The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1889-06-29
CUT OFF.

CUI UFF.
A small steam launch, containing half
a dozen persons, swept swiftly along
with the muddy current of the Guajara
river. The vessel and party had left
Para, at the mouth of branch of the
Amazon, nearly a month before, and
had steamed up as far as the junction of
the MADEIRA, there taking a southerly
course as far as Balsamaco.
After leaving the latter town they had
turned into side stream and before long
were inextricably mixed up in the net
work of creeks and small rivers which
cross and recross themselves in southern
Brazil
The leader of the party and owner of
the launch lay stretched out on the deck
with small rifle in his hands, occasion
ally shooting at some bright plumaged
bird flying overhead or at lazy reptile
coiled in the branches of tree on shore.
"Jack, he said presently, to the young
man who sat in the pilot house and with
rare skill kept the vessel clear of the in
Vulnerable logs in the river, "where are
we nowT'
81 don't know" replied Jack. "Where
is Buncop He's the only person who has
ever been known to leave these parts
alive"
A shout from the young pilot brought
Bunco into view-a tall, thin, swarthy
man, with countenance that would
have made his fortune as the leading
villain in drama of the lurid type. But
in spite of his looks and chronic indis-
position to work he was good natured
and intelligent, and of valuable service
to the party. Jack had christened him
Bunco, as the name most closely resem-
bling that which he had given at their
| first meeting
81 dunno whar we is" he said in reply
TO. the pilots question. "Hit's mighty
queer, too, for haf been yere befo'."
He looked nervously toward shore as
he continued:
"Hit amt fur from Balsamaco to Inca,
1 reckon, an eff once we git thar we are
sure ter run into ther natives. They're
thick right aroun' hyer, an savager'n all
tarnation."
The captain of the craft arose and
stood at Bunco's side.
'Can you tell us how to reach the
MADEIRA again?" he asked. "This must
be one of the branches to it-possibly the
| Guajara."
"Thet's jest whut I'm afeard of, said
Bunco, shading his eyes with one hand
| AM, af ia
we're agoin' ter run right in ther Inca
country"
"And the natives there, you say, are
savage?'
The colored man nodded.
"Theyre wusser than in any other
part of Brazil"
The conversation was interrupted by
the appearance of two young men, one
about the same age as Jack and the
other few years older.
"Bill is going to strike" said one OF
them, with q laugh. "He's got nearly
all his clothing off now, but he says it's
hot enough down in the engine room tc
broil steak. He wants to know when
you are going back"
"We're going to turn around present
ly," replied the person addressed. awe
why Bunco, there's a house."
The whole party followed with theil
eyes the direction of the captains out
stretched arm, and saw through the foil
age the matched roof of a native hut
Jack turned the vessel towards shore and
rang the signal in the engine room tC
shut off steam.
In few minutes they had reached dry
land and were hurrying in the direction
of the building, leaving Bill to moor thu
launch and follow them later
The party consisted of an English gen
tleman named Robert Etynge, his two
sons, George and Russell; Jack Camp
bell, young American, and Bill ant
Bunco, engineer, fireman, deck hand anC
J. steward, in turn. They were ON si1
months pleasure trip through Soutl
America.
The house, which they discovered il
the center of cleared space of groun
near the river side, was well built struct
ure, containing one large and one smal
, room, with the single entrance in the sid
of the former. 1t had evidently bee
lately inhabited, for large supply c
grain, dried meats and vegetables wa
stored within, and a pile of wood alread
cut for fuel lay ready at hand.
The party proceeded at once to inspeC
the cabin, to see what sort Of place
would be to spend the night in. Thei
4 quarters in the vessel were so crampe
that whenever it was practicable the
had slept in tent on shore or in ten
porarily deserted hut like the present ont
|, 81 guess we'd better stay here for til
night" said Mr.. Etynge. "The buildin
is stout one and proof against bot
wild beasts and wild men. Suppose
, couple of you youngsters go down to I'll
boat and get some bedding"
Jack and Russell stepped to the doc
but drew back suddenly, the form'
beckoning to the captain as he did so.
'There's a crowd of natives comm
S, this way" he whispered "Look throug
the window while we bar the door"
Mr.. Etynge sprang to the small Wi
dow and glanced towards body of me
rapidly advancing in the direction Of Il
cabin. They were within gunshot befo
catching sight of the house, then the
fell back, concealing themselves behiI
C. some trees and bushes, and jabberir
away like an army of monkeys.
: "Well," said Russell, as he and Jat
finished barring the door, "this is ri
adventure, isn't it? The idea of leaviI
the boat with only one rifle among usl'
They looked into each others face
but no one spoke.
Whizl
A short, thick, sharp pointed piece
wood flew through the window and bu
led itself in the opposite wall. Anoth
or and another followed, some of the