Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-10-17
A Little Congo Hero.
TIE STORY OF BOY WHO RESCUED HIS NorHKR,s
A

TIE STORY OF BOY WHO RESCUED HIS MOTHERS
BODY IRON CROCODILE.
From the New York SUM-
On the Congo, near the equator, live the Ba.
Ngala, with whom the explorer, Stanley had his
hardest battle when he fioated down the great
river. They are the most powerful and intelligent
OF the Upper Congo natives and since Captain
Coquilhat, four years ago, established a station
In their country they have tecome good friends of
the whites. while ago AN exciting event oc-
CURED IN one OF their many villages, and Essa-
laka, The CHIEF, went to Captain COQulhat to tell
him about It.
"You know the big island near my town. he
SAID well, Yesterday, soon after the sun came
up, one or my women and our little boy started for
moons old. (Capt. Coquilhat says about twelve
years oid. He says that while his mother was
padding she saw something In the water, and
leaned over 70 look at IL Then he saw a crocodile
seize his mother and drag her out OF the canoe
Then the crocodile and woman sank out OF sight
Ihe paddle was lying in the canoe. The boy
picked II up 10 paddle back to the village Then
he thought, oh, II could only scare the Crocodile
and get my mother backp He could tell by the
swimming Just under tie surface toward the
island. Then the boy followed the crocodile Iust
die reached the island and went out on land. He
laid the womans body on the ground Then he
went oack INTO tne river and swan away. You
know why be did this He wanted his mate and
started out 10 md her.
Then the little boy padded fast to where his
mother was lying. lie Jumped out OF the boat and
ran TO her. There was "A big wound in her hress
Her eyes were shut. He felt sure she was dead
He is strong, but he could not lift her He drapHed
her body 10 the canoe. He knew the crocSIile
might come back at any moment ana XIII him TOO
He used all his strength. Little by little ne goi
his mothers body into the canoe. Then he pushed
away from the shore and started home.
ave had not seen the boy and his mother AT all
suddenly we heard shouting on the river and We
saw the boy padding as hard as he could Eyery
two or three strokes he would look behind him
Then we saw a crocodile swimming fast tow arc
the canoe. II he reached IL you know what hs
would do. He would upset it with blow and
both the boy and his mother would be lost EighI
or nine Of US jumped into canoes and started 10,
the boy. The crocodile had nearly overtaken the
canoe, but we reached II in time. We scared thu
shore. The boy stepped out on the ground and
fell down. he was 80 frightened and tired w
carried him into one OF my huts, and TOOK his
mothers body In there. too. We thought abe wa
dead
'But after little while she opened her eyes
She could whisper only two or three words Shs
asked for the boy. We laid him beside her on he
arm. She stroked Kim two or three times with he
hand But she was hurt so badly. Then she shu
her eyes and did not open them nor speak again
Oh! how the little boy cried. But he had saved hi
Mothers body from the crocodile"
AS Essalaka told this story the tears course<
down his cheeks. 81 have seen In this savag'
tribe" writes Capt CoQuilhat, "men and thei
wives who really love each other, and ver1tab
honeymoons among young couples The chill
feels for his father the fear and respect which hi
authority inspires, but he truly loves his mother
ana has tender interest In her even after he be
| comes q man."