The Hawaiian gazette., 1868-11-11

4
opposite slope being washed BY the ocean
breakers, which could be heard dashiug
against 1t with laundering noise
The cayalcade drew rein, and a consulta-
ton took place. To descend into that abyss,
and scale the steep rock on the other side,
seemed a matter of sheer impossibility to
any creature except, perhaps, monkey or
| q maroon Niger. That the runaways were
near at hand, was beyond doubt; that
they might have joined a lot of some other
desperadoes was very probable; and that a
final stop should be put, sooner or later, 10
the runaway business, seemed very desirable.
1t was agreed, therefore, TO starve them out.
Some OF the servants were sent back at
once to bring up provisions and camp ma
terials; sentinels were posted all around and
as far as the shore; strict vigilance was en-
| Joined. and watch-words were given. When
night set in, fires were lighted, and one could
hear the sentinels calling out to each other,
as in military camp.
| Our caballeros stretched themselves on the
ground, rather tired after the days work,
and the golden stars of Southern sky, with
the brilliant constellation of the Cross, high
in the heavens, shone alike upon their portly
figures and upon the poor naked wretches
on the mountains top.
On tue morning following many spy
glass was directed to the top of that mount
ain, but, except thin, white column of
smoke that went curling up into the blue
air from behind prominence, nothing could
be detected. The dogs came up early to the
same spot they had singled out on the pre-
yious day, and, with uplifted noses, barked
away as furiously as ever.
The first day of camp life passed off like
good many others; in fact, whole week
went by in the same unsatisfactory manner,
the blood hounds never falling to be on the
spot at daybreak, and that white column
of smoke always curling up into the air
during couple of hours after daylight
Our eaballeros were unable to account for
this most extraordinary state of things.
What on earth could those wretches be living
upon, on the top of that naked and barren
rocky
At last one Of the negro servants of Don
Gomez offered his services as a spy, and sug-
gested plan of his own framing, which was
adopted. 1t wants negro to betray ne
gro. On that day, the tenth since the cree
tion of the camp, after another consultation
had been held, the bloodhounds were coup
led, the camp broken up, and the besiegers
mounted their horses and betook themselves
to their homes. A few sentinels alone were
left to watch the proceeding of the spy.
Don Gomez was to inform his friends when
the moment for action should arrive.
When the spy appeared again before his
master after weeks absence, he had o
strange story to tell.
When he had descended the abyss and
climbed the rock at the risk of hls.neck, pass
ing himself for Maroon niger, they had re-
ceiyed him apparently without suspicion.
There were eight of them, the woman in
cluded, all sound and well fed. They had
any quantity TO eat-fowl and small game in
abundance, and as to the water, there was a
fresh spring near at hand. Each night he
saw Juan separating himself from the rest,
armed with large stick, but whenever he
tried TO follow him he was prevented from
doing SO by the. Others, and it was not until
the night before:last that he had got chance
to watch him. He saw him climbing up the
prominence, and with his lett hand emptying
the stores of an eagles nest, whilst with his
right arm he defended himself against the
powerful claws and dangerous beaks of the
angry birds.
The mystery was solved at last: the ma
rooms were feasting on the eagles preyl
The evening of that same day Don Gomez
wrote short note TO the captain of one of
his vessels, just then in port at San Juan de
Dios, requesting the favor of his Immediate
attendance
The captain of the centipede, at that time
little engaged in the Niger trade, was
known TO be a dead shot He had crossed
and recrossed the American continent more
than once with shculdered musket, and his
exploits on the hunting grounds-North and
South-were said to border on the marvel
lous The job Don Gomez had for him
this time, was altogether toll his liking.
The camp was re-opened on the following
day. sentinels were posted, vigilance again
eDjoined.
The captain merely shrugged his shoulders
when he was shown to the spot; neither the
abyss nor the rock appeared in any way worth
talking about to man who had crossed the
Sierra Nevada and the Rocky Mountains, liv
ing by the produce of his rifle all the while
1t took him several hours, nevertheless, to
climb merely half way up that steep noun
tain, where beneath the shelter of a cluster,
of projecting rocks, he took up position
Those who watched him from below saw him |
taking aim, after while, and fire. As moth
ing extraordinary could be noticed, however,
in consequence of that shot, except perhaps |
the GOODNESS with which the captain was re-
loading his rifle, most of the caballeros got |
tired of watching and went back to their
tents. Those, however, who kept their eyes |
on the daring man had their reward when, a |
couple of hours afterwards, the steep rocks
around re-echoed once more the report of his
gun.
A dark object, OF the size of q pigeon, /
was seen darling high up into the afr, with /
the swiftness of a cannon ball. Ii suddenly /
stopped short, remaining suspended immoT-
able for some moments atan enormous height, /
then it began gradually to lower in a spiral |
line, slowly at first, then quicker and quicker Il
till at last it disappeared rapidly behind the