The Arkansaw traveler., 1889-06-29
How Stanley Saved His Notes
St Nicholas

On the bank of an African river, upon tiny clearing, scooped out of the vast black forest that bris- tied along both shores as far as the eye could reach-betokened the neigh borhood ofa native village, man was standing alone, taking rapid notes in a small book, while behind him lay moored along the waters edge a fleet of canoes, crowded with the dark brown or black faces of Arabs and negroes, whose crooked swords and long ivory. stocked guns glittercd in the morning sunshine.
 The solitary figure on the bank seemed to be the only white man of the whole party, and even he, lean and ragged as he was, with his face burned almost black by the sun, and a matted mane of grayish- black hair and beard hanging loosely around it, seemed quite as savage as any ot his fellows. But, small and thin though he was, with plain, almost coarse, features, and dress of which any respectable scare-crow would have been ashamed, he had in his sunken eyes that look of power and command which stamps the born leader Of men. And such, indeed, he was, for this man was no other that Henry Morton Stanley.
 So engrossed was Stanley with the notes which he was making that he never saw the black, scowling face and fierce eyes which peeped out at him suddenly from the encircliDg thicket. Presently another head appeared, and another, and another still and then the matted boughs shook and parted, and several men stole forth with long spears in their hands.
 But Stanley's quick ear had caught the rustic of the leaves, and taking several strings of beads from his pouch, he advanced to meet them, uttering the long, shrill, bleat-lik salutation ofthe country, "Sen. nen-n neh." (peace).
 But there was little sign of peace among the advancing savsges, who darted threatening looks at him and kept muttering angrily among them selves. Then 6 huge, scared warrior, who seemed to be their chief, said, with a flourish of his spear:
 "If the white man wishes peace, why does he try to bewitch us?"
 "How have tried to bewitch you?" ashed Stanley In amazement. "I come as your guest, not as your enemy. You all see that my men have lain down their guns and swords and are waiting to be friends with you."
 "The strangers words are not straight" answered the savage, flercely.
 Did we not see him making spells of witchcraft against us and drawing them on the magic charm that he carries with him2" A sudden light flashed upon Stanley-it was his note book that had offended them. "If the white chief means fairly by us let him throw his magic work into wonder fire and then he shall be our brother and shall eat with us but if not our spears shall reach his heart"
 For & moment the bold traveller stood sghast. To destroy h:e valuable notes, gathered with 90 much toll and suffering, would be to fling away the whole fruit of his weary and perilous journey. Yet, to refuse might cost him his life and the lives of all of his men, for the savages were evidently in earnest, and all the thickets around him were already swarming with fierce faces and leveled weapons.
 All at once a bright idea came to him. In his pouch lay & small pocket Shakespeare (the companion of all his
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