The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, May 29, 1895, Image 1
TBS SUMTER v? ATC H M AN, Kitabli?hed April,.! s ? o. "Be Just and Fear nor-Let ail the Ends thou Aims't at, be thy Country's, thy God's and Truth's.'" TH? TKUE SOUTSKON, Eatabliehed Jane, 1366
Consolidated Aug. 2,1881. SUMTER, S. C., WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 1895. New Series-Vol. XIV. So. 43.
Cjje liatrljira?? at? Sonaron;
Published Svery Wednesday,
-BY
/
JXT. Gt. Osteen,
SUMTER, S. C.
TERMS :
Two Dollars per annum-in advance.
ADVERTISEMENT:
One Square first insertion.SI 00
Every subsequent insertion. 50
Contracts for three months, or longer will
be made at reduced rates.
All communications which subserve private
interests will be charged foras advertisements.
Obituaries and tributes of respect will be
charged for.
The Sign of
The Four.
CHAPTER YUL
THE BAKER STREET IRREGTJT.AR3.
"What now?" I asked. *Toby has
lost his character for infallibility."
"He acted according to his lights,'
said Holmes, lifting* bira down from
the barrel and walking him ont of the
timber yard. "If yon consider how
mncb creosote is carted about London
in one day, it is no great wonder that
our trail should have been crossed. It
is mnch nsed now, especially for the
seasoning'of wood. Poor Toby is not
to blame."
"We must get on the main scent
again, I suppose, "
"Yes. And, fortunately, we have no
distance to go. Evidently what puzzled'
the dog at the corner of Knight's
place was that there were two differ?
ent trails running in opposite direc?
tions. We took the wrong one. It only
remains to follow the other."
There was no difficulty about this.
On leading Toby to the place where he
had committed his fault, he cast about,
in a wide circle, and finally dashed off
in a fresh direction.
"We must take care that he does not
now bring ns to the place where thc
creosote barrel came from," I observed.
"I had thought of that. But you no?
tice that he keeps on the pavement,
whereas thc barrel passed down the
roadway. No, we are on the true scent
now."
It tended down towards the river?
side, running through Belmont place
and Prince's street. At the end of
Broad street it ran right down to the
water's edge, where there was a small
wooden wharf. Toby led us to the
very edge of this, and there stood
whining, looking out on the dark cur?
rent beyond.
"We are out of luck," said Holmes.
"They have taken to a boat here."
Several small punts and skiffs were
lying about in the water and on the
edge of the wharf. We took Toby
round to each in turn, but, though he
sniffed earnestly, he made no sign.
Close to the rude landing stage was
a small brick house, with a wooden
placard swung out through the second
window. "Mordecai Smith" was printed
across it in large letters, and. under?
neath: "Boats to hire by the hour or
day." A second inscription above the
door informed us that a steam launch
was kept-a statement which was con?
firmed by a great pile of coke upon the
jetty. Sherlock Holmes looked slowly
round, and his face assumed an ominous
expression.
"This locks bad," said he. '^Those
fellows are sharper than I expected.
They seem to have covered their tracks
There has, I fear, been preconcerted
management here."
He was approaching the dcor of the
house, when it opened, and a little
curly-headed lad of six came running
out, followed by a stoutish, red-faced
woman with a large sponge in her hand.
"You come back and be washed,
Jack." she shouted. "Come back, you
young imp. For if your father comes
home and finds you like that, he'll
let us hear cf it."
"Dear little chap!" said Holmes,
strategically. "What a rosy-cheeked
young rascal! Now. Jack, h there any?
thing you would like?"
The youth pondered for a moment.
"Fd like a shiiiin"." said he.
"Nothing you would like better?"
"Fd like two shiliin' better," the
prodigy answered, after some thought.
"Here you are, then! Catch-A line
child. Mrs. Smith!"
"Lor" bless \*ou, sir, he Ls that, and
forward. He gets a most too much for
me to manage, 'specially when my man
is away days ata time."
