The Halfpenny Surprise, Vol. I, No. 20 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

THE RIVER “So, my enemy, you are in my power.completely, at last!” murmured the lad. “What would you do to me if our positions were reversedP Why, cast me into the sea to perish miserably !” “Water! water!” moaned Flinter, piteously. “I am’ dying of thirst!” 8 “For her sake I must not let him perish,” muttered Charlie ; “ but ’tis a hard thing to give back life and the power of doing evil to such a scoundrel at heart.” In the cavities of the rock were pools of rain water. Scooping his hands into one of these he held the water to Flinter’s lips, who sucked it in greedily. After this life-giving draught Flinter sank into a deep slumber. Taking off his coat, Charlie placed it over the sleeper’s head to shield it from the intense heat of the African sun, muttering: “I know I’m a fool to help him, but soe her sake I must do it, ay! even if it costs me my Cue He bound a wetted handkerchief around his own head, and then sat down to wait for death, unless he could manage to swim to the mainland which was not very far distant. “wy ENEMY IS IN MY POWER,” CHARLIE MURMURED. “Self preservation is the first law of nature,” he thought. “ Why should I not leave him here to perish, and secure my own safety?” A terrible struggle between good and evil took place in his breast, but the former, for the honour of a common humanity, triumphed in the end. He sat on wearily, until he was aroused by a shout from the shore, where a number of natives had congregated. He replied, and soon several canoes put off. Charlie understood sufficient of the dialect to make himself understood. When he mentioned that he was a friend of the Queen of the Forest, their sable faces lit up with joy, and they became his devoted slaves on the instant. Once more a terrible temptation assailed him to leave Flinter to perish. ‘ He just breathed, and that was all; in fact, it was roblematical whether he would ever reach the main- and alive. ; ; 7 Again, good prevailed over evil; and the insensible man was carefully lowered into a canoe. “Ig he a friend, too, of the Queen of the Forest?” asked the head man, when their village was reached. Two copies of No. 21 of the “Halfpenny Surprise,” will cost you onl: secure him for us as a constant Su OF DEATH. 13 “No; but heis my friend,” Charlie answered, though it gave him a twinge of conscience to say so. From that moment Flinter received every care and attention ; much more, in fact, that Charlie did, because he could shift for himself. When Flinter recovered consciousness, and saw our hero, he said, grimly: “ This is a strange meeting of ours, Charles Holmes! ” “Yes; but luckily for you the better part of my nature prevailed. I only waited to see you on the way to recovery to say good-bye!” “Don’t leave me among a pack of bloodthirsty savages,” pleaded Flinter. “You are perfectly safe with them,” ee Charlie ; g for my sake they will not injure a hair of your ead.” “Don’t leave me here alone,” said the wretched man, earnestly. “I know I’ve injured you, but I swear to be your friend for the future.” “T must go if I’m to be of help to you. Repent, give up your evil ways, and then, but not till then, will I or any honest man call you by the sacred name of friend!” * How did you escape from the awful waters of the River of Death,” asked Flinter. “T do not care to enter upon that subject with you at present; if I can possibly avoid you, we shall never meet in life again. ** At Monk House I tried to arouse your sleeping con- science, and that of Sir Percival and his son, through the agency of terror—but failed. . You murdered Robert Greene and Doctor Merton. Don’t add to your sin by denying it! An angel of mercy, one who rescued me from the jaws of death, taught me to be patient and bide my time. I took her advice and did not denounce ou.” “You refer to the Queen of the Forest, my brother’s first wife.” “Don’t couple their names together!” cried Charlie; “jit is an insult to herto do so. If he and you are wise you will give the River of Death a wide berth, or, per- chance, it may prove your joint destruction!” “T’ve no wish to harm you now that, in spite of my pet you have so nobly befriended me,” said Flinter; ut the glitter in those cruel eyes of his proclaimed the hypocrite. “We shall see. Actions, not words, must prove your sincerity. But be warned in time; in me you'll find a determined foe should you ever provoke me again. I am not friendless either, as you will find to your cost, if you ever try to harm me,” “Can you assist me with a trifling loan?” he said, pleadingly. “ Hverything I possess in the wide world is aboard the Ostrich.” “You can have two pounds, half of what is in my purse. The natives will not ask for recompense. When you are fit to travel they'll guide you to the nearest settlement. “Good-bye! For ever, I hope, though I do not mean it unkindly. Turn over a new leaf, and try whether honesty is not the best policy in the end.” “Will you do me another favour, by sending a letter to Sir Percival at Cape Town, telling him that I am alive, otherwise my kit might be sold?” Flinter asked. “ Besides, he would probably return to England if he thought I was dead.” “Tl see that he is communicated with; and now, once more, good-bye !” , Flinter extended his hand, but Charlie said, gravely : “Should we ever meet again, and you can say to me honestly, ‘I am a changed man, and have forsaken my evil ways’—then, and not till then, will I try to think that there is some hope for you.” j . “My evil ways, forsooth!” sneered Flinter, as he lay on a pile of mats made of sweet grass. “ Yes, ’llforsake them when I’ve carried out my purpose. The River of a penny: Give one to your chum and er, comiclbooks.cormn