The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1889-09-04

] Torres swarthy face grew darker as
Zuba poured out his appeal.
The hound lies,' he exclaimed,
angrily. when they take the ivory to
the coast they will be paid and sent
back home"
'.But, see here, Torres" interrupts
ed, for l was beginning to get an ink
ling of the state of the case. ..You
know we'll that these natives are not
safe within a hundred miles of the
coast. 1t looks to me as though YOU
had deceived them, whether you in
tended to sell them to the Arabs or
not. They are certainly ignorant of
their peril
The Portuguese grew confused ard
tried to stammer out some explanation,
but l made up my mind at once that it
was clear case of treachery.
1t was an extremely perilous position
| all round, and one that called for
prompt action. / at once ordered the
arrest of the two Portuguese. and be
fore they could think of resistance my
marines had disarmed them and pin
ioued their limbs.
The delighted negroes crowded round
us with cries of gratitude, but l soon
convinced them tnat their danger was
by no means over. l could not liberate
and let them go, for the bands of slave
hunters that roamed the country would
soon have seized them, so my only
course was to take them on board the
gunboat and let the authorities of the
Racer decide. I now had no doubt at
all that Torres and CASTILLO had in.
tended to sell them into slavery, and /
felt highly elated at my capture OF
oil
At my command, Zuba and his dusky
friends took up their burden of ivory.
and we started back along the rough
trail, Torres and CASTILLO marching
sullenly between two marines.
| noticed that they turned their
heads aside FROM time to time in a
strange manner, and my suspicious
were aroused.
Zuba was watchful and uneasy, and
crept along some distance ahead of the
column closely inspecting the Jungle
on all sides. We had traced half the
distance back when lie hurried toward
US, waving his arm franticaIly, while |
the leopard skin tapped about his
loins.
Arabs, heap Arabs" he gasped,
and his face showed the deadly terror
he felt.
He tried to talk, but could only utter
inarticulate sounds and point with his
trembling hands.
The negroes, with a wall of terror,
dashed down their ivory and prepared
to llee.
''Shoot the first man that runs" II
cried. ''Now, into the bushes, quick.
all of you'll"
The jungle was heavy at this point,
and in moment our party was hid |
den beneath its cover, and none tool
soon, for we could already hear voices |
in front.
My force was small, as l have said, |
and l preferred, if possible. to escape
a conflict with the Arabs, whose num-
Der was uncertain, and gain the gun
boat with my prisoners. The negroes
were unarmed, with the exception OF
Zuba, who carried q great knife, so !
l 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 guns in readiness for an attack. |
The dreaded sounds came nearer, and !
soon, peering out through the bushes. |
we saw formidable BODY of Arabs |
passing along the path. Their leader
was powerful fellow with huge scar
across his face, and all of them bore
guns and had pistols stuck in their
belts. while every man carried a bunch |
of chains that clanked harshly as they
hurried past.
The party was large one, compris- |
ing forty or fifty men, and their pres |
ence here made the guilt of the Por-
tuguese as plain as day. They were
fastening to an appointed rendezvous. |
All would probably have gone we'll, |
and the negroes would have reached
the gunboat in safety, but as the rear
guard of the Arabs filed past, suddenly
Torres gave loud shout. Before he |
could repeat it Zuba felled him to the
ground. but it was too late; the mis-
chief was already done.
Ihe Arabs grouped together mo-
ment In CONSERVATION, and as they
hesitated one of my men. in his excite
ment, exposed his body. His uniform
betrayed our character, and the Arabs,
spurred on by their fierce hatred of the
English, poured a 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 an
swering volley, and with deadly eff
feet. But, reckless of danger, they
closed up and swept down upon US in
a dense mass.
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,
when from behind trees we picked off
the reckless Arabs that exposed them
selves TO onr 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 resist
ingly along, and soon we reached a
comparatively open space where al
ready 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 ns from ali sides. and the Door