party of
-novices were trying to climb the Pillar Rock
-from the east side. For some time they were
-unsuccessful. Just then another party reached
-the top of the Pillar Mountain; one of them, a
-Whitehaven youth of the name of Walker, had
-climbed the rock some time before. Seeing the
-predicament of the novices, he set off down a
-snow-slope towards them, intending to direct
-their ascent. He had only gone a few feet
-when he slipped on to his back and shot off
-down the snow. Gathering terrific and uncontrollable
-impetus as he slid, he reached the
-Rock, which juts out of the side of the mountain,
-in a few moments and dashed into it. His
-body bounded off it and then fell into a gully
-on the right. This was filled with hard snow,
-which carried him swiftly downward until the
-crest of a sheer cliff was reached. Over this, for
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_462">462</span>
-five hundred feet, he plunged, and far into the
-Ennerdale valley below, death, of course, being
-inevitable.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i045.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">SCAWFELL AND MICKLEDORE&mdash;THE DOUBLE CROSSES INDICATE THE LEDGE FROM WHICH THE PARTY OF FOUR FELL; THE SINGLE CROSS
-DENOTES WHERE PROFESSOR MARSHALL SLIPPED; AND THE CIRCLE SHOWS WHERE ALL THE BODIES, INCLUDING THAT OF MR. GOODALL, WERE FOUND.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>Of the witnesses of this accident two subsequently
-lost their reason, and the death of
-another shortly afterwards was attributed to the
-shock. And all for the want of a little caution
-and forethought on a snow-slope! Still, “out of
-evil comes good,” and no doubt the remembrance
-of this terrible tragedy and its contributory
-cause has ultimately saved many valuable
-lives. Only once since then has it been forgotten
-in the Lake District, and this led to the
-last tragedy that has happened. This was to
-poor Alexander Goodall, a Keswick youth, who
-deliberately set off glissading down the snow at
-the top of Deep Ghyll on Scawfell.</p>
-
-<p>To those of us who know the frightful velocity
-that is attained in a few feet on steep snow, and
-the long years of practice necessary to control
-this speed, such an act would appear quite
-inexplicable. But to him, whose first day on
-snow it was, and in entire ignorance of its
-insidious dangers, that downward slide would
-present no terrors, until, with balance gone and
-ice-axe snatched out of his grasp by the snow
-in which he wildly dug it, his mistake flashed
-across his mind with terrible meaning. Alas!
-he learnt his lesson too late; he did not live to
-profit by it, for his body dashed downward,
-crashing into the rocks as it sped, until it came
-to rest on the scree-slope five hundred feet
-below, within a few feet of the place on which
-Professor Marshall fell.</p>
-
-<p>A short three months before this same spot
-witnessed the most terrible of all the Lakeland
-tragedies, when a party of skilful climbers fell
-from the north face of Scawfell Pinnacle. Even
-the historical accident on the first ascent of the
-Matterhorn, when all of a large party were killed
-but Mr. Whymper and two guides, palls before
-this home disaster, for here four Englishmen in
-the prime of their youth were suddenly called
-away.</p>
-
-<p>On September 21st, 1903, Messrs. Broadrick,
-Garrett, Jupp, and Ridsdale started from Wastdale
-Head for Scawfell, intent upon climbing
-the Pinnacle by the difficult route from Deep
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_463">463</span>
-Ghyll. This they successfully accomplished,
-and afterwards redescended to the foot of the
-Pinnacle, where they had lunch with another
-climbing party, which was under Mr. W. E.
-Webb’s leadership.</p>
-
-<p>After lunch Mr. Webb’s party bade them <i>au
-revoir</i> and went off to climb one of the cracks
-on the far end of the crags. After their climb
-they foregathered on Mickledore Ridge, and
-thence set off along the base of the cliff to
-regain their knapsacks, which had been left at
-the lunching-place.</p>
-
-<p>As they neared the foot of the Pinnacle they
-heard a shout, but thought it came from the
-valley below. Leisurely they rounded a corner,
-and there, about fifty yards away, in the vicinity
-of the screes where they had lunched, saw four
-figures stretched out and lying quite still.</p>
-
-<p>In a disconnected way they thought at first
-that these four figures were asleep, though it was
-a peculiar place to fall asleep in; then something
-unusual about their attitudes became apparent,
-and not till then did the awful reality flash upon
-them.</p>
-
-<p>They tore across the rough intervening ground
-and made a dreadful discovery. Only Mr.
-Ridsdale was alive, and even he was obviously
-too terribly injured to recover. As they
-approached he raised his head. “I’ve been
-shouting for hours,” he murmured. “I’m afraid
-the others are all gone, but look after them and
-don’t mind me.” As he feared, they were past
-human aid, and death had evidently visited them
-with merciful swiftness, for their bodies were
-already cold.</p>
-
-<p>It was now nearly six o’clock, and little could
-be done for poor Ridsdale, but Mr. Webb and
-another of his party stayed with him whilst the
-other ran down to Wastdale for help.</p>
-
-<p>From that time until nearly ten o’clock they
-did all in their power to alleviate the sufferings
-of the survivor, who was in great pain. Darkness
-set in before seven o’clock, and their lonely
-vigil, with the wind sighing weirdly through the
-crags above their heads, their three erstwhile
-friends lying dead around them, and poor
-Ridsdale moaning and but half conscious most
-of the time, must have been an awful experience.
-The remembrance of Ridsdale’s heroic appeal
-to them to tend the others before him, and
-afterwards the manly efforts of Mr. Webb and
-his friend to help and sustain their dying comrade
-in such awful circumstances through those
-long, dark hours of waiting, must ever linger
-with pride in the hearts of all true Englishmen.
-We may be a degenerate race; but, if this
-Scawfell tragedy has done nothing else, it has
-proved that there are still men amongst us.</p>
-
-<p>Little more remains to be told. The rescue
-party arrived through the darkness with a
-stretcher, and by the light of the lanterns, after
-strenuous labour and weary suspense, succeeded
-in conveying the survivor downward over the
-rough stones and shale, only to find, alas! that
-their effort was in vain, for their burden expired
-about an hour before they gained the shelter of
-the inn.</p>
-
-<p>From what Mr. Ridsdale let fall in his
-delirium, and by an investigation of the face of
-the Pinnacle from which the party fell, it was
-not difficult to reconstruct their doings before
-the accident. After Mr. Webb’s party had left
-them they started up the north face of the
-Pinnacle, a climb that had not hitherto been
-accomplished, with Mr. Broadrick leading. He
-must subsequently have relinquished it, however,
-for their position on the rope when found
-showed that Mr. Garrett had taken over the
-lead. From a narrow ledge about two hundred
-feet up the sheer rock-face Mr. Garrett slipped,
-and the others, not being well placed to sustain
-a shock, were plucked one after another from
-their holds and dashed to the screes below.</p>
-
-<p>Apart from Mr. Garrett’s slip, there were two
-prime contributory causes of the accident. The
-first was the perseverance of the party beyond
-where good anchorage (a place where the
-leader could be checked by the rope in case
-of a slip) was obtainable; and the second
-was in not turning back and abandoning the
-climb when Mr. Broadrick, by far the most
-experienced and careful man in the party, gave
-up the leadership.</p>
-
-<p>It is easy to be wise after the event, but
-similar circumstances may arise some day on
-another climb. If the Scawfell Pinnacle disaster
-and its lesson are then recalled, it may be the
-means of working the salvation of future climbers,
-and the loss of four valuable men, plucked off
-in their prime, may not have been in vain.</p>
-
-<p class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i046.jpg" alt="" />
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_464">464</span></p>
-
-<hr class="chap" />
-<h2 id="Cupid_and_the_Dentist">Cupid and the Dentist.<br />
-
-<span class="medium smcap">By Dr. Paul S. Coleman.</span></h2>
-
-<blockquote>
-
-<p>The man who interferes in the love affairs of the passionate, hot-blooded people of Central America is
-likely to find he has stirred up a veritable hornets’ nest, and will be lucky if he escapes with his life. Such, at
-least, was Dr. Coleman’s experience in Salvador, but fortunately everything ended happily for all concerned.</p></blockquote>
-
-<div>
-<img class="drop-cap" src="images/t.jpg" alt="T" />
-</div>
-
-<p class="drop-cap"><span class="upper-case">Those</span> readers of <span class="smcap">The Wide World</span>
-who are familiar with my former
-narrative, entitled “Fallen Among
-Thieves,”<a id="FNanchor_1" href="#Footnote_1" class="fnanchor">1</a> will remember that my
-object in going into Central America
-was for the purpose of practising dentistry.</p>
-
-<div class="footnote">
-
-<p><a id="Footnote_1" href="#FNanchor_1" class="label">1</a>
-See April, 1908, issue.&mdash;<span class="smcap">Ed.</span></p></div>
-
-<p>While actively engaged in my profession in
-the Salvadorean city of Santa Ana, the following
-series of incidents occurred, which served to put
-a great deal of excitement into what might
-otherwise have been a somewhat humdrum
-existence.</p>
-
-<p>Before going farther it is necessary that the
-reader should understand some of the characteristics
-of the Salvadoreans, who are descendants
-of the ancient Spanish adventurers, with an
-admixture of native blood.</p>
-
-<p>The women, in my humble opinion, are for
-intelligence, character, and beauty the superiors
-of any other nation inhabiting the southern
-portion of the Western Hemisphere. As for the
-men, the Spanish blood seems to predominate
-in point of passion, for, besides being the most
-valiant soldier in time of war of any Central
-American race, the Salvadorean is also the most
-ardent lover and the most jealously-inclined
-towards his inamorata of any person upon the
-face of the earth. That also is my humble
-opinion, and that I have good grounds for my
-statement will presently appear.</p>
-
-<p>There are just two things the foreigner in
-Salvador must not do: he must not poke his
-nose into political squabbles or try to interfere
-in a love affair. Ten times out of ten, if you
-do, it will be to your very great sorrow not
-counting the danger you run.</p>
-
-<p>Now, when the wealthy coffee-planter or
-“hacienda” owner has need of the services of
-a doctor or dental surgeon he never thinks of
-leaving his plantation, but rounds up his mule-train,
-heads it with an excellent saddle animal,
-sends it off to the doctor, and invites the latter
-to pay him a visit. Experience has taught the
-practitioners that these invitations are very
-remunerative, and when the call comes
-business must certainly be very brisk to
-warrant a refusal. I, for one, have never found
-it advisable to decline, and so it happened
-that one Sunday afternoon I received a polite
-note requesting me to visit the Se&ntilde;or Don
-Eduardo Castillo, owner of the immense coffee
-plantation known as “Las Flores.” I should
-mention here that I have been compelled to
-use assumed names, for the family concerned is
-one of the most prominent in Salvador, and
-would not care for the notoriety which the
-publication of their name would give them.</p>
-
-<p>Next morning found me with my entire dental
-paraphernalia packed upon the backs of a
-number of mules, and myself, under the escort
-of half-a-dozen servants, traversing the mountain
-trails leading around the base of the big
-volcano eight miles north of Santa Ana, upon the
-way to the “finca” of Las Flores. The journey
-was made without incident, though it was far
-into the night before we arrived, the distance
-traversed being something like forty-five miles.</p>
-
-<p>Se&ntilde;or Eduardo met me at the door, and after
-partaking of a late dinner, being very much
-fatigued, I retired to my room, which was
-situated at the extreme end of the immense
-building. In point of furnishings and size the
-place constituted a small palace. Indeed, the
-manner in which the wealthy owners of these
-South American coffee plantations have managed
-to gather the comforts of life and many luxuries
-at so great a distance from a seaport or railroad
-is perfectly astounding. They have practically
-every modern convenience, and many others
-which you or I have never been used to.</p>
-
-<p>It was late next morning when I awoke, very
-sore and stiff from my long ride. I found,
-however, that I was just in time for “coffee,”
-which is usually served at ten o’clock. Here
-I had the pleasure of meeting the members of
-the family, consisting of the mother, an aunt,
-one son, and two very charming daughters, both
-of whom spoke perfect English, having attended
-a school in the City of London for several years.
-I decided immediately that my four weeks’ visit
-was going to be very enjoyable, and I flattered
-myself that I had made a fairly good impression
-upon my hosts.</p>
-
-<p>Life upon the “finca” was indeed delightful.
-Situated as it was at an altitude of over four
-thousand feet above sea-level, the days and
-nights were exhilaratingly cool and pleasant. I
-soon struck up a friendship&mdash;which still lasts&mdash;with
-the son of the house, and we enjoyed many
-pleasant hours in riding over the surrounding
-country. To the left, adjoining the plantation,
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_465">465</span>
-was the immense cattle ranch owned by a young
-man named Gonzales, who, I found out later,
-was very much in love with the elder of Don
-Eduardo’s daughters, while three leagues farther
-on was another coffee plantation owned by an
-old man named Vasquez, whose son, I understood,
-had been paying much attention to the
-younger girl.</p>
-
-<p>Two weeks passed very happily and speedily.
-Very early in my visit I became acquainted
-with how matters stood as regards the two courtships.
-The younger Vasquez, Roberto, had
-already proposed and had been accepted, while
-the other young man, Enrique, had been
-calling for several years&mdash;indeed, he often came
-two or three times a day&mdash;but as yet had never
-declared himself.</p>
-
-<p>Being by this time well acquainted with
-Roberto and his betrothed, I laughingly suggested
-one afternoon to the two daughters and
-himself that it would be a good idea, as a means
-of finding out exactly what Enrique’s intentions
-were, for me to kiss the Se&ntilde;orita Hortensia one
-day when Enrique called, doing it in such a
-manner that the bashful lover could not fail to
-see, but so that his witnessing the act should
-appear an accident. The se&ntilde;orita, being full
-of girlish fun, had no objection, and so it came
-to pass that the very next afternoon, when we
-saw Enrique coming over, Miss Hortensia and I
-repaired to a very secluded spot upon the
-veranda, but one which was clearly visible from
-the road. There, in plain view of the approaching
-Enrique, I administered the salute&mdash;much
-to my satisfaction. If I could have foreseen its
-outcome, however, I should certainly have
-thought twice about my action.</p>
-
-<p>Enrique saw me kiss the se&ntilde;orita just as he
-was dismounting, and, with an almost imperceptible
-start, he remounted his horse and
-galloped away. Then things began to happen.
-Hortensia&mdash;girl-like&mdash;retired to her room
-and commenced to weep, while her sister
-Leonia became very distant and chilly in her
-manner towards me, impressing upon me that if
-anything unpleasant occurred it would be all my
-fault. The only ones with whom I seemed to
-be upon anything like decent terms were the son
-and the elder people, who knew nothing about
-the state of miniature warfare I had thoughtlessly
-provoked. Dinner that evening, in consequence,
-was a very formal affair.</p>
-
-<p>As, somewhat disconsolately, I pondered over
-the matter that night before retiring, I resolved
-to hunt out Enrique early next day, explain
-things fully, and endeavour to bring about a
-reconciliation. Having settled the affair satisfactorily
-in my own mind, I climbed into bed
-for the night, and, after reading a short while,
-dropped off to sleep, leaving a lamp burning
-at my bedside.</p>
-
-<p>How long I slept I do not know, but suddenly
-something woke me, and I opened my eyes to
-behold, standing at the foot of the bed, calmly
-surveying my person, a disreputable-looking
-Indian! In his right hand he held a
-“machete,” or huge cane knife, about four
-feet long, and as I watched him he ran his
-finger along the edge, seemingly to ascertain
-whether or not it was sharp enough for the
-business he intended it for. Grabbing my
-pillow, I sprang to my feet on the bed and
-backed against the wall&mdash;just in time to catch
-a heavy blow from the machete upon the pillow,
-which I held in front of me as a shield. For
-the moment I had forgotten all about the
-revolver which I usually kept under my head,
-and which now lay exposed in the lamplight.
-As I reached for it the would-be assassin’s
-nerve failed him, and with a rush he fled out of
-the door. A moment later I heard him mount
-a horse and make off at a gallop down the road.</p>
-
-<p>There was, of course, no more sleep for me
-until daylight. I had no doubt that Enrique,
-maddened by jealousy, was the prime mover in
-the performance, which, needless to say, upset
-me very badly. Nevertheless, I had resolved
-to see Enrique that day, and now I was more
-than ever anxious to clear up the unfortunate
-misunderstanding that had arisen. So, saddling
-early, I proceeded towards the cattle ranch,
-taking with me the boy servant who had been
-kindly assigned to me by Don Eduardo. When
-we were about a mile from the ranch the boy, to
-my amazement, suddenly doubled up and began
-to howl. Springing from my horse and running
-to him, I found a bullet-hole through the fleshy
-part of his thigh, from which the blood flowed
-freely. The wound had undoubtedly been
-caused by a high-power rifle bullet, fired at such
-a distance that it was impossible to hear the
-report. Dressing the wound as best I could, I
-took the lad up behind me and made for Las
-Flores, where I put him to bed and redressed
-the wound. Things were getting a good bit too
-lively for my liking, and I would much rather
-have been in Santa Ana just then than where
-I was. If I had not been afraid of assassination
-on the road I would certainly have made my
-departure immediately.</p>
-
-<p>This second adventure, of course, caused
-considerable excitement in the family, as I had
-already mentioned my night’s alarm, and I was
-the object of much sympathy from the young
-ladies, who now began to take my part. I sent
-several notes over to Enrique’s place, and Don
-Eduardo also went across to look him up, but
-he was not to be found.
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_466">466</span></p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i049.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">“ENRIQUE SAW ME KISS THE SE&Ntilde;ORITA JUST AS HE WAS DISMOUNTING.”</p>
-</div>
-
-<p>About this time another misfortune befell me.
-Roberto came over and found me holding a
-very earnest conversation with his betrothed.
-Knowing nothing of previous happenings, this
-fiery-tempered young man became violently
-enraged, and, without asking any explanation,
-immediately attacked me with a heavy riding-whip.
-We had a smart struggle, but I succeeded
-in wresting it from him and knocking
-him down with a blow from my fist. Springing
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_467">467</span>
-to his feet with a snarl, he made off as fast as
-his legs would carry him, leaving his horse tied
-to the gate. The se&ntilde;orita promptly swooned,
-and the last glimpse Roberto got of us showed
-me carrying the young lady in my arms into
-the house. I have a faint recollection of seeing
-him shake his fist at me and grind his gleaming
-white teeth.</p>
-
-<p>Well, now I was “up against it” properly,
-with two heart-broken girls on my hands and
-two lovers vowing to have my life. I discussed
-the matter at length with Don Eduardo, explaining
-to him that, while I liked the young
-ladies very much indeed and valued their
-friendship greatly, I was not in love with them
-and had done nothing to warrant anyone in
-thinking I was, the “kiss incident” notwithstanding.
-It seemed very hard lines that I
-should go in peril of my life and get into
-general hot water through trying, by means of a
-harmless joke, to bring a bashful or undecided
-lover “up to the scratch.”</p>
-
-<p>Needless to say, I was very much worried by
-the turn things were taking, and for several days
-I got very little sleep. One night, while tossing
-wakefully upon my bed, I seemed to feel some
-danger in the air, so much so that I got up and
-lit the lamp to get rid of the feeling of
-depression which seemed to overwhelm me.
-Lying down again, I fell into a light slumber.
-Presently I was awakened by something touching
-me upon the shoulder. Opening my eyes, I saw
-right above me, with his head and one shoulder
-through the window, the same old Indian who
-had previously visited me. He was trying to
-slip a noose over my head by means of a long
-stick, but the instant I opened my eyes he disappeared.
-A moment later the noose slipped
-over the bed-post, dragging the entire end out
-bodily and jerking it against the wall. There
-followed a snort and a grunt outside, and the
-sound of a horse dashing off.</p>
-
-<p>Next morning revealed a broken saddle to
-which the rope had been tied, it evidently being
-the intention to jerk me through the window&mdash;which
-stood eleven feet from the ground&mdash;thus
-breaking my neck most effectually.</p>
-
-<p>In spite of this little interlude, the night’s
-adventures were not yet over by any means, and
-I had scarcely got over this first shock when a
-bundle was flung through the window, landing
-upon the mattress by my side. Shoving it hurriedly
-off on to the floor, I found it contained a
-hissing and squirming mass of snakes, and soon
-the room was filled with a score or so of the
-vipers usually known in the medical world as
-“corals”&mdash;the only really deadly reptiles in that
-part of the country, their bite being often known
-to kill in thirty minutes.</p>
-
-<p>As I slept some distance from anyone else I
-did not care to arouse the household in the
-middle of the night, so I spent the remaining
-hours perched upon a bookcase, out of reach of
-harm. It is needless to say that before the slaying
-of the reptiles was over next morning the
-commotion upon the “finca” was at fever-heat
-and no work was done at all, the labourers
-being dispatched in different directions in a vain
-effort to find either of the two revengeful youths.</p>
-
-<p>At night, when no trace had been found of
-either of them, Se&ntilde;or Eduardo, greatly perturbed,
-dispatched a note to the nearest Alcalde
-for police protection. This, however, could not
-arrive until the second day, and in the meanwhile
-I also took a trip over to the two plantations
-in an effort to locate the belligerents and
-explain matters.</p>
-
-<p>That night nothing out of the ordinary
-happened, but I took pains to fasten my room
-securely, and obtained a good night’s rest. Next
-day I again endeavoured to locate Messrs.
-Roberto and Enrique, but without success. The
-following evening I happened to be strolling up
-and down the long front veranda with the
-Se&ntilde;orita Hortensia, who had now become somewhat
-reconciled to the new state of affairs. We
-had stopped to look at the reflection of the
-moon upon a lake a mile or so down the valley,
-when, without the slightest warning, a figure rose
-silently from the shadow of a bush and hurled
-an immense knife directly at the young lady.
-The father and son, who were sitting upon the
-steps, saw the movement, and leapt to their feet
-with yells of alarm. As in the other cases, however,
-Providence seemed to be with us, and the
-dagger merely pierced the se&ntilde;orita’s dress,
-though it missed her body only by a couple of
-inches.</p>
-
-<p>Seeing that no harm had occurred, we three
-men sprang forward and captured the would-be
-assassin just as he was in the act of flinging
-another of his murderous missiles at the fainting
-girl. It proved to be Enrique, and he put up a
-nasty fight before he was finally landed by the
-heels. At this stage Hortensia, having recovered
-from the shock, took the lead in the
-affair and immediately appropriated the prisoner
-to herself. When we finally got through explaining
-things to him, he came round completely
-and apologized most generously for all
-that he had done. That night there was much
-rejoicing at Las Flores, and the announcement
-was made that Enrique and Hortensia were to
-be married very shortly.</p>
-
-<p>Everyone seemed to have temporarily forgotten
-about the Se&ntilde;orita Leonia and her
-troubles, but Enrique suddenly remembered
-them and volunteered to go immediately and
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_468">468</span>
-fetch Roberto. An hour later the two young
-men returned together, and another reconciliation
-took place. Don Eduardo, all smiles now,
-settled things for the lovers, and the billing and
-cooing was quite affecting. Next night a grand
-“biallie,” or dance, was held at the “finca,”
-and the whole countryside was invited. Soon
-after the banns were posted for a double
-wedding, at which, several weeks later, the girls’
-brother and myself acted as “best men.”
-There is now a little Enrique and a little
-Roberto, to say nothing of a young Pablo,
-named in my honour, and of whom I am the
-proud godfather. Master Pablo little knows,
-however, what a time his worthy godparent
-had of it when he foolishly tried to adjust
-the love affairs of the aforesaid Master Pablo’s
-parents.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i051.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">“SHOVING IT HURRIEDLY OFF ON TO THE FLOOR, I FOUND IT CONTAINED A HISSING AND SQUIRMING MASS OF SNAKES.”
