The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1889-07-17
LAMBERTvILLE, n. j, WEDNESDAY. JULY II. 1889

closely inspecting the Jungle on all sides.
We l}nsl retraced half the distance back when
he hurried toward us, waving his arm
frantically, while the leopard skin tapped
about his loins
Arabs, heap Arabsln he gasped, and his
face showed the deadly terror he felt.
He tried to talk, but could only utter mar
ticulate sounds and point with his trembling
hands.
The negroes, with wall of terror, dashed
down their ivory and prepared to flee.
"Shoot the first man that runs'' 1 cried.
"Now into the bushes, quick, all of your
The jungle was heavy at this point and in
moment our party was hidden beneath its
cover, and none too soon, for we could
already hear voices in front.
My force was small, as l have said, and
preferred, If possible, to escape a conflict
with the Arabs, whose number was uncertain,
and gain the gunboat with my prisoners.
The negroes were unarmed, with tho excep-
ton of Zuba, who carried a great knife, so
put them In the rear of the marines and left
the Portuguese in Zuba's care
We scarcely ventured to breathe, but
crouched down to the ground holding our
arms In readiness for an attack The dread
Ell sounds came nearer, and soon, peering out
through the bushes, we saw formidable
body Of Arabs passing along the path Their
leader was a powerful fellow with a huge
scar across his face, and all OF them bore
guns and had pistols stuck in their belts
while every man carried bunch of chains
that clanked harshly as they hurried past.
The party was large one, comprising
forty or fifty men, and their presence mere
made the guilt of the Portuguese as plain as
day. They were Fastening to an appointed
rendezvous.
All would probably have gone well, and
the negroes would have reached the gunboat
in safety, but as the rear guard of the Arabs
filed past, suddenly Torres gave a loud shout
Before he could repeat it zuba felled him to
the ground, but it was too late; the mischief
was already done.
The Arabs grouped together moment in
CONSERVATION, and as they hesitated one of
my men, in his excitement, exposed his body
His uniform betrayed our character, and the
Arabs, spurred on by their fierce hatred of
the English, poured random fire into the
jungle.
One of the marines fell and terrible cries
Of agony rose from the poor blacks Then
we gave them an answering volley, and with
deadly effect. But, reckless of danger, they
closed up and swept down upon us in dense
mass 3
Our fire raked down the foremost row, but
their onslaught was so fierce that we fell back
toward the river and gained the shelter of
heavy timber, where from behind trees we
picked off the reckless Arabs that exposed
themselves to our fire. Encountered with
helpless negroes our situation was desperate.
concluded to retreat still nearer the creek,
for the firing must shortly bring assistance
from the gunboat. The Portuguese were
dragged resistingly along, and soon we reach
ed a comparatively open space where already
the forest began to slope toward the water
But the crafty Arabs had stolen march
on us, for as we started to cross the open, a
struggling fire was poured in on us from all
sides, and the poor negroes began to fall
thiekly. 1t was more than they could stand,
and in frantic terror they scattered and tlel
directly into the midst of their foes They
were lost, saw ut glance.
Every second was precious, and we were
about to make dash for the creek when a
hearty cheer rose above the din, and up the
slope came file of marines, led by Lieut. os
borne, and driving the Arabs to right and left.
We joined forces and charged the enemy, who
fed IN confusion, but sad to say bore or with
tnem nhlI OF the negroes,
We found Castillo lying dead with a bullet
through his head fired by his own friends,
but Torres and Zuba were both missing. The
Arabs still greatly outnumbered us and their
knowledge OF the ground gave them do
cided advantage.
We started to march toward the creek,
abandoning the ivory, OF course, but taking
along the bodies of five of our men, and pick
ing up ON the way half a dozen of the terri
fed natives who had been in hiding.
A few struggling shots were fired at us, but
We pressed on unheeding
Osborne and were in advance when sud
denly he lifted his hand.
"Iisten, he said "What Is that2"
Off to our right bushes were cracking,
and we could hear voices raised In anger l
was sure | recognized the sound of Torres
voice. We broke through the jungle into
an open glade, and found Zuba and Torres
struggling in deadly combat. Before we
could reach tho spot the enraged negro
wrested himself from the grasp of the
Portuguese, and drawing his knife buried
1t In the unhappy wretchs breast
See" he cried, springing to his feet at
is right he die, when all my people he be-
trayT
K we trleu 10 SelZo MN, Dut Win a cry he
sprang into the forest and disappeared
Torres wns stone dead; and leaving him
where he lay at tho foot of tree, we hur-
ried on to the creek and reached the boats In
safety.
The Arabs must have been in close pursuit,
for heavy fire greeted us from shore us We
rowed out TO the gunboats A few rounds
from a small cannon, however, soon drove
the enemy back.
Before night We were gliding under full
steam down the creek, for my orders were
imperative and admitted of no delay, much
as would liked to have punished the Arabs
The Racer at once organized an expedition
to start inland from the coast, for was sat
isfied that slave station existed In the vicin-
ity. While the preparations for this were
going ON, an Arab dhow was captured at the
very mouth of Vannas creek, which, to nay
surprise, proved to have ON board the rem
nant of Zuba's friends. More than half had
either yerished In the fight OF still remained
in the handsof the Arabs
OF Zuba never heard more; but always
regarded the death Of Torres and OF CASTILLO,
who had caused all these misfortunes by their
dastardly treachery, as a just retribution for
.beir crimes. William Murray Graydon in
The Argosy.
Photographers' Cats.
Doubtless the most interesting cats, those
which nrezant the host OpportilnitiaQ for