Page:The Overland Monthly, Jan-June 1894.djvu/274



210

An Encounter with Chinese Smugglers.

[Feb

arrive at any conclusion satisfactory to myself. Suddenly in the brush to the left of me I heard a slight crackling, then a quick thump, and all was again silent excepting the wild beating of my heart. Dropping slowly to the ground, my hunting instinct fully aroused, duty entirely forgotten for the time be- ing, I waited for another sound from the brush. In vain ; everything was still as death. Knowing full well that a deer was hiding in the brush, and would not stir, I crawled quietly in the direction of the last sounds, on my hands and knees. When I thought the deer was, close enough to be seen through the leaves, I rose up slowly to a standing position. There it stood a large doe.

Not knowing the law in British Co- lumbia which prohibits the killing of does, I pulled the trigger as the front sight rested for a second against a patch of gray fur back of the doe's fore shoul- der. The report of the rifle roared out on the night air, the doe gave a convul- sive leap into the woods, and was soon out of sight. I could hear it smashing down the berry bushes as it madly tore off. I knew it was mortally wounded from the convulsive and catchy leaps it made. Throwing caution to the winds. I rushed after it in hot pursuit.

I found blood on the trail. The sounds of the fleeing deer had ceased, but on I went. The deer, after going straight ahead for some distance, had suddenly swerved to one side, and had rushed down a hillside into low land, following along on the new-made trail for a few rods. I could seethe gleaming of water right ahead through the trees. Conclud- ing that my deer had taken to the water and would soon be under my knife, I increased my speed. A log lay in the way ; I jumped over it. As my feet struck the ground on the other side, something awfully like a man's foot protruded suddenly from the brush. Not being able to pull up in time to avoid falling over it, down I went on my

face all in a heap. Somebody then sa down on me rather heavily, squeezing all the breath out of my poor body.

I lay on my face quite a while befon I could fully realize the position I wa really in. That I was a prisoner wa. evident. It was also evident that th( man on top of me had no intention o getting up until reinforcements came He kept his face turned from me; could not see anything of him excep his broad back.

I revolved the situation in my mine What could be the scheme he was tryin to work ? Was it robbery or maliciou murder ? Was this my old friend of th hotel, and one of the smugglers ? Woul they attempt to hold an officer of th American service ? Very likely the would,till such time as they got throug with their booty !

As closely as I could, I surveyed m opponent's position and my own. Fro: the indifferent and careless way i which he sat astraddle of my back, mentally concluded that he was n< versed in the tricks of athletes, nil imagined for a moment that he could 1 unseated. When the proper time cap I would give him a fall and escape ; f the present I was satisfied to have hi think me scared or stunned too bad to move. r

Taking a dog-whistle from his pocku he blew several loud blasts on it ail restored it to his pocket. Settling hii| self down cosily, he drew a cob-pi[ deliberately filled it with tobacco, stru a match along his trouser leg, lit 1 pipe and dropped the blazing match in my bare neck, causing me exquis: pain. I endured it without moving muscle, but how I did long to cho him ! So greatly did this please h that he laughed loud and long, r pipe, was now burning brightly ; the il hot cinders projected a quarter of inch above its bowl. A happy thou struck him ; he chuckled wildly in glee. Bending over, he pulled my troi