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_469">469</span></p>
-</div>
-
-<hr class="chap" />
-<h2 class="hidden">My Experiences in Algeria.</h2>
-
-<div id="My_Experiences_in_Algeria" class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i052a.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption smcap">By the Baroness de Boerio.</p>
-</div>
-
-<blockquote>
-
-<p>The Baroness’s husband, an officer in the French army, was ordered to Algeria, and took his wife
-and children with him. There, located at a tiny post far from civilization, in the midst of fierce and
-unruly tribes, the authoress met with some very strange adventures, which she here sets forth in a
-chatty and amusing fashion.</p></blockquote>
-
-<h3>III.</h3>
-
-<div>
-<img class="drop-cap" src="images/w.jpg" alt="W" />
-</div>
-
-<p class="drop-cap"><span class="upper-case">We</span> climbed into the regimental brake
-very gladly, had a good breakfast at
-Boghar, and then, at four o’clock in
-the afternoon, started for the first
-caravanserai, Ain Ousera, on the
-way to Laghouat, where we ought to have arrived
-at about half-past seven. However, half-past
-nine came, and still no caravanserai was in
-sight. The night was of an inky blackness,
-and we began to suspect that we had lost
-our way. My husband accordingly stopped
-the carriage and questioned the driver, who
-acknowledged that he had only been that
-way once before,
-and was not very sure
-of his route. In this
-country, where there
-are no roads, one
-always follows the
-direction of the telegraph
-posts.</p>
-
-<p>“Where are they?”
-asked my husband.</p>
-
-<p>The Spahi hung his
-head abashed.</p>
-
-<p>“I have not seen
-one since it grew dark,”
-he confessed.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i052b.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">ARAB WOMEN WASHING IN A STREAM.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>There was no use
-being angry and
-abusing him, so my
-husband set to work
-to gain some idea of
-our position. Happily
-we met an Arab, who
-gave us the indication
-required, and we set
-out again at a good pace. Whether the Arab
-gave us the wrong direction, or whether the
-driver deviated, I cannot say; but we were
-spinning along, making up for lost time, when
-suddenly the horses were flung back on their
-haunches and a voice yelled, “Back! Back!
-<i>Malheureux</i>!” The Spahi fortunately obeyed
-the command, and my husband jumped out
-quickly to see what new adventure had befallen
-us. This one, however, came very near being
-our last, for we had been stopped by the
-guardian on the very brink of a quarry!
-Another few yards and we should have leapt
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_470">470</span>
-into space and fallen down a precipice some
-thirty feet deep. My husband was afraid to
-trust the soldier driver any more, so he arranged
-with the quarry guardian to guide us, and we
-ultimately arrived at Ain Ousera towards 2 a.m.,
-tired out and as hungry as wolves. We woke
-up the landlord and asked for beds and food.
-There was nothing to be had, he said, but bread,
-potatoes, and eggs, but we told him that would
-do if some strong, hot coffee accompanied it.
-An hour later we were all snoring.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i053.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">“THE HORSES WERE FLUNG BACK ON THEIR HAUNCHES AND A VOICE YELLED, ‘BACK! BACK!’”</p>
-</div>
-
-<p>The rest of our journey was less adventurous.
-At a caravanserai called Gelt Es Stel we were
-to send back the regimental brake and continue
-our road in a carriage sent by the Bach-Agha of
-Laghouat. We waited in vain for the promised
-vehicle, however, and when, on the second day,
-the mail and passenger coach came in, we
-decided it was better to continue our journey
-by that. The <i>coup&eacute;</i>&mdash;a small compartment for
-three in the front of the coach&mdash;was all that was
-available, so in we got&mdash;my husband, myself,
-three children, and four dogs! I shall never
-forget that journey. My legs were too long for
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_471">471</span>
-the space, and the cramp at last grew unbearable,
-while the roof was so near my head that I
-had to sit perfectly still, with a swanlike curve of
-the neck which, though perhaps very graceful,
-was also excruciatingly uncomfortable. No one
-was more devoutly thankful than myself when
-at last we finally reached our destination.</p>
-
-<p>Laghouat, or, properly speaking, El-Aghouath,
-the “Pearl of the South,” as the Arabs call it, is
-built on and around two rocks rising out of the
-burning plain and cutting the oasis in two, thus
-giving it the form of a green horse-shoe. A
-small canalized stream passes between the two
-rocks, watering first the north and then the
-south oasis.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i054.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">THE TOWN OF LAGHOUAT, ON THE EDGE OF THE DESERT.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>From the top of these rocks the view, to the
-lover of Sahara beauty, is magnificent. Away to
-the south stretches the desert, sterile and naked,
-save for the tufts of vegetation here and there,
-yet the lights and shades of colour are so variable
-and rich that it is a pure joy to gaze over its
-infinity. On the north the undulating flatness is
-relieved by a low line of rocky barren hills,
-round the top of which is a curious dark line,
-which one could swear was a high-water mark.
-On a hot summer day these hills rise black as
-coal out of the flame of golden sand around
-them; then, as evening draws nigh, some become
-pale rose-colour, others deepest pansy purple, or
-bright ochre yellow, and all so vivid, so luminous,
-that the artist despairs of transferring their
-colours to his canvas.</p>
-
-<p>Nearly all the houses at Laghouat are built
-of mud bricks, mixed with straw and baked in
-the sun. As a child I used to be very much
-perplexed by the Israelites’ complaint during their
-Egyptian captivity, “How can we make bricks,
-for we have no more straw?” No one could
-explain the matter to me satisfactorily, but now
-I understood. In these parts, when the earth
-is not sand, it is clay. This clay is well wetted
-and patted, in the way dear to the childish
-heart, and then mixed and rolled in very short
-straw. Afterwards it is put in a square wooden
-frame, well patted once more, turned out in
-rows, and left to bake in the sun for a fortnight.
-The bricks are then stacked up ready for use.</p>
-
-<p>Personally, I liked these houses immensely;
-it was so easy to put nails in the walls solidly.
-As a rule, things I nail up fall down suddenly,
-without any warning, on some revered head&mdash;never
-on mine, because I take care not to place
-myself underneath the work of my own hands.
-In the Laghouat houses, however, you can plant
-a good long nail boldly. It enters as though into
-butter, you hang up your picture, or whatever it
-is, and then go outside and hang a pot of
-flowers or a water-pot on the point which has
-come through&mdash;and there you are, perfectly
-balanced on both sides! But these mud houses
-have one rather serious drawback. When it
-rains&mdash;fortunately this only occurs at very rare
-intervals&mdash;the buildings, unless strongly white
-washed, have a tendency to fall down and melt
-away into shapeless mud-heaps. This is all in
-the day’s work to the Arab, and does not upset
-him overmuch, unless a child&mdash;or what is to him
-worse, a sheep or horse&mdash;is buried in the ruins.
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_472">472</span>
-He just camps out under a camel hair tent in
-the highest part of his garden, or, if he hasn’t a
-tent, under a carpet&mdash;everyone has a carpet.
-Then, when it ceases raining, he serenely
-rebuilds. “Tu cha Allah!” he says&mdash;“It is
-the will of God.”</p>
-
-<p>The rain-storms, though infrequent, are really
-terrifying when they do come. I have seen
-waves several feet high turning the corner of my
-house, and that half an hour after a downpour
-began. The river of sand, Oued M’zi, which
-becomes Oued Djdid farther on, fills with water
-in the twinkling of an eye, and is soon a deep,
-roaring torrent two
-miles broad; it is perfectly
-incredible the
-rapidity with which the
-floods rise.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i055.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">A LAGHOUT MUD-HOUSE&mdash;DURING THE RAIN-STORMS THESE
-BUILDINGS HAVE AN AWKWARD HABIT OF MELTING AWAY!<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>This Oued M’zi is
-supposed by the Roman
-historian Juba to be
-the real source of the
-Nile. It is an uncanny
-river, disappearing
-underground at various
-points for several days’
-march. It finally disappears
-altogether at
-Cholt Melghir, but the
-Roman historian points
-out that after twenty
-days’ march it reappears
-as the source
-of the Nile.</p>
-
-<p>Some seven years
-before I arrived at
-Laghouat, I was informed,
-the M’zi rose
-to such a height that
-it bore all before it on
-the north side of the
-oasis. Men, women,
-children, tents, and
-herds were carried away
-for many kilometres,
-and the deaths by drowning numbered several
-hundred.</p>
-
-<p>I remember once passing a night of anguish
-when my husband was away in the south. I had
-changed my house during his absence and taken
-a smaller one, with a huge garden, in the north
-oasis, some hundred yards from the river. The
-autumn rains began, and soon my garden and
-outer court were under water. The river came
-thundering down, and the mud house seemed to
-quiver. Towards ten at night the sound of the
-swift-rushing flood grew so terrific that my heart
-almost stood still, and I remembered the catastrophe
-of seven years back. “Why, oh, why
-did I leave our solid stone house to inhabit this
-dangerous hole?” I asked myself.</p>
-
-<p>I tramped across the court, knee-deep in
-water, to my Arab servant’s room.</p>
-
-<p>“Mohammed,” I cried, “come with me to
-see if the pathway to town is in a good enough
-state to take the children to the hotel. The
-water frightens me; we shall be drowned like
-rats in a trap.”</p>
-
-<p>We tried to open the garden door giving on
-the wall-lined pathway along which the irrigation
-stream ran, and which was the only road to the
-town for the houses or gardens of the northern
-oasis. The door opened
-outward, and fortunately
-for us the pressure
-of water against it
-was so heavy that our
-united strength could
-not move it half an
-inch.</p>
-
-<p>Mohammed accordingly
-climbed on the
-wall and looked down.
-The water was nearly
-six feet deep! He
-descended hastily, observing
-calmly, with a
-critical look at the wall,
-“It’s a very old wall.
-It must be the will of
-Allah that it does not
-fall.”</p>
-
-<p>There was obviously
-nothing to be done, so
-I retired indoors and
-changed my clothes,
-for I was soaking wet.
-The waters thundered
-and swirled all about
-us, and I was thankful
-indeed when daylight
-came and the flood
-gradually began to
-subside.</p>
-
-<p>The women of Laghouat never go out by day,
-and at night are closely veiled as they journey
-under escort from one relation’s house to
-another; even the lower classes and the dancing
-women faithfully observe this custom. Only on
-two feasts, which last three and seven days&mdash;the
-“Aid el Srir” and “Aid el Kebir,” the “little”
-and “great” Feast of the Sheep, which correspond
-with the Jewish Passover and killing of
-the Paschal lamb&mdash;do the latter ladies don their
-finest clothes and strut about barefaced.</p>
-
-<p>Their costumes are indeed splendid&mdash;silks
-and brocades of the very best quality and the
-most lovely hues, with gold, silver, and gem-studded
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_473">473</span>
-embroideries. The veils hanging from
-their bejewelled head-dresses are of cloth of
-silver and gold, their bosoms are covered with
-precious stones, and the noise of the numerous
-bracelets they wear on arms and legs can be
-heard some way off.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i056a.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">A SCENE IN THE SAHARA.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>The dancing women of the province of Algiers
-and Oran are nearly all of the tribes of the
-Ouled Najls. The women of these tribes have
-chosen dancing as their profession, and when
-quite young they go forth to earn their dowry by
-“tripping on the light fantastic toe.” When
-they have earned it they generally return home,
-marry, and make as good wives and mothers as
-the rest of womenkind.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i056b.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">A GROUP OF DANCING GIRLS OF THE OULED NAJL.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>There are now about thirty-eight tribes of
-Ouled Najls, stretching from Biskara to the
-Djebel-Amour, all pastoral, wandering wherever
-the blessed rain of heaven falls and grasses
-grow, without taking any notice of distance or
-frontiers. The supreme happiness of a Najl is
-to find a quiet corner where the grass is green
-and abundant, and there to snooze under the
-sun’s rays, watching his sheep and camels fatten,
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_474">474</span>
-and fattening himself as well, for
-he lives chiefly on their milk.
-Later he exchanges his flocks
-for corn, dates, and everything
-necessary for his existence. Truly
-these people are still in the age
-of Abraham.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i057.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">THE BACH-AGHA OF THE LARBAAS, AN IMPORTANT ARAB CHIEF.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>A fortnight after I arrived at
-Laghouat the Bach-Agha
-of the Larbaas (a tribe
-of warriors who have
-always been faithful
-to France) gave a
-“diffa” in our
-honour. Warned by
-my experience of
-painful memory at
-Teniet-el-Haad, I did
-not try to partake of
-all the twenty-five
-dishes which were
-served in weary succession.
-After the
-repast was over we
-paid a visit to the
-chief’s two wives.
-The favourite, a
-young woman of
-twenty-four, was
-most beautifully
-dressed in eau-de Nil
-brocade. The
-costume was that of
-the Algiers women,
-full trousers closing
-in tightly round the
-small, silk-socked,
-golden-slippered feet.
-Then came a three-quarter
-skirt of the
-same material and a
-much-embroidered
-tight-fitting bodice.
-The front of this
-latter garment was so
-covered with jewels
-that the stuff was
-hardly visible. The
-head-dress was composed
-of silk handkerchiefs
-and chains
-of gold and precious
-stones. She had two
-children, a boy of
-eight and a girl ten
-years old. She told
-me she was very
-happy, that she had
-been married to the
-Bach-Agha since she was twelve
-years old, and that he had only
-beaten her once, when she had
-broken one of her pieces of
-jewellery in a temper. She
-showed us the very piece, with
-much laughter&mdash;a big, finely-worked
-gold filigree
-disc.</p>
-
-<p>“You did not
-laugh so loudly when
-you felt the <i>matraque</i>
-on your shoulders,”
-said a grim voice
-behind her.</p>
-
-<p>Without another
-word she pulled one
-of her handkerchiefs
-over her face and
-stood motionless. It
-was now our turn to
-laugh, which we did
-heartily, for we had
-seen the Bach-Agha
-come in, and had
-understood his sign
-for us not to betray
-him.</p>
-
-<p>After teasing her
-a little the good old
-man&mdash;he was sixty&mdash;told
-her to unveil,
-but not to boast too
-much of her one
-beating, or he should
-have to make it two.</p>
-
-<p>We much admired
-the beautiful carpets
-and embroidered
-cushions on the
-marble floor, and the
-handsome silver and
-brass jugs, cups, and
-plates which adorned
-the Arab brackets,
-but we thought the
-four-poster bed, with
-white muslin curtains,
-which stood in
-the far corner, rather
-out of place.</p>
-
-<p>The young wife’s
-apartments consisted
-of two big rooms,
-about fourteen yards
-long by four wide,
-both leading out into
-a big square court
-with pink marble
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_475">475</span>
-pillars, where palms and various other exotic
-plants flourished. In the centre was a fountain
-where goldfish glinted.</p>
-
-<p>Then we went to see the other wife, old, like
-her husband. Her room was big, her bed comfortable,
-her clothing good, but everything was
-of the simplest. Her only jewel was a tiny gold
-brooch fastening a drapery drawn round the
-head under the chin. She seemed too weary
-to talk.</p>
-
-<p>“Life is over for me,” she said. “My
-children are dead; my husband has not spoken
-to me for years. I, too, shall soon be gone.”
-And she clacked her tongue in her cheek in a
-dismally resigned fashion. I felt heavy-hearted
-as I went out.</p>
-
-<p>“How sad!” I said to Ben Aouda, one of
-the Bach-Agha’s three grown-up sons. “I
-thought she was your mother.”</p>
-
-<p>“My mother and my brothers’ mother has
-been dead a long time,” he replied. “That
-one”&mdash;and I distinguished a shade of contempt
-in his voice&mdash;“only gave my father daughters&mdash;feeble
-creatures who died young.”</p>
-
-<p>If an Arab woman wishes to retain any power
-she may ever have had over her husband, she
-must first be a mother, and, secondly, the mother
-of male children, strong and lusty. There are,
-of course, exceptions; I knew of one at Laghouat
-later. The two longed for a family. They made
-pilgrimages to all sorts of outlandish places.
-In accordance with Arab superstitions, the
-husband tore the still-throbbing heart out of
-countless jackals’ palpitating bodies and devoured
-it warm, while his wife wore all sorts of
-horrible fetishes round her neck and drank the
-blood of hyenas. It was all of no avail, but
-despite the advice and worrying of his family he
-refused to divorce her or to take another wife,
-as the law allowed him. But he was a very
-rare exception to the general rule.</p>
-
-<p>Besides the Bach-Agha’s, I used to visit at
-the rival house, where lived descendants of
-other rulers of Laghouat. Here I was often
-amused by the harmless little intrigues I came
-across. The master of the house possessed
-three very pretty and very young wives, ruled
-and guarded by his mother&mdash;one of the jolliest,
-gayest old ladies I have ever met. She was
-always draped in a spotless fine woollen <i>melhafa</i>,
-bordered with green.</p>
-
-<p>It was extraordinary, seeing the secluded life
-they led, how familiar these young wives were
-with Laghouat society.</p>
-
-<p>Peeping through their closely-latticed window,
-looking on to the road, they would say: “Ah!
-there goes Lieutenant This, or Captain That,”
-and then they would tell me stories concerning
-these officers that I had no idea of, and enjoy
-my surprise.</p>
-
-<p>“We may be shut up, but we know everything
-that goes on and have plenty of fun,” they would
-say. One day when I arrived, however, I found
-their harmony disturbed. Zohra, an Algiers
-Moor, kept apart, silent and sullen, darting looks
-of hatred at Aicha, who was happily nursing her
-lately-born son.</p>
-
-<p>Hennia, the youngest, following my gaze,
-whispered: “She is mad with jealousy because
-Aicha has a son, and our lord is pleased with
-Aicha and angry with Zohra, who has been four
-years married and has given him no offspring.”</p>
-
-<p>“And you?” I inquired.</p>
-
-<p>She shrugged her slender shoulders. “It is
-only six months since he brought me to his
-house, and the last wife is never the least until
-many moons have waned.”</p>
-
-<p>Worried by Zohra’s look I returned shortly,
-but she sullenly refused to speak to me. Then,
-suddenly, one day as I was leaving, she ran
-after me and drew me aside. “I hate her! I
-hate her!” she panted. “She has stolen his
-love from me. Help me, O Roumia, help me,
-or I shall die.”</p>
-
-<p>“What can I do for you?” I inquired, rather
-upset by her burning gaze and passionate
-whisper.</p>
-
-<p>“Bring me the little white powder,” she
-breathed, “the dear little powder, to sweeten her
-coffee and make her sleep, sleep, sleep!”</p>
-
-<p>She seized my wrists and held me fast, her
-eyes blazing like those of a madwoman.</p>
-
-<p>“To do evil that good may come” is not
-usually one of my principles, but on this occasion
-I thought it excusable. So I promised
-her the powder, and, what is more, I took her
-not one, but two! One, for her rival, was composed
-of chalk and sugar, and the other, for
-herself, of Epsom salts.</p>
-
-<p>“For these powders to have any effect you
-must take another at the same time,” I told her,
-impressively. “If Aicha has really stolen your
-share of your lord’s love from you she will surely
-die; but if you have accused her wrongly, then
-you yourself will be the one to suffer. You will
-not die, but you will suffer.” She eagerly
-agreed&mdash;and she certainly suffered, too; but her
-jealousy was effectually cured, and my next visit
-found the trio reunited and full of their usual
-light-hearted tittle-tattle. When I told the story
-to the husband he laughed as Arabs seldom
-laugh.</p>
-
-<h3><span class="smcap">The End.</span>
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_476">476</span></h3>
-<hr class="chap" />
-
-<h2 class="hidden">Ways That Are Dark.<br />
-
-<span class="medium">Some Records of Roguery.</span></h2>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<a href="images/i059.jpg">
-<img src="images/i059.jpg" alt="" /></a>
-<p class="caption"><span class="smcap">By Ralph Stock, R. L. C. Morrison, and A. E. MacGrotty.</span></p>
-</div>
-
-<blockquote>
-
-<p>“For ways that are dark and tricks that are vain,” says Bret Harte’s famous poem, “the heathen
-Chinee is peculiar.” The subjoined examples of clever rascality, however, show that the Celestial has
-by no means a monopoly of the gentle art of living at other people’s expense.</p></blockquote>
-
-<h2 id="MY_ADVENTURES_IN_FRISCO">I.&mdash;MY ADVENTURES IN ‘FRISCO.<br />
-
-<span class="medium smcap">By Ralph Stock.</span></h2>
-
-<div>
-<img class="drop-cap" src="images/i.jpg" alt="I" />
-</div>
-
-<p class="drop-cap"><span class="upper-case">It</span> was on the first anniversary of the
-great earthquake that I found myself
-in San Francisco. The city was a
-forest of scaffolding and steam-cranes;
-huge blocks of stone and
-concrete hung suspended above the streets on
-their way to clothe the towering “quake-proof”
-steel frameworks that rose from the <i>d&eacute;bris</i> of
-former buildings like gigantic skeletons. Hills
-of bricks, mortar, and plaster confronted the
-pedestrian at every turn, and the dust from
-these and the streets generally made the city
-a blinding, choking wilderness.</p>
-
-<p>The demand for labour in rebuilding had
-drawn to San Francisco the very dregs of
-humanity throughout the Americas, and strikes,
-street riots, and robberies with violence were of
-daily occurrence. The authority of the police
-was a sinecure; fat, good-natured giants in white,
-uniforms and helmets, with truncheons swinging
-from their wrists, leant against hoardings at
-street corners and smoked cigarettes, or earnestly
-requested a striker who became more than
-usually vociferous to “Cut it out” or “Go way
-back and sit down.”</p>
-
-<p>It appears that in “’Frisco” the cheapest way
-of living is by drinking, for by buying five cents’
-worth of inferior beer one is entitled to eat at a
-“free lunch counter” adjacent to the bar and
-have a cut from the joint and cheese and
-biscuits <i>ad lib</i>. To a world-wanderer like
-myself, whose income was, to say the least,
-precarious, this was a great institution; and it
-was at one of these counters that I met a would-be
-guide, philosopher, and friend in the form of
-a gaunt youth who, after a brief exchange of
-civilities, professed the desire to show me a
-little of ‘Frisco under-life&mdash;at my expense. He
-promised me Chinese opium and gambling dens
-and orgies in subterranean dancing-halls, with
-attendant excitements undreamed of by my
-prosaic mind.</p>
-
-<p>Such an appeal to the adventure-loving spirit
-that lies hidden in most of us was irresistible.
-I closed with the offer, and after investing in a
-cheap revolver, that was quite as likely to hurt
-the man behind it as the one in front, we set
-out for the less frequented parts of the city.
-Down by the docks the streets were dark and
-deserted, and my guide improved the occasion
-by relating the various “sand-baggings” and
-assaults that had distinguished the quarter
-during the past week.</p>
-
-<p>The only lighted shop we passed was a small
-tobacco booth, where I stopped to buy cigarettes.
