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The Tiger's Awakening.
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The Tiger's Awakening. BY FRED G. LUNGE. A THRILLING STORY OF ADVENTURE. CHAPTER XVI.—(Continued.) Her Bon swayed like a drunken man. and passed his hand over his eyes. "Am I dream- ing?" he muttered, addressing the question to himself rather than to the others. "My mother—my lost mother—come to life again, after all these years, and in such a place as this! I cannot grasp it; it surely must be a dream!" Her answer was singular in the extreme. "What month is this" she asked, with the far-off look of a visionary. "Ah, I remem- ber—January. The snow will be six inches deep on the braes of Invergoran." Then suddenly a revelation flashed upon her son's bewildered brain, and with an inarticulate cry he flung himself upon his knees before his mother and pressed her thin White hands against his heart. "My mother, yes, you are my mother! I feel it; I know it. Flora, she is found!" The old lady bent over him and touched his brow with her lips, and then looked up- ward with a wondrous light upon her face. "Lord God, I thank Thee from my heart!" the whispered. "Through many a dark day and year I waited upon Thee in faithfulness and humility. And, lo! Thou hast not for- gotten Thy handmaiden. And now that it has pleased Thee to crown my sorrowful life With this unspeakable joy, now can I go hence in peace. Call me. oh. Gracious and Host Merciful God: I am ready to do Thy bidding." "No. no, my mother!" exclaimed Hector impetuously; "we have only just found each other after a long and cruel separation; let .8 think of Life, not Death! Surely, God Would not have brought us together in this miraculous fashion did He not mean us to forget the tragedy of your past in a happy and unclouded future." But Satyavama shook her grey head and looked down upon him with a mournful smile. "My boy," she answered, stroking his old young face, "God knows how much I should like to have seen you and this sweet girl in your own bright home; but I have a strong presentiment that it is not to be." "Oh, mother, don't say that!" cried both her hearers in dismay, for her words had been uttered in a tone of prophetic convic- tion that struck a chill to the hearts of both. During the last few momenta her figure loomed to have grown more fragile, more ethereal than ever, and her eyes had begun to shine with a starry radiance that was not I' of this earth. Looking at her spiritualised presence and hearing her talk in this eerie strain, Flora felt her heart contract and her eyes fill, whfet Hector, too, could scarcely Suppress his emotion. "Come, mother," he said with put-on gTuffness as he rose to his feet; "I want you and Flora to get ready for flight as eoon as possible. I have made all necessary arrange- ments, and at the stroke of midnight we shall leave this building by way of the balcony facing south." He was longing to dispel the gloom that had taken possession of him with some vigorous physical action. "At midnight only?" queried his young wife apprehensively. "But all the women will be back by then, and so will those horrid eunuchs!" "I know, I know," he answered, patting her little hand; "all that is provided for. But now I must slip upstairs and get to work upon the marble lattice-screen. Give me that heavy brass vase yonder, Flora; I want to use it as a mallet, in default of a better tool. The chisel, as you see, I have got here in my belt." "One moment, dear," begged his mother, detaining him by the sleeve. "I have some- thing of the greatest importance to tell you. No, no, not afterwards, but now! I feel that I have no time to lose in acquainting you with what I know. Perhaps my end is nearer than we think." The sturdy Scotsman gulped and looked away. "Speak, mother," he saidi simply, not trusting himself to say more. "Then listen attentively, and you, too. lass. You know, of course, the history of tne Omra dynasty—how after the fall or the Mahratta empire the exiled Moslem pnce returned with a Pathan army and occupied the throne of Pritnagar; also how h.« and his decendants' Hindu subjects have rebelled again and again and tried to drive their hated rulers out. Well, when this summer palace was constructed some fiye and twenty years ago, the Maharajah of the day (Earn Shri Omra-a fa-ther), deeming it advisable to prepare some loophole m case of a surpr, caused a, certain secret passage to be built, the existence of which has never till now been divulged to a living soul outside the ruling family, with, possibly, the exception of some few trusted servants and retainers. In order to ensure the silence of the workmen, the Prince, with all the treaoherouB cunning of his tribe, had the unfortunate fellows butchered in their beds one night and their bodies thrown to the crocodiles. Dead men tell no tales." x "And you—you are acquainted with the secret?" asked Hector, listening with all his ears. His mother glanced towards the purdah. "I am," she said, speaking more rapidly than before; "nor does anybody here suspect my knowledge. Concealed behind a bush in the zenana garden, I one day overheard a con- versation between the old Maharajah and his son, the present ruler, in the course of which the former let the boy (as he then was) into the family secret. Now, listen, .both of you: No doubt, you have already noticed the swarm of islets in the lake. Well, in the olden days, when the religion of Buddha still prevailed in this country, these islands were dedicated to that divinity, and reserved exclusively for religious purposes. On several there are Buddhist idols—placed there many generations ago, which never seem to have been disturbed, although for centuries the land has belonged alternately to Hindus and Mohammedans, one creed more fanati- cally intolerant than the other. Now, on the islet nearest to the landing place—you can- not mistake it: a perfect semi-circle, thickly wooded—there stands a monster image of Buddha, which the designer of the passage selected as its starting point. In the head of this idol, which, of course, is hollow, the old Rajah had a kind of trap-door inserted, which opens if you press the crystal eye in the fore- head of the god. The passage runs beneath the bottom of the lake; but where it leads to. that I did not learn. Is any case, you may rest content that if only you can manage to reach the island and mount the idol unobserved your immediate safety will be assured. That is all I wished to say; and 1 thank God that I have found an oppor. tunity of doing so, my children." "Your information is. indeed, of the utmost value to us, mother," replied the young man eagerly. "Strange to say, it was part and parcel of our original plan to take to the water and hide among the islands; but by a stroke of exceptional good fortune you now supply us with the one thing wanted to ensure our complete SUCOOBs-a. back door to our contemplated hiding-place! But now," with a glance at his watch. "I must start Work without a second's delay; it is nearly half-past nine, and the performance is timed to be over by ten. I hate to leave you, even for a short time," he added, with a fond, lingering gaze at the two beloved women; "but you see that I cannot safely procras- tinate." "Kiss me before you go," entreated his mother, opening her arms and looking up to him with tear-filled eyes, and with a lump in his throat Hector stooped and did as he was bidden. "I am so glad I have told you about that secret," she added softly; "you don't know how it has relieved my mind. Good-bye, my boy—good-bye!" "Good-bye for the present, mother," responded he as he gently released himself from her embrace; "and the same to you, my darling little wife!" Only pausing to imprint a hasty kiss upon Flora's swelling lips, he threw open his bull's-eye lantern, strode swiftly across the