"Away, is he?'" said Holmes, in a dis?
appointed voice. "I am sorry for that,
for 1 wanted to speak to Mr. Smith."
"He's been away since yesterday
mornin*. sir, and. truth to tell, I am.be
ginnin' to feel frightened about bim.
Jiut if it is about a boat, sir, maybe I
could serve as weil.'*
"1 wanted to hire ids steam launch."'
"Why, bless you. sir. it is in the steam
launch that he has gone. That's what
puzzles me; for I know there ain't more
coals in her than would take her to
about Woolwich and back. If he'd been
away in the barge Fd ha' thought
nothin': for many a time a job has taken
him as far as Gravesend, and then if
there wars much doin' there he might ha'
stayed over. But what good is a steam
launcn without coals'?"
"He might have bought some at a
wharf down the river."
"He might, sir. but it weren't his
way. Many a time I've heard him call
out at the prices they charge for a few
odd bags. Besides, I don't like that
woodendegged man, wi' his ugly face
unc? outlandish talk. What"* did he
want always knockin' about here for?"
"A wooden-legged man?'* said
Holmes, with bland surprise.
'.Yes, sir. a brown, monkey-faced
chap that's called more'n once for my
old man. It was him that roused him
up 3'esternight, and. what's more, my
man knew he was comin', for he had
steam up in the launch. I tell you
straight, sir, I don't feel easy in my
mind about it."
"But, my dear Mrs. Smith," said
Holmes, shrugging his shoulders,
i4you are frightening yourself about
nothing. How could you possibly tell
that it was the wooden-legged man
who came in the night? I don't quite
understand how 3-ou can be 60 sure."
"His voice, sir. I knew his voice,
which is kind o' thick and foggy. He
tapped at the winder-about three it
would be. 'Show a leg, matey,' says
he: 'time to turn out guard." My old
man woke up Jim-that's my eldest
and away they went, without so much
as a word to me. I could hear the
wooden leg clackin' on the stones."
"And was this wooden-legged man
alone?"*
?.Couldn't say, I ams:arv, sir. I didn't
hear no one else."
"I am sorry, Mrs. Smith, for 1 wanted
a steam launch, and I have heard good
reports of the- Let me see, what is
her name?"
"The Aurora, sir."
"Ah! She's not that old green launch
with a yellow line, very broad in the
beam?"*
"No, indeed. She's as trim a little
thing as any on the river. She's been
fresh painted, black with two red
streaks.**
"Thanks. I hope that you will hear
soon from Mr. Smith. I am going
down the river; and if I should see
anything of the Aurora I shall let him
know that you are uneasy. A black
funnel, you say?"
"ZSo, sir. Black with a white band."
"Ah, of course. It was the sides
which were black. Good morning,
Mrs. Smith. There is a boatman here
with a wherry, Watson. We shall take
it and cross the river."
"The main thing with people of that
sort," said Holmes, as we sat in the
sheets of the wherry, "is never to let
them think that their information can
be of the slightest importance to you.
If you do, they will instantly shut up
like an ovster. If vou listen to them
mi y
under protest, as it were you are very
likely to get what you want."
"Our course now seems pretty clear,"
said I.
"What would you do, then?"
"I would engage a launch and go
down thc traci: of the Aurora."
"My dear fellow, it would be a colos?
sal task. She may have touched at
any wharf on either side of the stream
between here and Greenwich. Below
the bridge there is a perfect labyrinth
of landing-places for miles. It would
take you days and days to exhaust
them, if you set about it alone."
"Employ the police, then."
"No. I shall probably call Athelncy
Jones in at thc last moment. Ile is
not a bad fellow, and I should not like
to do ar. yt liing which would injure
him professionally. But I have a fancy
for working it out myself, now that we
have gone so fer."'
"Could wo advertise, then, asking
for information ir om wharfingers?"
