, 1873-01-26

SEQ, By Hector i. Stuart.
The weather was now intensely hot, sud the
stretch for sooloo, which We did the wind being
light but in our favor. On the third day, at
noon, we fell in with prahu from the Lugutan
islands, which ne compelled to pilot us through
the archipelago. Hsylng narrowly escaped
group, and came to anchor of the Island Of
Basilian. It WAS lying of this island that very
tragic affair took place, which cannot forbea1
to mention There were two brothers, large.
stones cast from the sea. they we're mon Of
some authority, but rs arrant rogues as could be-
found under the equator, qnar1elsome and mis-
chievous to degree.
It chanced one day these two worthless cam6
On board the ship on pretence OF trading, but in.
reality to steal. Our men had their eyes upon,
them; but, in spite Of their wariness, the ras-
Gals got off with q broada1, which they carried
to their hut aud triumphantly displayed to their
wives, who, Us matter of course, admired it e1-,
ceedingly- But an AZ is not easily divided; anu.
when the thieves came to share their plunder,
there was q catch in the business, as each
claimed eli equal portion. They had both been:
drinking sam-shoo, and their blood WAS not.
cooler on that account; and so the matter ended.
in quarrel, which might have proved serious:
but for the interference Of the women, wha
succeeded in allaying the feud, tho younger.
to the booty. This was ali the elder brother
wished. The disputants c1aspcd hands, and
seemed to be as good friends aa ever But.
the younger brother was bont on Eengeance,
which, however, he took care to conceal, and, by
the warmth Of his apparent friendship, lulled4
the suspicious OF his victim.
Three days passed. In the meantime he
worked intently in the forest, and by hsId
labor dug pit, the mouth OF which he covered
with layer OF jungle, grass, twigs, and dried:
leaves, so skilfully as to deceive the:
most experienced woodman. This done, ha
informed his brother that white man from.
IL. l. Iii Ln1~
into the woods good way, and was lying:
down asleep in retired spot. The white
man, he said furthar, had sword and brace Of
pistols, and, as he alone and asleep, it would
and whatever else Of value he had with him.
The elder brother, who Was always ready for any
piece OF roguety, took fire at the tidings anu
willingly agreed to join the other in his murder
those mysterious presentiments which often.
serve like warnings from tho spirit world, en-
desvored to disauade him, bnt he spurned hor'
counsel and vent away with his enemy. Tho.
almost unbearable, followed the two men, 1cay-
ing tho wife Of che younger brother asleep in
the hut.
Tho night had already fallen tho CRY Of tha
jnckal WAS heard; tho bat wheeled slowly through
the openings in the trees, and palo streak on
the horizon showed where the moon WAS strug-,
Cling to shed her light upon the darkened land
acape- The two men moved on, followed by tha
woman whose :,' terror, though great, Was over
Reaching q retired place in the forest, tho
mon paused, aud the woman drew back undor
tho shadow Of q magnolia tree, whore she stood
covert spectator Of their actions. The moon
had now risen, and filed tho scene with q ghoat-
II splendor; the light falling through q breal1
in the trees On the spot where the two
men had halted, allowed the woman To
observe their actions with singular dis
them@her aa1snese hasbandsnk aas INTO the % ground
wild. cry followed, and as tho ecloes rang
through the forest the younger brother raised
tho club and denlt tho struggling man mur-
de1ous blow upon the head She stopped to sea
Tho women Of these hot latitudes are Of
ten cou1ageoua- They are devoted and revenge
full This woman, Taru, WAS ono Of these she
loved her husband and was endowed with q
to avange the death OF the man she loved, and
arming herself with long knife, awaited tha
return Of the murderer. The minutes rolled bE
heavily, but at length tho sound OF footstepa
The 1S''4 tratricide " 1esehed tho the doolrsy. %
There Tas no light in the hut save
what fell from the moonbea1ns. The savage
came on unmindfu1 Of danger, when, as ho
his heart. He staggered, but but before the wo-
man could repeat tho blow he seized her by the
wrist, and wrenched the knife from her hand
1t fell to tho floor. A dreadful struggle then
self from the grasp Of the assassin, and he, con-
scious that his wound was mortal, determined
that her soul should follow his to the land OF
Tho struggle did not last long. Tha
man fell heavily to the ground, carrying the wo~
man with him; his hand encircled her throat,
and she struggled wildly to free herself from tho
grip which was fastened upon her. But in vain.
The clutch WAS that OF death, and the last gasp
Of tho devoted woman was mingled with that Of
her destroyer.