room, and, lifting the esparto curtain, disappeared in the gloom of the corridor. "Come. Bit close beside me, lass," said Satyavama ten minutes later, "and put your arm round my waist—so!" "How uncomfortably nervous you are to- Right, dear mother," responded Flora cheer- fully. The two women seemed to have completely reversed their respective positions. It was Hector's mother now upon whom a clinging, haunting terror had descended; while her daughter-in-law, entirely transformed by the knowledge that her strong, brave, manly husband was within call, had apparently dismissed all care, and strove with word and caress to encourage the shrinking spirits of the elder woman. From the room above their heads a mumed sound of hammering descended-Hootor was hard at work upon the lattice enclosure of the balcony. At any Hioment he might re-appear to announce that he had succeeded in chiselling a hole in the Garble screen, whence his lasso would establish communication with the spiked Otlter wall, at the foot of which his friends Were even then waiting. "Listen! Here he comes!" exclaimed Flora Sladly, as hurried footsteps echoed through the silent passage. "No, no; it is not Hector!" panted Satya- vama, turning ashen grey; "I can still hear the hammering upstairs!" Flora checked her high spirits as abruptly J\g one reins in a horse. "Then who she Commenced in an awe-struck whisqjer; but re she could complete the phrase the purdah suddenly torn aside, and a bearded, ,-hite-clad figure burst like a whirlwind into the room and rushed towards the horror- f girl with outstretched arms, and eyes Jcintillating with fire. It was the Maha- Insti»ctrvely the elder woman rose •ad ntede.% asmsneirt to atfeqjpae herself between the intruder and her threatened daughter-in-law; but he, dashing forward like a soldier at the chaa-ge, hurled, her aside with a single twist of his hand, and threw his arms round the still rigid girl. At his touch the momentary paralysis went out of Flora, and with an anguished cry of "Hector! Hector!" she tried to break away from the encircling arms; but Ram Shri Omra, irresis- tible in the frenzy of his passion, whipped her nine stone off the ground as one lifts a babe, and, whispering impassioned love terms in her ear, swung round with her toward the door. However, not more than two etaps had he taken when he dropped his burden with the roar of a wounded buffalo and clutched his left elbow, where an oozing stream of bloody was crimsoning the sleeve. Old Satyavama, rendered desperate with fear for her son's wife, had, unperceived, withdrawn the yatar ghan from his sash and given him a sharp, though superficial, dig, so as to compel him to release his victim. The move succeeded. But at what a cost! Beside himself with pain and fury, the man turned on her like a cornered tiger. His hand flew to his sabre's hilt; the blade leapt whistling from the scabbard; a flash of lightning zig-zagged overhead, and the hapless interferer fell on to the floor in a heap. Flora uttered a long and piercing scream that ended in a gurgle as she dropped down in a swoon; whilst the murderer stood with dripping sword, and by the brazier'i subdued vermilion gleam gazed down upon, his handiwork. He was enraged no longer; his ferocity had spent itself in that one terrific blow. Nay, it was almost with a feel- ing of curiosity that he Wtrtched the black, glistening pool that fornled round the huddled-up shape and slowly crept towards him across the sodden carpet. The girl—so recently the object of his passion-lay sense- less yonder on the tiger skin; but never a glance did he send in that direction. The very fact of her existence had been expunged from his mind. Then, of a sudden, he started. Quick, heavy steps came thudding down the stairs at the far end of the passage, and the sounds (entirely human as they were) sufficed to conjure up a world of superstitious terror in his brain; the stifled conscience of the matri- cide had awakened, and was clamouring in shrill trumpet notes for recognition. He quaked at the thought of Allah's certain I wrath. The footsteps raced along the empty corridor. He knew that the zenana had been emptied of its inmates save the two Peringhi women only; whose footsteps could these be His dread increased. Was this the awful angel Azrael, a.bout to claim him for the punishment due to such as he? His strength "iwirie himself with pain and fury the blade leapt whistling from the scab- bardflnd the hapless interferer fell on the floor in a heap." of will, his courage gave way utterly. With j a maniac's shriek, he and, bounding from the room. tore off m the direction of the dov^onn^nly just m tame to avoid a collision with Hector .CwJ. who. three seconds afterwards, burst precipi tately into the room. CHAPTER XVII. THE ESCAPE. The spectacle that met the fear-strained eyes of Hector acted blow. He reeled against the ing; a sudden blackness blotted *11 eur rounding objects; his^ thunder of Niagara. The two shapes stretched motionless before him, P reek of warm blood in the air-what further proof was wanted? The steel of the assassin had been busy. At the ele^e^^ur the cup of happiness had been dashed from has 1 ps- The Hand of God had smitten him with anni- hilating power. A low moan from the figure on the-tig skin repealled him to himself. He set teeth, and bravely shook himself togeth • The blinding veil cleared vision. With outstretched hands and totter ing steps he approached the form whence that feeble sign of life ba4,f p^ >je "Flora, my wife! Oh, God! oh, God! he groaned despairingly as he sank upon hia, knees and gently raised the limp and heavy head. "Are you aJive? Can you hear my, voice? Speak to me, darling-only just a. word! Oh. God Almighty, have mercy upon my soul!" The prayer was still quivering upon his lip when a long, deep sigh swelled Flora s breast and rustled on her lips. The long-fringed lids rolled back from her great eyes, and with a scared, bewildered expression she looked up into her husband's face. A thro of hope leapt wildly through his breast as: he bent still lower and brought his ear to humoo. "My own—my darling wife!" he muttered thickly, "tell me, where is your wound. The question .clove a sudden path of l}j»ut through the darkness of the young wife's understanding, and quick as a darting bird her thoughts travelled back W, the scene of horror she had so lately witnessed. A violent shudder shook her frame; then she raised herself upon her elbow and replied,^ I a*11 not wounded at all. Hector, but • said no more, for with a shout of delig her husband clasped her in his arms and vehemently kissed her eyes and brow and lips. "Thank God! Thank God!" was all that he could babble in the ecstasy of the: moment.. But hard upon the heels of this surge of joy pressed a horrid, sickening consciousness that murder had been done. Abruptly he released his wife and turned towards that other silent figure. A single glance sufficed to tell him all. The blade of the assassin, sweeping down obliquely with terrific force, had struck poor Satyavama at the base of the neck and killed her instantaneously. Fer son's brain reeled at the shocking sight; red-hot alons seemed to rend and lacerate his heart; all he could moan was, "Mother— my unfortunate mother! So your presenti- ment has come true!" Meanwhile an uncontrollable fascination had led Flora to venture a timid glance past Hector at the gruesome object on the carpet. The result was what might have been ex- pected. She clutched her husband's arm in frantic terror and gave utterance to a series of sharp, hysteric screams that echoed harshly through the quiet building. In the midst of his own poignant sorrow the young man turned to comfort his distracted wife, -when suddenly the banging of a gong and a loud, confused hubbub in the distance warned him that the jugglers' performance was at an end. Again he glanood