The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1883-04-07
XXVI.
ADVENTURES IN PAPUA,

As Iaksamana stood up he could discern
dImiy in tie srmi-cbscurity OF a clear star
lit trOpic night a multitude of nude figures
lying round him ana awaiting the dawn,
in order to the torment of his
body and great as was his physical Prov
ess, yet he had been assured by his recent
capture that there was Il limit even to his
mighty strength, and that it was possible
for him to fall a miserable victim to the
rage Of angry savages Therefore, it was
with much apprehension and wathchful-
ness that the mighty chief stepped forward,
as the girl, his libeTator, led and pointed
the way towards the sea. He followed,
treading softly and crouching down quite
low, as he went along. They had barely
entered the dense forest, which surrounded
the village, when an alarm was given by
some one of the savageS more wakeful than
the others, who had observed that the terri
BILE prisoner was nc longer bound to the
log. Immediately the villagers and the
surrounding camp of the PapuanS were
aroused. Torches famed in the air, and
with many wild cries Il host of eager and
excited men rushed in various directions to
intercept the fugitives. After a time some
track of the runaways had been discerned
at the edge of the forest, and then a baud of
savages raising a shrill cutlery rushed for
ward on the path. which Laksamana and
the girl had taken.
After a hot pursuit the foremost of the
pursueTs, a small band ofabout ten in num-
Der, had Overtaken the great chief and the
Papuan girl. The two were brought to a
halt in a narrow path in n close matted
jungle The eager savages thought that
the hero was without a weapon and rushed
upon him, but he had picked up a huge
club in passing through the square of the
village, and as the infuriate savages APP
preached, he knocked them over and killed,
or stunned several, just as if lie was en-
gagged in Staying rats. After the fall of
about half their number the remainder of
the band turned and fled away in terror.
But their story did not check the pursuit of
their countrymen, who were in full cry
vOwing vengeance against the red god of
he alays. There was now n host of many
hundreds of savages ~thrOnging in the
woods aud rushing with shouts in the direc-
ton of Laksamana.
The great chief FASTENED with all his
strength and speed to get out of the forest
and reach the seaside, but he was still in
the depth of the jungle and i'm the midst of
Il forest of large trees, when he heard the
cutlery of a great host of furious hunters in
hot pursuit. The girl now chung to the
chief with terror and he marched along
holding her hand, as she was his guide in
the obscurity of the forest. They now
heard the saVages Oh all sides and torches
famed in the forest around them. And
L~aksamana, noting the loud and terrible
roar of voices doubted not, that there were
at least one thousand men close upon him,
and who sought To take away his life in
torture. The torches in the hands of the
savageS now famed in a circle around the
hero, and in another instant or two Laksa-
mana would be struggling with an over
whelming crowd of angry wild men, when
he suddenly grasped the limb of an enor-
nous tree with one hand, and whilst hold
ing on to the girl around the waist with the
other, he succeeded with his enormous
strength in springing up and clinching
his feet around the limb. Then the
girl, who was as much at home in the
trees as he was, took hold of the
branches and mounted with him. And
when the angry pursuing savages passed
T1nIar tho trnA I N ESar N N ~ nn1 tho rir1
were in the dense upper foliage, about one
hundred feet from the ground. The savages
fared their torches around, and they
glanced upward into every tree as they
passed along, but the fugitives were be-
yond observation. And as their upward
flight had not been observed the SavageS
moved onward
The pursuers made terrible outcries as
they found themselves baftied in not rum
ming down their prey as soon as they eX-
pected. They scattered throughout the
forest in all directions. Now a bright moon
began to shine forth and Tighten up the
scene. Increasing hosts of savages. Joined
the purSuerS and kept up the search all
night, and as morning began to dawn, sew
eral thousands of Papuans were engaged in
searching the surrounding forest, roaming
over the beach in all directions and watch
ing every movement OF the invading fleet.
Laksamana and the girl remained secure in
the tTee-tOp all that night and all the next
day. They suffered much on account of
thirst; and their continued position clinging
to the limbs of the tree became painful. |
The savages often times passed under the
tree during the day. At last, when dark
ness had set i'm again and no torches or any
signs of pursuit Were to be observed, Laksa-
manaand the girl descended very cautiously, |
and Oh reaching the ground, she took him
by the hand and led him into the depth of
the forest away from the direction of his
ships.
After marching about a mile they came
1. a email GtpnaI N nf water WhnTa thpU |
quenched their thirst and Laksamana
washed his wounds and sores. Then they
pursued their way cautiously for several
miles moving in a circuit till they came TO
a point on the coast several miles beyond
where the ships of Laksamana were anchor
ed. Here they found some deep caves with
quantities of dry grass inside and evidently
used as temporary lodgings by the fisher
men on the coast. Now Laksamana, though
so marvellous in his strength, was COM
pletely exhausted by fatigue and suffering
from loss of sleep so, as soon as he entered
the cave, where there seemed a chance for
peace and security, he sank down to rest
and fell asleep Immediately. The girl re-
manned in a watchfSi attitude near the
of the cave for 4 time, and after Il
While her weary nature yielded and she
sank to rest near by the hero. Their sleep
was not disturbed and Laksamana awoke,
as the early dawn began to stream in the
of the cave, feeling refreshed and
strong after a sound sleep. The girl too,
up anu MuCl size DeuGlu TIE nero
stand up strong and well, she came
and elapsed her arms around
hin i'm a close embrace. The great
felt sad at this demonstration. He
had a constant nature like all great men.
His strong heart remained faithful to the
Princess Umba, and he had no heart
to caress another woman he did not
love. But the Papuan girl had actually
saved his life, ami therefore, it would
be cruel and unjust to spurn or reject her
Furthermore, he could not cast
her away. He was still in an unknown
savage country surrounded by enemies, and
his only hope of safety was in this devoted
girl. Therefore, when she continued to
caress him in a free and artless way, he
re urned her endearments with a calm and
paternal demonstration.
The mind of Laksamana was intent on
Joining his fleet. He made cautious observ-
ations outside the cave he climbed to the
top of a large rock washed by the sea, from
the summit of which he could observe a