Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-05-03
4 QUEER RACE.
BIZ WILLIAM WESTEL.


poor lad was past our help, it behooyed Us
TO think of our own safety, and the sooner
we got away the better.
You are right" she said, rising to her
feet. God has taken him; his work is
done, ours Is not; let us be up and doing.
Pity, though, we cannot bury hint But
it would be risking too much. What shall
we dor"
make straight for the creek, and get
through it somehow. There may be hun
dreds of these villains about, for anything
we know. II we could only find that deer
track"
Here it isn' said Marian, who had been
questing about; her eyes were, If possible,
sharper than Mab's.
$50 it is: and plainly marked! Let us
be of at once; we have not a moment to
lose"
The track took US past the bodies of the
two men we had killed. They were very
tall, with long, muscular arms and broad.
square shoulders. Their skins were almost
bIack-red, their features OF Il decidedly
negro type, but their faces and breasts
were 50 extensively painted and tattOoed
that It was impossible to distinguish at a
gIance-and we had not time for more
whether they were piebald or the reverse.
'What are they2" / asked Nab, as we
ran on. Fugitive slaves"
eff they WERE there would be need for
us to run. No; they are CariberOes."
Like those who invaded the island In
Denzil Fane's timcy
Yes | never saw any. But have not
doubt Of it. And fear they are invading
the island n second timep'
an that casc-and am afraid you are
IL he Z a., fret nd
vance guard"
Eyes, and they will be followed by thou
sands more. They have evidently chosen
Swamp Island as their base OF operations.
The stroke we have so long feared has
fallen. The safety, nay, the vesy existence
of the commonwealth depends on us IL
we reach Fairhaven quickly. we shall have
such time for preparation as will enable
us, please God, to make head against the
danger The CaribcrOas are sure to be
joined by most of the CaIibans, and if our
people are taken by surprise and over
come, not a single Christian will be left
alive; and we have only ourselves to de-
pend upon"
But the abOrigines-the Caribs-you
can surely count upon thcm"
ION their good will, yes; but not on their
Fighting habits, and have not been trained
as our young men have been trained. 1t
was considered policy not to train them
n mistaken policy, in my opinion: but such
Is the fact, and this is 40 timo u cherish
Illusions"
ado you know the country on the other
side Of the crccky"
Every well. But you must be very
wit -, In
through Il thiclsly wooded district. where
Ioads are scarce and people few. There is
a IHmlct called Wcston's which cannot
be very far of. We must make for that,
and, with the help of your pocket-cOmpass
dare say we shall be able to get there"
In the meanwhile we were pushing on
through bush and brake, wading swamps,
Clambcrng over fallen trees, our clothes
In tattcrs our hands and faces scratched
with hramblcs and covered with blood
stopping Mt nothing in our race for life,
yet all the while listening intently, and not
forgetting 10 keep a lookout for lurking
enemies.
1t length our perseverance, receives its
reward The channel is in sight. We
have struck it following in the track OF
the derr) at a point where it is wide and
presumably shallow The banks on the
hithcr side are low, marshy. and covered
with reeds; on the side over against us,
high and steep, and, for a space of several
hundred yards, dcttitutc of cover.
On coming to the waters edge we pause
for u brief coIluquy. The tide, though not
at its lowest Is cbhing fast Shall we
whit until it Gibbs furthcr2 My advice is,
decidedly not The Caribrrons may b. on
our trail almost certainly are on our trail;
the low reeds afford hardly any protection,
aud even while we stand here whispering
we may be shot down byunseen focmcn.
There is no fear of our drowning" says
Nab; 1--WE can HlI swim"
'I}ut If we SWIM we snail wet our am.
munition, and that might be fatal We
are all tall too, aud hope we shall be
able To do it wading. Comet There is no
time to lose. | shall fasteu the cartridges
round my neck, and hold my rifle and re
volver over my head. You two 20 first,
and rs you cannot well wade one way and
look another, | will stay here and protect
your passage"
And when we are on the other side we
will do the same service for you. Comet
Marian"
And with that they plunged boldly into
the stream the queen (whO had fastened "a
few cartridges in her hair holding her rifle
above her head. The tide ran very strong,
and watched their movements with aux-
tety; but these women were strong, active,
and courageous, and though more than
once up to the neck, they showed no sign
of waveriug, and in few minutes had
gained the opposite bank.
Nab raised her rifle To show that she had
kept her powder dry, and, standing on
guard, motioned me to join them.
$50 far, SO good" | said, when l was
safely across. Now mount that bank rs
quickly as you can, and wait for me among
the trees"
And what Will you dor"
''Stay here until you are safe up there.
You will be very much exposed while you
are climbing that bluff and walking up the
slope"
And your
Don't trouble about me- l shall be all
right | can mount the bluT in few
minutes, and shall make sure the coast
IL clear before | start. | remain behind
only by excess OF prccautiou-to make AS
surauce douhly sure. as il were. Your life
Is very valuable, remember. We must not
throw away n single chance But this Is
no time for discussion. Don't stand upon
the order of your going, but go"
Nab acquiesced, though, rs it seemed to
me, rather reluctantly.
"Whcn You hear the cry Of the bejl-bird,"
she said. as they set off, you viii know
that we have reached the trees"
When the two giIls had gained the top
of the cliff ltrom which to the edge OF the
forest was n StitliSh ascent OF nearly mile)
and were lost to view, l considered my own
position.
1t was very exposed Between the foot
OF the blutraud the edge Of the water was
space of some ten or a dozen yards. and
as stood there. waiting for Mab'S signal.
Ii struck me that should make a splendid
target for the arrows of any CaUiberoes
who might he lurking about on the other
side; So Thought it might be just rs well
TO take advantage of the only bic Of cover
there was about--a stuutod bush. But
finding that it would not conceal me ait
ting, much less standing, l laid myself
down, almost full length, at right angles
to the creek, and. after placing my wcap-
ons and ammunition handy, leaned on my
elbows and peered lazily through the bush.
wondering the while how soon l should
hear the cry Of the bell-bird.
After this think must have dozed
few seconds, for opened my eyes with a
start, and by way of keeping myself awake
for the rest Of my vigil O. run and the
wade having made me decidedly sleepy