at the blood-bathed corpse. To remoye it was out rp of the question; it would take the living all their time to make their own escape. So Hector. quietening the girl by pointing out their grave danger, went and tore down some of the silken hangings, and reverentially covered up his mother's remains, mattering at the same time a tender, soft farewell. Thoxioiwdrew wareraad UeOTer. Already the sound of women's laughter could be plainly distinguished. The Maharajah's wives with their eunuch escort were return- ing to the zenana. Not a minute was to be lost. "Come, Flora," urged her husband, taking her hand; but the poor young wife, quite overcome by what she had gone through, in vain attempted to rise. Her limbs doubled up under her weight before she could get upon her feet, and in a piteous voice she wailed, "I cannot walk, oh, Hector; what am I to do?" In reply, he picked her up bodily in his strong, muscular arms and carried her --3- swittly from the scene oi tne iaxe nrageuy, leaving that still, dark, oblong heap on the carpet alone in the fitful shadows—alone with the grim, gaunt spectre—Death! "They will give her a decent burial," argued the young man with himself as he hastened along the corridor. "Whatever the reason for this infamous murder, they will not dare to dishonour the remains of one of her age and sex." Apparently oblivious of his burden, the Scotsman climbed the flight ef stairs three steps at a time; skimmed like a deer along the upper passage, and wheeled abruptly into the moonlit chamber where he had lately been at work. Three long strides brought him out into the latticed balcony, where a large, irregular hole in the marble fretwork gaped invitingly. Lowering Flora upon her feet and finding that she was now able to stand, Hector rapidly unslung his silken rope, thrust his head and shoulders out through the opening, and gave a sharp double whistle. Immediately a small tur- baned head shot up from behind the spiked enclosure, and the slim figure of a native boy climbed nimbly on to the wall. "That you, Samru?" exclaimed the planter, without troubling to modulate his voice. "Look out!" and simultaneously the snake line of the lasso curled whizzing through the air. The son of Tippoo, standing upright on his lofty eminence, put out both hands, and deftly caugh the noose, which he slipped over two of the iron spikes without a word. As soon ae Hector was assured of the success of his throw, he threaded the other end in and out of a dozen of the little apertures that pierced the stone slab, and lugged at the line until it was perfectly taut; which done, he knotted its extremity round a stout,, jagged projection. While he was thus occupied the boy had dived out of sight, and re-appeared with a huge, apparently empty crate; and the moment that communication was established between the building and the wall the daring youngster, balancing this load upon his head, first tested the rope with one bare foot, and then deliberately walked over on it to the opposite terminus. Here the Sahib caught him by the shoulders and relieved him of his burden, congratulating him upon his pluck. "My father waits outside with the elephant," returned the youthful acrobat, modestly ignoring the word of praise. Still standing on the improvised tight-rope, he steadied himself against the lattice-work of the balcony; while Hector, as arranged with Tippoo in advance, lost no time in passing the thong of buffalo hide attached to the right handle over the communication-rope and securing the loose end to the left side < of the crate. By this time the Maharajah's womenfolk and their guardians had entered the zenana, and were filling the dove-court with their I chattering and bursts of laughter. "Quick, Hector, quick!" urged Flora., trembling and very white; "the body may be discovered any moment!" "In less than two minutes we shall be safe," he re-assured her as he let himself out through the opening and sprang into the swaying basket. At the bottom of the latter he found a coiled-up lasso, similar to his own, the loop of which he passed over his head and shoulders and drew it tight round the mouth of the crate, whereupon littJe Samru itook possession of the rest of the cord and | promptly started on his return journey, pay- ing out the rope as he walked. In less time i than it takes to narrate he reached the wall, flung down the fag-end of his lasso to his father, who, seated on the neck of his un- couth beast, was fairly simmering with ifeverish excitement, then turned', and beckoned eagerly to the Sahib. Hector opened his arms and called to his (wife, "Come, darling! Tour feet first! Don't |be afraid; I shall catch you as you drop." But Flora's brain grew dizzy as dbe looked at the frail, oscillating bridge, and then into the abyss that yawned below; and her cotlMge broke down as completely as her physical powers had done a short time since. Her husband called to her again and again, each time more anxiously than before; but still the girl hung back, fearful and dis- mayed, unable to brace herself up for eo nerve-trying an ordeal.. All at once a startled shriek vibrated on the night air, emanating from the room where dead Satyavama lay; then followed the thudding rush of many feet, and Flora knew that the corpse had been discovered, and with it her own flight! "God's will be done!" she muttered, with a wild glance star- wards, as she climbed out through the open- ing and threw herself recklessly into her husband's ready arms. The crate swung and bounced like a living thing upon the strain- ing rope, but steadied itself in a moment, and glided slowly towards the outer wall, as the elephant began to tow the aerial trolley. The planter drew his half-conscious wife to his breast. "We are safe now, lassie—or practically safe!" he said encouragingly; but at the same moment the pavement under them rang with a rapid footstep, and Hector, glancing over Flora's shoulder, met the up- turned gaze of the huge Afridi whom, a couple of hours earlier, he had chloroformed a.nd bound. Apparently, the man had regained his strength and burst his bonds as the effects of the ansesthetic wore off. On sighting them the Pathan gave a short, fierce laugh of triumph, and, raising his rifle to his shoulder (the same Lee-Metford that the, Scotsman had neglected to secure), took a careful aim and fired. The bullet ploughed a diagonal furrow up Hector's cheek, and the ¡ warm blood spurted freely over his wife's face andV breast. A scream of terror burst from Flora's lips, whilst the wounded man—for- getful of his injury and seeing only the i bright red moisture upon the one he loved- inquired in a breathess agony of mind whether she was hurt. I "No, no-not I," gasped the girl, "but you, my Hector. How about yourself?" | Instead of answering, he jerked out his revolver and commenced banging away at his assailant below. The rocking of the crate, however, spoilt his aim; the bullets splashed innocuously against the marble flags, whilst the big Afridi, laughing more derisively than ever, prepared to take another shot. It came. The bullet chipped some strands off the tight-rope and sped away into space; then succeeded a third that pierced the bottom of. the car, tore a long rent in one I of the legs of Flora's Turkish trousers, and bit some braiding off her sleeve in its upward course. That hil-I man certainly had been an expert sniper in his native Borderland! The crate now bumped against the masonry and came to a standstill; and Hector, seizing his opportunity, rested his pistol-barrel upon the edge of the trolley and loosed another abot,-bis last--at the great, dark figure framed in glaring moonlight. The Pathan dropped has rifle with a. Bznotb9ce4 cry, tbrew tip iris anas, and, i slammed down headlong upon the pavement, never to rise again. "Good shot!" observed young Samru criti- cally from his dangerous