"Woree and worse! Our men would
know that the chase was hot at their
heels, and they would be off out of the
country. As it is. they are likely
enough to leave, but as long as they
think they are perfectly safe they will
bc in no hurry. Jones' energy will be
of use to :^ there, for his view of the
ease is --ure to pa sh itself into the daily
pres.^. and the runaways will think
that everyone is off on the wrong
scent."
..What are we to do. then?*' I asked,
as we landed near Millbank peniten?
tiary.
"Take this hansom, drive home,
have s< ?me breakfast, and get an hour's
sleep. It is quite on the cards that we
may be afoot to-night again. St- p at
the telegraph office, cabby! We will
keep Toby, for he may be of us<- to us
yet."
We pulled up at the Great Peter
street post. oiHce. and Holme.?, dis
patched his wire. "Whom do you
think that is to?** he asked, aa. we re?
sumed our journey.
"I am sure; I don't know/*
"You remember the Baker street di?
vision of the detective police force
whom I employed in the Jefferson
Hope case?" . ?
"Well." said I, laughing.
"This is just the case where they
might be invaluable. If they fail, 1
have other resources; but I shall try
them first. That wire was to my dirty
little lieutenant. Wiggins, and I expect
that he and his gang will be with us
before we have finished our breakfast
It was between eight and nine o'cloc
now, and I was conscious of a stron
reaction after the successive excite
ments of the night I was limp an
weary, befogged in mind and fatigue
in body. I had not the professional cr
thusiasm which carried my companio
on, nor could I look at the matter as
mere abstract intellectual problem. A
far as the death of Bartholomew Sholt
went, I had heard little good of hin
and could feel no intense antipathy t
his murderers. The treasure, howevei
was a different matter. That, or par
of it, belonged rightfully to Mis
Morstan. While there was a chane
of recovering it, I was ready t
devote my life to the one object
True, if I found it, it would prot
ably put her forever beyond m;
reach. Yet it would be a petty an<
selfish love which would be influence?
by such a thought as that. If Holme
could work to find the criminals, I ha<
a tenfold stronger reason to urge m
on to find the treasure.
A bath at Baker street and a com
plete change freshened me up wonder
fully. When I came down to our roon
I found the breakfast laid and Holme
pouring out the coffee.
"Here it is," said he, laughing an<
pointing to an open newspaper. "Th<
energetic Jones and the ubiquitous re
porter have fixed it up between them
But you have had enough of the case
Better have your ham and eggs first.'
I took the paper from him and rea<
the short notice, which was headed
"Mysterious Business at Upper Nor
wood."
"About twelve o'clock last night,'
said the Standard, "Mr. Bartholomew
Sholto, of Pondicherry lodge, UppeJ
Norwood, was found dead in his roon
under circumstances which point tc
foul play. As far as we can learn, nc
actual traces of violence were founc
upon Mr. Sholto's person, but t
valuable collection of Indian gems
which the deceased gentleman hac
inherited from his father ha?
been carried off. The discovery
was first made by Mr. Sherlock Holmei
and Dr. Watson, who had called at thc
house with Mr. Thaddeus Shalto
brother of the deceased. By a singulai
piece of good fortune Mr. Athelne3
Jones, the well-known member of the
detective police force, happened to bc
at the Norwood police station, ant
was on the ground within half an hom
of the first alarm. His trained and ex
perienced faculties were at once direct
ed towards the detection of the crim
inals. with the gratifying result thal
tlie brother, Thaddeus Sholto, has al?
ready been arrested, together with thc
housekeeper. Mrs. Bernstone, an In?
dian butler named Lal Rao. anu a por?
ter, or gatekeeper, named McMurdo. Il
is quite certain that the thief ot
thieves were well acquainted with thc
house, for Mr. Jones' well-known
technical knowledge and his powers
of minute observation have en?
abled him to prove conclusively that
the miscreants could not have entered
by the door or by the window, but must
have made their way across the roof of
the building, and so through a trap?
door into a room which communicated
with that in which the body was found.
