Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-05-09
4 QUEER RACE


poor lad was past our help, it behooved us
TO think of our own safety, and the sooner
we got away the better.
You are right" she said, rising to her
feet. GOD has taken him; his work is
done, ours is not; let US be up and doing.
Pity, though, we cannot bury himl But
1t would be risking too much. What shall
we do?''
Make straight for the creek, and get
through it somehow. There may be hun
dreds of these villains about, for anything
we know. If we could only find that deer
track"
Here it is!' said Marian, who had been
questing about; her eyes were, if possible,
sharper than Mab's
80 1t is; and plainly markell Let us
be off at once; we have not moment to
lose"
The track took us past the bodies of the
two men we had killed. They were very
tall, with long, muscular arms and broad.
square shoulders. Their skins were almost
black-red, their features of a decidedly
negro type, but their faces and breasts
were so extensively painted and tattooed
that it was impossible to distinguish at a
glance-and we had not time for more
whether they were piebald or the reverse.
"What are they?" asked Nab, as we
ran on. Fugitive slaves?"
g If they were, there would be need for
rs to run. No; they are Cariberoes"
Like those who invaded the island in
Denzl Fane's timer"
Yes. / never saw any. But have not
doubt of it. And / fear they are invading
the island a second timep
''In that case-and am afraid you are
rinht-thaSa ha fy.St 10
vance guard"
Eyes, and they will be followed by thou
sands more. They have evidently chosen
Swamp Island as their base Of operations.
The stroke we have so long feared has
fallen. The safety, nay, the very existence
of the commonwealth depends on u.s. If
we reach Fairhaven quickly. we shall have
such time for preparation as will enable
us, please God, to make head against the
danger. The Cariberoes are sure to be
joined by most of the Calibans, and if our
people are taken by surprise and over
come, not single Christian viii be left
alive; and we have only ourselves to de-
pend upon"
but the abOrigines-the Caribs-you
can surely count upon them?"
'tOn their good will, yes; but not on their
help in the field They have lost their old
fighting habits and have not been trained
as our young men have been trained 1t
was considered policy not to train
mistaken policy, in my opinion; butsuch
is the fact, and this IS no time to cherish
Illusions
''Do you know the country on the other
side of the creek?"
every we'll But you must be very
familiar with a country to find your way
through a thickly wooded district. where
TOads are scarce and people few. There is
hamlet called Weston's which cannot
be very far off. We must make for that,
and, with the help of your pOcket-cOmpasS
dare say we shall be able to get there"
In the meanwhile we were pushing on
through bush and brake, wading swamps,
clambering over fallen trees, our clothes
I'm tatters, our hands and faces scratched
with brambles and covered with blood
stopping at nothing in our race for life,
yet all the while listening intently, and not
forgetting to keep lookout for lurking
enemies.
At length our perseverance receives its
reward. The channel is in sight. We
have struck it following in the track of
the deer) at point where ut is wide and
presumably shallow. The banks on the
hither side are low, marshy, and covered
with reeds; on the side over against us,
high and steep, and, for a space of several
hundred yards, destitute of cover.
On coming to the waters edge we pause
for brief colIoquy The tide, though not
at it's lowest, is ebbing fast. Shall we
wait until it Gibbs further? My advice is,
decidedly not. The Cariberoes may be on
our trail-almost certainly are on our trail;
the low reeds afford hardly any protection,
and even while we stand here whispering
we may be shot down by unseen foemen.
''Fhere is no fear of our drowning" says
Nab; I'VE can all SWIM"
but il we SWIM we snaII wet our am
munition, and that might be fatal. We
are all tall, too, and l hope we shall be
able to do it wading. Comet There is no
time to lose. shall fasten the cartridges
round my neck and hold my rifle and re-
volver over my head. You two go first,
and as you cannot well wade one way and
look another, l will stay here and protect
your passage"
''And when we are on the other side we
will do the same service for you. Comet
Mariana
And with that they plunged boldly into
the stream, the queen (who had fastened a
few cartridges in her hairy holding her rifle
above her head. The tide ran very strong
and watched their movements with anX-
iety; but these women were strong, active,
and courageous, and though more than
once up to the neck, they showed no sign
of wavering, and in few minutes had
gained the opposite bank.
Nab raised her rifle to show that she had
kept her powder dry, and, standing on
guard, motioned me to join them.
f,, nd oiJ 7
safely across. "Now mount that bank as
quickly as you can, and wait for me among
the trees"
''And what Will You dor"
''Stay here until you are safe up there.
You Will be very much exposed while you
are climbing that bluff and walking up the
slope"
"And your"
''Don't trouble about me. shall be all
right. can mount the bluff in a few
minutes, and shall make sure the coast
Is ~'ear before | start. | remain behind
only by excess of precaution-to make as
surance doubly sure, as it were. Your life
is very valuable, remember. We must not
throw away a single chance But this Is
no time for discussion. Don't stand upon
the order of your going, but go"
me, rather reluctantly.
''When you hear the cry of the bell-bird, j"
she said, as they set OFF, you will know
that we have reached the trees"
When the two gi1ls had gained the top
of the cliff (from which to the edge of the
forest was stiliish ascent of nearly mile)