The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-08-18


bearing. The savages themselves OBJ
served this and commented ON il with
surprise. This calm behavior of the
crew and interpreters acted as q sedative
on the turbulence and ranting violence of
the savages, though it broke out now
and then, sputterin9 fitfully with the
widest of gestures and most murderous
demonstrations.
THREE MORTAL HOURS.
For three hours 1 sat in the stern
sheets of the boat observing all these
preliminaries of a tragedy which / felt
sure was about to be enacted, silent, ex-
cept now and then communicating a
suggestion to the interpreters, and seem
ingly an unconcerned spectator. But l
was not idle. wished to impose on the
savages by my behavior. was busily
planning resistance and an escape. AS
we were in their power, it only remained
for us to be quiet until they proceeded
to acts OF violence, and IN the meantime
endeavor to purchase peace, or at least
postpone the strife.
Conformably with these ideas the IN
terpreters were instructed to offer cloths
and beads to the chief Shekka, who APP.
peared to have despotic authority over
all, judging from the reverential and
and ready obedience paid to his COM
mands. Shekka demanded four cloths
and ten necklaces of large beads as his
price for permitting us to depart in
peace. They were paid to him. Hay-
ing secured them, he ordered his people
to seize our oars, which was done be-
fore we knew what they were about.
This was the second time that Shekka
had acted cunningly and treacherously,
and loud jeering laugh from his people
showed him how much they appreciated
his wit.
PROSPECTIVE HONEY FEAST.
After Selling the oars Shekka and his
people slowly returned to their village
to eat their noon meal and discuss what
other measures should be adopted toward
the strangers. A woman came near us
and told us to eat honey with Shekka, as
it was the only way to save our lives, for
Shekka and his people had determined to
kill us and take everything we had. The
coxswain of the boat was sent to offer
terms of brotherhood to Shekka. The
coxswain was told to be at ease, no harm
was intended us, and on the next day
Shekka promised he and his people
shoald eat honey and make lasting and
sure brotherhood with us.
The coxswain returned to us with tri-
uphant looks, and he speedily communl-
Gated his own assurance to the crew.
But checked this over-contidence and
trustfulness in such cunning and treach-
erous people, and told them to trust in
nothing save our own wit, and by no
means to leave the neighborhood of the
boat, for their act would be to seize the
guns in the same manner as they seized
the oars Immediately the crew saw the
truth of this suggestion, and had no
reason to complain that they paid no
heed to my words.
"GoING TO CUT OUR THRoATs."
At p. IN. the natives began to assem-
BILE on the ridge OF low hill, about 100
yards from the boat, and presently
drums were heard beating the call to war
until within half an hour about 500 war
riors had gathered around Shekka, who
was sitting down addressing his people.
When he had done, about fifty rushed
down and took our drum, and kindly
told us to get our guns ready for fight,
Us they were coming presently to cut
our throats.
As soon as I saw the savages had AZ
rived in the presence of Shekka with
our drum, L shouted to my men to push
the boat into the water. With one des-
perate effort my crew of eleven men
seized the boat as ii she had been mere
toy and shot her far into the water. The
impetus they had given her caused her
to drag them all into the deep water. In
the meantime the savages, uttering furi-
Gus bowls of disappointment and baffied
rage, came rushing like whirlwind
toward the waters edge.
soME sHARPsHOOTING.
/ discharged my elephant rifle, with
its two large conical balls, into their
midst and then, assisting one of the
crew into the boat, told him help his
fellows in while / continued to fight.
My double-barreled shotgun, loaded
with buckshot, was next discharged with
terrible effect, for, without drawing
single bow or launching single spear,
they retreated up the slope of the hill,
leaving us to exert our wits to get the
boat out of the cove before the enemy
should decide 20 man their canoes.
The crew was composed of picked
men, and in this dire emergency they
did ample justice to my choice. Though
we were without oars the mon were at
no loss for substitute. As soon as they
found themselves in the boat they tore
up the seats and footboards, and began
to paddle the boat out as though she
we're canoe, while was left to single
out with my rifles the most prominent
and boldest of the enemy.
THE ELEPHANT Rifles WORK.
Twice in succession i succeeded in
dropping men determined on launching
the canoes, and seeing the sub-cbief who
had commanded the party that took the
drum took deliberate aim with my ele-
plant rifle at him. The bullet. as l
have since been told, killed the chief and
his wife and infant, who happened to be
standing few PAGES behind him, and
this extraordinary result had more effect
on the. superstitious minds of the natives
than all previous or subsequent shots.
On getting out of the cove we saw two
canoes loaded with men comm out in
pursuit from another small cove. Iper-
mitted them to come within 100 yards of
as, and this time ] used the elephant