Detective Bob Bridger — page 100: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

_ DETECTIVE BOB BRIDGER. 93 the spotted horse, aided by the chief groom, I mounted to the saddle, and took the bridle in hand. “As soon as the blacks let go their hold of his head the noble horse darted away like the wind. ‘‘Fortunately for me, I can ride, and, moreover, had carefully studied the lay of the country. “T knew that if I might traverse some fifty leagues to the southward without accident I would reach a river upon whose banks a party of enterprising Englishmen were washing for diamonds, and | was resolved that the flying steed beneath me should bear me there. “For three leagues across the plain, and along the path- way through the jungle, the gallant animal bore me with- out a break in his mad gallop. “Then easing down to a gentle lope, when his outburst of play had spent itself, he carried me on at a steady gait ‘The moon arose soon after nightfall, and the calls of wild beasts sounded at intervals from the jungle near by, but I pushed on safely through the night. ‘‘At dawn in the morning I paused, for several hours, to ‘water the now jaded steed, and permit him to eat a break- fast of grass, and that evening I reached the mining camp, told my story, and was kindly welcomed. ‘‘The next day I started back my faithful charger, equipped with bridle and saddle, in the direction he had brought me, and there is little doubt but that the noble animal accomplished the journey alone, and appeared riderless to the astonishment of the chief groom. ‘‘And, I suppose, that both the chief groom and his mas- ter, the rajah, to this day mourn my death, believing that I lost my way in the jungle, and had dismounted to be torn to pieces by lurking beasts. ‘“Aided in my escape by the diamond hunters, and changed in my apparel to resemble one of their class, I found no difficulty in completing my journey to Madras. “TI found, on arriving there, however, that my old friend, the doctor, had died; nor did any one recognize me, so great had been the change in the Kuropean population. “ Disposing of several of my brilliants for some two thou- sand pounds, I clothed myself as an English gentleman, and took apartments, awaiting the departure of a Steamer for England.” GOmIchbDoo cS (E(0)