perch (which he had maintained during the quick, sharp fusillade, in spite of his parent's entreaties to hide himself); then, shouting jungleward, "Here, father! Bring old Ganesa hither!" "I come, I come!" replied the eager voice of Tippoo. and simultaneously the speaker emerged from the tall, dense bamboo grass, high up on the neck of his colossal steed. With word and goad he forced the latter to the foot of the wall, where the clever brute, flapping his ears and twinkling his eyes in a most knowing way, put up his great proboscis to receive the fugitives. Meanwhile the young Scotsman had scrambled out of the crate and Beated, him- self astride the wall beneath two of the spikes. As soon as he caught sight of the rampant trunk he bent down to the baskets holding on with his left hand. by the front spike—put his right arm round the girl's yielding waist, and with a mighty effort hoisted her up on to the crest of the wall. At this moment a eunuch's head appeared at the aperture in the balcony screen, and a loud, excited yell signalised his discovery of the fugitives. "Now put your arms round my neck and hold on for dear life!" exclaimed the planter, as, passing her from his right arm to his left, he gripped the outside rope by which young Samru had ascended with his free right hand, and commenced letting himself down. The skin peeled off his palm and fingers, and the raw flesh burnt like fire; but, shutting his teeth like a wolf-trap to prevent himself from crying out, our friend continued his painful downward trip, until he came within reach of the elephant, when something like a, hirsute boa constrictor encircled him and his burden and lifted both with the utmost gentleness right into the roofless howdah, whither the boy had already preceded them. "Lie down! Lie down!" cried Tippoo over his shoulder, and with that the heavy ankus fell with a thud; the mahout uttered some strange sounds, and instantly the elephant started off at a swinging trot. Hector soon succeeded in staunching the now of blood from his wound, and he and Flora now "ay panting in the howdah, which heaved and rolled like the deck of a steamer in a choppy sea. Neither spoke, but their hearts w-ere full to bursting, and their pulses fairly leapt; for were they not at last re-united after their short, but dreadful, separation? And did not Liberty and Safety beckon to them but a short way off? Yet in the midst of their silent gladness the memory of Poor Satyavama and her awful end cast a gloom over them both. Dear, gentle Satyavama. so I patient and long-suffering!—so kind and thoughtful of ot¡""ra! Oh, that she could have lived to h le with them the sweet air of Freedom! "18, that Providence should have willed otherwise! The elephant was thundering on like a typhoon, maintaining his course midway between the impassable jungle and the spiked enclosure that walled in the vast com- pound of the summer palace. Ere long the moonlit expanse of the lake shone brightly through the deep-black fringe of trees ahead, and Tippoo slackened speed and walked his animal into the denser vegetation, through which "Ganesa" tunnelled a path without the slightest visible effort. The alarm had evidently not yet spread from the zenana to the palace proper; for, although several voices could be heard within inquiring after the meaning of the distant shots, there was nothing to show that the hue and cry had passed the skull-crowned border line. Still, this respite could be only temporary, and the greatest circumspection had to be employed so as to escape premature detection. Under a huge, spreading peepul-tree Tippoo brought the elephant to a halt and blew three different notes upon a toumril (reed- pipe), which he carried in his bosom. In prompt response to the summons, a small, dark figure dived out of the thicket, when the following dialogue ensued:— "Thou hast succeeded, Tippoo?" "The Sahib-log are with me now!" "Good! Let them hasten to the ghat with- out delay, while I bring the elephant into safety." "The camp has broken up?" "And dispersed, as soon aBl the perform- ance was over. We meet at Kali's ruined temple a day's march due south hence. I have the money, tOO-a goodly harvest!" The juggler gave a contented grunt; then, turning towards his passengers, he announced, "It is time that we descend." "But how?" asked Flora timidly of her husba.nd. remarking the absence of the customary ladder. "In the same way as we mounted," he ex- plained. "See, Tippoo is telling we elephant to kneel down."✓ It was true. At a. word from his mahout, the grey colossus bent his knee and settled his bulk among the grass. Tippoo, holding on by one of the great, shield-like ears, glided dexterously to the ground, which example was promptly fol- lowed by his agile son. Then, at a further word of command, "Ganesa" passed his trunk backwards over his head, and, coiling it round Flora's waist, deposited her safely on terra firma. A minute afterwards Hector stood by her side, and the mysterious stranger—who proved to be the little, hunch- backed serpent cha.rmer, the headman of the troupe—was lifted by the elephant into the mahout's place. "One moment, Tippoo." said the planter to his juggler ally. "Before we continue our flight, I have something of importance to tell thee." And forthwith he imparted Satya- vama's secret to his eager listener. The Nair made no attempt to hide his surprise and pleasure at the unexpected news. "Truly, the great Trimurti smiles upon our enterprise!" he remarked, with one of his rare smiles; "but come, Sahib-log, this way!" And, beckoning to the Europeans, he led the way towards the Ithat close by, the alabaster steps of which gleamed dazzling white under the lunar beams. "Do you think you can walk now, Flora?" asked the young man tenderly. "If not, I'll gladly carry you as far as the boat." "Thank you, Hector, I feel much better now—quite my old self. in fact!" was her reply, delivered in an almost cheerful tone. The fresh night breeze that made music in the tree-tops and stirred the limpid waters of the lake had a. wonderfully brightening effect upon the girl, as Hector noticed with keen satisfaction. "Look, lass," he whispered, pointing to a bunch of sharp-prowed boats that clustered along the bottom step of the ghat- "every- thing is going first-rate. Even the boat- gua.rd seems to have gone away." In that, however, he was mistaken, for suddenly Tip- poo ducked down among the grass, and, with a warning "Hist!" signed to the whites and to his son to follow his example. "The sentry sits in the nearest boat," he whispered to them behind his hand; "his head alone is visible, and see-his face is turned toward us even now!" (To be continued.)
RUN ON A BANK.
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RUN ON A BANK. In the Court of Appeal on Monday Lr rds Justices Mathew and Cozens-Hardy heard an application in the case of the Royal British Bank (Limited) Luck and Others, on behalf of the plaintiffs asking that the hearing of .an appeal which they had entered from a. judgment of Mr. Justice Darling might be accelerated. The action, which was brought on a promissory note, resulted in judgment for the defendants —the six brothers Luck, Mr. Justice Darling— upon evidence which counsel for plaintiffs now submitted did not justify any such con- clusion—found the bank guilty of fraud, his lordship adding he would not be surprised if that was the last that would be heard of the Royal British Bank anu the eminent persons connected with it. The result was, sa.id counsel.that there had been a run on the bank a.nd, although all the customers who had With- drawn their deposits had been paid in full, the business of the bank so long as this judg- ment stood would be materially affected.— Their Lordships, with a view to expediting the hearing, allowed the case to be put in the new trial paper.
INGENIOUS ESCAPE FROM GAOL.
