The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1889-12-19

tiers of white iron closed IN the sides, SO
that the entire deck could be converted
into single, long room, at will.
By night this sufficed admirably to keep
out both wild beaSts-when the little
craft was moored to the bank-and hos
tile natives Nothing could get aboard,
gave, perhaps, at the small, hinged win
dows, ore or two of which we're generally
left open for ventilation.
This odd deck-house worked so well
that the voyagers did not often feel it
necessary to do guard duty by night,
being assured that the noise of an attack
outside their iron shield would rouse
them in time to repel the assailants.
The engine was constructed to burn
wood instead of coal, The party and
crew consisted of Mr.. Marin and fell
lew-explorer, Mr.. G. 2. Luth, an Ameri-
can engineer, hired in Buenos Ayres,
whose name was Sacket, cook called
Lugar, and two gauchos of the cowboy
stamp, natives of Rosario in the Argen-
tine country. These latter were wood
cutters, fremen, and men of all work to
the party.
The launch left Asuncion on the sec
'ond day of December, which, in the
southern hemisphere, corresponds to
June with us. On the day before Christ
mas, after various experiences, the party
reached the foot of what MIR. Marin terms
the Third Rapids of the Pilcomayo,
which, however, the water being slack,
the little craft was able to surmount, by
the aid of line and an improvised wind
lass, for few hundred feet of the most
rapid current.
The day before Christmas was thus en-
ployed; and late that evening they ted
up in the shadow OF some lofty manau-
ma nut trees, to the bank above the
rapids, all being much fatigued from the
hard labor.
The night was warm and there was
bright moon, the silvery radiance from
which fell through the foliage of the
branches of the giant tree which pro-
jected out over the water. No Indians
had shown themselves during the day,
and after hearty meal the tired explor-
ers turned in, their arms. as usual. being
set ready for instant use both fore and
aft.
eve soon fell sound asleep" Mr.. Marin
relates, Into that overpo wering slumber
which comes from heavy toll, and will
hold person in its embrace for ten hours
without waking. But mot long after mid
night 1 was reused by an indefinite kind
OF noise which I at first thought was made
by the wind causing branch to scrape
the top of our iron cover.
II was about DOING off again when a
consid cradle bump. as of something fall
ing on the shield overhead, set me broad
awake.
My companions did not waken, how
ever. I thought that 1t might be some
small wild animal that had either fallen
or leaped out of the branches which over
hung the boat, and so lay still, listening,
for some moments, thinking, too, what
I'D Chrsc4 Il
different from anything had ever pre-
viously experienced.
Shortly after, heard o curious inter-
mittent rustic and stir of the trees, which
I knew could not be due to the wind; yet
it sounded as though one or more large
branches were swaying heavily. That a
puma was in the treetops over us, was nay
first surmise; and rising quietly from nay
bunk, took up my gun and then peeped
cautiously out at the windOw-light which
was swung half back. to admit air. But
could distinguish nothing, and Suppos-
ing that it was probably slOth or wild
cat, lay down again.
Il had scarcely taken a reclining pos
ture, however. when there was heavy
splash in the water, on the opposite side
of the boat; and few moments iter the
little craft tipped perceptibly to that side,
as If a very heavy man had stepped sud
denly aboard.
Immediately, too, I heard a grating.
scraping noise, which began ON the side
of the boat near tine guards, and passed
over the iron sheeting of the cover as if
big hawser was being hauled athwart
US. The sound walked Mr.. Luth, who
started suddenly from sleep into sitting
position.
Owing to the moonlight it was not
a
saw me sitting up. and whispered, What's
going on outside?
Don't know I said. Santa Claus,
perhaps; hard shedding In this country!'
"The scraping, grinding sound moved
forward.
It's Indians, I believe muttered
Luth, trying 10 get big Line on US, and
haul us ashore!
improbable as this idea was, there was
yet something in the strange, grating
noise that strongly suggested 1T. | heard
Sackett, or some of the others who had
their hunks farther forward, rouse up, as
if to listen. Then the sound moved aft
again.
@Luth reached for his gun and then
stepped to the window, but instantly
started back with an exclamation of as
tonishment or alarm, and [ saw what [
took for an Indians head and neck APP
pear ID the moonl1t aperture, as IT trying
to look IN.
Il heard Luth's gun-cocks click, and
whispered, Don't shoot for I thought
possibly this Indian is only peeping about
for mere curiosity.
Don't shoot! sneered Luth. Then
shoot, yourself. and be quick! Why.
Marin, don't you see that It's tremend-
Gus serpent?'
Before his words were articulated, the
creatures head was thrust in at the little
window, darkening it. With that we
both raised our pieces and fred, and
then by mutual impulse ran around the
engine to the forward end of the boat
Sackett was trying to light his lantern;
while the two gauchos, crying out,
"Culebra! culebra grande! (snakeI big
snakeD threw down one of the shutters,
and jumped into the water, waded ashore,
followed by Lugar, the cook.
Indeed, we were not little inclined
to do the same thing, for from the racket
aft it was evident that the reptile was
aboard us, and tumbling about amid our
hunks, and whether our shots had dis
abled it, we could only surmise, It was
thrashing around, and its tail banged
aoaiDSt the en- oina ranaatnd1v