The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1866-06-29

1
the gale. BY the mercy of Heaven our frail |
bark still Hoated, though Matteo told me |
he bad lost his course, aud knew not whith- |
or the gale had driven him.
He steered at random for many days, un-
iii, at last, land appeared. A cry OF joy
from our little crew hailed the welcome
sight. Tho land was low and sandy, and
as we approached it, We discovered a river
making into the sea.
Into this river Matteo directed his course,
looking for signs of inhabitation, for our
stock Of water and provisions was nearly
exhausted. We had plenty of spirits on
board. and that was all.
After sailing up this river for several
miles, we finally deserted number OF rude
huts upon the right bank of tho stream.
Matteo lowered his sails, and cast anchor
opposite this village 80 '-
| the inmates Of an anthill at our sudden
appearance, and could think Of nothing
4 else for they wore all black, as saw them
running about in the widest confusion.
Matteo said we must have been driven
| to the coast of Africa-as these people we're
ell negroes. He concluded to go ashore
and see il he could not obtain some provis-
ions. q 20 Ysh isi- IN
Taking six of the crew, we'll armed, In
the boat with him, and number OF articles,
amongst which was keg Of brandy, to
barter with the natives for provisions, he
departed, leaving myself and two men on
board the pinnanoe. .- rai,r- ,. 4
We never dreamed Of danger, and as !
stood upon the deck watching Malteo as the
boat progressed towards the shore. little
anticipated what was to follow. | saw
Matteo and his companions land upon the
shore, and they seemed to be atnicably re-
n csived by the natives 1t was but o cum
ming device to lul them into seouritySfor a
u wild scene Of strife presently began. r" ,a
Il OH the agony that seized hpon me as |
witnessed my husband's peril, al realized
my own impotence to save or succor him.
The strife was soon over. The natives
were victorious. could not tell what had
befalen Matteo. Many Of our crew ap-
peared to have been slain; others were
borne az captives towards the huts. Was
Matteo among the captives that was the
dread uncertainty that tortured me.
After while the negroes returned to
the beach, and carefully removed the slain
of either party. IA 90.
"Jesu preserve us 4" murmured old Jose
ID -Matteos mate-fervently "they are
going to eat our murdered friends III.
My blood run cold at his words, and
s'iiver,d beneath that tropic sun as though
the blasts Of winter were blowing upon me
So "-Matteo! Matteol" ! wildly shrieked
I. are you alive or dead Shall we ever
meet againf Is our happiness to end thui
:. suddenly =" "-53G 90 lsr ~
70 spray for his SOUL" said Jose, solemnly
on earth you will never meet again. LIE
us endeavor to hoist the sails and leav'
this horrid place." aAo6.
r "And desert my husbandH Ncverl I"
= "What can we do for him if he is dead
G And even if he lives, how could we hope t.
rescue him Life is sweet |; let us not los'
il by an act of folly. have a wife anf
children in our sunny land; they mus
not be left desolate. See! Scel" he con
tinued, in alarm, "they are launching canoes
upon the beach--they are coming to seiz'
US !up with the anchor, Juan--let US es
,espel" a",t 1s
eThey sprang madly to the anchor, Rnt
toiled to raise it. They did not demRnC
my feeble aid and, if they had, l coulC
not assist them. lay crouched upon thu
deck in ON apathy of despair-nerveles
helpless. What was life to me that shoulC
attempt TO escape My bubble of happi
ness had burst. Matteo, my hearts, idol
had been torn from me, and felt that deatl
alone could calm my hearts deep agony!
Vain were the efforts of Jose and Juan
ere the anchor could be raised the negroes
81 swarmed upon the deck. Jose and JuaI
were seized and bound, for they offered nj
resistance-and brawny savage raised mt
= from the deck. g4l tai
He held me at arms length, and gazeC
upon me curiously. Then he stroked m.
!. dark tresses, gently, with his coarse hands
felt my face with fondling touch as on
L afnxht faxy no
admiration and delight broke from his lip
u as he did So. He spoke TO me could no
= understand his words, but there is com
> mon language Of the eye that all can com
. prehepd. read the fate for which wa
= reserved in his admiring glance, and horro
= and fright benumbed me in every limb.
He was the chicf-the king Of this savage
horde, and his mon obeyed him as q dol
his masters voice. / was conveyed in
canoe to the shore and placed in one o
! the huts, the door of which was securel
fastened. A small aperture served a.
!, window, from which had partial yieN
Of the river. I could see our vessel, On
the sight of what had been a transient HON
= to me-so briefly appy!-moved me
tesrsg They .pggved great relief to m
. oVercharged brain. But for them, thin
. l should have gone mad.
Il The negroes were playi Dg strange aDtic
4 upon the deck of the pinnace. l 500
n guessed the cause. They had found th
4 spirits, and the fiery liquor was at worl
v Should the chief come to me in state
q intoxication, what had not to fear
a looked around for some weapon to end m.
|, life, and save my honor. The hut was
gloomy as dungeon. Night was comm
h on apace, and the little aperture, swhic
v served as window; would have ahorde'
: but scanty light when the sun shoney bn
d now, in the gathering gloom OF twilight,
was useless stumbled around IN tn
r darkness without finding what sought.
!. Suddenly a bright light streamed i
through the aperture, andl saw rud'
A spear standing in one corner. grasped II
y as friend. But what had caused tina
= lightf / wentto the windOw-our veSss
4 was in flames, and by its light. the negroes
were holding carousal on the beach. The,
o looked like demons as they danced in th
h red 6re-lighti
J. stood at my post and watched them IN
til the flames died out and the negroes sun
10 down, one by one in a drunken slumbei
y remained unmolested. A strange though
suddenly flashed through my mind. VIII
g not escaref had strong hopes that Ma
?. teo lived, and the fact Of the negroes no
d having killed Jose and Juan when the
seized the vessel. confirmed that hope.
d If could but break fro@ the hut, nigh
y seize one Of the canoes and hoat down th
river. There were white settlements,
Il knew, upon the coast; could but reac