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INGENIOUS ESCAPE FROM GAOL. Information has been given by the police of the sensational escape of a prisoner named William M'lntosh Smith from Bar- linnie Prison, Glasgow. Smith had still two months to undergo of a term of six months for a series of burglaries throughout the West of Scotland, committed in conjunction with his brother. At his trial his advocate described him as a mechanical genius who had invented a stocking knitter a.nd other machines, and a reader of Ruskin and Carlyle. His method of escape was ingeniously con- trived and cleverly carried out. Finding him- self alone in a boiler-house for half an hour after six o clock on Friday night, he forced open the manhole with a, shovel, and so gained access to the prison ya.rd. Smith found himself faced by a concrete wall 18ft. high, in surmounting which he displayed hia fertile inventive powers. Making a long scraper (used for raking the ashes) red-hot in the boiler fire, he bent the end into a. j clutch, which he inserted High up in the smooth wall. To the end of the clutch he had fastened an ingenious rope ladder, consisting of short loops of cord, which he had somehow secreted in preparation for his attempt. By ) using the loops as stirrups the prisoner mounted to the top of the wall, and used his ladder to let himself down on the opposite side. Nobody observed Smith, and he was enabled to get clear away, leaving on the wall evidence of the manner in which he had made good his escape. I After his absence was noticed a- hue and cry wa raised and Smith's description circu- lated throughout the country. The missing I prisoner has not been re-capturod. I
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Gwllym Quinine Bitten strengthens that part ot the system wfcieh Is weakest, and therefore, most liable to, the etttCk# of oaieto and all dtoaaw. Sold r»cjywfew» at boM|ee 2*. fid a»d 4a. eg, c«ok^ 41fil7 •
----,I ATTACK ON CHURCH SCHOOLS.
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ATTACK ON CHURCH SCHOOLS. IMPORTANT LETTER FROM THE PRIMATE, The following correspondence between Lord Ashcombe (chairman of the House of Lay- men) and the Archbishop of Canterbury has been sent to the Press Association for publication:- Church House, Westminster, December 8, 1903. My Lord Archbishop,—As chairman of the executive of the Church Committee, I venture to write to your grace with reference to the attack now being directed by Nonconformist organisations against Church schools and the administration of the Education Acts so far as these schools are concerned. Letters are frequently addressed, to the committee draw- ing our attention to the misleading and sometimes untruthful statements of Noneon- formist speakers, prompted and provided by such bodies as the National Free Church Council, and to the ceaseless activity with which misrepresentations of the effect of the Acts and of the facts of the position are being pressed on the minds of the classes least able to detect them. We are asked what is being done or what ought to be done to meet this flood of misrepresentation, whether Churchmen have nothing to say in answer or whether they do not regard the present attack as worth notice. Through our lecturing and organising staff, by the arrangement of meet- ings, by means of the distribution of litera- ture, and through the columns of the press, we have already done not a little to inform the public mind. Wherever we are able to expose the extraordinary and often gross mis- conceptions so seduously fostered by the enemies of the Church the results are markedly useful, and we believe that, with the larger opportunities which more extended support would bring, the situation could be satisfactorily dealt with. But for the moment Churchmen are asking what, in the opinion of those whose wisdom they trust and whose guidance they desire to follow, ought to be their attitude, and, if an active policy is desirable, to what immediate purpose it should be directed. "Believe me, my Lord Archbishop, "Your grace's very faithful, "ASHCOMBE, Chairman." "Lambeth Palace, S.E., „ December 12, 1903. Dear Lord Ashcombe,—I am not surprised by your letter, for, indeed, it is not easy to decide how best to meet the attack now made upon the Church under cover of an attack upon the recent Education Acts. It is no longer open to question what is the real objective. The foremost spokesman of the Free Church Council policy announces it with characteristic vigour. Dr. Cliflord has told us in plain words that 'Nonconformists will not stop their warfare until they have completely disestablished the Church.' How ought we in these circumstances to act? Alle- gations and imputations are now current (as my own letter baskets daily testify) which would be simply ludicrous but for the n elan- choly evidence afforded of what people can be got, by persistent reiteration, to believe, when responsible leaders deliberately state, for example, that 'this Bill takes the beard schools from the peopie and gives them, roughly speaking, to one section of the people-that is, to the Anglican Church.' Or, again, that the Act closes the evening schools.' Or, again, that what is at stake is not education merely, not the inaleniable birthright of the citizzens only, but ohiefiy our retention of that Divinest gift to a man, the right to the free, unfettered, and full use of his inmost soul.' "The difficulty of reply arises mainly from sheer bewilderment as to how the speaker or writer has persuaded himself, as he, doubt- less, has, that his words have some founda- tion in fact. One thing is certain-we must employ no such weapons as those which are wielded against us. Misrepresentation, if it be due either to culpable ignorance on the part of the spokesman or to deliberate distor- tion of facts, would be for us without excuse. Public meetings for dealing with such utter- ances have this danger, that unless they are conducted with Christian courtesy, with im- porturbable good temper, and with thorough knowledge of an intricate subject, they may lfrove to be provocative rather than pacify- ing or informing. At the same time, I am far from saying that (where these conditions are satisfied) such meetings are undesirable. Personally, however, I regard as prefer- able a perfectly plain statement, either in writing or by word of mouth, showing what were the conditions of the problem which had to be solved by whatever Government might have been in ofiioc, and what are and what are not the changes actually brought about by recent legislation. Experience shows that we must not expect most people to have read the Bill for themselves or to remember very long any calm and unsensational explanation of its provisions. The subject, familiar as it is to as who have had, perforce, to consider it in all its bearings, is puzzling and dry to most people. They need, for example, to be reminded of what happened thirty years ago, when Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Forster appealed earnestl-y to the supporters of voluntary schools, whether Churchmen or Nonconfor- mists, to aasist the working of the new Act which was for supplementing, and not supl planting, the existing schools. They accord- ing-ly called upon us to give proof of the strength of our principles in the matter by producing money, within a given time, for multiplying and enlarging such schools, promising that the money so given should be met by a grant in aid. This appeal was imme- diately and loyally responded to, and during ■DIex,t „twelve years immense sums were provided from local contributions, exclusive ° ««i> value of Bites given gratuitously. But this vast expenditure upon buildings is, of course, only a small part of what has been vo untarUy given. Towards what is techni- cally known as maintenance many millions have been subscribed, a.nd, so far at least as the Church of England is concerned, the annual amount has shown, on the whole, a steady increase from year to year. The amount subscribed by the Church of England during • *uar al°ne is £ 67o^4. When to this is added the money subscribed every year for new school buildings, for training colleges, for annual inspection in religious knowledge, and for other kindred purposes, it is probably not too much to say that the supporters of Church schools and training colleges volun- tarily expend every year about one million sterling of their own money, in addition to the gratuitous use of their own buildings, and this while very many of the subscribers are paying an education rate for what have hitherto been known as board schools. Notwithstanding this expenditure, so con- stant has been the improvement called for, and rightJy called for, in buildings, in appara- tus, a.nd