San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1889-07-11
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dozen persons, swept swiftly along
with the muddy current Of tho Guajara
river. The vessel and party had left
Para, at the mouth Of branch Of the
Amazon, nearly a month before, and
had steamed up as far as the Junction Of
the MADEIRA, there taking southerly
course as far as Balsamaco..
After leaving the latter town they had
turned into side stream and before long
were inextricably mixed up In the net
work of creeks and small rivers which
cross and recross themselves in southern
Brazil
Tho leader Of the party and owner of
the launch lay stretched out on the deck
with a small rifle in his hands, occasion
ally shooting at some bright plumaged
bird flying overhead or at lazy reptile
coiled In the branches Of tree on shore.
"Jack, he said presently, to the young
man who sat in the pilot house and with
rare skill kept the vessel clear of the in.
Vulnerable logs in the river, "where are
we now?"
II don't know" replied Jack. "Where
Is Bunco? He's the only person who has
ever been known to leave these parts
alive"
A shout from the young pilot brought
Bunco into view-a tall, thin, swarthy
man, with countenance that would
have made his fortune as the leading
villain in a drama Of the lurid type. But
in spite Of his looks and chronic indis-
position to work he was good natured
and intelligent, and Of valuable service
to the party. Jack had christened him
Bunco, as tho name most closely resem-
bling that which he had given at their
first meeting.
II dunno whar we is" he said in reply
to tho pilots question. "IIlt's mighty
queer, too, for haf been yere befo'."
He looked nervously toward shore as
he continued:
"Hit amt fur from Balsamaco to Inca,
reckon, an ef once we git thar we are
sure ter run into ther natives. They're
thick right aroun' hyer, an savager'n all
tarnation." Il
liz CuDOdIu VI UiiO Slaiu uAOoC anu
stood Mt Buncos side.
"Can you tell us how to reach the
MADEIRA againT he asked. "This must
be one Of the branches to it-possibly the
Guajara."
"Thet's jest whut I'm afeard Of" said
Bunco, shading his eyes with ono hand
and peering ahead. can ef hit is,
we're agoin' ter run right in ther Inca
country"
"And the natives there, you say, are
savageT'
The colored man nodded.
They're wusser than In any other
part of Brazil"
The conversation was interrupted by
the appearance of two young men, one
about the same age Us Jack and the
other few years older.
"Bill Is going to strike," said ono of
them. with o laugh. "He's got nearly
all his clothing off now, but he says it's
hot enough down In the engine room to
broil steak. He wants to know when
you arc going back"
"We're going to turn around present
ly," replied tho person addressed. "Wc
why, Bunco, there's house."
The whole party followed with their
eyes the direction of the captains out
stretched arm. and saw through the foil
age the thatched roof of a native hut.
Jack turned the vessel towards shore and
rang the signal in the engine room to
shut off steam.
In o few minutes they had reached dry
land and were hurrying In the direction
OF the building, leaving Bill to moor the
launch and follow them later.
Tho party consisted Of an English gen.
tleman named Robert Etynge, his two
sons, George and Russell; Jack Camp
bell, young American, and Bill and
Bunco, engineer, fireman, deck hand and
steward, In turn. They were on q SIX
months pleasure trip through South
America
The house, which they discovered IN
the center Of cleared space Of ground
near the river side, wasa well built struct-
ure, containing one large and one small
room, with the single entrance In the side
Of the former. It had evidently been
lately inhabited, for q large supply Of
grain, dried meats and vegetables was
stored within, and pile Of wood already
cut for fuel lay ready at hand.
Tho party proceeded at onco 10 inspect
the cabin, TO see what sort Of place It
would DO 10 spend the night In Their
quarters In the vessel were 90 cramped |
hat whenever Il was practicable they |
lad slept In a tent on khore or In q tenn
Dorarily deserted hut like the present one
Il guess we'd better stay here for the |
aieht," said Mr. Etynge The building |
s a stout one and proof against both |
-fId beasts and Wild men Suppose a
,ouplc Of you youngsters go down 10 the /
,oat and get some bedding"
Jack and Russell stepped 20 tho door,
ut drew hack suddenly. The former
TO the captain a. he did 20.
There's a crowd Of natives coming /
his vay. he whispered Look through
he window uhile pe bar the door
Mr.. Etynge sprz-g 70 the snail win
low and glanced towards q body q nen
zpidly advancing IN the directto1 q The
abin- Tier were uithin gu1shrt before
afohinz Eight a the boase. tks1 tbey
o1 hack, cooos1.ng bensslvs bshiod
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