The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-08-18

watching me as I read the letter, an
they were quick to discover tEat hal
bad news. The interpreter could no
read writing, and they must, therefore,
take 1t as l gave it. l explained that
the Captain had only few goods left,
and that he advised them to conduct us
to the nearest outpost down the river
and make bargain with the authorities.
1t was plain to see that they were disap-
pointed, and after confab the interpre-
ter was ordered to say to me:
"You try one time again. Captain
give canoe full, we let you 90. He no
buy, we kill you. We no takeyou down
river"
81 wrote another letter to the Captain.
giving the above information and ap-
pealing to him not to leave us to perish.
For the wages which would be due us
upon our return to Georgetown he could
probably ransom us. l at least hoped
he would make the offer and the effort.
As subsequently appeared, he did make
the offer, and good deal more. He Of
Tered four muskets and large quantity
OF other barter for our ya@e return, but
the'stick was that the natives wanted The
/ goods in advance. Theyf were asSHs-
]
tain to stand to his bargain. On~the
other hand, he had no faith that they
would keep their promise to him, and
thus the messengers were returned empty
handed. Great was the rage of the peo-
pie thereat / was brought out of my
hut and kicked and cuffed about until /
fell exhausted, and the same treatment
was served out to Keys. 1t was only
after they had thus maltreated us that
the Captains letter was shown to me.
He expressed his willingness to pay
fair ransom, but wanted me to make the
natives understand that they must act
fairly in the matter. This tried to ex-
plain to the chief and his interpreter,
but they either could not or would not
understand. think the killing of Price
was also a knotty point in the transac-
ton. They probably expected the Cap
tain would seek revenge for that, and
that if he got the opportunity he would
force them to release us without ransom.
81 went to bed sore and supperless to
pass wakeful night. Early the next
morning l was routed out to write
third letter to the Captain. While l, of
course, desired to save my life, l had
pretty fully made up my mind that the
natives had no intention of giving us up.
| wrote the Captain to that effect, tell
ing him to give them nothing until we
were brought down the stream to point
where we could be exchanged. The
fact that the village was full of stuff for
barter and that the tribe had fought
shy of trading with the schooner, was
proof to me that they were in hostile
mood. His frmness would result either
in our death or liberty, and that proh&S
bly, before night.
"The morning was very hot and cl6ee,
and before o'clock I observed that the
birds about us were ia a state of alarm.
The natives soon exhibited restless and
uneasy spirit, and, finding that little or
no attention was paid to me, walked
over to where Keys was confined AS
soon as we put our heads together we
became satisfied that some terrible storm
was brewing. The air continued to grow
more hot and sitting, and at about 10
o'clock there came an earthquake shock
which nearly threw us down. The first
was speedily followed by second andA
third, and as the huts began to tumble
and the trees to fall, everybody ran away
Keys and myself took path leading to
the east and ran for life, both of us
having noticed that the forest was
more open in that direction. We were /
neither hindered nor pursued. 1t came
on to blow heavy gale soon after the
shocks, and dnring the first hour of our |
wanderings we were in constant fear of /
death. After going seven or eight miles |
to the east we camped upon sparsely |
wooded plain, and it was only then that
we made W our minds to attempt to !
escape. We found plenty of wild fruits |
and fresh water, and during che whole 4
day we did not meet with native. It
was lpng after dark before we lay down.4
to rest, and it was scarcely daylight bee-f
fore we were afootagain.
mot to weary you W - uninteresting
details may say hat fof seven days we
held to the east, f5ometimes having a
close shave from meeting natives, and
so beaten out that we would |
willingly have surrendered. Toward
evening Of the Seventh day, when we
had made fully leo miles, we came upon
the river whicf divides British from
Dutch Guiana, and, providentially, at
the camp of some Dutch military officers
who were on a hunting excursion. 1t
was months after this before l reached
Georgetown, while Keys never got there
at all, being carried off by jungle fever.
I hunteaup Captain Larkins,. who had
long ago'fgiven me up for dead, and
was rightly treated in the matter of wages
and aided to secure a berth On a brig
about to sail for Liverpool, He had re-
fused to give the natives any ransom in
advance, and after waiting for tATee days
without hearing anything fnrtI4r from
y l L
Ne,O York Sun.