-This could hardly have taken me more than two
-minutes, yet when I stepped out into the street
-I found my unfortunate guide lying face downwards
-on the pavement, with a thin stream of
-red creeping from his forehead towards the
-gutter. For a brief moment I thought he had
-fainted; then I saw his clothes had been rifled,
-and, glancing up the street, discerned the dim
-outline of three dark figures trotting silently and
-apparently without haste into the gloom.</p>
-
-<p>A wave of anger took possession of me; the
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_477">477</span>
-cowardly assailants evidently thought they would
-get off scot-free after an easy and profitable
-night’s work. I longed to give them at least a
-scare for their money.</p>
-
-<p>Leaving my companion, still insensible, to
-the care of the tobacconist, I dashed up the
-street in pursuit. My footfalls echoed along
-the deserted thoroughfare like rifle-shots, so I
-hastily discarded my boots and continued the
-chase in socks.</p>
-
-<p>Rather to my surprise I soon came in sight of
-the three figures in front, who had now dropped
-into a leisurely walk. This confidence in their
-security for some reason angered me the more,
-and in the deep shadows of a wall I crept nearer
-and drew the revolver from my pocket.</p>
-
-<p>I had never shot a man in my life, and for the
-first time I experienced the dread of doing this
-in cold blood. Then I remembered my companion’s
-gaunt figure prone on the pavement,
-and the fact that but for a packet of cigarettes I
-should have certainly shared the same fate. I
-fired&mdash;low down.</p>
-
-<p>The men scattered like startled rabbits; two
-darted down by-streets on opposite sides of the
-road, while the third took an abrupt seat on the
-pavement and examined his leg, evidently more
-concerned about his wound than the chances of
-escape.</p>
-
-<p>As I rushed down the turning to the left I
-sighted my second quarry scrambling over a
-mound of bricks; he turned and saw me at the
-same instant, and then began a chase and
-obstacle race combined under conditions that
-are probably unique. Over mounds of sand,
-lime, and broken brick; through mazes of scaffolding,
-barrels, planks, and wheelbarrows,
-pools of muddy water, and quagmires of soft
-mortar we went. My bootless feet were soon
-battered and bruised, but the fever of the chase
-was in my veins, and as long as my quarry was
-in sight I felt incapable of abandoning the
-pursuit.</p>
-
-<p>The fugitive was now hardly thirty feet ahead,
-and I dashed after him round a corner of scaffolding,
-confident that I had run him to earth;
-and I did, but not in the way expected. He
-had crouched low just round the corner, and,
-unable to stop myself, I fell headlong over his
-body. It was an old trick, and I scrambled to
-my feet anathematizing myself for a fool, but
-my man had vanished. With slightly cooler
-blood and a bruised head I had just decided to
-leave matters where they stood, when I heard a
-gentle rasping, and looked up to find him
-clinging to a scaffold-pole above my head. I
-could see his white face looking down at me.</p>
-
-<p>“What are you going to do about it?” he
-demanded, breathlessly.</p>
-
-<p>“Come down and you’ll see,” said I, sternly.</p>
-
-<p>When at last we stood facing each other,
-however, I found myself at a loss. He was a
-mere boy, with a wizened, old-young face and
-cunning eyes that took me in from hatless head
-to socked feet with a callous insolence that
-rather appealed to me. What <i>was</i> I going to
-do about it? The police of San Francisco were
-either asleep or smoking cigarettes in more
-salubrious quarters of the city; and it was next
-to impossible to give him in charge, so I took
-the law into my own hands.</p>
-
-<p>“Hand over what you took,” said I, “and
-you shall go.”</p>
-
-<p>“The others went through him,” he replied,
-sullenly; “I don’t know how much they got.”</p>
-
-<p>“Shall we call it twenty-five dollars as a
-minimum?” I suggested.</p>
-
-<p>His face expressed neither approval nor
-dissent, but he drew from a ragged pocket a
-large gold watch.</p>
-
-<p>“Guess that’ll cover it,” he said, coolly, and
-on examination I found that it did, by fully
-another twenty-five dollars.</p>
-
-<p>When, after considerable difficulty, I found
-my way back to the tobacconist, my companion
-had recovered consciousness and, with
-a bandaged head, sat up to hear my report.</p>
-
-<p>“How much did you lose?” was my first
-question.</p>
-
-<p>“Nothing,” he said; “I haven’t a cent in
-the world.”</p>
-
-<p>“Then here’s something to be going on with,”
-said I, and handed him the watch.</p>
-
-<p>After the foregoing, it is with some reluctance
-that I relate what happened two days later, but
-the experience is so typical of San Franciscan
-under-life that I can hardly allow it to pass
-unrecorded. My own part in the affair was
-entirely reprehensible, and I need say no more,
-for everyone knows that, while confession may
-be good for the soul, it is rarely compatible with
-personal dignity.</p>
-
-<p>I wished to go to a certain theatre, and asked
-the way of the first pedestrian I met. He
-smilingly informed me that I was going in
-precisely the opposite direction, and that, as he
-happened to be passing the doors himself, he
-would show me the way. During the next five
-minutes I learnt that my guide was also a
-stranger to San Francisco, and that he had come
-from Canada. As I had lived there myself for
-four years this supplied a connecting link in our
-reminiscences, and we entered the first bar to
-improve the occasion. He certainly knew the
-Canadian prairie like a book, and his anecdotes
-of ranch and bush life were so interesting that
-the theatre was soon forgotten and we settled
-down for a chat.
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_478">478</span></p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i061.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">“UNABLE TO STOP MYSELF, I FELL HEADLONG OVER HIS BODY.”</p>
-</div>
-
-<p>It appeared that he had tired of the rough
-life of the plains, and after a course of
-study had become a telegraph operator in
-Denver.</p>
-
-<p>While there he had been approached by a gang
-of wire-tappers<a id="FNanchor_2" href="#Footnote_2" class="fnanchor">2</a> with a view to his becoming a
-confederate, but he had refused. A few weeks
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_479">479</span>
-later he heard of their capture, and went to see
-the trial and conviction of the entire gang.</p>
-
-<div class="footnote">
-
-<p><a id="Footnote_2" href="#FNanchor_2" class="label">2</a>
-Those who intercept telegraph messages by establishing secret
-connections on branch wires, thus gaining news of races in advance
-of the general public.</p></div>
-
-<p>Now, however, they were again at large, for
-he had recognised their leader that very day in
-the streets of San Francisco, and without a
-doubt he was engaged in his old nefarious
-business.</p>
-
-<p>My companion’s idea was to make a round of
-the city pool-rooms, where they received news
-of the races by wire, and, if he encountered the
-“wire-tapper,” force him by threats of exposure
-to divulge what horses he was going to back.
-“There might be some brisk fun,” he said.
-“Would you care to come and see it?”</p>
-
-<p>This appealed to me rather more than the
-theatre, and we accordingly started a careful tour
-of every pool-room in the city. They were
-dark, dusty places, swarming with a heterogeneous
-collection of humanity that ceaselessly
-shuffled and elbowed round boards bearing
-notices of the odds and winners, while a sleek
-gentleman in faultless attire stood on a rostrum
-at the end of the room and acted as “bookie.”</p>
-
-<p>The fruitlessness of my companion’s search
-was growing a trifle monotonous, when, on
-entering the fourth of these rooms, he seized my
-arm and nodded in the direction of a tall, stout
-man who had emerged from the crowd and
-stood counting over a large roll of bills. At
-last he seemed satisfied, slipped an elastic band
-round the roll, and strode out into the street.</p>
-
-<p>“Come on,” whispered my companion,
-excitedly; “that’s my man.”</p>
-
-<p>Not far from the door he tapped the stranger
-on the shoulder. The tall man faced about
-with surprising swiftness.</p>
-
-<p>“What do you want?” he snapped.</p>
-
-<p>“I know all about you,” said my companion,
-evenly.</p>
-
-<p>The collapse was sudden; the tall man’s jaw
-dropped perceptibly.</p>
-
-<p>“Come farther away and I’ll listen to you,”
-he said, with a furtive glance at the pool-room
-doors.</p>
-
-<p>Round a quiet corner my companion stated
-his business, and the wire-tapper brought out
-his roll of bills and fingered them feverishly.</p>
-
-<p>“This is blackmail,” he whined; “but how
-much do you want?”</p>
-
-<p>“It’s not blackmail, and I want none of your
-money,” protested my companion, indignantly.
-“All you have to do is to take <i>my</i> money and
-place it on the right horse. Here are ten dollars
-for a start. I shall watch you go in and come
-out of the pool-room from this corner.”</p>
-
-<p>The wire-tapper had hardly left us when a
-little boy of thirteen or fourteen ran up to him
-with a note; then he disappeared through the
-swinging doors.</p>
-
-<p>Presently the wire-tapper came out and, without
-a word, counted thirty dollar bills into the
-other’s hand.</p>
-
-<p>“The price was only two to one,” he explained,
-apologetically.</p>
-
-<p>“Never mind,” said my companion; “better
-luck next time. Just place this thirty dollars for
-me, and that will do&mdash;for the present.”</p>
-
-<p>The process was repeated, and this time
-ninety dollars changed hands; but the wire-tapper
-was evidently nervous and anxious to
-be gone, and when my companion tentatively
-suggested a third attempt he refused point-blank,
-on the ground that if he won any more
-that day it would arouse suspicion. This
-objection, however, was overruled by the other
-offering to place the money himself.</p>
-
-<p>“And we’ll make the amount worth while;
-shall we?” he added, turning to me. “Do you
-feel inclined to join me in a hundred-dollar bet?”</p>
-
-<p>Fifty dollars meant a good deal to me then,
-but the two or three hundred it would bring in
-meant a great deal more, so I took the plunge.
-After another note had changed hands between
-the wire-tapper and the boy, he told us to back
-Rough Diamond for the next race, and threw
-in fifty dollars as his own stake; then we took
-up our position on the opposite pavement and
-waited expectantly.</p>
-
-<p>To my surprise my companion soon appeared
-and exultantly informed us that he had succeeded
-in placing our stake on Rough Diamond to
-win at three to one.</p>
-
-<p>“To win?” roared the wire-tapper.</p>
-
-<p>“Yes, to win,” retorted the other, feebly.</p>
-
-<p>The wire-tapper literally danced on the
-pavement.</p>
-
-<p>“You fool!” he spluttered; “I told you to
-back the horse for a <i>place</i> this time&mdash;it has
-come in third.” He turned to me. “Didn’t I
-say for a place?” he snapped, vehemently.</p>
-
-<p>But I took no further interest in the proceedings.
-In Western parlance, I had been “done
-brown.” The men were confederates, and all
-that was left for me to do was to swallow my
-medicine without grimacing. So I smiled
-blandly, congratulated them on their acting, and
-left them to marvel at man’s credulity.</p>
-
-<p>It all sounds very foolish and easy, set down
-in black and white, but the San Franciscan
-“confidence man,” by long and unhampered
-practice, has reduced his methods to a fine art;
-and although it is hardly likely that any respectable,
-level-headed reader of <span class="smcap">The Wide World</span>
-would fall a victim to his wiles, such a thing has
-been known to occur to others, and if the foregoing
-personal experience helps to put these on
-their guard, the purpose of its recounting will
-be served.
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_480">480</span></p>
-
-<hr class="chap" />
-<h2 id="II_A_SHARP_LESSON">II.&mdash;A SHARP LESSON.<br />
-
-<span class="medium smcap">By R. L. C. Morrison.</span></h2>
-
-<p>In November of the year 1885, when I had
-reached the mature age of seventeen, I found
-myself in Glasgow, my native city, in the service
-of an uncle of mine named Mr. James Thomson,
-who was a merchant tailor and Colonial outfitter
-in Hope Street.</p>
-
-<p>One afternoon towards the end of the month
-my uncle gave me instructions to call at the
-offices of a well-known firm in the neighbourhood
-of Jamaica Street.</p>
-
-<p>I was to collect an account, whose total represented
-a substantial sum, and give a receipt for
-the money. There would, I was told, be no
-difficulty about drawing what was due, as the
-firm in question had duly intimated to my uncle
-that if he would present the account on a certain
-date payment would be made then and there.</p>
-
-<p>It was close upon three o’clock when I put
-in an appearance at the counting-house of the
-firm, taking up my position in a somewhat
-extended queue of clerks and others who had
-arrived on the same errand as myself.</p>
-
-<p>The queue was arranged in single file along
-a passage of considerable length on the second
-storey, to reach which a flight of something like
-a score of steps had to be ascended.</p>
-
-<p>Right away at the far end of this passage was
-what had all the appearance of a railway station
-booking office, where, behind a square aperture
-of limited dimensions, stood the sharp-witted
-cashier.</p>
-
-<p>I took my turn with the rest, and in due
-course found myself in front of the pigeon-hole,
-where I presented my uncle’s account.</p>
-
-<p>“All right; receipt it,” exclaimed the cashier,
-as he returned it.</p>
-
-<p>I did so, receiving the amount of the account
-in Bank of Scotland pound notes, a couple of
-score of them, or more, which I quickly folded
-into a kind of roll and thrust deep into
-my trousers pocket, keeping my hand over
-them for safety’s sake.</p>
-
-<p>Pleased with the thought that I had got the
-money, I briskly threaded my way among the
-nondescript crowd in the passage, and even
-more briskly negotiated the stairs.</p>
-
-<p>I had scarcely walked the length of the side
-thoroughfare which led into Jamaica Street,
-however, when I heard hurrying footsteps
-behind me, and, looking round, was surprised to
-see a very stylishly-dressed man, whose appearance
-was enhanced by his faultlessly-groomed
-hair and moustache. As soon as I looked
-in his direction he held up his hand and
-beckoned me to stop.</p>
-
-<p>Wondering what he could want with me I
-obeyed without further ado, waiting for him to
-come up with me.</p>
-
-<p>“Excuse me, sir,” he said, with much politeness,
-at the same time slightly raising his hat,
-“but I believe this is your handkerchief.” As
-he spoke he swept round his hand, which he
-had held behind his back, and displayed to view
-a blue silk specimen in the handkerchief line.
-It was mine; there was no doubt about that,
-and as I advanced my hand he extended it
-towards me.</p>
-
-<p>“I saw you drop it as you came down the
-stairs of Messrs. &mdash;&mdash;’s office” (mentioning the
-name of the firm), he explained.</p>
-
-<p>I thanked him and was about to resume my
-way when he asked if I could direct him to
-Hope Street.</p>
-
-<p>As everyone who knows anything about
-Glasgow is aware, it does not take long to
-reach Hope Street from Jamaica Street, and
-I was beginning to explain this to him when he
-cut me short with the remark that before we
-went any farther I must have a drink with him.
-As I was a teetotaller, however, I promptly
-declined his proffered hospitality, and once
-more resumed my walk.</p>
-
-<p>The next moment he laid a daintily-gloved
-hand on my shoulder, and, with an engaging
-smile, said, with the utmost good humour,
-“But surely a glass of lemonade or ginger-beer
-cannot do you any harm?”</p>
-
-<p>There was a strange magnetism about the
-man which carried me away, and I meekly
-surrendered myself to his will.</p>
-
-<p>“Let us turn up this street,” he said, suddenly.
-“I know a nice little quiet place where we can
-have a drink in comfort.”</p>
-
-<p>I followed him. Strange as it may seem, I
-was for the time being incapable of resistance.
-Perhaps my new-found friend was a hypnotist, or
-something of the kind; if he did not actually
-possess occult powers, he certainly had the gift
-in a very marked degree of ingratiating himself
-with strangers.</p>
-
-<p>As we walked along side by side he kept up
-a lively and interesting conversation, touching
-lightly upon a variety of subjects. He evidently
-possessed a well-stored mind, for his fund of
-knowledge and anecdote seemed almost inexhaustible.</p>
-
-<p>I became so interested in what he was telling
-me&mdash;wonderful adventures he said he had had
-in South America, and a graphic description of
-how diamonds are found&mdash;that I did not notice
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_481">481</span>
-where I was being led. All I know is that we
-traversed street after street, until at length the
-man whom I had offered to guide to Hope
-Street had taken me to a part of the city in
-which I never remember having previously been.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i064.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">“’EXCUSE ME, SIR,’ HE SAID, WITH MUCH POLITENESS, AT THE SAME TIME SLIGHTLY RAISING HIS HAT, ‘BUT I BELIEVE
-THIS IS YOUR HANDKERCHIEF.’”</p>
-</div>
-
-<p>Then suddenly he halted in front of a most
-respectable-looking whisky shop&mdash;in England
-we call them public-houses&mdash;situated in a broad
-thoroughfare, busy with plenty of pedestrian and
-vehicular traffic. It did not strike me as being
-a particularly “quiet” place; in fact, whilst it
-may have been comfortable enough inside, its
-exterior surroundings were not likely to recommend
-it to those in search of solitude.</p>
-
-<p>“Here we are, my young friend,” he said,
-with that smile which had now become almost
-irresistible to me.</p>
-
-<p>The inside fittings of the place were what may
-be termed “flashy,” immense gilded mirrors
-and crimson-covered seats being the outstanding
-features in the general scheme of furnishing and
-decoration. A mahogany, tumbler-laden bar,
-with shelves of massed bottles in the background,
-ran the whole length of the apartment,
-whilst on the other side were a range of what I
-can best describe as cubicles, though in public-house
-parlance I suppose they would be called
-“snugs.” There was a door to each of these
-box-like apartments, though the ceiling of the
-saloon was common to them all.
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_482">482</span></p>
-
-<p>“Come in here,” urged my friend, tugging at
-my coat-sleeve. “It will be quieter, and no
-one will disturb us.”</p>
-
-<p>We entered the “snug,” which contained a
-long narrow table, with horsehair-padded seats
-on either side, an oblong window, half screened,
-serving to let in a rather subdued light.</p>
-
-<p>Scarcely had I got both my feet inside when
-I observed with surprise that the place had
-already an occupant, a benevolent-looking old
-gentleman, who at that moment was studiously
-engaged in perusing the columns of a newspaper.</p>
-
-<p>My companion, noticing my hesitation, exclaimed
-in a cheery voice, “It’s all right, my
-boy; I’m sure our friend won’t object.”</p>
-
-<p>Looking up from his paper “our friend”
-adjusted his spectacles and regarded us both
-with a quizzical expression.</p>
-
-<p>“Come in; don’t mind me,” he said at length,
-as if satisfied with our appearance, and we sat
-down at the table, my companion on one side,
-I on the other, the first occupant taking no
-further notice of us.</p>
-
-<p>“I’m going to have a toothful of whisky,”
-said my fashionably-dressed <i>vis-&agrave;-vis</i>. “Will
-you have the same?”</p>
-
-<p>I diffidently demurred at the proposal, as all
-alcoholic beverages were then to me as a sealed
-book, and in the end a bottle of lemonade was
-ordered for me.</p>
-
-<p>And there I sat, sipping the lemonade and
-nervously fingering the bundle of notes in my
-trousers pocket.</p>
-
-<p>I had found my friend very agreeable, very
-pleasant, and very entertaining, and would not
-have objected to remaining a little longer with
-him, but that I felt my employer would be
-expecting my return with the money he had
-sent me out to collect. Accordingly, drinking
-up my beverage, I presently rose and said I was
-afraid I must be going.</p>
-
-<p>“Oh, there is no hurry, my boy,” he said,
-with such cordiality that I sat down again&mdash;but
-it should be only for a couple of minutes, I told
-myself.</p>
-
-<p>“That’s right; make yourself comfortable,
-and we’ll have another drink in.”</p>
-
-<p>I protested that I had had quite sufficient
-and that I must not linger, as I was expected
-back.</p>
-
-<p>“A few minutes more or less will hardly make
-any difference,” he remarked, “and, besides, if
-you will only wait I shall be coming your way,
-for you know you promised to show me the way
-to Hope Street.”</p>
-
-<p>I am afraid my resolutions about going were
-somewhat feeble, for he again persuaded me to
-sit down.</p>
-
-<p>Meanwhile the old gentleman at the other
-end of the narrow table went on reading his
-paper. He might have had the place to himself
-for all the notice he took of us.</p>
-
-<p>Suddenly my companion ceased speaking to
-me (the conversation had by some means or
-other turned on the subject of trains), and
-diving his hand into a side pocket produced a
-new railway-carriage key, very bright and very
-shiny.</p>
-
-<p>I wondered what he intended to do with it,
-and even got so far as speculating upon whether
-he was a manufacturer of this class of goods, or
-travelled for the people who made them.</p>
-
-<p>Then he tapped the key lightly on the edge
-of the table, and, addressing the old gentleman,
-said, politely: “Is this article of any service to
-you, sir? Excuse the apparent liberty, but I
-can offer you these keys at the small sum of
-sixpence each.”</p>
-
-<p>I looked in the direction of the old gentleman
-and saw that he had put his paper on one
-side and was regarding my companion with a
-pleasant smile.</p>
-
-<p>“I am much obliged to you, sir,” he replied,
-softly; “but as I very rarely travel I have no
-use for such a key.”</p>
-
-<p>“Never mind,” remarked the other; “I’ll tell
-you what we’ll do&mdash;we’ll just ‘cut’ for it,” and
-without any further explanation at the moment
-he drew from his breast pocket what I took to
-be three ordinary playing-cards. The same
-pattern embellished the back of each, but when
-they were turned face upwards I observed that
-two of them were blanks, whilst on the other
-was a highly-coloured representation of a lady’s
-head and shoulders. I recollect that the hues
-in which the charms of this female were depicted
-were very varied, so that in combination they
-presented a dazzling picture.</p>
-
-<p>Although the word “cut” had been made
-use of as applicable to the cards, it was rather a
-misnomer. “Double shuffle,” with a peculiar
-movement, would more fittingly describe what
-subsequently happened.</p>
-
-<p>“Now, whichever of you two can first tell
-me where the lady is I will present with this
-key as a prize,” said the young man. As he
-spoke he made a pretence of shuffling the
-cards up in his hands, and then proceeded to
-lay them face downwards on the table, but
-before he finally allowed them to remain he
-exhibited the face of each card, so that I thought
-nothing could possibly be easier than to indicate
-where the lady’s head lay.</p>
-
-<p>“You try first, sir,” said my friend to the old
-gentleman, and he singled out the card which I
-was absolutely certain was the wrong one, and
-so it was, as it turned out.
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_483">483</span></p>
-
-<p>“Your turn, my boy,” cried the stranger,
-having rearranged the cards, and without the
-slightest hesitation I displayed the female’s head
-to view.</p>
-
-<p>“Very good; here’s your prize,” and he
-pushed the key across the table to me.</p>
-
-<p>“Just by way of a change, I will bet each of
-you sixpence that neither of you can pick out
-the lady’s head <i>this</i> time,” he said; but hardly
-had the words been spoken than the door of the
-“snug” was quietly opened and an elderly man
-stood framed in the open space.</p>
-
-<p>“I beg your pardon, gentlemen,” he apologized;
-“I didn’t mean to intrude.”</p>
-
-<p>“Won’t you come in and join us, sir?” cried
-my companion, insinuatingly. “Just a quiet
-little game together; only sixpenny stakes.”</p>
-
-<p>“Oh, well, I don’t mind if I do,” replied the
-new-comer, and without further ceremony he
-seated himself on the other side of me and fixed
-his eyes intently on the cards, which the other
-was manipulating with both hands.</p>
-
-<p>By this time the old gentleman gave every
-sign of being deeply interested in the proceedings,
-and had taken a number of sixpences from
-his pocket, which he placed in a little heap at
-his side.</p>
-
-<p>The new-comer and I also produced the
-necessary coin and staked it on the “lady.”</p>
-
-<p>The old gentleman was the first to try his
-luck, but he failed to locate the whereabouts of
-the fair one.</p>
-
-<p>Then the cards were taken up and rearranged,
-when the new arrival had a flutter, but he likewise
-parted with his sixpence.</p>
-
-<p>“How stupid these men must be!” I thought,
-as the cards were being prepared for a third set
-out, when, of course, I immediately spotted the
-“lady” and was paid over the sixpence.</p>
-
-<p>“Double stakes now,” cried the manipulator.</p>
-
-<p>Nothing loath, I put my shilling down, and
-again I was the only victor.</p>
-
-<p>Well, to cut a long story short, my companion
-went on doubling the stakes until they stood
-at sixteen shillings. Up to now I had been the
-only winner. I had not lost a single penny; as
-a matter of fact, I was fifteen and sixpence to
-the good, but when I tried to find the “lady”
-when the stakes stood at sixteen shillings I
-signally failed, and had to pay over all my
-winnings, with an additional sixpence.</p>
-
-<p>By this time I was fairly infected with the
-game, and had thrown all discretion to the winds
-with regard to my return to the office. I felt
-confident that I could win a lot of money, and
-up to this point had not the faintest suspicion
-that I was in the midst of a gang of card-sharpers
-of whose <i>modus operandi</i> of working the business
-I was now being given a practical demonstration.
