Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-03-09


the belief that he might drop off asleep
under the influence of the spirits, anC
wake up restored to tranquility of mind
But he would not lie down. Sitting al
the root of large tree, with his bach
againstits trunk, he buried his face in his
hands, and continued to moan pitifully
and to humble incoherent words.
At brief intervals he would start W
with sudden impulse of fear, and glare
around, uttering the same cry of terror
He did not appear to recognize the forms
of those about him, nor, indeed, even tC
perceive their presence For one in
slant only had his wild gaze yet rested
upon any of the company One thought
alone filled and enchained his wandering
senses, one object only his fevered imag.
ination pictured near-the dreaded form
Of the Cambrero
At the first appearance of dawn, a
dozen of the natives--the same party
that had assisted the steward the evening
before-came thronging down to our
camp, to earn few shillings by aiding
in the transfer of the provisions to the
boat. These fellows approached and
looked at the negro, heard his exclama-
tons, and seemingly understood the case
without further evidence. One of them,
a grizzly old heather with long hair and
beard-the only bearded one in the lot
produced a handful of little balls from
the folds of his girding, and began a sort
of wild incarnation, accompanied with a
certain jugglery tomfoolery, over the
negro, which, however, was cut short by
the steward.
The work of loading the boat was at
once begun. Seventeen laborers, in
GLIDING the six sailors of Viebon's crew
we're employed in the task A greater
number could not have done the work
any sooner. One of the blacks was left
to keep watch over Concho. Meantime,
we idlers busted ourselves in collecting
together and preparing for safe keeping
our cabinet of curiosities. u
After a while we were Joined by a gang
of the native traders the gorillas of the
mountains They came through mere
curiosity. Possibly they may have had
half an eye to business, and would not
have objected to saring any little repre-
sentatives Of value in the shape of prop
erty, that might be found lying around
loose.
However that may have been, these
fellows manifested deep interest in our
unfortunate cook. They examined the
ground very carefully around the camp,
and were rewarded by the discovery of
the trail of huge Cambrero serpent
of the Boa species-sometimes called
the Boa Cambrero. The trail passed
along the riverside for a considerable
distance, and finally diverged to the for
est, where it was only traceable by the
sharp eyes of the natives
A depression was discovered in the
sand where some person-very likely
our cook-had been lying. The prints
of his feet were numerous all around the
spot. The track of the serpent led
across the hollow in the sand,
and the surface Of the ground was
marked with evidences of lively scuf-
he. The blacks, upon discovering these
signs, shook their woolly heads gravely,
and gave us to understand that Concho
would certainly wink out"
1t was subsequently ascertained from
these fellows that our gay and festive
cook had taken his departure from the
aristocratic jungalo-bungalow of the
sable citizens of the great State of Hon
iuras, at late hour of the night, and
under the influence of the
ardent. Probably ashamed to return to
The presence of the steward in that con-
iition, he had approached within hun
ired yards or SO of our camp, and there
aid down on the warm sand to sleep till |
The rest we could only guess at What |
he miserable wretch's experience with |
he snake had been, there was no one to
ell. He could not. There remained |
)nly the horror of the reptiles terrible |
presence. He had probably been |
awakened out of heavy, drunken sleep
o find himself in its loathsome embrace. |
How he managed to effect his escape |
rom its eneircling coils, without sustain
ng physical injury, is part ofthe secret
hat never will be made known.
We we're on board the Miranda soon 1
lfter sunrise, with everything brought off |
rom shore. and sailed Immediately.
There was still no change in the condi-
ION OF lue utErO. an hWhlnH was
,rected in the rear Of the cuddy, and he
vas placed under it. The position gave
lim shade and fresh air 1t was the
work Of the kind-hearted sailors-the
Japtain would have nothing to do with
he matter, one way OF the other.
At night the poor wretch was taken
lown to the stewards storeroom for
afety. They had to drag him from one
,lace TO another. He could not be made
0 stand, or walk, or do thing but sit
nth his face covered and moan. in a
tupor al terror, He would not attempt
o eat. and could only be made to swallow
liquids in a mechanical sort Of way by
.ctually pouring them down his throat.
The next day 1t was the same. A slow
ever had set in. He was placed under
he awning as hefoFe, for the day was
hot Little attention was paid
o him until about two o'clock, when he
ras observed standing by the lea rail
ooking down into the sea In an instant
more he had plunged overheard. He
ras fshed up azd brought aboard, after
much trouble. more dead than alive. At
* IN the evening be was dead indeed /
IA. Last rrn-1a were the old cry nf auouV Z