This fact, which has been very clearly
made out. proves conclusively that it
was no mere haphazard burglary. The
prompt and energetic action of the ofii
cers of the law shows the great advan?
tage of the presence on such occasions
of a single vigorous and masterful
mind. We cannot but think that it
supplies an argument to those who
would wish to see cur detectives more
decentralized, and brought into closer
and more effective touch with the
cases which it is their duty to investi?
gate."
"Isn't it gorgeous!*' said Holmes,
grinning over his coffee cup. "What
do you think of it?"
"I think that wc have had a close
shave ourselves of being arrested ior
the crime."'
"So d.> I. I wouldn't answer for our
safety now, if lie should happen to have
another of his attacks of energy."
At this moment there was a loud
ring at the bell, and I could hear Mrs.
Hudson, '?ur landlady, raising her
voice in a wail of expostulation and dis?
may.
"Ky heaven, Holmes." I said, half
rising, "1 believe that they are really
after us."
"No, it's not quite so bad as that. It
ts the unofficial force-theBaker street
irregulars."
A>> he spoke, there came a swift pat?
tering of naked feet npo? the stairs, a
clatter of high voices, and in rushed
a dozen dirty and ragged little street
Arabs. There was some show of disci?
pline among them, despite their tu?
multu?os entry, for they instantly
drew up in line and stood facing ns
with expectant faces. One of their
number, taller and older than thc oth?
ers, stood forward with an air of loung?
ing superiority which was very funny
in such a disreputable little scarecrow.
"Got your message, sir," said lie.
"and brought "em <>n sharp. Three bob
and a tanner for tickets."
"Here you are." said Holmes, pro?
ducing some silver. "In future they
?.an report to', you Wiggins, and you to
rue. ? cannot have th?* hou^o invaded
in llr.^ way. However, it is just as well
that you should all hear the instruc?
tions. I wahi to find the whereat wuts
of a steam launch called thc Aurora,
owner Mordecai Smith, black with two
red streaks, funnel black with a white
band. Sha is down the river some?
where. ' ?vant -.me boy to be at Mor?
decai Smith's landing-stage opposite
Millbank to say it* the boatcomes back.
You must divide it out among your?
selves, and do both banks thoroughly.
Let me know the moment you have
news. Is that all clear?"
"Yes. guv'nor," said Wiggins.
"The old scale of pay. a.nd a guinea
ca
to the boy who finds the boat. Here's
a day in advance. Now off you go!"
Ile handed them a shilling1 each, and [
away they buzzed down th? stairs, and j
i I saw them a moment la: ? streaming 1
down the street.
"if tiie launch is above water they
will find her,'' said Holmes, as he rose
from the table and lit his pipe. "They
can go everywhere, see everything,
overhear everyone. I expect to hear
before evening that they have spotted
her. In the meanwhile, we can do
nothing but await results. We cannot
pick up the broken trail until we find
either the Aurora or Mr. Mordecai
Smith. '
"Toby could eat these scraps, 1 dare
say. Are you going to bed, Holmes?"
"No; I am not tired. I have a curi?
ous constitution. I never remember
feeling tired by work, though idleness
exhausts me completely. I am going
to smoke and to think over this queer
business to which my fair client has
introduced us. If ever man had an
easy task, this of ours ough t to be.
Wooden-legged men are not so com?
mon, but the other man must, I should
think, be absolutely unique."
"That other man again!"
"I have no wish to make a mystery
of him-to you, anyway. But you
must have formed your own opinion.