-Therefore, when the leader of the coterie,
-the man, who had “hooked” me outside,
-suggested that the stakes should be thirty-two
-shillings I made no demur, but blindly accepted,
-fondly imagining that by exercising a little care
-in watching where the cards were placed I
-should be able to spot the “lady.”</p>
-
-<p>“Now, gentlemen,” cried the card manipulator,
-deliberately holding up the picture card to
-our view every two or three shuffles, so that I
-was able to follow its fortunes with the greatest
-ease, “there is the lady! Just watch carefully
-where I place her.”</p>
-
-<p>As I had been the last loser it was my turn to
-pick out the picture, and as he placed the
-winning card in the centre (I could have sworn
-he did) I did not hesitate to indicate my choice
-by at once turning it face upwards, when, lo and
-behold! all that met my gaze was a plain white
-surface. Instead of being in the middle, the
-“lady” was at the right of me, though how this
-sleight-of-hand trick had been accomplished
-under my very eyes without my detecting it was
-past my comprehension.</p>
-
-<p>“Thank you,” said the swindler, suavely;
-“thirty-two shillings, please”; and after some
-fumbling in my trousers pocket I succeeded in
-detaching two pound notes from the roll.</p>
-
-<p>“Eight shillings change,” he remarked,
-genially, and handed me over the silver.</p>
-
-<p>Inconceivable as it may appear, it is nevertheless
-the fact that even this “fleecing” did
-not arouse my suspicion as to the <i>bona fides</i> of
-the proceedings in which I was being made
-the victim. Possibly I was too excited at the
-moment to give this aspect of the matter a
-thought. My chief concern just then was to
-recover the money I had lost&mdash;not my own
-money, it should be remembered, but my
-employer’s.</p>
-
-<p>At the suggestion of the old gentleman, who
-had not up to the present won a penny, and yet
-struck me as taking his “bad luck” very philosophically,
-the stakes were increased to three
-pounds&mdash;“so as to” (I use his own ingenuous
-phrase) “give the young gentleman and myself
-a chance.”</p>
-
-<p>I sprang at the bait. Indeed, I was desperately
-in earnest, and mentally vowed that I
-must win this time at all costs.</p>
-
-<p>Need it be recorded that I lost?</p>
-
-<p>The card on the left&mdash;my choice&mdash;was <i>not</i> the
-“lady,” and three more notes were separated
-from the roll in my pocket.</p>
-
-<p>Then, and not till then, did the real situation
-dawn upon me&mdash;I was in the hands of a gang
-of “three-card” tricksters. I had over forty
-pounds, which was not mine, on me, and the
-fashionably-attired stranger who had ingratiated
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_484">484</span>
-himself into my good graces by some mysterious
-means was fully aware of that fact. The whole
-thing, in short, was a cleverly-laid plot to despoil
-me of my employer’s money.</p>
-
-<p>As the full truth burst upon me I rose from
-my seat without a word and made my way
-to the door, intending to seek the landlord’s
-assistance.</p>
-
-<p>But it was <i>locked from outside!</i> Bending
-down and applying my eye to the lock I saw the
-key inserted on the saloon side. This discovery
-I accepted as furnishing positive proof of the
-existence of a conspiracy to rob me. As I stood
-at the locked door, making up my mind that
-the next step should be on my part, the man
-who had lured me into the place plucked me by
-the coat-sleeve and begged me with gentle
-words to resume my seat and “talk matters
-over.”</p>
-
-<p>“Give me my money back!” I cried, impetuously,
-pointing to the five notes which lay
-on the table. “It does not belong to me,” I
-went on, entreatingly. “It is my employer’s,
-and I cannot return to him without it.”</p>
-
-<p>The two other confederates looked at me
-with sympathetic glances; then I fancied I saw
-an exchange of eye telegraphy between them
-and the leader.</p>
-
-<p>“Of course, none of us want to get you into
-trouble,” he said, soothingly, at the same time
-pushing me gently back into my seat and taking
-his place opposite me, “but you must admit
-that you were willing enough to play the game.
-No one forced you to it, and what you have lost
-has been lost in square play.”</p>
-
-<p>“But why is the door locked if it is all fair
-and above-board?” I shouted, excitedly.</p>
-
-<p>“What! the door locked?” they cried in
-chorus, with well-simulated amazement.</p>
-
-<p>“Yes, locked from outside,” I continued.</p>
-
-<p>“Ah, from the outside,” replied the leader,
-smilingly. “That proves we have nothing to
-do with it. It is an accident, a mistake on the
-part of someone in the saloon.”</p>
-
-<p>Although I did not believe a word of this, for
-I was now fully convinced that the landlord was
-also in league with these scoundrels, I made no
-further allusion to it, having made up my mind
-to a certain plan by which I hoped to regain
-possession of the money and make my escape
-from this den.</p>
-
-<p>I instinctively knew that a proposal for
-further play was going to be made me on the
-plea of giving me a chance of recouping my
-losses, and for the purposes of the desperate
-plan I had decided upon this was exactly what
-I wanted.</p>
-
-<p>“Now, my boy,” began the leader, in his
-friendly way, “I’ll tell you what I’ll do to give
-you a chance. I’ll lay you ten pounds to two
-pounds on the next round, and only you and I
-will play. You shall watch me as closely as you
-like, and no doubt you will win.”</p>
-
-<p>“I will agree,” I assented, “on condition
-that the door is unlocked and the key brought
-inside and placed on the table.”</p>
-
-<p>It was a bold move on my part, and I
-trembled for the answer, because upon this one
-point depended to a very great extent the
-success of the desperate plan I had thought of
-to escape, and at the same time regain my
-employer’s money.</p>
-
-<p>Evidently sure of their quarry, and all unsuspicious
-as to my intentions, the trio at once
-agreed to the proposal.</p>
-
-<p>The landlord was called&mdash;and bullied&mdash;the
-door unlocked, and the key placed on the table
-by my side.</p>
-
-<p>Then the cards were laid out afresh, and I
-made another effort to “spot” the “lady,”
-although I was morally certain that I should
-fail.</p>
-
-<p>I did, and handed over two more pound
-notes, which the dealer placed with the five
-others, lying loosely by his side.</p>
-
-<p>In my jacket pocket I had a large sailors’
-clasp knife, with a murderous-looking blade
-nearly five inches long, and while my <i>vis-&agrave;-vis</i>
-was picking up the cards preparatory to another
-deal, I having consented to play for the same
-stakes again, I surreptitiously got this weapon
-out and opened it under cover of the table.</p>
-
-<p>The seven Bank of Scotland pound notes lay
-carelessly bunched together opposite me on
-the side of the table and within easy reach,
-whilst the door of the “snug” was but a couple
-of feet away from where I sat, I being nearest
-to it.</p>
-
-<p>The next moment I saw my opportunity and
-seized it.</p>
-
-<p>As the dealer manipulated the cards, he, as
-he had done all through, spread out his hand
-over a card for a couple of seconds. I clutched
-the open knife firmly in my right hand, and
-before any one of those present could have the
-slightest idea of my intentions I bounded to my
-feet, raised my arm in the air, and the next
-instant had pinned the sharper’s hand to the
-table with the long, keen blade!</p>
-
-<p>With his scream of agony ringing in my ears,
-and the sight of the knife quivering in his hand
-photographed, as it were, upon my vision, I
-grabbed at the loose notes which lay in front of
-me, bunched them up into the palm of my
-hand, and, leaving the knife where I had driven
-it, flung open the door of the “snug” and
-bounded through the saloon and out into the
-busy street.
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_485">485</span></p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i068.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">“THE NEXT INSTANT I HAD PINNED THE SHARPER’S HAND TO THE TABLE WITH THE LONG, KEEN BLADE!”</p>
-</div>
-
-<p>Though the recital of this incident occupies
-some little time in the telling, it was all accomplished
-in the space of a few seconds, and as
-soon as I found myself mixed up with the traffic
-outside I considered I was safe from pursuit&mdash;if,
-indeed, it had ever been likely any attempt
-would be made by the sharpers to run me to
-earth.</p>
-
-<p>I reached my uncle’s place of business an
-hour or two later than I should have done in
-the ordinary course, but gave some plausible
-excuse for my delay.</p>
-
-<p>He was inclined to be angry at first, but as I
-produced the money all right he did not pursue
-the matter further, although it was not until a
-considerable time afterwards that I ventured to
-give any of my relations an account of my
-exciting adventure with the card-sharpers.</p>
-
-<hr class="chap" />
-<h2 id="III_SEEING_IT_OUT">III.&mdash;“SEEING IT OUT.”<br />
-
-<span class="medium smcap">By Albert E. MacGrotty.</span></h2>
-
-<p>The simple-minded and innocent Britisher may,
-on his first trip to the States, now and then
-walk into a very pretty little trap, neatly and
-carefully planned, like the web of the wily
-spider in wait for the inoffensive, curiosity-prompted,
-blundering fly.
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_486">486</span></p>
-
-<p>I suppose I must have a somewhat unsophisticated
-aspect, which disguises all my
-dark and deep wisdom, and this appearance
-caused me to be selected as the victim of the
-little adventure I am going to recount.</p>
-
-<p>It was at the close of my first visit to the
-States, and the day previous to my embarking
-for old England&mdash;all my business finished, and
-nothing to do but to say “Good-bye” to my
-friends and take a last look
-round.</p>
-
-<p>I left the Astor House,
-valise in hand, and walked to
-the steamer <i>Teutonic</i> lying
-alongside the wharf, ready to
-sail for Liverpool on the following
-day. Having put my
-bag in my state-room, I strolled
-into Houston Street with the
-intention of getting on a cable
-car for the Broadway, where
-I was to lunch with a cousin.
-No cable car being in sight,
-I leisurely lit a cigar and
-turned round to inspect the
-goods in a store window. I
-had not been gazing therein
-more than a moment when
-I heard a buggy drive up
-and stop behind me, and
-someone shout, “Hey!” I
-paid no attention, being
-almost a stranger in New
-York, and not supposing that the call was
-addressed to me, especially as Houston Street
-is one of the most crowded thoroughfares in
-the city.</p>
-
-<p>The call was repeated, but still I took no
-notice. When I had finished my inspection of
-the window I turned round, and to my astonishment
-saw that a respectable-looking man in the
-buggy was endeavouring to attract my attention.
-I went up to him and asked what his business
-was with me; he replied that he wished to know
-if I could tell him when the steamer left for
-England. “Do you mean the <i>Teutonic</i>?” I
-said, and he answered, “Yes.”</p>
-
-<p>“To-morrow morning at seven,” I replied.
-He thanked me, and was just whipping up his
-horse to drive on, when he suddenly pulled up
-again sharply, and said:&mdash;</p>
-
-<p>“Excuse me, sir, but the reason I asked you
-about the steamer is that my guv’nor told me
-to try to find a respectable old gent who was
-sailing in the boat for England, and ask him if
-he would mind looking after his nephew, who is
-a boy of ten.”</p>
-
-<p>“I hope you’ve found one,” I told him,
-smiling.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i069.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">MR. ALBERT E. MACGROTTY.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>“I’ve come across no one, except yourself,”
-replied the man.</p>
-
-<p>“Well,” said I, “as the boy is going over
-alone, if your master will bring him on to the
-steamer I will look out for him, and endeavour
-to keep an eye upon him during the voyage and
-make the trip pleasant to him.”</p>
-
-<p>He thanked me most effusively, and said he
-was sure that I would be the right person to
-look after the boy, adding
-that his master would not
-think of giving me this trouble
-unless I would consent to
-receive payment, say a hundred
-dollars. I was taken
-aback by this latter suggestion,
-and rapidly came to the
-conclusion that the man’s so-called
-“guv’nor” must be
-one of the sharpers of New
-York. Up to this time, I
-must acknowledge, I had fully
-believed the fellow’s statements
-to be genuine.</p>
-
-<p>I replied that I could not
-accept any such payment for
-the little I could do for the
-boy on the ship, whereupon
-the man again thanked me
-warmly, and asked me if I
-would come to his master’s
-house in order that he might
-introduce me. I declined;
-but, seeing no cable car coming along, it flashed
-across my mind that I would make use of him
-a little, so I asked which way he was driving, as
-I wanted to get to the upper end of Broadway.</p>
-
-<p>“Jump in, sir!” he cried, whereupon I
-thanked him, and accepted the invitation.</p>
-
-<p>I should not, of course, have done this had I
-not been fairly well acquainted with New York
-and able to tell that he was taking me in the
-right direction. We drove rapidly, and his conversation
-was clever and amusing. He asked
-me if I knew California?</p>
-
-<p>“Yes, I have just come from there,” I told
-him. He seemed greatly pleased at this. Did
-I know Governor Stanford? I had not that
-pleasure, though I knew him well by name. My
-driver said that he was sorry for that, as the
-Governor was a relative of his master’s.</p>
-
-<p>By this time we were in the Broadway, close
-to my cousin’s office, and seeing this I asked
-the man to pull up, but he begged me to go on
-and see his guv’nor, as it was only one block
-farther.</p>
-
-<p>I still had half an hour to spare before lunch,
-and, though my suspicions were now thoroughly
-aroused, some impish spirit prompted me to
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_487">487</span>
-“see the thing out,” so I said, “Very well,
-drive on.”</p>
-
-<p>The man pulled up at the end of the block,
-and fixed his horse to the halter found in all
-New York streets for that purpose. I jumped
-out and we entered a stable, I taking care to
-keep close to the large open door. Needless to
-say, I scrutinized the floor closely and rapidly
-for trap-doors, but none appeared. My companion
-asked an ostler, who was rubbing down
-one of several horses, if the “guv’nor” was in.
-The man said “no,” but he would be back in a
-few minutes. I then informed the driver that I
-could not wait, and had better see him in the
-morning on the steamer.</p>
-
-<p>“One minute,” replied the fellow; “if you
-will be good enough, I have only to go to
-No. 4, and will bring my guv’nor back with
-me.” With that he disappeared.</p>
-
-<p>While we waited the ostler made one or two
-friendly remarks concerning the weather, and a
-moment later a gentleman, attired in a very
-handsome fur-lined coat, silk hat, and kid gloves
-of a light and delicate tint, walked into the
-stable from the street outside. My late companion
-followed, and, addressing me, said:
-“This is Dr. Coombs, sir,” observing to the
-doctor that I had offered to look after his
-nephew on the steamer without any payment.
-Dr. Coombs thanked me in a gentlemanlike
-manner, and appeared in all respects a well-bred
-man.</p>
-
-<p>The doctor then turned to his coachman and
-told him to fetch the boy, explaining to me that
-his nephew was a ward in Chancery, and that he
-would become possessed of a fortune of over ten
-million dollars on attaining his majority. Being
-the boy’s guardian, he was anxious that some
-responsible person should keep an eye upon him
-during his voyage to England, where another
-uncle would meet him. We were only talking
-for a short time, but I noticed that the doctor
-was somewhat restless, moving frequently towards
-the stalls containing the horses, all of
-which, he remarked, belonged to his nephew.
-Still I could not shake off a certain suspicion of
-my surroundings, and would not move from the
-door.</p>
-
-<p>We had been waiting about five minutes when
-a big, horsy-looking fellow lounged in from the
-street, shouting at the top of a loud voice: “Is
-the boss in?”</p>
-
-<p>My friend in the fur coat came forward, politely
-raised his hat, said he was the master, and asked
-the stranger’s business.</p>
-
-<p>The new-comer, pointing to a grey mare in
-one of the stalls, replied, “I had that mare out
-yesterday, and I want to know, boss, what you’ll
-take for her,” at the same time handing the
-doctor his card. Both men were at a little
-distance from me, and a few words passed
-between them which I did not hear. Then the
-fur-coated gentleman came up to me, saying,
-“Excuse me a minute; I can’t understand why
-the boy is so long; I will go and fetch him
-myself!” With that he left me with stranger
-number three.</p>
-
-<p>This fellow continued to examine the horses,
-making remarks upon them to the ostler, and
-then, to my surprise, suddenly said to me,
-pointing to the grey mare, that he wanted to
-buy it; but “the boss” could not sell it to him,
-as he was an agent in Boston for buying and
-selling horses, the same line as “the boss”
-himself was in, and there was a State law prohibiting
-dealings between agents in the same
-business. He next asked me if I would help
-him in the transaction. I replied that I was
-sorry I could not see my way to do so.</p>
-
-<p>“I wish you could,” said the stranger. “I
-would give eight hundred and fifty dollars
-for the mare; she is a valuable beast.” As he
-spoke the doctor returned. The Bostonian
-promptly told him he could see a way to a deal,
-as that gentleman (pointing to me) would buy
-the mare with his money, and then he in turn
-would purchase her from me, adding, “Now,
-boss, what’s your price?”</p>
-
-<p>“Eight hundred dollars,” replied the doctor.</p>
-
-<p>“There,” said the Boston dealer to me; “I
-told you I would give eight hundred and fifty
-dollars. Complete the purchase, and I will pay
-you the fifty dollars for commission.”</p>
-
-<p>The doctor chimed in that he also would give
-me five per cent.&mdash;forty dollars.</p>
-
-<p>“Gentlemen,” I said, laughing, “that is
-ninety dollars&mdash;a good morning’s work. But
-do you expect me to be carrying eight hundred
-dollars in my pocket through the streets of
-New York?”</p>
-
-<p>They looked depressed at this; then the
-Bostonian, becoming suddenly cheerful, suggested
-that if “the gentleman” would pay ten
-per cent, of the value of the mare, he would pay
-the balance. The doctor agreed immediately,
-and the Bostonian pulled out a roll of green-backs
-from his pocket. Asking me to take the
-money, he placed a twenty-dollar note in my
-hand, and while he was taking another from the
-roll I raised it slightly as if I was weighing it; I
-saw at once that the note was a forged one&mdash;some
-of the letters upon it were smudged. It
-was not even a good imitation.</p>
-
-<p>Both men read in my face that I had detected
-their fraud, and the expression of their countenances
-became diabolical. However, the
-Boston man went on pushing notes in my hand
-until he reached one hundred and fifty dollars,
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_488">488</span>
-when the doctor pulled him up, saying that he
-must have the ten per cent. from me first.
-I saw the time had come for action, and so,
-allowing the notes to drop to the floor, I told
-them sternly that if I had been remaining in
-New York I should have had them arrested.
-I then left the premises immediately. Looking
-back, I saw the “doctor” rushing down some
-steps in front of the building, hurriedly throwing
-off his fur coat as he went, and the other man
-walking rapidly down the street in the opposite
-direction.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i071.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">“ALLOWING THE NOTES TO DROP TO THE FLOOR, I TOLD THEM STERNLY THAT IF I HAD BEEN REMAINING IN NEW YORK
-I SHOULD HAVE HAD THEM ARRESTED.”</p>
-</div>
-
-<p>In conclusion, I may say that I was very glad
-to arrive at the Sinclair House and drink a stiff
-glass of brandy, as I was a trifle shaky, swearing
-to myself that I would never again risk pocket
-and life with mysterious strangers in the city of
-New York, even for the sake of “seeing it out.”
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_489">489</span></p>
-
-<hr class="chap" />
-<h2 id="IN_THE_LAND_OF_THE_REINDEER">IN THE LAND OF THE REINDEER.<br />
-
-<span class="medium smcap">By H. Chusseau-Flaviens.</span></h2>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i072.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">A WINTER SCENE IN “THE LAND OF THE REINDEER”&mdash;A LAPP MAGNATE MAKING THE ROUND OF HIS ESTATE.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<blockquote>
-
-<p>An article dealing with a strange and little-known people&mdash;the Lapps. Living in a country where
-practically nothing grows, their whole lives are occupied with the reindeer, the one product of
-Lapland. A man’s wealth is reckoned in reindeer; he eats its flesh and drinks its blood for
-food, and his clothes are made of its skin. Small wonder, therefore, that the moss on which the
-animals live is more important to him than cereal crops, and that the highest form of Lapp art finds
-expression in the carving of reindeer bones. Photographs by the Author.</p></blockquote>
-
-<div>
-<img class="drop-cap" src="images/s.jpg" alt="S" />
-</div>
-
-<p class="drop-cap"><span class="upper-case">Some</span> little time ago I was in Sweden,
-and was strongly advised by my
-friends to take the opportunity of
-visiting Lapland, that strange country
-of reindeer and semi-savages. I was
-given a letter of introduction to a certain Lapp
-magnate, who, I was assured, was the most
-educated and advanced person in the country,
-and who would see that I saw everything worth
-seeing. “Go and interview him,” said my
-informant, “though I cannot promise that you
-will be able to get him to talk. The Lapps are
-very reticent; they will never tell you, for
-instance, how many reindeer they possess.
-Mickel Nilsson Nia, to whom I am giving you
-this letter of recommendation, is wealthy and
-educated, yet he covers himself with reindeer
-skins like the humblest of his herdsmen, drinks
-the warm blood of the animal he kills, and
-thinks no dish more succulent than a sort of
-cake made of reindeer blood mixed with flour!
-He is a splendid specimen of a people who
-have at once assimilated and resisted civilization.”</p>
-
-<p>I began to think it might be worth my
-while to visit these curious folk, and in pursuit
-of information sought out another acquaintance,
-a colonel in the Swedish army.</p>
-
-<p>He told me that the Lapps are very fond
-of stimulating drinks; they think nothing of
-drinking fifteen or twenty cups of coffee a day,
-while their consumption of punch is on a vast
-scale. It is no uncommon thing to see numbers of
-helplessly drunk natives in the streets of Troms&ouml;,
-especially when the sale of reindeer flesh has
-been profitable. Yet robbery and, indeed, crime
-in general are practically unknown among them;
-the innate honesty of the people is quite extraordinary.
-The colonel gave me an example.
-“As, perhaps, you may have heard,” he said,
-“I am very keen on hunting both the wolf and
-the bear. On one occasion, accompanied by a
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_490">490</span>
-Laplander, I was out after an enormous she-wolf,
-but the animal succeeded in completely
-baffling us. Finally, despairing of success, I
-abandoned the pursuit. A few days subsequently
-I was much surprised to receive a visit
-from my Lapp. With him he brought the
-wolf’s skin, which he insisted on my accepting;
-he had come up with the creature and killed it
-after a long, weary chase of many hours. I
-told him that the skin belonged to him, but he
-would listen to no argument. ‘You must be
-paid back for the trouble you have had,’ he kept
-repeating, with a smile. ‘It would not be fair
-for me to keep all the advantage for myself.’</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i073.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">A LAPP MOTHER AND CHILD IN HOLIDAY ATTIRE&mdash;SO TIGHTLY SWATHED IS THE INFANT IN ITS CURIOUS “CASE” THAT IT SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE POOR LITTLE MITE TO GROW.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i>
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_491">491</span></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>“But go to the country and see things for
-yourself,” concluded my friend. “Try and
-speak with Mickel Nilsson Nia; but, above all
-things, make up your mind to practise patience.
