The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1889-06-27
A JUST RETRIBUTION.
BY WILLIAM NJ. GRAYDoN.

| was busy among my maps and charts
at the cabin table when dull, heavy
sound. twice repeated, came through the
open windows Dropping everything |
hurried up on deck.
The marines were gathered along the
rail, looking or to the riglfc bank Of the
creek.
"Was that firing heard'' | inquired,
eagerly.
II think it was the report of a gun,
Captain, said Lieutenant Osborne. 1T
came from the shore, at a distance of
scarcely half mile
All listened intently for a moment, and
then came repetition Of the sound, and
mingled with it we seemed to hear a cry.
hcsitated what course TO pursue. An
investigation ought to be made; and yet
to venture of into the forest with
handful OF men seemed . very risky pro-
Cecding, FOR these Arab slave dealers are
no mean fighters, and this firing evident
~ could portend nothing else than that
they were about.
was in command of a gunboat at
taChcd to the man-of-war Racer, which
was stationed on the East African coast,
some miles north Of Zanzibar, and which
was engaged in the slave blockade.
had been dispatched some fifty miles up
Nannas Creek to investigate rumor that
the Arabs had a slave station near the
head waters somewhere.
Up TO this time had met with no sue
cess. The country seemed to be de-
serted. OF course we could not recon-
nitcr far from the banks, for our force
was small, aud sufficient guard must
always be left in charge of the gunboat.
For these reasons hcsitatcd to advance
into the Jungle; but two more shots in
rapid succession removed all doubts, and
ordered boat to he lowered instantly.
| landed my little force-a dozen tIusty
marincs--in n small cove, and We plunged
at once into the forest.
We moved with great caution, and soon
struck the rude path that bore traces OF
travel. We continued along this in a
southcrly direction, and had marched
nearly mile when the two men whom
had sent forward as an advance guard
hurried back at full speed and reported
that number OF natives and two white
! men were only n few rods distant and
creating considerable disturbance.
This information staggered me. What
white men could be doing here was more
| than / could understand We advanced
/ slowly. with rifles in readiness Befor,
Us was Il break in the forest, aud without
any difficulty we gained the edge OF The
bush and obtained clear view Of tn,
open.
Some fifty or sixty stalwart ucgroc
were dancing about and making straug,
gestures, while few yards away, at tn,
base of small hillock stood two swarth,
! men. They were on the defensive, eyi
dcutly, for they held rifles in their hands
and three dead negroes lay PROSTATE ol
the ground in front of them.
Then | saw something else, for in tn
center Of the open lay one great mass o
glittering white ivory, tossed carelessl,
in heap. 1t was m ivory caravan frou
the interior; for these negroes belonged
TO no coast tribes.
What the dispute was about could no
even guess, nor did have time to do so
for of q sudden the negroes dashed for
ward with fierce shout. The men mus
have been ovcrpowcrcd in spite of thei
incessant and deadly fire; but just at III
critical moment We swept out from tn
bushes, and the negroes fell back i
ama2emcnt.
The rescued men came forward wit
outstretchcd hands, and ! saw on close
view that they were Portuguese.
"Senor, You have saved our lives,
said the leader, in tolerably good Eng
lish. He was an intelligent looking ma
Of thirty or thirty-fvc. "1he'
scoundrels were determined to kill u
Ny name is Torres" he continued, IAN
this pointing TO his companion, sis II
friend, CASTILLO. We are ivory trader
and have brought these natives from Il
interior at great cost. We pledged on
, selves to send them home in safety, b
the fools suddenly made up their min,
that we proposed selling them to h
Arabs, and, mad with rage, they MAJ
7 this sudden attack on us"
I never did put much faith in Port
guese, though this man was of bett
. type than many had met. Still
might be speaking tho truth.
4 hesitated, not knowing what coul
I to pursue. The negroes were group
together at little distance, suller
watching our movements, but making
hostile demonstrations.
: suddenly one Of them came forwar
lio stalwnrt fpllOw with "A ipOnard