in the salaries of teachers, and so great the consequent increase in the whole cost of education, that without some re- arrangement of the incidence of the burden it has been found practically impossible to keep the voluntary schools in equipment and staff fully abreast of the board schools. This is the condition of things with which any Government dealing with the edncation ques- tion during the last few years would have found itself face to face. Every political body and every public man has seen for several years past that the education question must be grappled with. In addition to the reports of two Royal Commissions, there have been resolutions and reports innumerable to the effect that the time for action had come. The 'Government of 1896 introduced a comprehen- sive measure. It was subjected to keen and bitter criticism and was ultimately with- drawn. A general election intervened, and last year the Government, with these various resolutions, speeches, and reports before it. set its hand again to the task. "From the fact that certain provisions in the Government Bill corresponded with some of the suggestions which had been made by a joint meeting of the Convocations of the Church of England as to what might be fair and reasonable arrangements for dealing with the schools belonging to denominational bodies, whether Church of England, Noncon- formist, or Roman Catholic, it has been strangely and persistently argued, or, rather, asserted, that the Bill was the outcome of a private arrangement between the bishops of the Church of England and the Government of the da.y. This suggestion it cannot be too often or too emphatically stated is abso- lutely without foundation. No single bishop, to the best of my belief, knew the contents of the Bill until it was completed and printed and was about to be introduced. The Bill, either in its initial or in its ultimate form, may or may not have been in all respects good. To satisfy everybody was impossible, but so far as I can see it was at least an honest endeavour to deal fairly with a problem of singular complexity. "We are constantly told—so constantly that it is coming to be widely believed—that the Bill imposes sectarian tests upon many thousands of teachers. As a matter of fact, it, of course, imposes no test whatever. Teachers stand in this matter exactly where they -stood before. The Act recognises the enormous advantages, financial and other, which the State gains from the gratuitous I use of privately-owned buildings, the value of which is estimated at the j very least at twenty-two million pounds. It permits the managers of euch I schools to retain (subject to an approv- ing power lodged with the local authority) the right they previously possessed of select- ing from among the teachers accredited by the State as qualified those whom these I managers think best fitted to give the teach- ing, religious and secular, which the circum- stances of the school require; but a popularly elected element is now added to every manag- ing body, and in my own judgment this addition is in every sense a gain. If it he said that the denominational teaching which, under tho control of these managers, may still be given is paid for out of rates, the answer is. of couive, obvious, that the value of the buildings greatly outweighs the cost of the deooiaiBaityntal teaob&K* wfc»&. isr ■■ ■ k fore, practically paid for by the denomina- tion to which the buildings belong. "We have now before us the constructive proposals formulated by the Free Church. Council in lieu of existing Acts. Under this scheme it is proposed to upset the funda- mental principle of the Act of 1570 by pro- hibiting the giving of any denominational teaching within set hours in any school what- ever which receives a Government grant. It is further proposed, as I understand the words, to prohibit any inquiry as to the qualification of a teacher to give religious instruction genuinely as well as effectively, and this notwithstanding the proposal that religious instruction of some sort may (not must) be given. "The formal publication of this scheme clears the air. We now know definitely what we have to face. We Ohurcbmen have inherited a great trust in the possession of schools the trust deeds of which provide especially that religious instruction must (not may) be given, and in the management of these schools we take the responsibility of inquiring carefully before a teacher is appointed whether he or she ie duly qualified to instruct little children in the elements of the Christian faith as taught in Halj Scripture. Whatever may be possible in the great town schools, where teachers are numerous: I can myself conceive no greater responsibility than that of appoint- ing in a little rural school the one teacher who is to give religious instruction to the children, but whose qualification to give it we should be forbidden to ascertain. "Upon these points Churchmen, as it seems to me, must stand firm. If our trust deeds, which absolutely secure religious teaching, are to be torn up, it must not be done with our consent. In the case of schools belonging to the Church of England, these trust deeds provide, with absolute reasonableness, that the reli- gious teaching given shall be on the lines laid down in the formularies of the Church, and in all except the merest handful of cases (in which some foolish man has said or done foolish or unfair things) this teaching, subject always to the use of the conscience clause, has proved perfectly satisfactory to the parents of successive generations of chil- dren. But, with a view to removing any possible difficulty which may arise on this point in single school areas, we are encouraging the appointment in all large schools of one or more Nonconformists among the assistant- t-eachere and the publication of a detailed time-table of religious teaching, parents having power to withdraw their children from denominational instruction, to receive IHmple Scripture teaching instead. Upon all &uch points we are more than ready to meet legitimate Nonconformist wishes. You will remember that I endeavoured a few weeks ago to bring about a friendly conference with those Nonconformists who agree with us in desiring that the elements of the Christian faith as taught in Holy Scripture should form part of the regular instruction, and that such instruction should be given by per- sons qualified to give it genuinely as well as efficiently. My endeavour was unsuccessful, as those whom I approached declined to confer with me, except, on the impossible con- dition that the very subjects upon which I hoped for friendly discussion and for explana- tion of existing difficulties should be ruled out' before we began. This was to me a keen disappointment. It appears to show that there is now nothing for it but. that we should meet by definite resistance the attack to which I have in the outset of this letter referred. We believe that the new legislation, while certainly capable of amendment in detail, is sound and fair in principle, and that under it the whole education of the country will be brought for the first time into line and will be steadily improved. Therefore, we sup- port it, and resolve to persevere in its defence. Take care that the Act as it stands is really understood; make its provisions plain to everybody. It imposes no test upon teachers. In all provided schools every appointment is absolutely open. In denominational schools it reserves only head teacherships to the denomination. Let a dear knowledge of these facts and of others like them be brought home in every parish. The National Society can furnish all the necessary information, and the Church Committee, over which you preside, has the machinery ready to hand for making the knowledge effective. In the county council elections which are shortly to take place we must perforce take pains to secure that the men returned—tb« men, that is, who are to administer our edu- cation system—are men to understand the subject and mean to deal with it fairly. We are bound, further, to aecure, so far as in us lies. that the electors know what they are doing. The forces of those who are opposing the principles for which we contend have been organised with elaboration of an unusual kind. Corresponding activity is needed on the part of those who care for securing, not as a possibility, but as a cer- tainty, the maintenance of religious educa- tion in our elementary schools. The introduc- tion of a religious question into the electoral conflict is forced upon us unsought. While abstaining from every unkindly word or unfair imputation against those who differ from us, we are bound to rally our forces a.nd to stand firm. co I remain, yours very truly, RANDALL CANTUAR."