-Nobody in Lapland appreciates the value of
-time in the slightest degree; a Lapp thinks
-nothing of turning up at an appointment six
-hours too soon or six hours too late. You must
-also be careful to be invariably most scrupulously
-polite to them.
-Their pride is boundless;
-they are persuaded they
-are almost divine. Their
-account of their origin is
-that, God having decided
-to submerge the world in
-the Deluge, everything
-living was drowned by
-the heavy rain, with the
-exception of two Laplanders,
-a man and a
-woman. These two God
-took under his charge
-and led to Vasso-Varra,
-where the couple separated, the man proceeding
-in one direction, the woman in another. For three
-years they pursued their respective paths, and at
-the end of that time found themselves again at
-Vasso Varra. On their travels neither had
-encountered a living soul. Three separate times
-did they repeat the experience. When nine
-years had elapsed they came to the conclusion
-that in the whole world they were the only
-inhabitants, and consequently they decided
-to marry one another. They had a very large
-family, and to-day the whole earth is peopled
-with their children; those who do not live in
-Lapland are degenerates!”</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i074.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">A TYPICAL LAPP PEASANT.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>Well, I went to Lapland, eager to see the
-semi-savages of whom I had heard so much. It
-is unnecessary to describe the earlier stages of my
-journey. Troms&ouml;, Hammerfest, and Lyngseedt,
-though much frequented, are but large villages
-in the neighbourhood of which the nomad
-Lapps pasture their reindeer. The animals feed
-on a sort of lichen, termed reindeer moss, which,
-during the autumn, covers the mountains with
-what looks like a mantle of snow.</p>
-
-<p>The natives live in primitive wattle and mud
-huts, and I found entire families living in
-paternal promiscuity with their animals in what&mdash;judged
-by the usual standards&mdash;was a most
-pestilential atmosphere,
-the predominating
-feature of which was a
-nauseous mingled odour
-of leather and boiled
-coffee.</p>
-
-<p>As to the people themselves,
-the typical Laplander,
-with whom I
-grew familiar, was, by no
-means a disagreeable
-type. Many of the older
-men bear a strange resemblance
-to French
-peasants, having the same
-dark skin, black hair, large mouth, thin face,
-prominent cheek-bones, and long, pointed chin.
-Even in the most wretched hovels I was offered a
-cup of coffee, accompanied by polite gestures
-that would have been appropriate for the bestowal
-of Royal hospitality. In exchange for this
-courtesy I usually presented my hosts with
-chocolate sweetmeats, which were received with
-transports of gratitude. My general impression,
-however, was that I was among a very primitive
-peasant race, but I am bound to admit that the
-Laplanders fell in with all my requirements as a
-photographer with the utmost good grace; they
-invariably took the pose I required better than
-my own people, and never displayed any
-unseemly curiosity.</p>
-
-<p>I had not forgotten the famous Mickel
-Nilsson Nia, and when I reached Nawick a
-Lapp schoolmistress there was kind enough to
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_492">492</span>
-serve me as guide to the abode of her celebrated
-countryman. We walked for an hour through a
-most desolate stretch of country, which gave one
-the impression that it had been abandoned after
-some mighty natural cataclysm. In this landscape
-of death the only persons we met were a
-stray herdsman or two, miserably attired, driving
-before them a few attenuated reindeer. Suddenly
-my guide stopped, exclaiming, “Here is Mickel’s
-house.”</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i075.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">A LAPP WOMAN OF THE BETTER CLASS&mdash;MOST OF THE FEMALES HAVE A MARKED PREDILECTION FOR TOBACCO.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>On the threshold two women were engaged in
-tanning reindeer hides. One of the women was
-elderly, the other quite young, yet they were
-attired in an almost identical manner. Each
-wore a short, coarse brown woollen skirt, beneath
-which were visible garments that resembled
-trousers made of bands of tightly-wound cloth.
-On their shoulders were grey shawls, on their
-feet enormous shoes of reindeer leather, on their
-heads bonnets of some blue material covered
-with lace. The colours usually employed in Lapp
-costumes, by the way, are white, black, grey,
-blue, and green; brighter hues are seldom seen.</p>
-
-<p>At sight of us the two women ceased working
-to stare, and then broke out into a hearty laugh&mdash;not
-of derision, but of welcome. The Laplander
-is of an extremely jovial disposition, and
-invariably prides himself on the possession of
-some nickname&mdash;not always complimentary&mdash;bestowed
-upon him in jest. My guide addressed
-herself to the younger of the two women, who,
-in addition to the garments I have enumerated,
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_493">493</span>
-wore some splendid reindeer furs. Then a
-young peasant came out of the hut, and there
-ensued a tremendous discussion, the result of
-which was to convince us that we had made a
-mistake&mdash;Mickel Nilsson’s hut was farther on.
-The young man volunteered to accompany us
-there.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i076.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">MICKEL NILSSON NIA, THE “LAPP ROTHSCHILD,” WHO POSSESSES NINE THOUSAND HEAD OF REINDEER.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>Finally, we came up to a group of men and
-women, in the centre of which, busily talking, a
-veritable Triton among minnows, was the person
-I sought. On the road I had, through my
-interpreter, been questioning our new companion,
-and had thus learned that Mickel
-Nilsson Nia was a sort of Lapp Rothschild, and
-possessed nine thousand head of reindeer. As
-each animal may be put down as worth roughly
-about a sovereign, the fortune of the little Lapp
-before me&mdash;who, hearing the object of my
-mission, had now put his finger to his cap and
-was wringing my hand with great affability&mdash;might
-be estimated at nine thousand pounds.</p>
-
-<p>We had come upon him on a holiday, it
-appeared, and Mickel Nilsson Nia was arrayed
-in his very best clothes. On his head he
-wore a tall sugarloaf, peaked cap, topped by
-a bright red “pompon,” which gave it a most
-extraordinary aspect. His body was covered by
-a superb white reindeer skin&mdash;the gala costume&mdash;and
-on his vest glittered the medal bestowed
-upon him by King Oscar as a reward for his
-success in breeding reindeer. The man’s whole
-appearance, with his moustache, short beard,
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_494">494</span>
-cunning eyes, and perpetual smile, reminded me
-strongly of Li Hung Chang, the Chinese statesman
-of illustrious
-memory,
-and also the
-richest man in
-his country.</p>
-
-<p>Mickel Nilsson
-Nia courteously
-invited me
-to enter his hut.
-I hesitated for
-a moment, and
-then, with
-head bent low,
-bravely dashed
-into the malodorous
-atmosphere
-of leather
-and boiled coffee
-which I had
-already learned
-to dread. In the
-semi-gloom of
-the interior a
-mass of animals
-were wallowing
-about, though I
-could not see
-them very distinctly.
-I sank
-into a wicker
-arm-chair.</p>
-
-<p>“A cup of
-coffee?”</p>
-
-<p>“Many
-thanks.”</p>
-
-<p>Into my hands
-was thrust a
-grotesquely-coloured
-cup,
-bearing the fateful
-legend,
-“Made in Germany.”
-Like a
-hero I gulped
-down the mixture
-it contained;
-to tell the truth,
-it was not unsavoury.
-Then
-I commenced to
-ask him a few
-questions.</p>
-
-<p>“Are things
-prospering in the
-reindeer breeding?”
-I inquired.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i077.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">FRATERNAL AFFECTION&mdash;FAMILY TIES ARE STRONG IN LAPLAND, AND EVEN THE
-BOYS LOOK AFTER THEIR BABY BROTHERS WITH THE UTMOST SOLICITUDE.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>Mickel’s answer was strictly non-committal&mdash;neither
-a decided “yes” nor a “no.”</p>
-
-<p>“How many
-animals do you
-possess?”</p>
-
-<p>Again he
-evaded the
-direct answer
-with an unsatisfactory
-“Not so
-many as I once
-had.” Then he
-called my attention
-to a herd
-of some three
-hundred animals
-or so on the
-neighbouring
-hillside, but
-added immediately,
-as though
-fearing he had
-hinted too
-much, “They
-do not all belong
-to me,
-however;
-some
-are the property
-of my neighbours.
-The
-herdsman we
-share between
-us.”</p>
-
-<p>After this I
-thought it as
-well to abandon
-commercial matters
-for literature.
-Mickel
-Nilsson Nia is a
-man of letters,
-devoting to
-books all the
-leisure his nomadic
-pursuits
-leave him. Of
-the literature of
-Lapland he
-spoke with pride.</p>
-
-<p>“With us,”
-added Mickel,
-“literature is
-essentially popular.
-Our poets
-sing only of
-what they have
-actually under
-their eyes;
-they celebrate
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_495">495</span>
-our daily life, our labours.” Here is a
-specimen of our poetry:&mdash;</p>
-
-<div class="poetry">
-<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
-<span class="i0">The reindeer are in full flight.<br /></span>
-<span class="i0">Look at their wild flowing manes!<br /></span>
-<span class="i0">Look at the capricious animals!<br /></span>
-<span class="i0">Look how the noble creatures bound fleet-footed over the plain through the world!<br /></span>
-<span class="i0">At his topmost speed the man pursues them, sweat standing out in great beads.<br /></span>
-<span class="i0">“Ah, how fatigued I am!” he cries.<br /></span>
-<span class="i0">“And yet what would I not do to catch them!”<br /></span>
-<span class="i0">Oh, the precious animal!<br /></span>
-<span class="i0">What flesh, what a skin, what horns, what veins, what bones!<br /></span>
-<span class="i0">How excellent is all about him!<br /></span>
-<span class="i0">How excellent he is himself!<br /></span>
-<span class="i0">Ah, ah, ah!<br /></span>
-<span class="i0">Look! Look!<br /></span>
-<span class="i0">Two hundred, three hundred, thousands together!<br /></span>
-<span class="i0">Ever do they flee.<br /></span>
-<span class="i0">Into the lakes, into the snow do they cast themselves, seeking to get refreshed.<br /></span>
-<span class="i0">Only when the sun has set will they come forth.<br /></span>
-<span class="i0">Now the night has come; forth they dart.<br /></span>
-<span class="i0">Now it is day and they hide themselves; only the plaintive bleats of the young fall on the ear.<br /></span>
-</div></div>
-</div>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i078.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">A VENDER OF SOUVENIRS&mdash;HE HAS DONE WELL AT HIS TRADE, AND HAS ACCORDINGLY
-TREATED HIMSELF TO A SPECIALLY-SMART CAP AND LUXURIOUS LAPP BOOTS.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>As I was begging
-my interpreter
-to convey
-to Mickel Nilsson
-Nia my
-admiration of
-this stirring epic
-of hunting, my
-host picked up
-a bundle of
-Swedish illustrated
-papers from
-the corner and proceeded to make comments
-upon them. Just then, however, a herdsman
-entered with
-news of importance,
-so I rose
-and took my
-leave.</p>
-
-<p>Accompanied
-by my two companions,
-I retraced
-my steps
-through the
-wild, desolate
-country, in
-which none but
-the most intrepid
-of sportsmen
-could find
-any pleasure.
-It is a land in
-which there are
-neither hotels
-nor houses; a
-land which
-seems to take
-one back to
-some remote age
-of innocence,
-when simple,
-honest human
-beings drove
-their flocks and
-herds before
-them, chanting
-the while a
-hymn to the
-delights of a
-pastoral life.</p>
-
-<p>What souvenirs,
-you ask,
-can one carry
-away from this
-strange country,
-where the reindeer
-rules
-supreme, and
-which, without
-the presence of
-that useful
-animal, would
-sink into a condition
-of abject
-poverty and
-utter desolation?
-Appropriately
-enough, there is
-nothing but
-carved reindeer
-bones. Some
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_496">496</span>
-are carved in so extraordinarily realistic and
-expert a fashion that more than one
-eminent sculptor to whom I have
-shown them has lifted his hands in
-admiration.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i079a.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">LAPP ARTISTS AT WORK
-CARVING REINDEER
-BONES.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>Like all true artists worthy the
-name&mdash;like the Japanese, for
-instance&mdash;the Laplander
-will only reproduce what
-he sees. Consequently,
-in nine cases out
-of ten his carved
-reindeer bones
-show only
-reindeer&mdash;reindeer
-at
-rest, reindeer
-jumping, reindeer
-harnessed to
-sledges, and reindeer
-browsing. The
-thing becomes an absolute
-obsession. And
-what realism is displayed
-by these unconscious
-artists! What long hours
-of patient observation
-are implied by the life-like
-attitudes they
-depict, and which
-might almost have
-been photographed, so
-true are they to
-Nature! One gets
-the impression, watching the Lapp carver
-at work, that one is in the presence of an
-artisan of a bygone age, before rules
-had been laid down and become
-stereotyped&mdash;an age when each
-individual worker was guided by
-his personal inspiration alone.</p>
-
-<p>After all, then, in this
-strange country, where
-there is supposed to
-be “nothing but
-reindeer,” one
-may still find
-among these
-half-savage
-people
-financiers&mdash;like
-Mickel
-Nilsson Nia&mdash;poets,
-and artists&mdash;types
-which certainly
-go to show that the
-Lapps possess some of
-the attributes of a civilized
-nation. Music
-alone is unknown in
-Lapland, and this may
-be because the Lapp,
-with his boundless
-pride of race, considers
-he has no need of
-its chastening and refining
-influence.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i079b.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">BUYING SOUVENIRS&mdash;STRIKING A BARGAIN WITH THE CURIO PEDLARS IS A LONG AND COMPLICATED BUSINESS.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-<hr class="chap" />
-
-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_497">497</span></p>
-
-<h2 id="TAPU">“TAPU.”<br />
-
-<span class="medium smcap">By D. W. O. Fagan, of Mangapai, Whangarei, Auckland, New Zealand.</span></h2>
-
-<blockquote>
-
-<p>The author writes: “I can vouch for this story in every particular. I hope it may prove interesting to
-’Wide World’ readers, as illustrating the endless ramifications of the old Maori law of ‘tapu,’ and the
-absurd predicaments in which Europeans coming under its influence occasionally found themselves.”</p></blockquote>
-
-<div>
-<img class="drop-cap" src="images/i.jpg" alt="I" />
-</div>
-
-<p class="drop-cap"><span class="upper-case">In</span> the old days of thirty-five years
-ago, especially in the out-districts,
-the Maoris still retained many of
-their ancient customs.</p>
-
-<p>Among other inconvenient practices
-they had an insane habit of depositing the bones
-of the dead in any kind of handy spot that took
-their fancy&mdash;on the top of an island, in a hollow
-tree, in the crevices of rocks&mdash;anywhere that
-was most convenient.</p>
-
-<p>Afterwards the place became “tapu” (sacred,
-forbidden, prohibited). Consequently any unwary
-and unsuspecting stranger who, happening
-along, chanced to lean against the tree or tread
-on the rocks became himself “tapu” (meaning,
-in this connection, accursed, unclean), and was
-hunted from the tribe as a social leper and outcast.
-Like Cain, every man’s hand was against
-him, though it was forbidden to kill him; and
-unless he was a man of mark and could get the
-“tohunga” (priest) to “lift the ‘tapu’ off him”
-he speedily succumbed to a general sense of
-misery and superstitious bedevilment.</p>
-
-<p>It is not my intention to attempt an explanation
-of the working of the “tapu” law. That
-has already been done by far abler pens than
-mine. My own opinion is that no one ever did
-properly understand it&mdash;not even the Maoris
-themselves.</p>
-
-<p>In the beginning, probably, the thing was a
-decent and workable law enough, as laws go,
-but in the course of ages, what with amendments
-and addenda, it got beyond everything
-and was entirely indigestible by human intellect;
-finally becoming an incubus&mdash;a kind of religio-legal
-nightmare from which they couldn’t
-wake up.</p>
-
-<p>I only know that any place, person, or thing
-could become “tapu.” Food, fire, air, and
-water were not free from it. Man, woman, and
-child were subject to it. For any trivial cause
-and without his knowledge a man might be
-made “tapu.”</p>
-
-<p>Sometimes it was partial, affecting only the
-feet or hands, and on these occasions a man
-could put a “tapu” on himself by walking
-about or scratching his own head!</p>
-
-<p>Anyhow, if you got a bad dose of it, things
-became pretty uncomfortable.</p>
-
-<p>White men could generally escape by affecting
-to ignore the thing and taking ship for another
-country.</p>
-
-<p>Unfortunately, as the reader will perceive,
-circumstances prevented my adoption of this
-course.</p>
-
-<p>At the time I am telling of I was superintending
-their northern trading station at Te
-Mata for Messrs. Franks, Backhouse, and Co., a
-big Auckland firm. Puketawa&mdash;whom I have
-mentioned in previous <span class="smcap">Wide World</span> contributions&mdash;a
-native of the South Island, educated
-at a mission school, was by way of being my
-servant and store-help. Having lived much
-with Europeans, and being ridiculously proud
-of the little the mission school had taught him,
-he affected to despise the Maoris of the neighbourhood.
-“Ignorant savages,” he called them,
-and stood aloof in the light of superior wisdom.
-At times he even permitted himself a mild
-remonstrance at what he considered my undue
-intimacy with the heathen. Education had
-made Puketawa a bit of a snob; but, for all
-that, he was a very good fellow.</p>
-
-<p>The store, residence, and outbuildings stood
-on the shore of the tidal estuary of the
-Mangapai River. Over a low range of hills
-running parallel with the coast, at a distance of
-about half a mile, was the Maori “kainga”
-(village), having a population of about nine
-hundred souls.</p>
-
-<p>It was with the object of bringing the
-blessings of civilization to these benighted
-inhabitants and&mdash;of course, quite incidentally&mdash;securing
-a profit to themselves that my principals
-had established the trading post.</p>
-
-<p>Being the only station within a radius of fifty
-miles, trade was good, and neither merchants nor
-agent had reason for complaint on the score of
-value or bulk of the cargoes of native produce
-picked up by the firm’s trading steamer on its
-quarterly round.</p>
-
-<p>By largess of sweets to the piccaninnies and
-gauds of cheap jewellery to their mothers, I
-had gained a certain popularity. With Te Horo,
-the chief, I was on terms of close friendship.
-I had quite won the old fellow’s heart by a
-timely gift of an imitation pearl necklace to
-his youngest and favourite wife. By careful
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_498">498</span>
-tutelage I was fast inducing in these children of
-Nature a craving for the things of the white
-man’s higher life as represented by cotton
-goods, sugar, tea, tobacco, etc. For obvious
-reasons, therefore, I was anxious to retain their
-good will, and careful lest by any infringement
-of custom or superstition I should unwittingly
-offend. In the light of what follows this should
-be remembered.</p>
-
-<p>The snipe were thick that autumn on the
-tidal flats at the river’s mouth, and as a break to
-the monotony and with a view to change of diet
-I would often close the store on Saturday afternoons
-and, with Puketawa, drop down stream on
-a gunning expedition.</p>
-
-<p>It was on one of these weekly excursions that
-misfortune fell upon us. The birds were shy
-that day, and we followed them far over the
-sand-flats. Intent on our sport, neither of us
-noticed the signs of an ominous change in the
-weather, till, chancing to look seaward, I became
-suddenly aware of it. The blue water had
-changed in colour to a leaden grey and the
-horizon was hidden in a dense shroud of mist,
-which, with the wind behind it, was rapidly
-rolling up towards us. There was no time to
-lose. Our boat was at anchor a mile away on
-the inner edge of the sand-flat. It would be a
-race between us and the fog. If overtaken on
-those interminable banks we might wander,
-hopeless, till the returning tide drowned us like
-rats in a trap.</p>
-
-<p>Fortune favoured us. We reached the boat,
-and, breathless, had just tumbled into it and
-hoisted sail, when the sea-fog shut down like a
-curtain. Sky, cliffs, and river channel were
-blotted out in an instant. No pretence at
-keeping a course was possible. The river ran
-due west, and, the wind coming from the east,
-it only remained to sit tight and let the boat
-scud before it, trusting to luck that we did not
-ram any one of the hundred rocky islets studding
-the river’s mouth.</p>
-
-<p>Our vision, beyond a small circle of heaving
-grey water immediately around us, was shut in
-by the wall of thick white vapour. With Puketawa
-at the sheet, I at the steer-oar, we drove
-along in a little world of our own.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i081.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">“IT ONLY REMAINED TO SIT TIGHT AND LET THE BOAT SCUD.”
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_499">499</span></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>Suddenly, at a yell from Puketawa, I looked
-up. A wall of rock loomed dark through the
-mist, before and above us! “Luff!” he
-screamed, but there was no time. Ere I could
-sweep her round with the oar a grey roller lifted
-under our stern, caught us broadside on its crest,
-rushed us through a providential cleft in the
-rocks, and, rolling over and over, we, with our
-belongings, were strewn broadcast on a little,
-sandy beach. The boat, though shaken, was
-still sound, and
-we quickly hauled
-it beyond the
-reach of the
-waves.</p>
-
-<p>A short examination
-showed us
-we had been cast
-up on one of the
-very islands we
-had hoped to
-escape. Still,
-unpleasant
-though our predicament
-was, it
-could easily have
-been worse. In
-that thick haze
-we might well
-have been driven
-on the bluff cliffs
-of the headland
-and pounded to a jelly in the surf. At all events,
-we were on terra firma and could make the best
-of it till the fog lifted. In our drenched condition
-the wind was decidedly unpleasant, so,
-after securing the boat, we made haste to seek
-shelter on the lee side of the island.</p>
-
-<p>As we groped our way up the rocks and over
-the top we came across a low-spreading puriri
-tree. Beneath it we found plenty of dry sticks,
-and, breaking off some dead branches also, we
-carried with us a good stock of firewood. I
-had matches in a waterproof case, and soon, in
-a snug rock-niche, we were warm and comfortable
-beside a roaring fire. We had managed to save
-some six brace of birds from the shipwreck, and
-these, skinned and toasted on the embers, with
-the contents of my flask to wash them down,
-made an excellent supper, with sufficient to
-spare for breakfast.</p>
-
-<p>Dawn broke clear and calm, with just enough
-wind to take us on our homeward way. I had
-sent Puketawa for a further supply of wood,
-when a shout from above brought me scrambling
-up the rocks. There he stood, a living embodiment
-of terror. With wide eyes and
-dropping jaw he was staring at the hollow tree-trunk.
-Then I saw what it was. From the
-orifice, ghastly in the dim light, grinned two
-fleshless skeletons. Around the hole was heaped
-a pile of human bones and skulls, while other
-death’s-heads peered at us from crevices of the
-rocks. We were in a Maori “wahi-tapu”
-(cemetery).</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i082.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">THE ESTUARY OF THE MANGAPAI RIVER.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>It was yet another instance of the sheer
-“cussedness” of things in general. There were
-half a hundred islands to choose from; yet
-malignant Fate, aided by that confounded fog,
-must needs fix upon Taupiri on which to cast
-us up&mdash;Taupiri, the sacred island, where for
-centuries the bones of the chiefs had been
-deposited. It was consecrated to the “mana”
-(holiness) of their spirits, and frightfully “tapu.”
-No man might put foot on it and live. And
-we had not only passed the night there, but&mdash;horror
-of horrors!&mdash;had eaten food cooked
-with wood from the sacred tree! The loose
-stones, among which we had stumbled in the
-foggy night and had kicked from our path, were
-the skulls of the great dead. There was no
-doubt about it&mdash;we were “tapued” up to our
-necks. That it was purely accidental and
-through no fault of our own didn’t in the least
-matter. From the Maori point of view, indeed,
-it made the case infinitely worse. For Puketawa,
-whose civilization was, after all, only skin-deep, it
-was likely to prove a most serious affair. Brought
-thus face to face with the terrors of ancient superstition,
-his white man’s education fell to pieces.