Now, do consider the data. Diminutive
footmarks, toes never fettered by
boots, naked feet, stone-headed wooden
mace, great agility, small poisoned
darts. What do you make of all this?1'
"A savage!" I exclaimed. "Perhaps
one of those Indians who wert: the as?
sociates of Jonathan SmalL"
"Hardly that," said he. "When first
I saw signs of strange weapons I was
inclined tc think so; but the remark?
able character of the footmarks caused
me to reconsider my views. Some of
the inhabitants of the Indian peninsula
? re small men, but none could have
left such marks as that. The Hindoo
proper has long and thin feet. The
sandal-wearing Mohammedan has the
great toe well separated from the
others, because the thong is commonly
passed between. These little darts,
too, could only be shot in one way.
They are from a blowpipe. Now, then,
where are we to find our savage?"
"South American," I hazarded. |
He stretched his hand up and took j
down a bulky volume from the shelf.
"This is the first volume of a gaze teer
which is now being published. It may
be looked upon as the very latest
authority. What have we here? 'An?
daman islands, situated three hun?
dred and forty miles to the north of
Sumatra, in the bay of Bengal.* Hum!
hum! "What's all this? Moist climate,
coral reefs, sharks, Port Blair, convict
barracks, Rutland island, cottonwoods
-ah, here wc arc. 'Thc aborigines
of the Andaman islands may perhaps
claim the distinction of being the
smallest race upon this earth, though
some anthropologists prefer the Bush?
men of Africa, the Digger Indians of
America and the Terra del Fuegians.
The average height is rather below
four feet, although many full-grown
adults may be found who are
verj' much smaller than this. They are
a fierce, morose and intractable peo?
ple, though capable of forming most
devoted friendships when their confi?
dence has once been gained.' Mark
that. Watson. Now, then, listen to
this: 'They are naturally hideous,
havinsr large, misshapen heads, smali,
fierce eyes, and distorted features.
Their feet and hands, however, are re?
markably small. So intractable and
fierce arc they that all the efforts >-.i
the British officials have failed to win
them over in any degree. They have
always been a terror to shipwrecked
crews, braining thc survivors with
their stone-headed clubs, or shooting
them with t::<-:r poisoned arrows"
These massacres ar.- invariably con?
cluded by a cannibal feast. ' Nice,
amiable ?:.pie, Watson! ff this fellow
had boon left to his own unaided dcr
vice:- this affair might have taken an
even more ghastly turn. I fancy that,
even as it is, Jonathan Small would
?five a good deal not t<> have employed
him." '
"But how came he to have so singular
a compar?t ?n?"
"Ah. t-nat is more than I can tell.
Sine?', however, wc lead already deter?
mined thur Small had come from thc
Andamans. it : ?. no: so very wonderful
that t!ii~- isl?n :er should bc with him.
X.? doubt ve .hall know all about iL in
time. L>'?'iv herc, Watson: you look
regularly done. Lie down there on
the sofa, and see if " can-put you to
sleep."
Ile tookup hi ; violin fro;;; thecorner,
and as I stretched myself out he began
to play some low, dreamy, melodious
air-his own, no doubt, for he had a
remarkable gift for improvisation. I
have a vague remembrance of his gaunt
limbs, his earnest fa.ee. and the rise and
fall of his bow. T -a I seemed to be
floated peaceful]. ay upon a soft
sea of sound, unid found myself in
dreamland, with the sweet face of Mary
Morstan looking down upon me.
CHAPTER IX
A BREAK IN THE CHAIN.
It was late in the afternoon before I
woke, strengthened and refreshed.
Sherlock Holmes still sat exactly as I
had left him, save that he had laid
aside his violin and was deep in a book.
He looked across at me as I stirred, and
I noticed that his face was dark and
troubled.
"You have slept soundly," he said.
.'I feared that our talk would wake
you."
"I heard nothing," I answered. "Have
you had fresh news, then?"
"Unfortunately, no. I confess that I
am surprised and disappointed. I ex?
pected something definite by this time.
Wiggins has just been pp to report.
He says that no trace can be found of
the launch. It is a provoking check,
for every hour is of importance."
"Can I do anything? I am perfectly
fresh now, and quite ready for another
night's outing."
