News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1889-06-27

| been uSeu IOT Gu6 purpose CraWlnO @
us into bloody ambush.
Captain Dustin laughed at this. He
believed that we had discovered new
species of the bird of paradise, and said
that little risk would enrich eyery
man on the ship. 1t was that very risk
that held us back, still deferring to the
captain, whom we loved, we left the
matter to him, which meant that the
wonderful feathers would be sought.
g After the old natives departure
every canoe vanished as if by magic,
and strange quiet settled down over
sea and shore. Although night had
come 1T was not dark, for the sky was
studded with stars, which were reflected
in the water and seemed to render it a
vast diamond field.
Meantime, we made rapid prepara-
tions for our hunt for the feathers. The
native had said that the bird was es-
teemed sacred by his people, but added
that We could reach its retreat and Sc
cure number of the species before
being discovered.
" 1t was near midnight when the cap
ta1n's boat, containing twenty picked
men, left the Pearl and pulled for shore.
The oars had been muffied so as not to
alarm any natives who might be on
guard, and the utmost precaution in
every way was taken. We reached the
shore at the spot suggested by the old
Paupuan, and to our surprise found him
on hand to take his place as guide at
the head of the column. Single file we
managed to climb the cliffs to the high
ground, when We started off through
lot of stunted pines, guided by old
Ombu and boy, his son.
As We advanced we plunged deeper
and deeper into south sea, terra in
cOqRth. More than once / wished my
self out of the muddle, and would have
given everything l possessed to have
been back In my bank on board the
Pearl. But we were 'in for it, and
there was no going back.
At last low command from Captain
Dustin halted us. Boys, said he, and
at the same time 1 felt my hand taken
and pressed hard in the darkness,
Boys, our guide is gonel'
=" A deep silence followed the Captain E
words. We We're in the Stygian heart
OF forest of screw pines and palms,
and our surroundings were of such a
shade that one could not see his hand
before his face. Alone in such wood,
and deserted by the guide We knew
what that meant.
For five minutes we stood together
without even SO much as a whispered
word. No one seemed to break the
stiffness, and l ara sure we pitied rather
than blamed Captain Dustin.
Suddenly there came through the
forest the long and plaintive cry of a
night bird, peculiar to the Aru islands.
cit is a signal 2 said the captain.
Let us attempt to reach the boat
With heavy hearts we started back.
No one spoke. Captain Dustin held
my hand, and every now and then a
fervid pressure told me that was occu-
pying his thoughts. All at once the
whole forest reSounded with hideous
cries Weapons which we could not
see-lances. arrows, and> missiles of
every descripticn-hurled through the
air, tearing the large leaves of the palms
and bruising the heavy trunks.
Forward = cried the steady voice of
his pistol, and if the foe is seen pay him
back for the work of the false featherl'
g Fortunately, no one had been in
jured by the flying barbs, which had
been aimed too high but this good
luck could not be expected to last. For
some distance We forged ahead almost
entirely surrounded by the natives.
Presently the enemy closed in before
us, and Captain Dustin dropped my
hand. On every side there we're now
long fine tipped reeds held by the Pau
puans, whose black, naked bodies and
frowsy heads we could plainly see.
When the captain left me he raised
l,N& L. +La hf,
firing at our foes. Straightway all of
which lively work drove them off, and
perfect rain of spears fell upon us in
turn, and Captain Dustin pitched for
ward and dropped on his face.
"'Don't leave the captain!' cried
some one behind me, and in spite of the
shower of death that interposed, we
seized his wrists and dragged him along.
while we confronted as best we could
the black demons yelling at our heels.
From the spot of the captains wound
ing it was desperate hand-to-hand
| fight for life, and when the few of us
| left of the original twenty reached the
cliffs, we plunged headlong down
toward the lights dancing on the waters
/ of the cove.
"The rest of the PEARLS crew had
heard the firing and come to the rescue,
and amid a shower of iron from the
banks We gained the boats with Captain
Dustin, but left eight men in the hands
OF the natives. The next day the cap
/ tain died from his wounds, deeply de-
ploring the enthusiasm which had let a
rascal deceive him, for a young Paupaun
whom we took prisoner told us that we
had been drawn into the snare by a
painted feather-a device which, accord
ing to his story, had entrapped others
before us.
"Such was the cost of the feather
whose beauty forty years have not tarn-
ished. The Pearl never went back to
the fatal cove, for she was burned at sea
soon afterward, and the only bit of
property with which 1 escaped was the
| feather which has the strange and
thrilling history L have just told.
d axes Magazine.