The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-12-29
dye found an asylum on the coast.

I y
of the article-not an unimportani
item on the coast.
I'VE passed through the surf and
over the angry bar in safety, i'd
found ourselves gliding onward be.
tween the sedgy shoes buried in man.
groves. Soon the banks became GOV.
cred with tall, majestic trees, from
whose limbs swept a network oi
trailing vines. Immense leaves lie
motionless on the lazy air, while
groves of oranges, lemons, coffe plan
tains, and bananas were met With a,
every turn of the river. The land
was fragrant With flowers, the all
vocal with brilliant feathered song.
sters, and all nature appeared to re.
joice as we slovly warped up that
sluggish African river unGer the
guidance of a woolly headed pilot.
My wife, who was on deck under
the awning, was 10 ecstacy Mt the
gorgeous scenery, and to my eye she
never looked bandsomer in her life.
I'VE came to anchor in benz OF
the river, which at that point was
both broad and deep The pilot lef,
US in his canoe, promising to sedd the
proper persons aboard tie next day
to negotiate for the water.
Il telt everything but secure up
that river, young man, for you must
know | had valuable cargo aboard.
and then there was my wife, who
was dearer to ME than vessel and all
beside; so made the mate get out
the boarding nettings and fit them to
the low rail, clean fore and aft. then
a lot of old iron cannon balls were
distributed along the bullwaFks for
the purpose Of heaving them into
canoes should they come along side
with evil intentions, Some no guns
big ones l. mean-bnt old muskets
and cutlasses in abundance. Nv
own private arms | had put in order
while those belonging to the schooner
were load and distributed !0r use.
al did not sleep much The first
night, but paced the deck until day
light, while the watch forward slep.
on their arms, ready for a call Al a
moments notice.
"ln company with my wife, who
was an early riser, We watched the
sun slowly rise above the far distant
mountains. Along the river a dense
stratum OF mist lay motionless, re-
aecting the light pouring in subdued
rays from the east Above the va
por the beautiful verdure of numer-
Gus trees could be discernned, as The
sun cleared The highest pinnacle, the
fogs Of the river aud valley, Ike ST.
lent phantoms, quietly disappeared
from the earthly scenes they had
haunted since nightfaE- Toe sun
blazed out in his terrible splendor.
Africa lay exposed to our view, and
the blue sky and green forest reveled
in halo of golden quivering light
"Such, young man is a sunrise IN
that favored land.
My attention had been attracted
by the strange scenes about me, and
the sharp eye Of my wife was the
first to detect canoe containing q
single person, padding down The
placid surface of the Pongo.
"By the aid of my glass | saw that
the stranger was European, dressed
in white shirt, white pants and a
wide-brimmed, grass hat. He ap
peared to be shy of the vessel, dip.
ping his paddle carefully into tho
water, and approaching the schooner
very cautiously.
"At times be would remove tbe
cigar he was smoking from his lips
and stretch forward as if to examine
US from truck to keelson, which fac
ncttled me somewhat. | was al
honest trader, young man, and nc
one had occasion to be suspicious o
me.
Stepping on the monkey-rail il
fall sight Of the fellow, hailed him
waved my hat. and invited him tc
come aboard without further backiu.
and filing.
with a splash his paddle strucl
the water, and in few sounds the
feet canoe glided alongside. | step
ped to the gangway to receive my
visitor, and saw at glance he was
Portuguese. His complexion was
almost tawny. his hair dark as az
Indians, while his moustaebe and
eyes were intensly black. Tall and
well formed, be sprang lightly ovel
the gangway, shook me by the hand
and catching a view OF Sallie, who
was on the poop under the awning
be raised his hat, bis snakish eyes be
traving both wonder and admiration
at her rare beauty. | pretended not
to notice it. but, young man. it made
me feel decidedly uncomfortable,
while l conceived violent dislike foI
the fellow at first sight.
"He spoke excellent English, and
with well-bred dignity introduced
himself as Don Manuel. l invited
him to breakfast, which was about
ready, and Sallie was more than
pleased with the fellows smooth
tongue, and the glowing reports be
made of his plantation ashore. He
invited US to call in the cool of the
evening, which l met with an evasivc
reply, and he quietly changed the
current of his conversation by pre-
ceeiing business.
Now mayl ask, captain, what
your business is here you are not a
slaver?'
.'God forbid, Den Manuel, | am nc
pirate. | came here for water
And you could not have hit a
better place. | will furnish you with
a good article at a moderate price ]
would not advise you to expose your
men, captain, and this evening | will
send you load. Allow me to con
graduate you, captain, upon possess
ing such lovely woman for wife
1t is seldom our shores are graced by
the fair sex
al do not require your cOngratu-
lations, Don Manuel | replied, stern
ly, and | imagined | detected a ma
licious smile playing around the cor
ners of his mouth. However. his
white teeth cleaned with an un-