The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-10-12
nothing of two good knives in the hands
of two desperate men. tell you, Frank,
it will cost the scoundrels something to


murder u.s. -
At this moment Helen came into our
cabin from her own, and we informed
her what we suspected and feared, and
what, in the last extremity, we had re-
solved on concerning herself. She list
ened quietly and calmly, scarcely chang
ing color /; and when we had done, she
drew herself up, and, with the look and
manner OF true heroine, replied
IF we are assailed, which Heaven
forbid give yourself no uneasiness
about me. AT Cairo, unknown to either
of you, I purchased beautiful stilletto,
which have since carried about my per-
son, prepared for whatever might hap
pen. Rest assured, if you both perish,
I shall not fall alive into the hands of
these wretches, and may God forgive
me if sin in the only sure defence
which will then be left me! !''
'"There speaks my noble sister p ex-
claimed George.
'And did your mind, then, have
foreshadowing of this trouble, Helen ?"
inquired I. . #FFE
81 hardly know. I did not like the
appearance of the men we were to sail
with, and thought it best to be prepared
for the worst
tBut you said nothing of this, Helen?
'sNo, for the time had not come for
me to speak. Before I left home on this
long and perilous journey, I considered
all the dangers, and resolved that no idle
fears or suspicious of mine should ever
intrude upon your social pleasures but
since you have been the first to mention
your apprehensions, I feel free to ex-
press mine"
We now held consultation as to the
best course for us to pursue under the
Observation-Disclosures to call down the
interpreter and endeavor to frighten
him into confession, or wait for events
to determine our offensive actions. We
decided to adopt the latter alternative,
believing it safest to give no one an idea
of our suspicious.
It was not till perhaps couple of
hours after sunset that anything unusu-
al had occurred, and we suddenly be-
came aware that the boat was in motion,
but propelled so quietly and silently,
that, had we not been on the alert for
danger, we should not have detected it.
We placed our dim light where its fee
BILE rays would fall directly On any per-
son entering our little cabin, and draw
ing back into the deeper shadow, with
our revolvers ready for instant work,
awaited further developmentssin sus-
pense that was really painful.
An hour--a long, dreary hour-pass-
ed, with the boat all the time in motion,
then it gently rubbed against the bank,
and stopped. We held our breath and
listened. All was still, except the pat
tering of the rain, and a very low muir
mur of voices. Then we could hear feet
stealthily approaching, and we silently
grasped our weapons more firmly, and
rivited our eyes upon the point of en-
trance. Presently we could see two or
three dark, hideous faces peering down,
and endeavoring to ascertain if we were
asleep. We had so disposed ourselves
that they could not see Us, and we held
our breath and watched. Presently
they began to descend stealthily, and we
could see they were all armed with pis-
tolls and antaghans. There could be no
mistake-they intended to murder us
while we slept. A fourth face appeared.
It was Azem's, our dragoman. He whis-
pered something and made ominous
signs. This was sufficient, thought.
It was time for us to act.
''Let me have the first chance George.
whispered, 80 low that with my mouth
to his ear, he barely heard me. s'Be
ready, but do not discharge shot till
mine are expended Helen, when I rise,
do you lie down at once. and screen
yourself as much as possible. Ready
now !"
I quietly reached forward my hand
and aimed my first shot at the head of
our treacherous interpreter. I fred, and
Azem pitched headlong, with yell and
groap. His yell was more than echoed
by his surprised and terrified compan-
ions, who instantly turned to fly. Three
more shots were among them in as many
seconds, and then my bowie-knife was
flashing in the hands of temporary
maniac. In less than ten seconds it was
red from point to hilt, and the three
ruffiaus were bloody corpses at my feet.
New faces appeared and my friends re-
volver began to play. Then came wild
yells and flight of terror. I rushed on
deck, more mad than sane, but every foe
had fed-some upon the bank, some in
to the water. Nothing was to be seen,
and therefore we could not pursue. I
was perfectly wild with rage and athirst
for bloody vengeance. 1 dared them to
cone back and called them towards, for
getting they could not understand a word
I uttered. It was ten minutes before 1
became reasonable, and then found
George on one side of me and Helen on
the other, both pitiously begging me to
be calm. -TH9-fE 1EH1G
The affray was over and we were mas
ters of the boat. The three villains who
had entered the cabin were dead, the
drdgontaa was badly wounded, and all
the others. including the january, were
missing.
I need not dwell upon the scene-a
terrible one ito me when I came to COM