iDIFFICULTIES OF THE TRADE
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DIFFICULTIES OF THE TRADE OUTSPOKEN REMARKS BY A LONDON MAGISTRATE. At Southwark Police-court Frank Collins, 38, porter, of Southwark-street, and James Tray- nor, 36, packer, of Tower-street, were charged, before MT. Paul Taylor, with being drunk and' incapable upon licensed premises at the St. George's Tavern, Lambeth-road. Oollins pleaded not guilty, and added, We were not drunk; we were served with drink in the house." Traynor had nothing to say. Police constable Whitticomb stated that about three p.m. he saw the two prisoners in Westminster Bridge-road. They tried to enter the Tower, but the landlord was at the door and refused them admission because of their oondition. They turned down St. George's- road into Lambeth road, Collins leading Traynor by the arm. The witness saw them go into the St. George's Tavern, and, following them in, he called the barman's attention to them. The barman said they had not been served, and the witness took them into custody. Collins: We were served with two glasses of ale, but before we could drink them the con- stable arrested us. The Magistrate: Is that true or a lie? Collins: True. The Constable: No; they called for beer, but were not served. The MagistrateWere there any glasses on the counter? The Constable: No, sir; there was nothing I in front of them at all. The Magistrate: Collins, you are making allegations against the publican which are untrue. Traynor: He did not serve us. Collins: I thought he served us with two glasses. They must have been called for by somebody else. It is the first time I have been in trouble, and I hope you'll kindly look over it. The Magistrate: I shall do nothing of the sort. What do you say, Traynor? Traynor: I admit having some drink. The Magistrate: Well, I shall make a dis- tinction between you two men, because the defence put forward by Collins is a sort of thing that ought to be strenuously put down. When men get into trouble through having too much to drink they almost inva.ria.bly try to throw the blame on the publican, without—in nine cases out of ten—the slightest ground for doing so. I suppose they think that in that way they may commend them- selves to the merciful consideration of the magistrate. Collins: No; not at all. The Magistrate: Now, here is a typical case. You are contradicted by your fellow-prisoner, and it is quite ciear that there was not the slightest ground for your statement that you were served with drink in the house. And yet. I suppose with the idoea of getting yourself off with a lighter penalty, you at once start an accusation against the publican which is obviously false. Collins was fined 10s., or seven days' impri- sonment, and Traynor Sa., or five days.
SWANSEA PERJURY CHARGEi -I
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SWANSEA PERJURY CHARGEi ANOTHER LIVELY PASSAGE OF WORQS. At Swansea Police-court on Monday the adjourned charge against David R. Knoyle,! accountant, of perjury, brought by Mr. C. R. Trueman, was resumed (before the same set of magistrates as at the several previous hearings. Further evidence was given by the shorthand writer who attended the bank-I ruptcy proceedings of Mr. Knoyle, and he con- tinued his evidence during the whole sitting. During the hearing there were one or two scenes between Mr. Leyson and Mr. Trueman owing to Mr. Leyson objecting to some of Mr. Trueman's words at the bankruptcy examination being included in the notes. Mr. Leyson said such vulgar abuse was the attribute of a certain animal to whom he had likened the prosecutor before. Mr. Trueman simply wished to get his own vulgar ulthineM put into the depositions. Mr. Trueman (later on): Mr. Leyson is endeavouring to put before the court his knowledge of natural history. There is another sort of animal whose hide is so thick that it does not feel castigation. Mr. Levson: Am I to submit to this sort of thing? Mr. Gaol-bird, be quiet. -+
STRUCK OFF THE ROLLS.
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STRUCK OFF THE ROLLS. In the High Court on Monday the name of Anthony Buck Creeke, jun., was struck off the roll of solicitors. Creeke was, in September last, convicted at the Central Criminal Court for being in possession of certain stamps fraudulently obtained, and sentenced to six moutba UffipriwoTnept is the 88Coacl-diJiilioa.
PICTURE PUZZLE SOLUTIONS.
Detailed Lists, Results and Guides
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PICTURE PUZZLE SOLUTIONS. Y,20,000 TO BE WON BY COM- PETITORS. SUGGESTED BY AN OXFORD M.A. This week we give more solutions of the picture pozxles which are attracting so much attention. CHRISTIAN HERALD. 151 Phyllis; 152, Adelaide; 153. Bagsterj 154, Faith; 155, Duncan; 156, Madeline. ANSWERS. 349 Lorentz- 560, Waagh; 351, Goodwin; 352, Carvel 1; 353, Edie; 354, Carman; 355, Harts- horn 356, Upward. WEEKLY TELEGRAPH. 49 Spicy; 50 Acrobat; 51. Wearisome; 52, Jasmine; 53, Relax; 64, Scrutineer; 55, In- vestor 56, Peerage. PENNY ILLUSTRATED PAPER. 33.—"And now you insult Kennedy, who appears to hold us in the hollow of hia hand." 34.—"See the gentleman out, Judkme." 35.-While Mr. Viliiers was on the doorsts*. a boy came to the gate and handed Barbara a sealed envelope. 36.-Presenting the account that had been so many times rendered, she laid its equivar lent in gold on the counter. BOYS' LEADER. 1.—Robert Stevenson. 2.—4010081. 3.-Richard the First. 4.—ia) Somerset, (b) Bucks; (c) Suffolk, (d) j Glamorgan, (e) Londonderry, (f) Lanarkj 6.-Beaford, Leicester, Nottingham. WOMAN'S LIFE. (Fifth Letter.) Dear Lily,—Here are the last lines of my story. "And then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all those things they had heard and seen of the won- drous Babe. When eirrht days had passed, the child, whose birthplace was a manger, was called by all 'Jesus. Look at tnia short notice of that beautiful story, first Christmas morn iu-z.Your Laving friend. ROSE PENX. FORGET-ME-NOT. I REVISED AND COMPLETE LIST. 1, Mildred; 2, Archibald; 3, Rose; 4, Walter; 5, Elsie; 6, Isabel: 7, Peggy: 8, Oscar; 9. Bridget; 10, Cordelia; 11, Bertha; 12, Per- cival; 13, Patrick; 14. Valentine; 15, Miili. cent; 16, Fanny; 17, Polly; 18, Stephen; l'i. Wallace; 20, Lionel; 2l. Timothy; &J, Adol- phus; 23, ilarguerite; 24, Nesta; 25. Jacoo- 26, Max; 27, Andy; 28. Victor; 29, Guy; 36. Marion;' 31, Alice.; 32, Owen; 33, Maud (il-awed); o4, Pras-er; 35, Paul; 36, Donald; 37, Dora; 38, Rodney; 39, Frances; 40, Beatrice; 41, Grace; 42, Angelina; 43, Belinda; 44. Caesar; 4o. iiaidwin; 46, Lottie;47. iioward; 45, Avice; 49.. Evan; 50. Iona; 6,1, Joan; 52, Cigarette; 6o, Caroline; b4, Robin; 55, Ara- bella; 56. Fatima; 57, Carmen; 68, Betey; 59, Cinderella: 60, Lnerry; 61, Florrie; 62. Blla- line; 63, Percy; 64. Claude; 65, Hyacinth; 66, Roderick; 67, Veronica; 68. Violet; 69, PranK; 70, Ernest; 71, Lena^. 