"No; we can do nothing. We can
only wait. If we go ourselves, the mes?
sage might come in our absence, and
delay be caused- You can do what you
will, but I must remain on guard."
"Then I shall run over to Camber?
well and call upon Mrs. Cecil Forrester.
She asked me to, yesterday."
"On Mrs. Cecil Forrester?" asked
Holmes, with the twinkle of a smile in
his eyes.
"Well, of course, on Miss Morstan
too. They were anxious to hear what
happened."
"I would not tell them too much,"
said Hohnes. ''Women are never to be
entirely trusted-not the best of them"
I did not pause to argue over this
atrocious sentiment. "I shall be baek
in an hour or two," I remarked.
"Ail right! Good luck! But I say,
if you are crossing the river you may
as well return Toby, for I don't think
it is at all likely that we shall have
any use for him now."
I took our mongrel accordingly, and
left him, together with a half sovereign
at the old naturalist's in Fia chin lane.
At Camberwell I found Miss Morstan a
little weary after her night's adven*
tures, but very eager to hear the news.
Mrs. Forrester,too,' was full of curios?
ity. I told them all that we had done,
suppressing, however, the more dread?
ful parts of the tragedy. Thus, al?
though I spoke of Mr. Sholto's death. I
said nothing of the exact manner and
method of it. With all my omissions,
however, there was enough to startle
and amaze them.
"It is a romance!" cried Mrs. Forres?
ter. "An injured lady, half a million
in treasure, a black cannibal and a
wooden-legged ruffian. They take the
place of the conventional dragon or
wicked earl."
"And two knight-errants to the res?
cue," added Miss Morstan. with a
bright glance at me.
"Why, Mary, your fortune depends
upon the issue of this search. I don't
think that you are nearly excited
enough. Just imagine what it must
be to be so rich and to have the world
at your feet!"
It sent a thrill of joy to my heart to
notice that she showed no sign of ela?
tion at the prospect. On the contrary,
she gave a toss of her proud head, as
though the matter were one in which
she took small interest.
"It is for Mr. Thaddeus Sholto that I
am anxious," she said. "Nothing else
is of any consequence; but I think
thai he has behaved most kindly and
honorably throughout. It is oui duty
to clear him of this dreadful and un?
founded charge."
It was evening before I left Camber?
well, and quite dark by thc time I
reached home. My companion's book
and pipe lay by his elia ir. but he had
disappeared. I looked about in the
hope of seeing ;> note, but there was
none.
"I suppose that Mv. Sherlock Holmes
has gone our." I said to Mrs. Hudson as
she came up to lower the blinds.
"Nb. sir. Ile has gone to his roo; .
sir. Do you know, vir." sinking her
voice into an impressive whisper, "I am
afraid for his health?*'
"Why so. Mr-. Hudson?" j
"Weil, he's that strange, sir. After
you was gone he walked and he 1
walked, up and down, and up and ?
down, until I was weary of the sound j
of ins footstep. Then I heard him ?
talking to himself and mattering, and
every time the bell rang out he came
on the stair-head with: 'What is that, !
Mrs. Hudson?' And now he has
slammed off to his room, but I can hear !
him walking away the same a.-> ever. I j
hope he's not going to be ill, sir. I
ventured to saysomething tohimabout j
cooling medicine, but he turned on me.
sir, with such a look that I don't know j
how I evci got out of the room,"
"I don't think that you have any j
cause to be uneasy, Mrs. Hudson," I !
answered. "I have seen him like this
before. He has some small matter up?
on his mind which makes hun restless."
I tried to speak lightly to our worthy
landlady, but I was myself somewhat
uneasy when, through the long night,
I still from time to tirru h? ard the dull
sound of his tread, and knew Low his
Highest of ail in Leavening Pov
At breakfast time he looked worn
and haggard, with a little fleck of
feverish color upon either cheek.
