Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1878-10-31

prospect OF drink, he stands up and
pounds her like clay. They are brave,
these Ramas, but they are dead to the
feeling: of chivalry. It almost reconciled
me to the idea OF killing a few, to5ob
serve what brutes they are.
''The day arrived at last. AT midnipht
before, the king and all his warriors left
tho town. Miguele told US that they had
gone tothe temple, there to offer up
baby or two; l felt more md more like
"a executioner handsomely paid for do,
ing retributive justice. At dawn they re-
turned and the farce began 1t is *.
pected as q compliment from strangers
that they should 60 into the street and
admire the kings greatness; so we went
First marched score Of priests clad in
mantles made entirely of geutzel feathers;
some of which were so old and moth-eat
en- as to show generations OF wear. After
them came lot of wild Indians, full
dressed in a leopari's tai apiece, making
noises on sort of flute the thighbone
OF an enemy, Miguele declared. Three
or four hundred bowling youths pressed
upon them. brandishing spears and
machetes. Then came the warriors,
dressed like demons, coronets of feathers
on their heads, cape and waist-cloth of
the same, and long strips Of gaudy plum.
age trailing on the ground. They danced
and sang, rafting spears. Those few who
had guns fired without ceasing. They
held the piece at arms length, tumbled
head over heels with the recoil, and
sprang up again to load like men of india
rubber. The loyal consolts marched
next, fifty CT so, dancing before the
monarch; their feather headdress and
nantes worn like angels wings entolding
devil. A few old men followed, bent
with wisdom, and lettering with exper-
fence, and then the king, dressed from
head to foot in crests of humming- birds,
with long feathers of the guetzal worked
in here and there like an untidy fringe
After him, all the gamins of the village
passed BY, yelling as hard as they could
ut may be we'll to explain in paren
thesis-seeing that the politics of Mos
quito are not things generally known-
that King George is the supreme mon
arch ofthese Indians. By-the-bye, this
naked rascal alone, amongst earthly DO
tentates, enjoys the privilege of quarter
ing the Union Jack upon his flag. 1t
was presented to him, I believe, by
Charles II, when the MOSQUITO savages
we're vastly useful in our buccaneering
vars.
'Everything had gone just as the infer
nal cunnino OF our Williams wished. We
str>lled back to our hut. The fun had
begun already. and warriors staggered
about in every stage Of picus intoxication.
One might have supposed the town bom-
barbaroed, so fast and furious was the
discharge of guns, A spear whizzed be-
tween Salvador and myself, and stuck in
wall Quivering and gyrating. Person
had his beard singed with the fame of a
musket. 1t was time to pack, AID we
went. The live stock was running in
fright towards the jungle, and we caught
several chickens and kid.
The forest was still dripping with
dew when we entered it. A difficult
march all round the village lay before
us; for we had struck the woods Just op-
posite to our proper course. Miguele
guided US without fault. The most
desperate joviality was reigning in the
village, which lay close on our LETT hand
all day When we came upon the farm
grounds, walking grew easier: but the
afternoon had far advanced before Mi
guele lighted upon the path we sought.
Now SAID he, keep lookout for your
lives. It's a hundred chances nobody
comes by; but if an Indian should appear
DO you fools try to look as if you were
taking promenade. I'll account tor
himp LIE still kept my gun and pistol.
"We met no one. Dusk settled on the
woods, whilst it was sill bread daylight
in the open. We camped for the second
time and ate our stolen kid. When the
moon rose, Miguele called us. I had
taken an opportunity TO sound Person
whilst the poems slept, but he was as mad
for the plumber as they.
"We travelled two miles in the forest so
high and so thick the moonbeams could
hardly reach our path. A span: lie of
light filtered through them, scarce bigger
than glow-wolm's lamp where it drop
ped BY the giimmer reflected from
above, we followed Sa vador, who crept
cautiously along. Miguele came last.
As we went duskily,, stealing from turn
to turn OF the path, knew what it ia to
be g. robber and assassin. Comrades, tn
sensation is not agreeable.
''Saddenly Salvador came to halt
The temple is there!' mnttered Miguel
behind me, and we crept into the bus
whilst Salvador reconnoitered. He re
turned one presently, and took Person by
the arm. whispering-we followed. Be-
fore US, hidden among trees that met
above It's root, stood low dark building
of logs on mound. I could see little OF
its size an shape, for all was dim; red
glow snone betwixt the timbers, as of a
smouldering fire inside: sickly smell
hung on the sir.
1--WE stole up, mounted the steps OF
turf, and peered through the chinks. A
fire on the ground showed partitions o.
skin-hangings. Between the shadows
they cast black, shapeless things glim-
mered under the walls. Two men Law
asleep before the fire, their bracelets
glistened. When VIC had looked long
and carefully, Miguele drew us apart and
whispered. We went round, and, two on
each side, to seek other crevices. /
thought for moment of slipping away
into bush, but what would be the good
Of that2 The Indians would catch me or
I would starve
A'All was dark around the temple, and
we learned nothing. There might be a
score of priests inside, but Miguele
thought it unlikely;in any case he was
determined to risk it. After two or three
words we crept to the door again, and
CROPPED long for the fastening. None could
be found. By a whisper and a clasp of
the hand, Miguele directed us to put our
shoulders to tie wood. We did so.
Move he muttered. and with crash the
door gave way.
fell back. The sleeping men sprang
to their feet with howl. Salvador cut
one down, but the Indian gripped him BY
the naked heel in his eeth; the other got
Person by the throat. Miguele ran bis
m ri O fhro,,orh h; hn+ bo bolI nv 90.