-His mind swung back to the faith of his forbears
-and the fears of the old beliefs gripped his heart.
-He was for fleeing the accursed place at once,
-but, “tapu” or no “tapu,” I wasn’t going
-without breakfast. Puketawa refused food.
-Already I fancied he was getting “pourri”
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_500">500</span>
-(depressed)&mdash;no light thing with a Maori, for I
-had known them before then to die of sheer
-melancholy. I realized that the accident was
-bad for me also if the thing should get known.
-I did not fancy being ostracized by the tribe,
-my goods confiscated and destroyed, and my
-house and store burnt by way of purification
-and to avert the anger of the gods.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i083.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">“THERE HE STOOD, A LIVING EMBODIMENT OF TERROR.”</p>
-</div>
-
-<p>Though, on the way home, I was angry and
-contemptuous by turns, Puketawa refused to be
-comforted. To my ridicule or reproaches he
-answered only with a sickly smile. “No good,”
-he said. He was “tapu” right enough&mdash;could
-feel the spell “working inside him.” In vain I
-pointed out that the island was six miles distant
-from the “kainga,” hidden by a bend of the
-river, and that we had landed at night in a dense
-fog and had left again before sunrise.</p>
-
-<p>“Ah!” he answered. “Te tohunga very
-wise. He know wi’out seein’.”</p>
-
-<p>On arrival, contrary to custom, we found the
-beach below the store deserted. Not a soul was
-in sight. No Sunday crowd of mothers chatted
-as they squatted around the buildings; no
-piccaninnies dabbled in the water, and waited
-anxiously for sweets on my return. I knew
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_501">501</span>
-these latter would not forego the weekly dole
-unless for serious cause. Could Puketawa be
-right after all? Had our infringement of “tapu”
-become known in some incomprehensible manner?
-It began to look very like it. That night
-at supper also Puketawa declined food. He
-even refused rum-punch, and when Puketawa
-refused rum things must be looking black
-indeed. He lay in his bunk with his face to
-the wall, silent save for long, shuddering sighs.
-So it went on through the night. Protests, reproaches,
-even vigorous shakings were of no
-avail; he lay like a log, with closed eyes, making
-no sign.</p>
-
-<p>This was beyond a joke. No possibility of
-pretence was here. The man was dying, visibly,
-of sheer funk. Unless I could rouse him he
-would not live another day. I could not let him
-die, and, base surrender to heathen jugglery
-though it was, made up my mind to seek out
-the “tohunga” next day and entreat him to
-remove the spell.</p>
-
-<p>In the long, dark watches I began to feel
-pretty queer myself. The silence seemed tangible,
-heavy, impermeable. I was not exactly
-frightened; the feeling was indescribable&mdash;a
-sort of nameless terror at nothing, a horror of
-some unknown impending fate against which
-it was useless to struggle and from which there
-was no escape. Mutuality, sympathy, hypnotism&mdash;call
-it what you will&mdash;a weight of fear
-lay on my senses, a veritable obsession of dread.</p>
-
-<p>Was there any truth in heathen devilry after
-all, I wondered? Had the confounded “tapu”
-got me too? With an effort I shook off the
-growing lethargy and paced the floor through
-the night. In the morning I could eat nothing;
-food was repulsive. Shortly after sunrise I
-took my way to the “kainga.”</p>
-
-<p>Within fifty yards of the gate I was warned
-by the young warriors to keep my distance.
-Presently Te Horo himself appeared in full
-war-paint of “korowai” (kilt) and feather mat,
-a spear in his hand.</p>
-
-<p>“Thy sin is known,” he cried, sternly. “Come
-not near to bring contamination upon us. Thou
-and thy servant are accursed. It may be ye
-shall both die; I know not. Begone! At noon
-the ‘tohunga’ comes to confer with thee.”</p>
-
-<p>As I sat beside the bewitched man and
-awaited the coming of the priest the night fears
-that had assailed me passed, giving place to a
-feeling of rising anger at the whole thing. Here
-was I&mdash;a fairly decent Englishman, reared in the
-Anglican faith and living in the nineteenth
-century&mdash;hindered from going about my
-business, outcast, excommunicated, shunned
-as a leper, my servant dying; all on account
-of some fiendish diablerie of heathen fetish. The
-affair was preposterous, incredible, ludicrous.
-Then I looked at poor Puketawa, moaning, prone
-in his bunk, and was answered. That at least
-was real.</p>
-
-<p>Punctually at twelve o’clock the old
-“tohunga” came over the hill. He was a
-tall man, grey-headed and handsome, and in
-his full robes of office he looked imposing
-enough. Halting at a short distance he called
-us to come forth. I started forward to expostulate,
-but he waved me sternly back.</p>
-
-<p>“Approach not,” he commanded. “You are
-unclean, you have incurred the anger of the
-great spirits. Yet will I intercede, and it may
-be purge you of the offence. Now, therefore,
-bring out your ‘taonga’ (goods) and everything
-that you have touched, in order that I
-may destroy it and the purging be complete.”</p>
-
-<p>This was beyond a joke. Give up my household
-goods and knick-knacks to be burnt?
-Never! I’d see him hanged first.</p>
-
-<p>“Be off, you old scallywag!” I shouted.
-“Give you my things, indeed!” And I began
-to tell him what I thought about it. He stood
-impassive, inexorable.</p>
-
-<p>“Young man,” he answered, “be not mad.
-Fool! Can you fight the spirits? Look to
-your servant. Delay not, lest he die.”</p>
-
-<p>This was unanswerable. I surrendered, and
-we carried the things out, Puketawa moving as
-though in a mesmeric dream. All my bachelor
-treasures, bedding, rugs, chairs, cooking-pots,
-and crockery&mdash;everything went. The pots and
-crockery he smashed with his tomahawk, the
-house and all else he burnt to ashes. Luckily,
-I had not been near the store, or that and its
-contents would have gone too.</p>
-
-<p>What next, I wondered? Had the old
-heathen done with us? Evidently not.</p>
-
-<p>“Remove your clothing,” he commanded.
-Here was a pretty state of things! Being
-naturally of a modest disposition, I demurred,
-at which he lost his temper.</p>
-
-<p>“Hinder me not,” he cried. “Your life
-or death is naught to me. Beware, lest I depart
-and leave you to your fate.”</p>
-
-<p>There was nothing for it but to comply. So,
-whilst our clothes were burning, Puketawa and
-I stood before him naked and unashamed.</p>
-
-<p>Down to the creek, to the pool beneath the
-waterfall, the old priest drove us. The stream
-was full of snow-water from the mountains, and
-bitterly cold.</p>
-
-<p>“Enter,” he ordered.</p>
-
-<p>“Needs must when the devil drives,” and
-with a gulp we plunged in and stood shivering
-up to our necks, while for ten interminable
-minutes the old fellow chanted prayers and wove
-his “karakia” (spells) on the bank.
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_502">502</span></p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i085.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">THE AUTHOR’S STORE ON THE BANKS OF THE MANGAPAI RIVER.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>At last it was over. We climbed out, and
-the “tohunga” sprinkled each of us, separately
-and solemnly, with a fern frond dipped in the
-water of the pool.</p>
-
-<p>“It is enough,” he said. “The ‘tapu’ is
-lifted,” and walked away.</p>
-
-<p>The humour of the situation appealed to me,
-and, cold and dripping though I was, I shouted
-with laughter. And you will admit the thing
-<i>was</i> fairly humorous. Imagine us, if you can,
-standing there, stripped of our worldly goods,
-naked and shivering&mdash;Puketawa, a prize convert
-from a mission station, and I, a Christian&mdash;brought
-to such a pass by miserable heathen
-wizardry that we had been glad to submit
-ourselves to the sorceries of the arch-wizard
-himself to escape the consequences of the spells
-that had been cast over us!</p>
-
-<p>All the same, the effect of the hanky-panky
-on Puketawa was truly wonderful. Moribund
-before the arrival of the “tohunga,” he was a
-new man after the performance. He laughed
-with me, his dull eyes again became clear
-and bright, and he got quite chirpy; while,
-laugh as you will, even I, who had submitted to
-go through it only on Puketawa’s account and
-for the sake of trade, must confess to a sense
-of spiritual well-being to which I had been a
-stranger for some days.</p>
-
-<p>With trade clothing from the store we clad
-our nakedness. The baptism business had
-given us an appetite, and we soon rummaged
-out a cold collation. Maoris are always fair
-trenchermen, but I never saw one put away
-such a feed as Puketawa
-did then. Eat? Long
-after I had finished I sat
-and watched the stuff
-disappearing&mdash;tinned
-salmon, potted beef,
-spiced ox-tongue, dried
-fish, ham and chicken,
-pine-apple, Worcester
-sauce. King Solomon
-in all his glory never had
-such an appetite.</p>
-
-<p>Next day, as though
-to make amends for the
-inconvenience we had
-suffered, and show that
-the popular feeling was
-not directed against us
-but against the “tapu”
-alone, the Maoris flocked
-to the store with cash
-and barter, and I did
-the best day’s trade of
-my life. In two days
-they had built me a
-better house than that destroyed. It was as
-if the ceremony of purification had conferred
-a sort of brotherhood upon me, and I found
-myself on a better footing with them than ever
-before. I never discovered, however, how they
-learnt of our transgression.</p>
-
-<p>To this day the question of how the “tohunga”
-became aware of our accidental presence on the
-sacred island remains a mystery. That we were
-alone there I am certain. Under the circumstances
-of the storm and the thick mist, it is
-equally certain our presence was not observed
-from the shore. The “kainga” was six miles
-distant, a range of hills intervening. It was a
-black night; Maoris are chary of being out
-after dark. Altogether the possibility of our
-having been seen may be dismissed. Puketawa,
-of course, leaned to the supernatural. Old
-stories of occultism practised by the priests, of
-spiritualism and uncanny mental telepathy with
-the spirit world, he told for my benefit. I do
-not like mystery, and have no leaning towards
-the occult, but, dismissing all this as unworthy
-of credence, there yet remains the query of how
-the “tohunga” knew of our “breaking of the
-’wahi-tapu’” (breach of the sanctity of a
-burial-place).</p>
-
-<p>In the fullness of his heart at my successful
-whitewashing, old Te Horo offered to give me
-his youngest and prettiest daughter in marriage,
-with a thousand acres of tribal land as a dowry.
-Between you and me, there have since been
-times when I have regretted that I didn’t clinch
-the bargain.
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_503">503</span></p>
-
-<h2 id="The_Finches_Festival">The Finches’ Festival.<br />
-
-<span class="large">A BIRD-SINGING COMPETITION IN FLANDERS.</span><br />
-
-<span class="medium smcap">By A. Pitcairn-Knowles.</span></h2>
-
-<blockquote>
-
-<p>Bird-singing competitions, in which substantial money prizes are awarded to the owner of the
-songster making the greatest number of “trills” in a specified time, are very popular in the
-North of France and Flanders. In this article the author describes and illustrates a typical bird-singing
-festival in a Flemish village. From photographs by the author.</p></blockquote>
-
-<div>
-<img class="drop-cap" src="images/t.jpg" alt="T" />
-</div>
-
-<p class="drop-cap"><span class="upper-case">The</span> inhabitants of the rural district
-of that part of Belgium which goes
-by the name of Flanders seem to be
-possessed of a genius almost unique
-for instituting and organizing quaint
-and curious competitions designed to administer
-to that keen taste for friendly rivalry which is
-so characteristic of the population of King
-Leopold’s little domain. Any stranger penetrating
-into the heart of the country at the time
-of the year when many of the hamlets are about
-to hold their annual fairs&mdash;spun out to last a
-week, or even longer&mdash;cannot fail to be interested
-in the long posters adorning the walls
-of every “estaminet,” announcing a separate
-event for each day of the festive season, and
-testifying to the great hold this healthful spirit
-of emulation exercises upon the
-minds of these simple peasants.</p>
-
-<p>Being one of those strangers
-in a strange land, I was overcome
-by a spirit of curiosity
-when a very limited acquaintance
-with the Flemish tongue
-helped me to the conclusion
-that the “Prijskamp voor Blinde Vinken,”
-announced for a certain Sunday at the untimely
-hour of seven in the morning, was a competition
-in which blind birds were to be the candidates
-for honour and distinction, and I resolved to be
-present at what promised to be a curiously
-interesting spectacle.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i086.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">THE FINCH-OWNERS’ MEETING-PLACE AND HEADQUARTERS.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>Setting out on my bicycle in the early dawn
-of a stormy morning, I was borne with the wind
-through one sleeping hamlet after another. The
-pulse of life had scarcely begun to stir; but
-when I reached my destination, as the clock
-struck six, and wended my way to the street
-with the well-nigh unpronounceable name where
-the great event was to take place, all was alive
-and bustling. Peasants of both sexes, representing
-every stage from tender childhood to
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_504">504</span>
-decrepit old age, were strolling up and
-down or standing about in groups eagerly
-discussing the all-absorbing event which
-was about to commence&mdash;the contest
-of the blind finches.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i087a.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">ONE OF THE CAGES, SHOWING THE DOUBLE FRONT TO
-PROTECT THE LITTLE OCCUPANT FROM CATS.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>At intervals men and boys clattered
-along in <i>sabots</i>, or proceeded with
-shuffling gait in gorgeously-coloured
-carpet slippers, bearing mysterious
-wooden boxes under their arms. I inquired into
-the nature of their burdens, and discovered
-that they contained cages which housed the
-chaffinches destined to take part in the competition.
-These cases, varying in size, bore little
-similarity to each other either in design or
-workmanship, for while some were roughly put
-together without any attempt at decoration,
-others, though evidently the work of the amateur,
-revealed traces of
-minute care and
-originality of construction,
-one
-being adorned with a rudely carved
-representation of the little imprisoned
-inmate, a work
-of art presumably executed
-by the owner himself
-or some village genius.
-A few of the boxes were
-really elaborate constructions,
-one in particular
-being made of highly-polished
-mahogany, on
-which figured a bird with
-outstretched wings, executed
-in relief ironwork.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i087b.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">THE BANNER OF A FINCH-OWNERS CLUB.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i087c.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">ONE OF THE JUDGES IN POSITION, READY TO SCORE THE NUMBER OF “TRILLS”
-EMITTED BY THE BIRD IN FRONT&mdash;NOTICE THE CURIOUS TALLY-STICK USED IN SCORING.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>There was one spot in
-particular towards which
-the future competitors
-seemed to be attracted, a
-rustic inn, over whose
-portals the flag of the local
-finch-owners’ club waved
-lustily in the vigorous
-breeze, and the cheery greeting,
-“Vinkeniers Welkom,” attracted
-the attention of the passers-by. It
-was here that the organizers and
-competitors met for the purpose
-of settling all matters pertaining to
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_505">505</span>
-the bird-singing contest. Even at 6 a.m. beer
-has irresistible fascination for the true native of
-Flanders, and it goes without saying that every
-entry for the competition called forth a request
-for at least one “bock” on the part of the competing
-bird-owner. Others, who came as mere
-spectators, followed his example, and soon the
-stream of conviviality flowed freely.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i088a.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">THE COMPETITORS AND JUDGES IN POSITION.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>A few men and boys were already opening
-their boxes, and tenderly lifting out strong little
-wooden cages with double wire fronts, designed
-to withstand the attacks of that relentless foe to
-bird life&mdash;the domestic cat. Meanwhile numbers
-had been chalked on to the wall along the side
-of the road with the object of showing each
-competitor his place, and one by one the owners
-of the feathered songsters took up their positions,
-until I counted fifty-six competitors seated by
-the roadside, waiting for the signal to begin the
-contest. Some of these men had
-walked as far as twenty miles, and,
-having placed their boxes three
-yards apart, sat
-down with evident
-relief.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i088b.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">A JUDGE AT WORK&mdash;EACH MAN SCORES FOR SOMEONE ELSE’S BIRD, AND STEWARDS KEEP A CHECK UPON THEM TO INSURE FAIR PLAY.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i>
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_506">506</span></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>During the interval of waiting I gathered from
-several communicative candidates that it is
-necessary to blind the little birds in these
-“concours,” as they would stop singing immediately
-they found themselves to be under observation.
-The eye itself is not injured, however,
-the closed eyelids being merely glued together,
-so to speak, by means
-of a slight touch with a
-hot iron. Needless to
-say, this operation must
-be performed by an experienced
-hand, otherwise
-part of the lid may
-be left open, in which
-case the front of the
-cage must be covered,
-or the shy little occupant
-will not sing. One
-is relieved to know that
-it is quite possible to
-restore the bird’s sight
-by separating the closed
-lids.</p>
-
-<p>As the Belgian law
-does not permit such
-cruelty to be openly
-practised in the country,
-the birds are imported&mdash;or,
-to be more
-accurate, are supposed
-to be imported&mdash;from France.
-Even the catching of birds for
-the purpose of employing them
-in these curious contests is
-looked upon as illegal in Belgium,
-but laws of this kind are
-more easily made than enforced.
-Probably the Government
-thinks that by keeping this pastime
-under a control which
-appears to be severe it is doing
-its duty, and with this object in
-view it demands that each owner
-shall carry on his person a certificate
-containing the following
-words:&mdash;</p>
-
-<p>“The undersigned, burgomaster
-of the town of &mdash;&mdash;,
-hereby declares that Mr. &mdash;&mdash;,
-of such a trade, living at &mdash;&mdash;, is the owner of
-blind chaffinches, with which he travels, and that
-he does not practise the trade of bird-selling.”
-For this guarantee a fee of a hundred francs is
-charged, it being necessary to obtain a new
-signature from the authorities every fortnight.</p>
-
-<p>The success or failure of a bird entered in a
-contest depends upon the number of perfect
-“trills” made by the little competitor in a
-certain time&mdash;usually an hour. The best result
-my informant had ever known at a “concours”
-was one thousand and nineteen trills in the hour,
-and after setting up this record the bird readily
-sold for a hundred and twenty francs. As money
-prizes are invariably offered, these feathered songsters
-are often sources of profit as well as sport
-to their owners, a good chaffinch
-easily adding a hundred
-francs to the family exchequer.</p>
-
-<p>But now let me relate how
-these competitions are managed
-and carried on. I doubt
-whether any of my readers
-have ever witnessed such a
-scene as I am about to describe,
-and a brief sketch of
-what came to pass in that out-of-the-way
-spot can hardly fail
-to interest those who enjoy a
-glimpse of peculiar, old-world
-practices.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i089.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">A WELL-EARNED REST&mdash;HANGING THE WINNING BIRD UP IN
-THE SUNSHINE AFTER THE CONTEST.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>As the clock of the village
-church laboriously chimed out
-its seventh stroke the manager
-of the competition, in a loud
-voice, issued the order for the
-contest to begin. At this there
-was a general stir. Each man
-took up a more or less business-like
-attitude in front of
-the cage of one of his opponents,
-every competitor acting
-as judge for someone else’s
-bird. Having produced his
-curious-looking marker&mdash;a
-thing resembling a
-four-sided yard-stick,
-painted black, with
-a handle either in
-the form of a knob
-or a ring at the top
-end&mdash;the men at
-once proceeded to
-chalk certain cabalistic
-signs thereupon,
-which a close observation
-showed me
-stood for the number
-of trills made by each
-bird&mdash;“Chuie, chuie, chuie, chuie, chuiep”
-being a perfect trill. It is the fifth and last
-part of the warble upon which success really
-depends. If the final “chuiep” is not heard
-the feat is incomplete, and the little warbler is
-not credited with a chalk mark.</p>
-
-<p>The silence was scarcely broken save for the
-shrill piping of the birds, and the seriousness
-exhibited by competitors and spectators alike
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_507">507</span>
-would have done credit
-to the mourners at a
-funeral. It was curious to
-note the manner in which
-some of the less gravely-disposed
-owners spent
-the interval of waiting for
-their charges to distinguish
-themselves. Some
-were lightening the serious
-business of marking by
-occasional draughts of
-beer from huge tumblers,
-which they had, with wise
-forethought, placed close
-at hand. Others, with
-that calmness that comes
-from long practice, were
-puffing contentedly at
-short clay pipes, while the
-greater number&mdash;among
-whom were some very
-youthful competitors, evidently
-on their first trial&mdash;wore
-anxious expressions,
-never letting their
-eyes rest upon any other object than the cage
-and the scoring-stick entrusted to their care.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i090a.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">COLLECTING THE TALLY STICKS.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>All this time the subdued talking among the
-group of interested spectators scarcely rose above
-the continued chirping of the birds,
-which seemed to become more and
-more shrill and vigorous as the moments
-passed, until, after the
-lapse of half an hour or
-so, each of the little
-songsters seemed ready
-to burst its little throat
-in its determination to make itself
-heard above its neighbours.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i090b.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">PLACING THE NET AND DECOY-BIRDS TO CAPTURE FINCHES.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>At the commencement of the
-competition I had been under the
-pleasant impression that the little
-creatures, although selfishly deprived
-of the blessing of sight in
-order to administer to a somewhat
-barbaric form of human enjoyment,
-sang their early
-morning songs
-out of pure gladness
-of heart and
-“the wild joy of
-living,” but my
-fond delusion
-was soon nipped
-in the bud, for
-unmistakable
-notes of anger
-were by this time
-distinct, and it
-needed not the assurance of one of the spectators
-to convince me that, in its wild state, this particular
-species of the winged creation, at all
-events, is far from preserving that unity and perfect
-agreement in
-the home circle
-ascribed to it by
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_508">508</span>
-one of our poets and pointed out for man’s emulation.
-It is in order to stimulate an artificially-produced
-anger, considered necessary for the
-success of the “concours,” that these matches are
-held in the early morning hours, while the birds
-of the trees and hedges are singing most lustily.
-The chirping of the imprisoned songsters proceeds
-from a wild frenzy of desire to do battle-royal
-with those of their brethren still enjoying
-freedom, and by degrees the longing grows for
-an encounter with their competing
-neighbours.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i091.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">CAUGHT!&mdash;THE CAPTURE OF A FUTURE COMPETITOR.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>These matches are under the
-strictest control, both as regards
-discipline and fairness,
-and any candidate
-found guilty of dishonesty
-in marking
-is punished by summary
-expulsion from
-his club. Stewards
-controlling the judging
-parade up and down
-with their eyes upon
-the markers, so that
-cheating under such
-close supervision is
-well-nigh impossible.</p>
-
-<p>As the most successful
-of the finches trilled
-forth its five hundred
-and eighteenth “Chuie,
-chuie, chuie, chuie,
-chuiep” the order was passed along the line to
-cease scoring and make known the final results.
-With startling promptness each candidate sprang
-to his feet and began to add his score. The
-owner of the champion bird, a cripple, showed
-calm pleasure as he proceeded to replace in its
-box his little favourite’s cage, upon which was
-painted a landscape which succeeded in defying
-every law of perspective.</p>
-
-<p>During the summer months these “concours”
-are held at very frequent intervals in the country
-districts of both France and Belgium, and a
-competitor is frequently the possessor of several
-birds, which are usually caught by means of a
-net, but almost every method is productive of
-quick results, for the chaffinch is an eager wooer,
-his addresses to his lady-love rendering him
-totally blind to his own danger. He is beset
-with rivals, and as the female bird invariably
-smiles upon the strongest suitor she is the
-cause of innumerable battles, in which it is
-usual for several lovers to be left dead upon the
-field. The chaffinch is very easily trapped by
-using a tame finch to stir up his jealousy. A
-limed twig is attached to the tame bird, who is
-allowed to run about where the twittering of the
-wild birds is heard. As soon as the latter become
-conscious of the presence of an alien in their
-midst an onslaught
-is made,
-which generally
-ends in the
-capture of one, if not more, of the attackers.