"You ar<- knocking yourself up. old
man," I remarked. "I heard you march?
ing about in the night.'"
"No, I could not sleep.*' he answered.
"This infernal problem is consuming
me. It is t^o much to Le balked by so
petty an obstacle, when all else had
been overcome. I know the men, the
launch, everything; and yet I can get
no news. J have set other agencies at
work, and used every means at my dis?
posal. The whole river has been
searched on cither side, but there is no
news, nor has Mrs. Smith heard of her
husband. I shall come to the conclu?
sion soon that they have scuttled the
craft- But there are objections to that"
"Or that ??rs. Smith has put us on a
wrong scent."
"No. I think that may be dismissed.
I had inquiries made, and there is a
launch of that description.''
"Could it have gone up the river?'*'
"I have consid?r?e! tu?t possibility
too, and there is a search party whe
CLAP CT BUDE SAILOR DRESS.
will work up as far as Richmond. If
no news comes to-day, I shall start off
myself to-morrow, and go for the men
rather than the boat. But surely,
surely, we shall hear something."
We did not, however. Not a word
came to us either from Wiggins or
from the other agencies. There were
articles in most of the papers upon the
Norwood tragedy. They all appeared
to be rather hostile to-the unfortunate
Thaddeus Sbolto. No fresh details
were to be found, however, in any of
them, save that an inquest was held
upon the following day. I walked
over to Camberwell in the evening to
to report our ill success to the ladies,
and on my return I found Holmes de?
jected and somewhat morose. Ile
would hardly reply to my questions,
and busied himself all evening in an
abstruse chemical analysis which in?
volved much heating of retorts an- '. dis?
tilling of vapors, ending at last in a
smell which fairly drove me cut of the
apartment. Up to the small ir ours of
the morning I could, hear the clicking
of his test-tubes which told me that he
was still engaged in his malodorous ex?
periment.
TO BS CONTIN'UEO
WOMEN IN OLD GERMAN V.
Their Influence Manifested in the Destiny
of the ?*ation.
These German priestesses influenced
not only their own countrymen, but
were a source of superstitious dread to
the Romans as well.
The power which a German prophet?
ess wielded may be seen when in A. I).
69, for one brief moment the Gauls
threw off the Roman yoke in an insur?
rection led by Civilis. His associate
and counselor was Velleda, a wise
woman who dwelt in the depths of the
Bructerian forest. She had been
chosen with Civilis to decide an im?
portant question of state. She was
also umpire in civil disputes. In order
that greater reverence might be felt
for her. messengers were not allowed
to see ber.face, but questions and an?
swers were earrie-: by one of her rela?
tives. Velleda bti prophesied defeat
j to the Roman soldiers and Civilis rind
I ing his people anxious io throw off the
; Roman yoke united tho tribes for oat
I tlc. Behind theliaeof batt le he placed
I his mother and sisters, the wives
and children of all ii- soldiers. the
: advance to battle tile women a nit. vi in
? the war songs with the men ; urged
them on to brave deeds. Ii the title of
tat? women oiten ? .* . e ? mem .?o.;:
ing ap their children and entreating
them not to allow their wives and chil?
dren to become slaves of the enemy.
If they tied, their wives put them to
death that they might still have a
home in Valhalla. If they conquered,
the women dressed their wounds and
honored them still more.
Civilis believed that the presence of
these women was a great incitement
to victory. !L- engaged in battle with
the Iloman> and caine off conqueror.
In return for her >ervi.-e.-. Velleda re?
ceived the most valuable part of the
booty, a Roman trireme am >ng other
t h i M gs. The Roma: : s a ? t c r w :. ni s t r led
to win her favor so that she would in?
fluence her people ie. their behalf;
Their efforts were fruitless, and sac
wns carried with Civilis a prisoner to
Rome.-Louise Prosser i'ate?. in Chau?
tauqua n.
ra:.- Latest U.S.Gov't Report
kins
i Powder
'?Ctr PURE