My Strangest Case

rence consisted in the fact that Captain Gregory and his subaltern Dempsey, having finished their period of enforced exile, had returned to Bhamo to join the main body of their regiment. A Captain H

ter was Handiman was built on very different lines to Gregory, his predecessor; he gave himself airs, and

he jungle on shikar thoughts intent. He was less successful than usual; indeed, he had proceeded fully three miles before he saw any

t!” he said angrily to himsel

ood was so dense that it was well nigh impossible to make one’s way through it. At last, however, they hit upon a dried up nullah, and followed it along, listening as they went to the progress the boar was making among the bamboos on their right. Presently they sighted him, crossing an open space a couple of hundred yards

?” the othe

the jungle on the other side of the nullah. Without doubt it was the English word hel

self and half to the man beside him. “Some poor devil got

had presented when he had turned up at the Ford two months before was nothing compared with that of this individual. He was a small man, not more than five feet in height. His clothes were in rags, a grizzly beard grew in pa

der where the beggar hails from?” Then addressing the man

. He placed his finger on his lips, and tu

b,” said Grantham. “But it’s quite certain

ascade from the rocks above. Then Grantham realized the meaning of the little man’s action. Stretched out beside a rock was the tall figure of a man. Like his companion, he presented a miserable appearance. His clothes, if clothes they could be called, were in rags, his hair was long and snowy white,

his friend’s hand he made some mysterious movements upon it with hi

our rifle shot and hailed you. We are in sore distress, and have been through such adventures and such misery as no man would belie

e smaller man’s curious behavio

said Grantham pityingly. “Bu

, they deprived me of my sight. After that they turned us loose to go where we would. We have wandered here, there, and everywhere, living on what we could pick up, and dying a thousand deaths every day. It would have

tham. “That’s if we can get you down to

y me then, for I’m t

aged,” said Grantham.

ine his injured foot. There could be no doubt that it was in a very serious condition. Tramping through the jungle he had managed to poison it, and had been unable

said. “We must leave it as it is, and, when we get yo

ntly. There was a look of almost dog-like affection in them

t case we have heard of. We only come up here for a month at a time, but the man we relieved told us a strange tale about another

le man seized his hand and made a number o

. “We lost a companion, and he thinks that he may be the man. For Heav

y little to do with us. As I have said, he turned up while our predecessors were here. From what I heard about

re it was f

have heard that he was on his way from Pekin to Burmah,

to remember his

sk the question calmly,

is name was George Bert

ew seconds, after which t

suppose, whether he h

him out. They lent him the money to get to Rangoon. I happen

her and somewh

r he had any precious st

orld. Why should he have been likely to have had jewels? In point of fact I’m sure he hadn’t,

sigh, and sank back to his f

n an appearance, bringing with them a dhooly, in which they placed the injured man. It was almos

, as the cortège drew up before the bungalow. “

everything with an eagle eye, as if he were afraid some evil might be practised upon his companion. When the blind man had been placed on a bed, and his f

best and staunchest little fellows in the world. I don’t know whether our names will convey much to you, but such as

count the refugees gave of themselves. He was one of that peculiar description of persons who have an idea that it adds

cy, if only we could see the bottom of it, we should discover that your two pro

that they were a miserable couple, and that I did the best I could

thing I object to is your treating them as if they were martyrs, when

give as a reason for the trouble he took, the fact that the face of the elder man reminded him of his own venerable father, the worthy old Somersetshire vicar; it was a fact, nevertheless. For a week the unfortunate couple were domiciled at the Ford, and during that time Grantham attended to their wants with the assiduity of a blood relation

bly be dead men now. I don’t know whether we shall ever be able to repay your kindness, that is with Allah, but if the opportunity should ever arise you may be sure w

t?” Granth

stranger you told me of, when he came here from out of China. I’ve got a sort of notion in my head that even

ham replied. “I am sure Gregory will be only too

ade their protector farewell, they in their turn set off along the track that Hayle had followed two months before, and in due course arrived at Bhamo.

er chap was about as unfortunate a beggar as could well be, but you beat him hollow at every turn. Now, look here, before I go any

ed, and his wonderment was as

ther’s story, “what is it you want to know about the man we picked

d helped. The schedule was in a great measure satisfactory, but not altogether. There were so many English in Burmah who were tal

the nail on the head.” Then turning to Gregory, he continued, “Perhaps, sir, you do

iced anything extraordinary, but De

Ford, and afterwards when he was in bed. An inch or so above his left wrist he had a tattooed snake swall

he’s our man after all. Heaven bless you for the news you have given us. It puts new

ey felt constrained to shake. The

oved that man. If it takes the whole of our lives, and if we h

n you do find him,” put in Gregory, who had been an obser

s face in the direction whence the other’s voice proceeded. “Hate him, why

ion with George Bertram or Gideon Hayle may have been, they were not going to commit themselves. When they had inquired as to his m

collection of an amount sufficient to enable them to reach Rangoon in comparative comfort. When they arrived at that well-known seaport, they visited the residence of a person with

get hold of him, we’ll — well, we’ll let him see what we can do, won’t we, old boy? He stole the treasure and sneaked away, abandoning us to our fate. In consequence I shall never see the light again; and you’ll never

ands solemnly together. It would certainly prove a bad day for Gid

e Indian Ocean, Kitwater held a service on deck, which was attended by every class. He preached an eloquent sermon on the labours of the missionaries in the Far East, and from that moment became so popular on board that, when

ss English rain pouring down upon them, wetting them to the skin, “what w