The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-02-27

great uneasiness, and that was the fact
that the chiefs hut contained quantity of
ships furniture and ships belongings.
AclIeeup noticed Edwards eyes resting on
these things, and informed him, through
the interpreter, that they came from off q
deserted vessel that bad been stranded on
the coast.
The explanation satisfied young Percival,
and he and his party started for the jungle.
He soon became separated from his COM
panions, and supposed that, tired with
their sport, they had returned to the vii
lage.
Game abounded, and Edward Percival
toward the middle of the day, began to get
tired. He explained to the two natives his
desire to return to the ship. They showed
by signs that they understood him, and
started, as he supposed, in the direction of
the coast.
By-and-by they left the jungle, and en-
tered kind of clearing, which was solely
planted with immense trees, the tops of
which were only green, the lower branches
being as destitute of verdure as if barred
by the severest winter weather.
They had scarcely set foot in this clearing
when, to Edwards extreme surprise, he
saw the natives scramble like cats ND the
trunk of one of the trees. On glancing
around to find some cause for this gymnas-
tic proceeding, the young American was
suddenly confronted by an immense black
bear, who with a terrific roar, sprang on
the young man.
Edward had not time to use his rifle but
throwing it on the ground, he drew his hunt
ing knife, and, grasping the monster by
the throat as it tried to hug him, he drove
itup to the hilt in his flank. Hemust have
reached the beasts heart, for it immediate
ly fell backward dead.
Young Percival was naturally much
elated with his achievement, and bent his
steps toward the village, in company with
the natives, in the best possible spirits.
He was soon, however, destined to real
ize that he had greater dangers to face than
wild beast, for he had scarcely set his
foot in the village, when he was seized by
party of natives and conveyed to hut, a
prisoner, where he found his three compan-
ions also in custody.
Their prison consisted of large room in
Acheeup's house, overlooking a kind of
square, which was used for public ceremo-
MES A guard was placed over them, and
1aft 30 tl,o c.1~ -.
for them.
Sailors are not the most refined men in
the world, nor is their sense of justice spe-
cially acute. OF course, we refer to the
lowest class, for no finer set of men, than
the educated and liberal, open hearted
sailor can be found. They had not been
alone five minutes, when the three men
who had accompanied Edward Percival
with such willingness, attacked him as
being the cause of their misfortune. Had
it not been for his desire "to go a-shootin'
they'd bin safe aboard ship this blessed
minute, in stead of bein' in the clutches of
these savages,"
The young American defended himself
as well as he could, trying to show them
how unjustly they accused him; but it was
OF no use, nothing could persuade them
that they were not very i'll used.
Two days passed away without any Incl
dent occurring, when one morning several
natives entered, and taking one of the men,
they led him into the square. His compan-
ions ran to the opening serving for win
dows, curious to know what they were 60
ing to do with him. Their doubts were
soon ut rest, for he was killed before their
eyes. We must draw veil over tho after
proceedings of the savages, rs they are too
horrible to be told.
All doubt as to the fate reserved for them
was at an end for the poor captives, for
they felt assured that, sooner or later, they
would share the same fate.
Two days later, another of the sailors
was led out and the same scene re-enacted,
the horrible orgies being conducted as
before under their very eyes
Edward Percival gave up all hope after
this. Here, then was the explanation of
" Lost in the Bay Of Bengal" The Nico-
bar Islands were nests Of assassns and
pirates, and all vessels visiting them were
destroyed and the crews murdered.
The next day ample and horrible proof
Of this was made manifest to Edward and
his surviving comrade, for on glanclng
through the opening into the square, they
saw Captain Ingraham's body and those Of
some of the crew, subjected to the same
hellish treatment they had seen their two