Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-06-26
THE MAGIC WRITING.
Stanley Saved His Notes at the Expeps.
of Bis Shakespeare.
Ernr

| of Bis Shakespeare.
From ST. Nicholas.
| On the banks of an African river, up
on tiny clearing, which-scooped out
of the vast black forest that bristled
| along both shores as far as the eye can
reach-betokened the neighborhood of
| native village, man was standing
alone, taking rapid notes in a small
book, while behind him lay moored
along the waters edge feet of canoes,
| crowded with the dark brown or black
faces of Arabs and negroes, whose
| crooked swords and long ivory stocked
! guns glittered in the morning sum
shine.
The solitary figure on the bank
seemed to be the only white man of the
| whole party, and even he, lean and
ragged, as he was. with his face burned
almost black by the sun and a matted
name of grayish-black hair and beard
hanging loosely around it, seemed quite
| as savage as any of his followers. But
small and thin though he was, with
| plain, almost coarse features and dress
of which any respectable scaregrow
| would have been ashamed, he had in
his sunken eyes that look of power and
| command which stamps the born leader
of men. And such, indeed, he was, for
this man was no other than Henry Nor
ton Stanley.
So engrossed was Stanley, with the
notes he was making that he never saw
the black, scowling face and fierce eyes
which peered out at him suddenly from
the enclrcllng thicket. Presently an
other head appeared, and another, and
another still; and then the matted
boughs shook and parted and several
men stole forth with long spears in their
hands.
But SANKEY'S quick ear had caught
the rustic of the leaves, and, taking sew
eral strings OF beads from his pouch, he
advanced to meet them, uttering the
long, shrill, bleat-like salutation of the
| country, 'Sen-nen-neh !" (peace).
But there was little sign of peace
among the advancing savages, who dart
ed threatening looks and kept mutter-
ing among themselves. Then a huge
chief, said, with flourish of bis spear:
eff the white man wishes peace, why
does he try to bewitch US ?"
How have | tried to bewitch you"
asked Stanley in amazement. 81 come
as your guest. not as your enemy. You
all see that my men have laid down
their guns and swords and are waiting
to be friends with you"
"The strangers words are not
straight answered the savage ferceIy.
did we not see him making spells of
wltchcraft against us and drawing them
on the magic charm that he carries with
him ?" A sudden light flashed upon
Stanley-it was his notebook that had
means fairly by us let him throw his
magic work into yonder fire, and then
he shall be our brother and shall eat
| with us; but if not, our spears shall
reach his heart p
For one moment the bold traveller
stood aghast. To destroy his valuable
notes, gathered with so much toll and
suffering, would be to fling awav the
whole fruit of his weary and perilous
journey. Yet, to refuse might cost his
life and the lives of all his men, for the
savages were evidently in earnest, and
all the thickets around him were al
ready swarming with fierce faces and
leveled weapons.
All at once bright idea came to him.
In his pouch lay small pocket Shake
peare (the companion of all his wander
ings), which was sufficiently like the
Objectionable notebook to have de-
ceiyed keener observer than an Afri-
can savage. Quick as thought he drew
it forth and held it up so that every one
could see it.
''Js this the charm that my brothers
wish me to burn?" he asked loud
enough to be heard by all present.
sit is it is ~ roared hundred voices
at once, while half dozen bony, black
hands were outstretched from the front
rank of the crowd as if to clutch the
formidable (Which book"
land if I burn it, said Stanley, "will
you be friends with me and give lood to
my men ~
1--WE WILL" chorused the black spear
men.
Behold, than p cried the great lead
err, and with one jerk of his hand he
flung the Shakespeare into the fire be-
side him. In a moment it famed up
shriveled away, and was gone
Then broke forth yell of delight
from the superstitious savages as they
saw the dreaded "magic" vanish into
smoke. A score of big climbed
warriors, all smeared with paint and
grease, rushed forward to overwhelm
their white brother" with sticky en-
braces. while others brought forward
armfuls of fruit, fish. and potato like
cassava bread. SANKEY'S hungry men
ate their fill, and all went as merrily as
picnic. The precious notes were
saved!'