The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-11-24 00:00:00

CHAPTER XXXIV.

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Ilelston,

A NIGHT ATTACH.
As the canoes made off, Helston turned to give
fresh orders, but a deadly feeling of sickness
came over him, and he nearly fell.
He made a tremendous effort, though, to recover
himself, and merely staggered against one of the
women, who supported him.
" Quick 1 a bandage," he cried, hoarsely, "and
some water."
These were brought, and the feeling of faintness
Passed off as he saw that it was Grace Monroe who
ran up, tearing a bandage from her own dress, which
under his direction she tightly bound round the fleshy
Part of his left arm which had been transfixed by a
spear and was bleeding profusely.
"Is it—is it dangerous P" she gasped, looking
deathly pale, as she gazed in his blood-smears,
excited face.
"Not half so dangerous as your cruelty," he er.
claimed, turning from her, and seeking now to help
those who needed his aid.
And now he found that five of the savages had
fled along the edge of the lava and gone inland,
Where they had been pursued for a time by the
women, who were now returning panting from their
unsuccessful chase.
"Are you hurt, Laurent P'' said Heiden, as he
came up to his friend, who was leaning on a spear.
"A few cuts, that's all," was the reply.
"And you, 'Thello ? Where's 'Thello ?" cried
out -Helston.
"He was here just nm, sir," said a woman whose
face and hands were dabbled with hl d.
"Are you hurt ?" said Helston, turning to her.
"No, air," said the woman, wonderingly; and then,
glancing at the blood upon her hands and clothes, she
shuddered, and said in a hoarse whisper, "I killed
one of those savages—the stake entered his throat—
it is his blood. Ugh l.”
She was turning away, apparently horrified by her
deed, but Holston took her hand.
"You behaved like a true Englishwoman," he said,
"and it was in defence of your sisters."
The girl grasped his hand warmly, and her eyes
Spoke her gratitude as Helston turned away.
"One, two—four of the savages," he said, looking
round. "Mind how you go near them, wounded
men are very dangerous. What ! " he said, in hor-
ror, as one of the girls, holding a bloody stake,
Whispered something to him.
"Yes, sir, he looked horrible, and as if he was half
Mad as he did it. We dared not interiere."
"What, stabbed the wounded men as they lay
there P.

"Drove his knife into their breasts, one after the
I i
ether," said the girl, in an awe-stricken voice.
"Here Laurent—quick ! " cried 'Wee, ; "come
' to the ship, or we shall be too late."
' He set off at a run, followed by Laurent, who could
. 'hardly keep pace with him, being faint from loss of
blood; and as they got within sight of where they
had been at work digging down to the ship, there
was 'Thello, just rising up from apparently leaning
over the body of one of the Indians.
' Several were lying about the scene of the struggle;
' e 3311 there were four of the women, to whose help
Loielston hurried, upbraiding himself for not attend-
' ulg to them before, though in his wounded and
, excited state, the wonder was that he had thought
.for any other than himself.
'Then° met him with a savage look in his face
411 they reached the first of their prostrate enemies.
"Dead, sah—quite dead," he said.
They walked on to the next, to find him also quite
In fact, there was not one breathing.
"These men were not all dead, 'Thello," said
sternly.
'No, sah, not all dead, but dreffie bad all oh dam,
id I put 'em out ob dere misery."
‘---‘--P° rig .I.Thelik. to own t rankly," said Ralston,
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