The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1889-07-17

shout Before he could repeat ii
Zuba felled him TO the ground, but
it was too late; the mischief was all
ready done.
The Arabs grouped together a
moment in CONSERVATION, and as
they hesitatad, one of my men in
his excitement, exposed his body.
His uniform betrayed our character,
and the Arabs, spurred on by their
fierce hatred of the English, poured
a random fire into the jungle.
One of the marines fell, and terri
BILE cries Of agony rose from the
poor blacks. Then we gave them
an answering volley, and with
deadly effect But reckless of dan
ger, they closed up and swept down
upon us in dense mass.
Our fire rakedS down the foremost
row, but their onslaught was SO
fierce that we fell back toward the
lriver and gained the shelter OF
heavy timber, where, from behind
trees, we picked off the reckless
Arabs that exposed themselves to
our fire, Encumbered with help
less negroes, our situation was des-
perate.
/ concluded to retreat still nearer
the creek, for the firing must short
| ly bring assistance from the gun
boat. The Portuguese were drag
ged resistingly along, and we reach
ed comparatively open space
where already the forest began to
slope toward the water.
But the crafty Arabs had stolen
a march on us, for as we started to
cross the open, struggling fire was
poured in on us from all sides, and
the poor nogroesbegan to fall thickly.
1t was more than they could stand,
and in frantic terror they scattered
and fed directly into the midst OF
their foes. They were lost, I saw
at glance.
Every second was precious, and
we were about to make a dash for
the creek when a hearty checr rose
above the din, and up the slope
came a file of marines, led by Lieu
tenant Osborne, and driving the
Arabs to right and left. We joined
forces and charged the enemy, who
fled in confusion, but sad to say bore
off with them half of the negroes.
We found CASTILLO lying dead
with a bullet through his head fired
by his own friends, but Torres and
zuba were both missing. The
Arabs still greatly outnumbered us
land their knowledge of the ground
gave them decided advantage.
We started to march toward to the
creek, abandoning the ivory, oi
course, but taking along the bodies
of five of our men, and picking up
on the way half a dozen of the ter.
rified natives who had been in
hiding.
A few struggling shots were fired
at us, but we pressed on unheeding.
Osborne and 1 were in advance
when suddenly he lifted his hand,
"Listen," he said. "What is
that2"
OFF to our right bushes were
cracking, and we could hear voices
raised in anger. 1 was sure 1 rec
ognized the sound of Torres's voice.
We broke through the jungle into
an open glade, and found zuba and
Torres struggling in deadly combat
Before we could reach the spot the
enraged negro wrestcd himself from
the grasp of the Portuguese, and
drawing his knife, buried it in the
unhappy wreteh's breast.
"see," he cried, springing to his
feet. "lt is right he die, when all
my people he betrayl"
We tried to seize him, but with a
cry he sprang into tho forest and
disappeared.
Torres was stone dead; and leav-
ling him where he lay at the foot OF
a tree, we hurried on to the creek
and reached the boats in safety.
The Arabs must have been in
close pursuit, for heavy fire greet
ed us from shore as we rowed out to
the gunboats. A few rounds from a
small cannon, however, soon drove
the enemy back.
Before night we were gliding
under full steam down the creek,
for my orders were imperative and
admitted ofno delay, much as would
have liked to punish the Arabs.
The Racer at once organized an
expedition to start inland from the
coast, for was satisfied that slave
station existed in the vicinity.
While the preparations for this was
going on. an Arab dhow was cap
tured at the very mouth of vannas