The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1889-06-28
CUT OFF.

A small steam launch containing half
a dozen persons, swept swiftly along
with the muddy current of the Guaiara
river. The vessel and party had left
Para, at the mouth of branch of the
Amazon, nearly a month before, and
had steamed up as far as the junction Of
the MADEIRA, there taking southerly
course as far as Balsamaco.
After leaving the latter town they had
turned into side stream and before long
were inextricably mixed up in the net
work of creeks and small rivers which
cross and recross themselves in southern
Brazil.
The leader of the party and owner of
the launch lay stretched out on the deck
with small rifle in his hands, OCCASION
ally shooting at some bright plumaged
bird flying overhead or at lazy reptile
coiled in the branches of a tree on shore.
slack, " he said presently, to the young
man who sat in the pilot hosse and with
rare skill kept the vessel clear of the in
Vulnerable logs in the river, where are
we now?'
81 don't know" replied Jack. "Where
is Bunco2 He's the only person who has
ever been known to leave these parts
alive"
A shout from the young pilot brought
Bunco into view-a tall, thin, swarthy
man, with countenance that would
have made his fortune as the leading
villain in drama of the lurid type. But
in spite of his looks and chronic indis-
4,
and intelligent, and of valuable service
to the party. Jack had christened him
Bunco, as the name most closely resem-
bling that which he had given at their
first meeting,
81 dunno whar we is" he said in reply
to the pilots question. Hits mighty
queer, too, for l haf been yere befo'."
He looked nervously toward shore as
he continued:
'Hit amt fur from Balsamaco to Inca,
reckon, an ef once we git thar we are
sure ter run into ther natives. They're
thick right aroun' hyer, an savager'n all
tarnation."
The captain of the craft arose and
stood at Bunco's side.
"Can you tell us how to reach the
MADEIRA AGAIN." he asked This must
be one of the branches to it-possibly the
Guajara."
"Thets jest whut I'm afeard Of" said
Bunco, shading his eyes with one hand
and peering ahead. 'An' ef hit is,
we're agoin ter. run right in ther Inca
country"
"And the natives there, you say, are
savage?'
The colored man nodded.
They're wusser than in any other
part of Brazil"
The conversation was interrupted by
the appearance of two young men, one
about the same age as Jack and the
other few years older.
"Bill is going to strike" said one of
them, with a laugh. Hes got nearly
all his clothing off now, but he says it's
hot enough down in the engine room to
broil "A steak. He wants to know when
you are going back"
We're going to turn around present
ly," replied the person addressed 1--WE
why, Bunco, there's q house"
The whole party followed with their
eyes the direction OF the captains out
stretched arm, and saw through the foil
age the matched roof of native hut.
Jack turned the vessel towards shore and
| rang the signal in the engine room to
| shut off steam.
In few minutes they had reached dry
land and were hurrying in the direction
of the building, leaving Bill to moor the
launch and follow them later.
The party consisted of an English gen
tleman named Robert Etynge, his two
sons, George and Russell; Jack Camp
| bell, a young American, and Bill and
Bunco, engineer, fireman, deck hand and
| steward, in turn. They were ON a six
! months pleasure trip through South
| America.
The house, which they discovered in
the center OF a cleared space of ground
| near the river side, was well built struct-
ure, containing one large and one small
room, with the single entrance in the side
| of the former. 1t had evidently been
lately inhabited, for a large supply of
grain, dried meats and vegetables was
stored within, and pile of wood already
cut for fuel lay ready at hand.
The party proceeded at once to inspect
| the cabin, to see what sort of place it
would be to spend the night in. Their
quarters in the vessel were 50 cramped
! that whenever it was practicable they
had slept in tent on shore or in q tenn
| porarily deserted hut like the present one.
81 guess we'd better stay here for the
| night" said Mr. Etynge THE building
Is stout one and proof against both
wild beasts and wild men. Suppose u
couple of you youngsters go down to the
boat and get some bedding"
Jack and Russell stepped to the door,
but drew back suddenly, the former
beckoning to the captain as he did so.
| "There's a crowd of natives coming
this way" he whispered. "Look through
the window while we bar the door"
Mr.. Etynge sprang to the small win
| dow and glanced towards a body of men
rapidly advancing in the direction of the
cabin. They were within gunshot before
catching sight of the house, then they
fell back, concealing themselves behind
sopAs trees and bushes, and jabbering
away like an army of monkeys.
"Well," said RUSSELL as he and Jack
finished barring the door, "this is nice
adventure, isn't itS The idea of leaving
the boat with only one rifle among US"
| lHey iOOheu ultO edcu OlneI idCSSI
but no one spoke.
Whizl
A short thick, sharp pointed piece of
wood flew through the window and bur-
led itself in the opposite wall. Another
and another followed, some of them
striking the cabin and others coming in
by way of the open window.
The men threw themselves on the
floor, at Buncos suggestion, and all but
Jack Campbell remained in that position
for nearly half an hour. The latter had
seized the captains small repeating rife
and cautiously approached the window.
For some minutes the arrows from the
natives air guns flew 30 thickly that he
was unable to get a shot at them; but
presently there came o lull in the one
sided bombardment, and the sharp crack
of the rifle was followed by death yell
from without.
But one rifle, although 1t kept back for
some time the assault of the savages,
was not sufficient TO drive them away,
l Ia. -. a. I...l