The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1889-08-30

L 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
tired to stammer out some explanation,
but made up my mind at once that ii
was a clear case of treachery.
1t 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 1 soon con-
vlnced them that their danger was by no
means over. could not liberate and let
them go, 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
tate. now had no doubt at all that
Torres and CASTILLO had intended to sell
them into slavery, and felt highly elated
at my capture of these Portuguese slave
hunters.
AT my command Zuba and his dusky
friends took up their burdens of ivory.
and we started back along the rough
trail, Torres and CASTILLO marching sui
lenly between two marines.
l noticed that they turned their heads
aside from time to time in a 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 retraced half the distance back
when he hurried toward us, waving his
arm frantically, while the leopard skin
tapped about his loins.
ARABS, heap Arabsl' he gasped, and
his face showed the deadly terror he
felt. i
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 to
flee.
''shoot the first man that runs, y cried.
"Now into the bushes, quick, all of
youln
The jungle was heavy at this point and
in moment our party was hidden be-
meath its cover, and none too soon, for
we could already hear voices in front.
My force was small, as have said, and
preferred, if possible, to escape a con-
dict with the Arabs, whose number was
uncertain, and gain the gunboat with my
The negroes were unarmed,
with the exception of Zuba, who carried
great knife, so put them in the rear
II the marines and left the Portuguese in
zuba's care.
We scarcely ventured to breathe, but
'rouched down to the ground holding '
,ur arms in readiness for an attack. The I
lreaded sounds came nearer, and soon.
'eering out through the bushes, we saw a {
ormidable body of Arabs passing along t
he path. Their leader was powerful e
elbow with huge scar across his face. Y
nd all of them bore guns, and had pis-
OILS stuck in their belts, while every man c
arried bunch of chains that clanked o
arshly as they hurried past. n
The party was large one, comprising Fl
'rty or fifty men, and their presence here
iade the guilt of the Portuguese plain as n
ay. They were fastening to an appointed ;,
'ndezvous r
All would probably have gone well, and o.
lie negroes would have reached the gun
BAT In safety, but as the rear guard of the y
rabs filed past, suddenly Torres gave a -
I'D shout. Before he could repeat it r
aba felled him to the ground, but it was y.
o late; the mischief was already done.
The Arabs grouped together moment
CONSERVATION, and as they hesitated, @
ie of my men, In his excitment, exposed Ia
5 body His uniform betrayed our M
aracter, and the Arabs, spurred on by an
cir fierce hatred of the English, poured Ut
,andom fire into the jungle-