-Another method of capturing the chaffinch,
-and the one most in vogue among the Flemish
-“Vinkeniers,” is represented in two of the accompanying
-photographs. A stuffed finch fixed
-to a small peg is placed in the grass, clearly
-visible to the birds in the trees, while a live
-decoy, in a cage, carefully covered up with loose
-grass and twigs, so as not to attract any attention,
-is concealed not many yards away. A long net,
-spread out on the ground between the two
-decoy birds, lies in readiness to make prisoners
-of the little feathered warriors as soon as they
-cluster round the stuffed bird, incited by the
-clamours of the caged enticer. A pull of the long
-strings, leading into the ambush of the bird-catchers,
-may cause as many as thirty finches at
-a time to fall into the hands of the trappers.
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_509">509</span></p>
-
-<hr class="chap" />
-
-<div id="THE_FIGHT_AT_THE_AT_RANCH" class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i092.jpg" alt="" />
-</div>
-
-<h2 class="hidden">THE FIGHT AT THE A-T RANCH.<br />
-
-<span class="smcap">By Frank Bransted.</span></h2>
-
-<blockquote>
-
-<p>The story of one of the most sanguinary “cattle wars” the West has ever known. The long-standing
-feud between the big cattlemen and the homesteaders, whose advent means the doom of the open
-range, led in this instance to a most extraordinary state of affairs, in which one side raised a regiment
-of ruffians to wipe out their enemies, while the other retorted by laying siege to their opponents’
-head-quarters with rifle-pits and dynamite bombs! “The narrative is absolutely true,” writes
-the author, “only the names of the cattlemen concerned being changed.”</p></blockquote>
-
-<div>
-<img class="drop-cap" src="images/w.jpg" alt="W" />
-</div>
-
-<p class="drop-cap"><span class="upper-case">With</span> a rattle of wheels over stones
-and frozen ground the buckboard
-swung round the bend and down
-across the muddy creek flats. The
-driver, Ranger Jones, one of the
-pioneers of Northern Wyoming, drew off his
-leather glove and rubbed his chilled hands on
-the buffalo robe to restore circulation. The sun
-was low in the west, and, after placing his hand
-on the heavy Colt that lay reassuringly beside
-him on the seat, he drew on his glove and spoke
-sharply to his team. A moment later they
-struck the bridge, and after clattering across the
-shaky wooden structure began the ascent of the
-south bank.</p>
-
-<p>Scarcely had the buckboard left the bridge
-than from underneath it was thrust the barrel
-of a rifle. A sharp report rang out, followed
-by two others in rapid succession, and with his
-fingers groping vainly for his pistol Ranger
-Jones, the best rider and one of the bravest
-men of the Big Horn country, fell forward off
-the seat. Shot three times through the back,
-he was dead before his head struck the dashboard.</p>
-
-<p>Jones’s death was but one of the brutal
-murders that about 1890 horrified the settlers
-east of the Big Horns and north of the Powder
-River. This country, which had formerly
-belonged exclusively to the cattle kings, had of
-late years been invaded by homesteaders and
-other settlers, who had begun to stretch their
-hated wire fences along the creeks and around
-the water-holes on the alkali flats to the east.
-Early in the winter all the settlers in this district
-had received warnings that they had been tried
-by “a jury of their betters” and found guilty of
-cattle rustling, and warning them that if they did
-not leave the country within thirty days their
-lives would be forfeited. These warnings were
-signed by the “White Cap Protective League.”
-The letters, which were known to be the work
-of the Cattle Association, or of some of its
-members, were for the most part disregarded.</p>
-
-<p>The death of Ranger Jones fanned to a white
-heat the flames of rage that had been aroused
-by the previous murders, and a meeting was
-called at which Frank Benton, an ex-sheriff of
-Johnson County, was by common assent adjudged
-the person guilty of Ranger Jones’s death,
-and he was sentenced to die by the hand of the
-first of the settlers who had a chance to pot him.
-It was further agreed to discover, if possible, the
-ringleaders of the “White Caps,” and either to
-lynch them or drive them from the country.
-But the searchers were unable to find Benton,
-who, having heard of the plans laid for his
-taking-off, held a hasty consultation with Dr.
-Hays and Ben Williams, two of the leading
-cattlemen, and then boarded a train at Cheyenne
-and fled to Texas. Once there, he began
-scouring the country for “bad men.” Any man
-who had some other man’s blood on his hands
-found favour with Benton, and at the little town
-of Utica, where he made his head-quarters, he
-soon gathered together as choice a collection of
-“toughs” and murderers as could be found in
-any one hundred square miles on earth. These
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_510">510</span>
-men he hired to go with him to Wyoming and
-kill “Rustlers.” They signed a contract to stay
-with him for six months and were to receive
-fifty dollars apiece per month, and one hundred
-dollars were to be divided amongst the bunch
-for every man that they killed.</p>
-
-<p>Late in April the band, consisting of sixty
-men, with Benton and a negro cook, boarded a
-train on the M. K. T. for the north. At Omaha,
-where they outfitted, they bought up practically
-all the ammunition in the town, as well as large
-quantities of provisions, bedding, tents, and other
-articles. They were joined here by Dr. Hays,
-who, after expressing himself as being well
-pleased with the appearance of the men
-selected, informed Benton that horses and
-supply wagons awaited him at Douglas,
-Wyoming. Before parting from Benton he gave
-him a revised list of some forty men of whom
-the cattle kings were desirous of ridding the
-country.</p>
-
-<p>On Thursday, the 27th of April, the little
-town of Douglas was surprised and terrified
-by the appearance of sixty armed men who
-alighted from the Elkhorn train. The strangers
-paid but little attention to the townspeople,
-but hastened out to the E&mdash;&mdash;Y ranch near the
-town, where their horses awaited them. Here
-they pitched camp for the night, and at daylight
-the next morning set off for the north-west,
-camping that night on the banks of Wild Horse
-Creek, some forty miles from Douglas. By
-Saturday night they were within sight of the
-Powder River, but were halted by Benton in
-the hills south of the river until it became dark,
-when they advanced, and, after fording the river,
-camped in a large cottonwood grove for the
-night. At two o’clock in the morning they were
-awakened, and followed their leader on foot
-for a couple of miles, when, just as day was
-breaking, they came to a little log-house near
-the banks of the Powder River. The building
-was on the claim of a small rancher named Ben
-Champion, and stopping with him at the time
-was another rancher named Billy Ray. Both
-men had received White Cap notices, and were
-living together for greater security.</p>
-
-<p>Swiftly the men under Benton&mdash;who were
-known thereafter as White Caps&mdash;surrounded
-the ranch and lay concealed, awaiting the
-appearance of the hapless ranchers, who were to
-be their first victims. About five o’clock the
-door opened and Billy Ray stepped out.</p>
-
-<p>“Get breakfast, Ben, and I will look after the
-horses,” he called out, cheerily, as he started for
-the log stable near the river bank.</p>
-
-<p>Half-way there he paused and partly turned
-as if to retrace his steps. Thinking that they
-had been discovered in their hiding-place,
-Benton gave the order to fire, and poor Ray fell
-riddled with bullets.</p>
-
-<p>“Now for the house, boys! Get the other
-one!” yelled Benton, and he headed a rush
-at the log building. The rush, however,
-ended in a wild stampede for shelter, for,
-regardless of the bullets smashing into the logs
-around him, Ben Champion appeared in the
-doorway with a six-shooter in either hand
-streaming fire and lead. One White Cap lay
-dead close beside the body of Billy Ray, and
-another one was painfully trying to drag himself
-into shelter with a broken leg trailing behind
-him.</p>
-
-<p>From all sides a perfect hail of bullets was
-now poured into the log cabin, and but for the
-seasoned logs stopping a large proportion of
-the bullets no man could have lived inside for
-five minutes. As it was, bullets were constantly
-getting in through the chinks and crevices
-between the timbers. After the first charge
-failed, Champion, knowing that it was only a
-question of time before the White Caps killed
-him, sat down at his table and wrote a letter of
-farewell to his mother and sisters in far-away
-Vermont. He also, from time to time, wrote
-down short comments on the battle in progress.
-This blood-stained diary, which is now the
-property of the State Historical Society at
-Cheyenne, reads as follows:&mdash;</p>
-
-<p>“Six o’clock.&mdash;It is just about an hour since
-they killed Billy, and, while bullets have been
-buzzing around in here pretty lively ever since,
-I am still untouched. I just wrote a letter to
-my mother.</p>
-
-<p>“Seven o’clock.&mdash;As I was writing in this
-book before a bullet smashed up my left arm
-pretty badly, but I have it tied up and the
-bleeding stopped. Now I have got my revenge,
-too, for as I shifted from one end of the shack
-to the other I caught one fellow trying to run up
-here with a bunch of burning brush in his hands.
-He’ll not need brush to keep warm where he is
-now.</p>
-
-<p>“Nine o’clock.&mdash;Still on deck, but getting
-kind of wobbly on the pins from loss of blood.
-Have been hit four times.</p>
-
-<p>“Nine-forty a.m.&mdash;Well, good-bye everyone.
-They set a load of hay on fire and let it run
-down the hill against the side of the shack and
-the roof is all ablaze. I am waiting till the
-smoke settles over the main bunch a little
-thicker and then I will try to get in amongst
-them with my six-shooter, if I can, before they
-down me. Good-bye.&mdash;<span class="smcap">Ben.</span>”</p>
-
-<p>A whiff of wind from the north blew a heavy
-cloud of smoke low down over a bunch of White
-Caps lying in the shelter of a small creek some
-fifty yards from the cabin, and when it lifted
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_511">511</span>
-Ben Champion stood amongst them with a
-smoking revolver in his hand. A moment later
-he lay dead on the sand with over forty bullets
-through his body, but in that short space of
-time his deadly Colt had sent two more of the
-White Caps to their last reckoning.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i094.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">“BEN CHAMPION APPEARED IN THE DOORWAY WITH A SIX-SHOOTER IN EITHER HAND STREAMING FIRE AND LEAD.”</p>
-</div>
-
-<p>While the White Caps were burying their
-dead, the horses and wagons were brought up
-and the outfit cooked their breakfast on the
-embers of the burning logs. Then, placing their
-wounded comrade in a supply wagon, they
-moved up the river in search of more victims.
-Surrounding two ranches, they crept up to
-them, only to find them vacant; they were too
-late, for their firing had attracted the attention
-of a rancher named Whitmore as he stopped to
-water his horse at the ford a mile below
-Champion’s ranch, and he had ridden up close
-enough to see the finish of the unequal fight,
-and had then spurred his horse up the river,
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_512">512</span>
-warning the settlers that the much-talked-of
-White Cap invasion had begun. The news
-spread over the country like wildfire, and,
-instead of fleeing from the danger-zone, the
-ranchers and cow-punchers buckled on their
-guns and headed for the scene of the fight.
-They started in ones and twos, but as they got
-closer in they began to gather in bunches of ten
-or twelve, all spoiling for a fight, if there was a
-prospect of avenging the death of their comrades.</p>
-
-<p>In vain did Benton and his regiment try to
-close with any of these bunches; their horses
-were fresh, and they would run as long as
-chased by the White Caps; but once let the
-chase cease and they were back again, waiting
-for a chance to sneak up under cover of a hill
-or ravine to pour in a volley of bullets and
-again take to their heels if pursued. By three
-o’clock there were fully fifty men harassing the
-White Caps, and Benton decided to make for
-the shelter of the A&mdash;T ranch on Crazy Woman
-Creek, some fifty miles to the north-west. The
-first few miles was an orderly march, but the
-“Rustlers,” as the other side called them, were
-constantly increasing in numbers and pressing
-in closer behind. At five o’clock Benton gave
-his men the order to strap their ammunition on
-to the backs of the wagon horses and to abandon
-the wagons and supplies. From an orderly
-march their ride had now degenerated into a
-wild dash over the barren sage brush flats for
-refuge in the far-off ranch. Darkness alone
-saved them from extermination, and as it was,
-only forty-five powder-stained, worn-out White
-Caps rode up to Dr. Hays’s A&mdash;T ranch just as
-the sun rose on Monday morning.</p>
-
-<p>After a hasty breakfast they set to work
-barricading the windows and doors of the stout
-log-house, as well as building a fort of stones
-around the well and cutting a trench from there
-to the house and the barn, a large two-storey
-frame structure which was rendered almost bullet-proof
-by lining it with bales of hay. Noon
-found them well prepared for a siege&mdash;found,
-too, close on three hundred Rustlers watching
-them from the surrounding hill-tops.</p>
-
-<p>A long-range fusillade was kept up all day on
-Monday without effect on either side, and
-Monday night also passed uneventfully. Tuesday
-found the Rustlers entrenched in rifle-pits
-and stone forts within easy range on all sides of
-the ranch buildings. They had received large
-quantities of ammunition from Buffalo, which
-was only fifteen miles north of them, and had
-also brought up the tents and provisions abandoned
-by the White Caps near the Powder
-River. All day long the numbers of the
-Rustlers kept constantly increasing, till by
-nightfall fully five hundred men were pouring
-lead into the buildings and forts on the
-A&mdash;T. The firing kept up all Tuesday night,
-and under cover of the darkness the Rustlers
-advanced their rifle-pits to within two hundred
-yards of the ranch buildings. Seated on the
-top of a pile of earth and thinking himself
-safe in the darkness, young Tommy Arnold,
-of the Rustlers, fired a shot at the dark mass of
-buildings in the valley. Quick as lightning
-came an answering shot, fired at the flash of his
-gun, and young Arnold pitched forward, shot
-through the breast. Angered at the death of
-Arnold, several Rustlers digging a pit near him
-seized their rifles and poured in a volley of
-bullets at the spot where they had seen the gun-flash
-in the valley. With five further shots,
-however, the hidden marksman wounded two of
-them and threw dirt into the faces of a couple
-more, so that they were soon glad to quit the
-unequal duel. The man who did this shooting
-was afterwards discovered to be an ex-United
-States marshal from Oklahoma, named Smith.
-He was wounded on the last day of the fight,
-and afterwards died from his wounds.</p>
-
-<p>On Tuesday afternoon Bob Snelling and John
-Pettybone, two of the richest ranchers among
-the Rustlers, rode over to Fort McKinney and
-offered the commander there two thousand
-dollars for the use of his cannon for one day.
-Of course, the commandant had to refuse, and
-he further took warning, so that that night, when
-a party of Rustlers, led by Tom Ray, arrived
-with the intention of stealing the gun they
-found it had been wheeled into the guard-house
-and a sentry stationed over it. Not to be
-daunted by these failures to secure a big gun,
-old Jack Flagett, a veteran of the Civil War,
-essayed to make one. He secured a team and
-drove to Buffalo, returning with a number of
-lengths of iron piping. He first placed a three-inch
-pipe around a two-inch and pounded the
-intervening space full of wet sand, repeating the
-performance with a four and six inch pipe. The
-whole affair was then chained securely to
-the stump of a tree on the top of a hill
-about five hundred yards from the A&mdash;T buildings.
-Next the amateur artillerist rammed in a
-couple of pounds of powder, and, for a projectile,
-put in five pounds of dynamite. Then he
-called out to some near-by Rustlers: “Come
-over, boys, and watch me blow that White Cap
-outfit to Hades!”</p>
-
-<p>He was about to set a match to the touch-hole
-when one Fred Johnston interfered.</p>
-
-<p>“Better set it off with a fuse, Jack,” he said.</p>
-
-<p>“Well, to satisfy you, I will,” replied Flagett;
-“but there is no danger, as this gun can stand
-anything.”</p>
-
-<p>A six-inch fuse was then placed in the gun
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_513">513</span>
-and lighted, and everyone retired into an
-adjacent pit, dragging old Jack with them. For
-a moment all was silence; then came an awful
-ear-splitting report, and a cloud of dust settled
-over the rifle pit. When it cleared away all
-trace of Flagett’s cannon and the stump as well
-had disappeared. Not a piece of either was
-ever found, though Hall Smith, who was in
-charge of the cook-camp half a mile farther
-back, swore that he heard a piece of pipe whistle
-over his head a few seconds after the explosion.</p>
-
-<p>Wednesday night passed very quietly, the
-White Caps being short of ammunition, and the
-Rustlers busy in the construction of a movable
-fort on wheels. They placed three mountain
-wagons in the shape of the letter V, and built a
-framework of poles between them. This frame
-they covered with bales of hay and suspended
-other bales from it clear to the ground. There
-was room within this curious fort for twenty men,
-and loopholes were left in the front sides for
-firing through as they slowly propelled it forward.
-It was the intention to roll this up within
-throwing distance of the ranch buildings, and
-then to demolish them with dynamite bombs.</p>
-
-<p>On Thursday morning, just at sunrise, the
-ponderous engine began to crawl forward on
-its half-mile journey. Slowly but surely it
-crept along, till at ten o’clock it was less than
-three hundred yards from the ranch. In vain
-did the White Caps concentrate their fire on the
-moving fortress; their bullets were absorbed by
-the hay as water by a sponge. Inside the
-beleaguered ranch all was excitement and terror.
-Only too well did they know the fate that
-awaited them unless the grim monster advancing
-on them was checked. Benton called his boys
-together. “Boys, we must stop that fort or die
-like rats in a trap,” he said. “I want twenty
-men to follow me. Each will take a torch in
-one hand and his six-shooter in the other, and
-I promise one thousand dollars to the first man
-to fire the hay walls of the fort.”</p>
-
-<p>The moving fort was now less than a hundred
-yards from the house, and the furious fire from
-the hills and pits that had covered its advance
-died down as the Rustlers lay, with their loaded
-rifles silent, waiting for some move on the
-part of the White Caps.</p>
-
-<p>Within the ranch-house all was quiet. The
-twenty men selected for the dash stood with
-their right hands clenched around the butts of
-their heavy Colts and their lefts grasping kerosene-soaked
-torches. All eyes were fixed on
-their leader, who stood next to big Ben Williams,
-who was noiselessly removing the bars from the
-door. “Ready, boys!” came in clear, low
-tones from Benton as the last bar was lifted
-from its socket. Every man braced himself for
-the leap&mdash;ready, in fact, anxious, to have the
-dreadful suspense at an end, though each well
-knew that the opening of the door would be a
-signal for five hundred rifles to sweep the space
-between the house and the fort with a perfect hail
-of lead. Quickly the door swung open, and
-Benton leaped out. His eyes swept the surrounding
-hills; then he turned and tried to leap back
-into the protection of the log walls again. But all
-in vain! Quicker than thought came a flash of
-fire from a loophole in the fort, and Benton fell
-in the doorway with a bullet from Tom Champion’s
-rifle through his lungs.</p>
-
-<p>“Keep back, boys!” he gasped. “Stay
-inside. You’re saved&mdash;the troops are coming.”
-They dragged him in, but these were his last
-words; the heavy hand of the avenging angel
-had fallen on him, and he had gone for a final
-reckoning.</p>
-
-<p>“To the loopholes, boys!” shouted Williams,
-who had now taken command. “Shoot as you
-never shot before. If we can hold them in
-check for five minutes we are saved.”</p>
-
-<p>From loopholes and cracks thirty-five rifles
-concentrated their fire on the hay fort, and the
-furious storm of lead caused Champion and the
-twenty men behind the bales to lie low and hug
-the ground. They knew that the fire could not
-long be sustained at that rate, and that when it
-slackened they could advance with fewer casualties.
-Glancing from a loophole to the north, Tom
-Champion saw two lines of brown-coated men,
-riding furiously in the midst of a cloud of dust,
-sweep over the hills less than a mile away.
-“Boys, the troops are coming!” he shouted.
-“Quick! light a fuse and try a throw from
-here.”</p>
-
-<p>Hastily the bomb was prepared and thrown.
-The five-pound parcel of dynamite circled
-through the air and fell only ten feet short of
-the wall. For an instant there was silence;
-then came the explosion, and for a few minutes
-all was hid in a blinding cloud of dust. When
-it settled it revealed a gaping hole in the side of
-the house and the dim forms of men inside
-striving desperately to replace the dislocated
-logs.</p>
-
-<p>“To the loopholes, boys! Pick them off!”
-cried Champion, but before a shot could be
-fired, between them and the house swept a line
-of cavalry, and the fight at the A&mdash;-T had passed
-into history.</p>
-
-<p>Clothed in the uniform and authority of the
-United States army, fifty men from the
-Thirteenth Cavalry robbed five hundred raging
-Rustlers of their prey. No true American can
-fire on the army uniform, and cursing and
-furious, but powerless to interfere, the Rustlers
-could only stand by and watch thirty-five men&mdash;all
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_514">514</span>
-that were left of the invaders&mdash;come forth
-and surrender themselves to Captain Watterson
-and his men, to be transported to Cheyenne for
-trial for the murder of Ray, Champion, and
-others. They were ultimately released without
-the formality of a trial after some of the moneyed
-cattle kings had conferred with the State officials.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i097.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">“BENTON FELL IN THE DOORWAY WITH A BULLET FROM TOM CHAMPION’S RIFLE THROUGH HIS LUNGS.”</p>
-</div>
-
-<p>Dr. Hays, Ben Williams, and other of the
-leading cattlemen fled from the country, never
-to return. Their buildings were burned, their
-horses and cattle shot on sight by the Rustlers,
-while their calves bore the brand of the first man
-to see them. Many a wealthy rancher in that district
-to-day owes his start to the calves he gathered
-up when the big outfits went to pieces.</p>
-
-<p>So ended one of the most sanguinary cattle
-wars that the West has ever witnessed. All
-that remains to-day to recall it is a group of
-bullet-scarred buildings, surrounded by weed-grown
-rifle-pits, some two hours’ ride south-east
-of Buffalo, near the junction of Muddy Creek
-with the north fork of the Crazy Woman.
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_515">515</span></p>
-
-<hr class="chap" />
-<h2 id="THE_WIDE_WORLD_In_Other_Magazines"><span class="xxlarge">THE WIDE WORLD:</span> In Other Magazines</h2>
-
-<h3>A HETEROGENEOUS COLLECTION.</h3>
-
-<p class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i098a.jpg" alt="" /></p>
-
-<p class="drop">For one wishing to study the ways of the lowest
-dregs of this earth, I would advise him to give the
-slums of London a rest, and watch the throngs who
-besiege the offices of the agents who undertake to supply
-the cattlemen with help at Montreal. German and
-Russian Jews, Dukhobhors, Italians, negroes, Dr.
