The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1889-06-27
about his waist, and stopped in front Of

bad Engl1sh ana nhtlVe Afichn, onu,
more from his gestures than from his
speech, comprehended what he said.
lie declared that the Portuguese intended
to sell them into slavery, and affirmed that
he had seen Torres lurking behind on the
previous day TO talk to an Arab that had
come out of the forest.
He told me his name was Zuba, that he
was head man in his tribe, and that he
had picked up his English at Zanzibar,
where he had been on several occasions.
He knew that | was English, and that the
English hated the Arabs, so he hoped
that would protect his friends from the
Portuguese and the slave hunters.
Torres's swarthy face flushed darker as
Zuba poured out his appeal.
"The hound lies," he exclaimed,
anprily. "when they take the ivory to
the coast they will be paid and sent back
home"
"But see here, Torres" interrupted,
for was beginning to get an inkling OF
the state Of the case. "You know well
thai these natives are not safe within
hundred miles of the coast. II looks to
me as though you had deceived them,
whether you intended to sell them to the
Arabs or not. They are certainly igno-
rant Of their real peril"
The Portuguese grew confused. and
tried to stammer out some explanation,
but made up my mind ut once that it
was clear case of treachery.
Il was an extremely perilous situation
all round, and one that called for prompt
action. at once ordered the arrest of the
two Portuguese, and before they could
think of resistance. my marines had dis
armed them and pinioned their limbs.
The delighted negroes crowded round
US with cries of gratitude, but | soon con-
WINGED them that their danger was by no
means over. could not liberate and let
them 20, for the bands of slave hunters
that roamed the country would soon have
seized them, so my only course was to
take them on board the gunboat and let
the authorities of the Racer decide their
fate. | now had no doubt at all that
1 Torres and CASTILLO had intended to sell
them into slavery and felt highly elated
at my capture of these Portuguese slave
l hunters.
At my command Zuba and his dusky
friends took up their burdens Of ivory,
and we started back along the rough
trail, Torres aud CASTILLO marching sui
lenly between two marines.
noticed that they turned their heads
aside from time TO time in strange man
ner, and my suspicious were aroused.
Zuba was watchful and uneasy and crept
along some distance ahead Of the column
closely inspecting the jungle on all sides.
We had retraccd half the distance back
when he hurried toward us, waving his
arm frantically, while the leopard skin
tapped about his loins.
ARABS heap Arabs" he gasped, and
his face showed the deadly terror he
felt.
He tried to talk, but could only utter
inarticulate sounds and point with his
trembling hands.
The negroes, with a wall of terror
dashed down their ivory and prepared tc
flee
"Shoot the first man that runs, / cried
"Now into the bushes, quick, all o.
you"
The jungle was heavy at this point ant
in moment our party was hidden be
meath its cover, and none too soon, FOL
we could already hear voices in front.
My force was small, as have said, ant
, | preferred, if possible, to escape con
iiict with the Arabs, whose number wa
uncertain, and gain the gunboat with m.
prisoners. The negroes were unarmed
with the exception Of Zuba, who carried
great knife. so | put them in the rca
of the marines and left the Portuguese il
Zuba's care.
We scarcely vcntured to breathe, bu
crouched down to the ground holding
our arms in readiness for an attack. Th
, dreaded sounds came nearer, and soon
pecrng out through the bushes, we saw
formidable body Of Arabs passing alon
, the path. Their leader was q powerful
fellow with huge scar across his face
and all of them bore guns, and had pis
tolls stuck in their belts, while every ma
carried bunch of chains that clanke
harshly as they hurried past.
The party was q large one, comprisn
forty or fifty men, and their presence hcI
made the guilt of the Portuguese plain I
, day. They were fastening to an appointe
rendezvous.
q All would probably have gone well, an
{ the negroes would have reached the gul
= boat in safety, but as the rear guard of Il
4 Arabs filed past, suddenly Torres gave
J loud shout. Before he could repeat
Zuba felled him 10 the ground, but it WI
1 too late; the mischief was already done
h., The Arabs grouped together momcl
D. in CONSERVATION, and as they hcsitate'
I one of my men, in his excitment, expose
r his body. His uniform betrayed o,
@ character, and the Arabs, spurred on
@ their fierce hatred of the English, pourC
n random fire into the Jungle
One of the marines fell, and terrib
II cries Of agony rose from the poor black
.r Then we gave them an answering volle
and with deadly effect. But reckless
" danger, they closed up and swept dow
y upon us in dense mass.
n Our fire raked down the foremost TO,
Sc but their onslaught was so fierce that '
8 fell back toward the river and gained &
id shelter of heavy timber, where, from b
" hind trees, we picked of the rccklt
q, Arabs that exposed themselves to our fiji