72. Pattie; 73, Henry; 74, Blajiohe; 75, Brenda: 76, Sally; 77, Maiaie; 78, Victoria; 79, Hattie; 80, Caryl; 81. Clarice; 82. Edie; 83, Elise; 84. Flo; 85, Bessie; 86, Hen- rietta; 87, David; 83. Joshua; 89, Isaac; 90, Eustace; 91, Esau; 92. Naomi; 95, Mabel; 94, Canute; 95, Cain; 96, Egbert; 97, Gladys; 98, Gordon; 99, Bernard; 100, Jack; 151, Lily; 102, Clair; 103, Frederick; 104, Lettice; 105, Dono- van; 106, Loitus; 107, Yonica; 108, Samson; 109. Alastair; 110, Lucy; 111, Maxwell; 112, Hush; 113, Mark; 114, Cecil; 115, Ida; ll6, Abram; 117, Warren; 118. Hildebrand; 119, James; 120, Albert; 121. Barnaby; 122, Wee- don; 123, Esau; 124, Derrick; 125, Ivan; 125, Faith; 127. Topsy; 128, Robina; 129, Pauline; 130. Vincent; 131, Ham: 132. Hiram; 133, Mor- gan; 134, Rufus; 135, Windham; 136, Hardy; 137. Nero; 133, Israel; 139, Tristram; 140, Hay- man; 141, Levi; 142, Mowbray; 143, Susie; 144, Winston; 145, Earl; 146. Barbara; 147, Innis; 148. Efiie; 149,Allison; 150. Norman 151. Emily 152, Eunice; 153, Hose; 154, Auburn; 155, Roe; 156. Candace; 157. Belle: 158. A^ripna; 159, Meg: 160. Fermina; 161. Finella; 162, Dolores; 163. Sybil; 164. Anna; 165, Honor; 166, Ala- stair;" 167. Nelson: 168, Kitty; 169. Fenella; 170, HildEgarde; 171, Gloria; 172, Godiva; 173. Diana; 174, Frieda; 175. Pierpoot: 176, Row- land; 177. Meyrick; 178 Berenice; 179, Enoch; 180, Madeline: 131, Drummond; 182, Freeman; 183. Boyle; 184, Abbey; 185. Balaam; 186, Wet- ton; lS-i. Ray; 188, Arcady; 189, Alick; 190, Aaron; 191, Iris; 192, Reynard; 193, Homer; 194, Bay: 195, Punch; 196, Lockhart; 197, Laura; 198, Cato; 1S9. Geraine; 200, Alpin; 201. Brandon- 202, Titus; 203, Strong; 204, Amelia 205. Fleet; 206. Mariah; 207, Agatha; 208, Edward; 209, Savage; 210, Wylde; 211, Ida; 212, Sophia 213, Justin; 214, Pussie; 215, Hunter; 216, Brady; 217, Agneta; 218. Boadi- cea; 219, Swanhilda; 220. Portia: 221. Menella; 222, Elaine; 223, Etheldine; 224, Ben; 225, Lilias: 2?6, Cavlotta: 227, Douglas; 2^8, Phoebe; 229, Judy; 23-3. Bernice: 231, Davy; 232, Lubin; 233, Newcombe; 234, Hereward; 235, Lambert; 226, Carlyon; 237. Antonio: 238, Hayden; 239, Manasseh; 240; Hall; 241, Clarx, 242. Madalina: 243, Dungtan; 244, Milne; 245, Arnold; 246, Nita; 247, Noel; 248, Tyrell; 249, Batty; 250. Spencer; 251, Hams; 252, Jules; 253, Goldwin; 254, Eve: 255, Reid; 256, Beer- bohm; 257, Brandon; 258, Forbes.
BOUND TO GIVE EVIDENCE.
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BOUND TO GIVE EVIDENCE. MACHEN DOCTOR AND THE MAGIS- TRATES. What is the position of a medical practi. tioner in a case in which he is subpoenaed aa a witness before the magistrates? It was raised in a concrete form on Saturday at Newport in an assault case from Machen. the parties being Edward Lewis v. James Righton. Dr. Benjamin Bernard, of Machen, was present as a witness on subpoena, issued at the instance of the complainant. When, how. ever, he was called he hesitated to take the cath until some assurance was given him that his fees and expenses would be paid. He had had to appoint a deputy to perform his duties whilst he was away from home. The Magistrates' Clerk: You are sub- poenaed, doctor, and you are bound to come. Dr. Bernard: Yes, I am here, but I am not bound to give evidence. I want their worships to certify for my fees and expenses. The Clerk: But how can they do that? They do not know as yet who will have to pay the expenses. Dr. Bernard not only still hesitated to take the oath, but stepped out of the witness-lI6x and resumed his seat at the side of the oourt. The Magistrates' Clerk having consulted the authorities, said Dr. Bernard was bound to give evidence when attending on subpoena, or the Bench might be under the necessity of dealing with him for contempt of court. The unusual course (for a magisterial court) of proving the service of the subpoena waa gone through, apparently as a preparatory step to enforcing the law, when Dr. Bernard re-entered the witness-box, and, having taken the oath, gave evidence. In the result, the Bench dismissed the sum. mons, and the only order made as to costs was that each party should defray his own costs.
THE CRUISER MONMOUTH.
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THE CRUISER MONMOUTH. LORD TREDEGAR OFFERS A TROPHY. His Majesty's ship Monmouth, one of the new County class of cruisers, is lying in Plymouth Sound, preparatory to leaving for Las Palmas and the West Indies. On Saturday Lord Tredegar, lord-lieutenant of the county of Monmouth, wired to Captain H. C. Reynolds, of that ehip, intimating that the residents of Monmouth, following the example of the men and women of Kent and Donegal, who had given trophies to the cruisers named after their respective counties, were desirous of making a presen- tation to the Monmouth. and asking for a, convenient date. As tho cruiser will probably leave Plymouth on Friday, the presentation is likely to take place this week.
ALLEGED SERIOUS ASSAULT.
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ALLEGED SERIOUS ASSAULT. MAESTEG MAN'S TEETH KNOCKED UPSIDE DOWN. William Phillips, Maesteg, was brought up at Bridgend on Saturday on a charge of causing grievous bodily harm to John Sulli- van, at Maesteg, on Decern l.er 8.—Inspector Sansom said that prosecutor was confined to hi, bed and unable to appear that day. On the night in question Sullivan came to him bleeding at the mouth, and could not speak. He sent him to the surgery, and it was found that His jaw was broken on both sides, with the bottom row of teeth pointing downward. Witness arrested prisoner at 2, Alexander- place, Maesteg. He said it was only what Sullivan had tried to do to him on the previous Saturday.—Prisoner was remanded for a week in custody.
iSTOP-DAY ACTION.
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STOP-DAY ACTION. AMOUNT OF THE POWELL DUFFRYN DAMAGES. It will be remembered that the Powell Duffryn Collieries were selected recently to constitute a test for the assessment of damages in the stop-day action. It is now stated that the company have fixed the amount of damages alleged to have been caused to them by the etop-days at £ 5,825. Mr. Justice Bigham will now give a. dafs for the matter to be further considered in the courts.
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Gwilym Eva"" Quimae Bittors gives healthy action to the digestive organs, thus aiding- to keep away Indi- gestion and the host of different forms of disease which usult from them. £ ol& evaywjwra ia bottles, 2s. 84. tad W, Id. eafiv. 41UT