-Barnardo boys, homesick for their beloved slums; broken-down
-“sharks” and “confidence men” from the large
-cities of the States; one-time moneyed youths from the
-larger English towns, who have run through the capital
-given them to start in business, and are returning on the
-chance of getting more. All bustling and hustling each
-other after the same prize&mdash;a free passage to London,
-the home, and often the grave, of the desperate.&mdash;“<span class="smcap">THE
-CAPTAIN.</span>”</p>
-
-<h3>TRAVELLING IN ICELAND.</h3>
-
-<p class="drop">By the average individual (unless he happens to be a
-salmon-fisher) Iceland is imagined to be a place
-somewhere within the region of the Arctic Circle and to
-be a land of eternal winter. The fishing enthusiast
-knows it only as a paradise of his craft and values it
-accordingly. Some tourists visit the island for a week or
-so in summer, and get as far as Thingvellir, or if they are
-not too saddle-sore they may see Geysir. But only a very
-select few have travelled for weeks on the hardy little
-ponies and known to the full the exceeding delight of
-day after day spent in the wonderful Icelandic air and of
-riding through the green valleys and fording the numberless
-rivers and streams of Iceland. To those who can
-ride and are keen on an open-air life and who are lovers
-of scenery the island should appeal, and this should
-apply even more so to those tired of the ways of cities,
-for there are no railways in Iceland, no motors, and there
-were until very recently no telegraphs.&mdash;“<span class="smcap">WOMAN’S
-LIFE.</span>”</p>
-
-<h3>A LUCKY FALL OF SNOW.</h3>
-
-<p class="drop">On the Trans-Siberian Railway not long ago some
-train-wreckers, anticipating the Continental
-express, had been busily engaged for some hours tearing
-up the permanent way. But, in the meantime, so heavy
-a fall of snow had occurred that the mail had been completely
-blocked some few miles before reaching the work
-of destruction. In this way the robbers were defeated of
-their prey, and the gangs of workmen who afterwards
-went out to clear the line discovered the damage on
-digging away the snow.&mdash;“<span class="smcap">TIT-BITS.</span>”</p>
-
-<h3>WOMEN’S SPORT IN SWEDEN.</h3>
-
-<p class="drop">In no other European country do sports occupy so
-large a place in women’s lives as they do in Sweden.
-This is especially the case in winter, when traffic and
-social intercourse are hindered by the snow and, but for
-outdoor games and exercises, life in the great castles
-and country estates would be monotonous and dull
-for the women of the upper classes. This is the
-time, however, when the Swedish ladies most enjoy
-themselves, for they pass their days in skating, skiing,
-tobogganing, coasting, and in training for the
-races which take place at Stockholm and in most
-of the more populated parts of the country.&mdash;“<span class="smcap">THE
-LADIES’ FIELD.</span>”</p>
-
-<h3>AN UNCONVENTIONAL AMUSEMENT.</h3>
-
-<p class="drop">The “Mengeleusha,” or “slippery place,” near
-Kuala Kangsar, Perak, Federated Malay
-States, is a solid piece of granite, about seventy or
-eighty feet long, standing in a stream of water and
-forming a sort of waterfall. The water flowing down
-this rock makes it as slippery as glass, and the amusement
-is to slide down the rock and splash into the
-pool beneath. This snapshot shows an Englishman
-half-way down the slide.&mdash;“<span class="smcap">THE STRAND MAGAZINE.</span>”</p>
-
-<p class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i098b.jpg" alt="" />
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_516">516</span></p>
-
-<hr class="chap" />
-<h2 id="Odds_and_Ends">Odds and Ends.<br />
-
-<span class="medium">A Battle-Royal “You Dirty Boy”&mdash;Bavarian “Death-Boards”&mdash;An Extraordinary Sacrifice, etc., etc.</span></h2>
-
-<div>
-<img class="drop-cap" src="images/o.jpg" alt="O" />
-</div>
-
-<p class="drop-cap"><span class="upper-case">Our</span> first photograph represents what
-must have been a battle-royal, and
-one which ended fatally for all concerned.
-It took place during the
-night, in the back yard of a house in
-Central Queensland, Australia, and the combatants
-were all found dead in the morning exactly
-as seen in the photograph. It is supposed that
-the snake must have bitten the kitten, and the
-mother cat, coming to its rescue, fought the
-snake and broke its back, but not before she
-had been fatally bitten herself. Cats are well
-known to be very clever at breaking snakes’
-backs with their claws.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i099.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">A BATTLE ROYAL WHICH ENDED FATALLY FOR ALL CONCERNED&mdash;THE SNAKE KILLED THE KITTEN, AND THE MOTHER, COMING TO THE RESCUE, KILLED THE SERPENT, BUT SUCCUMBED HERSELF TO THE SNAKE’S BITE.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>The top snapshot on the next page was taken
-during a tramp through the jungly district
-around Sourabaya, a small town in Java. The
-picture shows a Javanese woman washing her
-child under a falling stream of water. Evidently
-the youngster is not enjoying the performance,
-and evinces his disapproval of the proceedings
-by kicking out in all directions and struggling
-vigorously. As a result of these contortions the
-outline of his body in the picture is rather obscure.
-It is interesting to note how the water has
-been brought to the rudely-constructed circle of
-masonry which serves as a reservoir. Having
-no system of pipes to facilitate the distribution
-of water, the natives fall back on Nature to assist
-them in this direction. They cut down betelnut
-trees, split them in half from top to bottom,
-and scoop out the inside substance, thus making
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_517">517</span>
-a series of cylindrical troughs. These are dried
-in the sun, after which a number of them, joined
-end to end and
-placed at a gentle
-slope, will convey
-water from any
-natural source to
-within convenient
-distance of a village
-or group of houses.
-The end of one of
-these artificial water-courses
-is seen in
-the picture.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i100a.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">“YOU DIRTY BOY”&mdash;A JAVANESE MOTHER WASHING HER CHILD IN A “HOME-MADE AQUEDUCT.”<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>Here is a curious
-little snapshot from
-Java. The ancient
-cannon seen in the
-photograph is situated
-near the railway
-station at Batavia,
-the capital of the
-island, and is believed
-by the natives to
-possess the peculiar
-power&mdash;particularly
-strange in the case
-of so incongruous an
-object as a cannon&mdash;of
-enabling childless married
-people to raise a family.
-In pursuance of this
-strange belief many offerings
-are placed by the
-superstitious near the
-cannon; three are seen
-in the foreground of the
-photograph. Another
-legend which attaches to
-this particular gun is to
-the effect that when it
-and another piece of
-ordnance, which is also
-situated somewhere in
-the island, are brought
-together, the Javanese
-will become a great and
-independent nation.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i100b.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">AN ANCIENT CANNON TO WHICH PEOPLE MAKE OFFERINGS IN THE BELIEF THAT IT ASSIST THEM TO RAISE A FAMILY.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>In the eastern half of
-Bavaria, on the borders
-of Bohemia, lies the so-called
-Bavarian Forest.
-This part of the country,
-although it boasts beautiful
-scenery, is seldom
-visited by tourists, probably
-for the reason that
-the charms of the region
-are little known even in
-Germany. This part of Bavaria has been in
-many ways untouched by civilization, and owing
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_518">518</span>
-to its seclusion from the outer world some very
-strange customs are still in vogue, strongly
-reminding one of the Middle Ages. One of
-these strange customs, strictly observed by the
-population, is the way in which they keep alive
-the memory of their dead by the erection of
-what are called “totenbretter,” or “death-boards.”
-These are wooden planks cut in the
-shape of tombstones and roughly painted.
-Sometimes they bear also the image of a saint.
-They are erected&mdash;often in a row of thirty and
-more&mdash;on the roadside, in fields and meadows,
-near chapels and crucifixes, in the village streets&mdash;in
-short, everywhere; they are even nailed to
-houses and barns. They do not mark burial-places,
-as might be supposed. As soon as a
-person has died the corpse is put on a board,
-and there it lies in state until it is put into the
-coffin shortly before the funeral. These boards,
-then, are the so-called “death-boards,” and
-after the funeral they are cut into a suitable
-shape, and decorated with an inscription containing
-the name of the deceased, his age, and, in most
-cases, some lines of poetry. These short poems,
-which are, of course, meant in sober earnest,
-are occasionally very amusing. The boards are
-then stuck somewhere near the road, or in the
-fields, where they sometimes accumulate to an
-alarming number. In the poorer districts these
-boards are not always cut into shape and
-painted, but are simply deposited just as they
-are at the foot of some crucifix, where they
-remain untouched until they moulder away.
-It must be admitted that the custom, though
-interesting, seems open to objection from a
-hygienic point of view, nor is it very exhilarating
-for the tourist to be reminded of death wherever
-he may turn.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i101a.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">BAVARIAN “DEATH-BOARDS”&mdash;THEY DO NOT MARK BURIAL-PLACES, AND ARE TO BE FOUND IN ALL SORTS OF ODD SITUATIONS.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photo. by Kester, Berlin.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>This wonderful fungus, found in the Garo
-Hills in Assam, has been supplied by Nature
-with a delicate network of fine translucent
-material, which seems to be intended to protect
-the stalk from the attacks of insect life. The
-head of the plant, on the other hand, is covered
-with some substance which attracts minute flies
-in great numbers. For further defence Nature
-has given this weird fungus the power of
-spreading around it a most offensive smell.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i101b.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">AN EXTRAORDINARY FUNGUS&mdash;IT GROWS IN A NIGHT AND BY MID-DAY
-HAS ENTIRELY WITHERED.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i>
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_519">519</span></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>The beautiful
-white tracery
-grows up in the
-night, commences
-to droop
-as soon as the
-first rays of the
-sun reach it,
-and by midday
-has entirely
-withered away.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i102.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">IN SOME PARTS OF CHINA IT IS STILL CONSIDERED A VERY
-MERITORIOUS ACT FOR A WIDOW TO COMMIT SUICIDE AFTER THE DEATH OF HER
-HUSBAND&mdash;THIS PHOTOGRAPH SHOWS A WIDOW ABOUT TO MAKE AWAY WITH
-HERSELF IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IMMENSE AND ADMIRING CROWD.</p>
-</div>
-
-<p>Old customs
-die very hard
-in China, and
-in several parts
-of the Celestial
-Empire it is
-still considered
-a high act of
-virtue for a
-woman to commit
-suicide
-after the death
-of her husband.
-According to
-the law the proceeding
-is actually
-legal in
-some provinces,
-and such is the
-state of public
-opinion that in
-districts where
-it is officially
-prohibited the
-authorities
-rarely interfere.
-The striking
-photograph
-which we reproduce
-on this
-page shows one
-of these extraordinary
-voluntary
-sacrifices
-about to take
-place, with the
-widow herself,
-clad in white&mdash;the
-Chinese
-mourning
-colour&mdash;the
-gallows erected
-for the occasion,
-and the
-immense crowd
-gathered to witness
-the gruesome
-spectacle.
-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_520">520</span></p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<img src="images/i103a.jpg" alt="" />
-<p class="caption">AN ARIZONA BEDROOM&mdash;SO HOT IS THE CLIMATE, AND SO NUMEROUS THE INSECTS AND REPTILIAN
-PESTS, THAT THE DWELLERS ON THE VERGE OF THE DESERT FIND IT NECESSARY TO SLEEP IN WIRE CAGES SIMILAR TO THAT HERE SHOWN.<br />
-
-<i>From a Photograph.</i></p>
-</div>
-
-<p>The desert bordering
-on the Colorado River,
-in Southern Arizona,
-is probably the hottest
-part of the United
-States in summer,
-where the condition
-humorously generalized
-at “a hundred and
-forty in the shade, and
-no shade,” prevails
-from June until September.
-The intense
-heat of the sun-baked
-houses then makes
-them unbearable even
-at night to the average
-sleeper, and open-air
-sleeping apartments are
-accordingly needful for
-comfort. The photograph
-shows one of
-these airy adjuncts to a
-desert home. The wire
-screen that encloses the
-little room, like a bird-cage,
-serves to keep
-out pestiferous insects,
-snakes, and other vermin.</p>
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-<a href="images/i103b-lrg.jpg">
-<img src="images/i103b.jpg" alt="" /></a>
-<p class="caption">THE MAP-CONTENTS OF “THE WIDE WORLD MAGAZINE,” WHICH
-SHOWS AT A GLANCE THE LOCALITY OF EACH ARTICLE AND
-NARRATIVE OF ADVENTURE IN THIS NUMBER.</p>
-</div>
-
-<div class="transnote">
-<h3>Transcriber's Note:</h3>
-
-<p>Table of Contents added.</p>
-
-<p>Inconsistent spelling and hyphenation are as in the original.</p>
-</div>
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-<pre>
-
-
-
-
-
-End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Wide World Magazine - Vol. 22, No.
-131, February 1909, by Various
-
-*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WIDE WORLD MAGAZINE, FEBRUARY 1909 ***
-
-***** This file should be named 51061-h.htm or 51061-h.zip *****
-This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
-        http://www.gutenberg.org/5/1/0/6/51061/
-
-Produced by Victorian/Edwardian Pictorial Magazines,
-Jonathan Ingram, Wayne Hammond and the Online Distributed
-Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
-
-Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will
-be renamed.
-
-Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright
-law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works,
-so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United
-States without permission and without paying copyright
-royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part
-of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project
-Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm
-concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark,
-and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you receive
-specific permission. If you do not charge anything for copies of this
-eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook
-for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports,
-performances and research. They may be modified and printed and given
-away--you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks
-not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the
-trademark license, especially commercial redistribution.
-
-START: FULL LICENSE
-
-THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
-PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
-
-To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
-distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
-(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project
-Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full
-Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at
-www.gutenberg.org/license.
-
-Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project
-Gutenberg-tm electronic works
-
-1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm
-electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
-and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
-(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all
-the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or
-destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your
-possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a
-Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound
-by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the
-person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph
-1.E.8.
-
-1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be
-used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
-agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few
-things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
-even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See
-paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project
-Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this
-agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm
-electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below.
-
-1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the
-Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection
-of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual
-works in the collection are in the public domain in the United
-States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the
-United States and you are located in the United States, we do not
-claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing,
-displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as
-all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope
-that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting
-free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm
-works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the
-Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily
-comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the
-same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when
-you share it without charge with others.
-
-1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
-what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are
-in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States,
-check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this
-agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing,
-distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any
-other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no
-representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any
-country outside the United States.
-
-1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
-
-1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other
-immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear
-prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work
-on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the
-phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed,
-performed, viewed, copied or distributed:
-
-  This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and
-  most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no
-  restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it
-  under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this
-  eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the
-  United States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you
-  are located before using this ebook.
-
-1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is
-derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not
-contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the
-copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in
-the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are
-redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project
-Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply
-either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or
-obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm
-trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
-
-1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted
-with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
-must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any
-additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms
-will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works
-posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the
-beginning of this work.
-
-1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm
-License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
-work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
-
-1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
-electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
-prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
-active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
-Gutenberg-tm License.
-
-1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
-compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including
-any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access
-to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format
-other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official
-version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site
-(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense
-to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means
-of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain
-Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the
-full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
-
-1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
-performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works
-unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
-
-1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
-access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
-provided that
-
-* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
-  the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method
-  you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed
-  to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has
-  agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project
-  Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid
-  within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are
-  legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty
-  payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project
-  Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in
-  Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg
-  Literary Archive Foundation."
-
-* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
-  you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
-  does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
-  License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all
-  copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue
-  all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm
-  works.
-
-* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of
-  any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
-  electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of
-  receipt of the work.
-
-* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
-  distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
-
-1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project
-Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than
-are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing
-from both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and The
-Project Gutenberg Trademark LLC, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm
-trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.
-
-1.F.
-
-1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
-effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
-works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project
-Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm
-electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may
-contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate
-or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other
-intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or
-other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or
-cannot be read by your equipment.
-
-1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right
-of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
-Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
-Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
-Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
-liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
-fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
-LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
-PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
-TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
-LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
-INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
-DAMAGE.
-
-1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
-defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
-receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
-written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you
-received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium
-with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you
-with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in
-lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person
-or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second
-opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If
-the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing
-without further opportunities to fix the problem.
-
-1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
-in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO
-OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT
-LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
-
-1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
-warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of
-damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement
-violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the
-agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or
-limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or
-unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the
-remaining provisions.
-
-1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
-trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
-providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in
-accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the
-production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm
-electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses,
-including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of
-the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this
-or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or
-additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any
-Defect you cause.
-
-Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
-
-Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of
-electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of
-computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It
-exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations
-from people in all walks of life.
-
-Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
-assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's
-goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will
-remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project
-Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
-and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future
-generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary
-Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see
-Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at
-www.gutenberg.org
-
-
-
-Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
-
-The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit
-501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
-state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
-Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification
-number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary
-Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by
-U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
-
-The Foundation's principal office is in Fairbanks, Alaska, with the
-mailing address: PO Box 750175, Fairbanks, AK 99775, but its
-volunteers and employees are scattered throughout numerous
-locations. Its business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt
-Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up to
-date contact information can be found at the Foundation's web site and
-official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact
-
-For additional contact information:
-
-    Dr. Gregory B. Newby
-    Chief Executive and Director
-    gbnewby@pglaf.org
-
-Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
-Literary Archive Foundation
-
-Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide
-spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of
-increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
-freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest
-array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations
-($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
-status with the IRS.
-
-The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
-charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
-States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
-considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
-with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations
-where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND
-DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular
-state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate
-
-While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
-have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
-against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
-approach us with offers to donate.
-
-International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
-any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
-outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
-
-Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation
-methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other
-ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To
-donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate
-
-Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works.
-
-Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project
-Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be
-freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and
-distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of
-volunteer support.
-
-Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed
-editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in
-the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not
-necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper
-edition.
-
-Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search
-facility: www.gutenberg.org
-
-This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm,
-including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
-Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
-subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
-
-
-
-</pre>
-
-</body>
-</html>
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/a.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/a.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index aca821a..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/a.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/cover.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/cover.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 9d43a1b..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/cover.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/e.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/e.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 3d21a2b..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/e.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 6f62e86..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i001.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i001.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 4405025..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i001.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i002.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i002.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 6525c1e..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i002.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i003-lrg.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i003-lrg.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 1d77fca..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i003-lrg.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i003.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i003.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 727c4e6..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i003.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i005.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i005.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 15d6e02..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i005.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i006.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i006.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 66fbc5d..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i006.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i007.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i007.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index b966d7e..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i007.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i008a.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i008a.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 577a2dd..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i008a.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i008b.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i008b.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index b6ebe3f..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i008b.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i009.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i009.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 52c1880..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i009.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i010a.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i010a.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 4f067b4..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i010a.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i010b.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i010b.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 7c5e903..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i010b.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i011.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i011.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 0fdc220..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i011.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i012a.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i012a.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 58e41d3..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i012a.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i012b.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i012b.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 491fb11..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i012b.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i013a.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i013a.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 4b6670f..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i013a.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i013b.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i013b.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 5b7af0d..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i013b.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i014a.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i014a.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 0b714fe..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i014a.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i014b.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i014b.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 83d1f95..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i014b.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i015a.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i015a.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 3dc458d..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i015a.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i015b.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i015b.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 2176e3d..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i015b.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i016.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i016.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 95b3f40..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i016.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i017a.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i017a.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index e60668d..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i017a.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i017b.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i017b.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 5384097..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i017b.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i018a.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i018a.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index a70b5ee..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i018a.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i018b.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i018b.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index f3edb69..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i018b.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i020.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i020.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index b6ade00..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i020.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i021.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i021.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 75b2a41..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i021.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i022.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i022.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index d18caa5..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i022.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i023a.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i023a.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index ea7c6c6..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i023a.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i023b.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i023b.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index ee9fe80..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i023b.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i024.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i024.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index d399ca4..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i024.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i025a.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i025a.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 71a6669..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i025a.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i025b.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i025b.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 7c56325..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i025b.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i026.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i026.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index e508e17..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i026.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i027a.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i027a.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 7566afd..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i027a.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i027b.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i027b.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 425df16..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i027b.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i028a.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i028a.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 1079020..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i028a.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i028b.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i028b.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index b93ec21..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i028b.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i028c.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i028c.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index c502c81..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i028c.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i029.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i029.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 0df7178..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i029.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i030a.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i030a.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 00ec2eb..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i030a.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i030b.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i030b.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index a1feb26..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i030b.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i031.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i031.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 25ef5e6..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i031.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i032.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i032.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 0c362c6..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i032.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i033.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i033.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 8e3ad17..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i033.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i034.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i034.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 214c53a..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i034.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i035.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i035.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index e098b75..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i035.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i037.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i037.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 373a212..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i037.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i040a.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i040a.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index c3488b8..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i040a.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i040b.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i040b.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index a1c0f90..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i040b.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i041.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i041.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 836c620..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i041.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i042.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i042.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 6ad30fa..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i042.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i043.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i043.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 56eb9e5..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i043.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i044.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i044.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 0e4558c..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i044.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i045.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i045.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index e6d9061..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i045.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i046.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i046.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 1cc7e4c..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i046.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i049.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i049.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 72cfb76..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i049.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i051.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i051.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 16942e1..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i051.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i052a.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i052a.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 1a40bad..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i052a.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i052b.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i052b.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 1732952..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i052b.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i053.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i053.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 6b78a16..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i053.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i054.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i054.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 47115be..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i054.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i055.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i055.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index ff04a0c..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i055.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i056a.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i056a.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 731ee66..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i056a.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i056b.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i056b.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index ef1b01a..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i056b.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i057.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i057.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index b078f0e..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i057.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i059.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i059.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 95046c9..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i059.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i061.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i061.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 951b68e..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i061.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i064.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i064.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 8a29e97..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i064.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i068.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i068.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 03a5688..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i068.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i069.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i069.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index a8ce676..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i069.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i071.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i071.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index eb10bff..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i071.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i072.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i072.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 550e0fc..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i072.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i073.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i073.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index b41c47d..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i073.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i074.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i074.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 008ea7b..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i074.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i075.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i075.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 966ae1b..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i075.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i076.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i076.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index f5ab69b..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i076.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i077.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i077.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 5e01f3b..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i077.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i078.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i078.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 43a784e..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i078.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i079a.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i079a.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 1a5e7bd..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i079a.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i079b.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i079b.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index a4cdbd6..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i079b.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i081.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i081.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index a96efb2..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i081.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i082.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i082.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 2682e26..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i082.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i083.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i083.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 079ef41..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i083.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i085.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i085.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 1fc61ca..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i085.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i086.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i086.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 02842af..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i086.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i087a.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i087a.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 4123d66..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i087a.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i087b.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i087b.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index d55dd87..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i087b.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i087c.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i087c.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 75b3aa7..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i087c.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i088a.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i088a.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index bb2d48c..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i088a.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i088b.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i088b.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 27bf1b9..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i088b.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i089.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i089.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 248a6b8..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i089.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i090a.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i090a.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index a0d793a..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i090a.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i090b.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i090b.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 757372b..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i090b.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i091.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i091.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index a5894c3..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i091.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i092.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i092.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 1173e2c..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i092.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i094.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i094.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 50bd92c..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i094.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i097.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i097.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 61950de..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i097.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i098a.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i098a.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 5dafe28..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i098a.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i098b.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i098b.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 7b24d21..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i098b.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i099.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i099.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index d1c9ef6..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i099.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i100a.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i100a.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 49317ea..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i100a.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i100b.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i100b.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 58adbdf..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i100b.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i101a.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i101a.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 886d367..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i101a.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i101b.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i101b.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 4672a4e..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i101b.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i102.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i102.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 08dc5b0..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i102.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i103a.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i103a.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 7803e2f..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i103a.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i103b-lrg.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i103b-lrg.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 5cee7d0..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i103b-lrg.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/i103b.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/i103b.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index b758d87..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/i103b.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/o.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/o.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index dd3bfad..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/o.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/s.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/s.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index f7946b8..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/s.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/t.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/t.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 6da033d..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/t.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/51061-h/images/w.jpg b/old/51061-h/images/w.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 964a648..0000000
--- a/old/51061-h/images/w.jpg
+++ /dev/null