Wichita eagle., 1889-07-26
CUT OFF.

A small steam launch, containing half
a dozen persons. swept swiftly along
with the muddy current of the Guajara
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 a 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 a small rifle in his hands, occasion
ally shooting at some bright pIumaged
bird flying overhead or at lazy reptile
coiled in the branches Of a tree on shore.
"Jack," be said presently, to the young
man who sat in the pilot house and with
rare skill kept the vessel clear of the in
Vulnerable logs in the river, "where are
we now?'
al don't know" replied Jack. "Where
is Bunco? 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 a 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-
position to work he was good natured
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
6rst meeting.
Il dunno whar we is" he said in reply
to the pilots question. Hits mighty
queer, too, for hat been yere befo."
He looked nervously toward shore as
he continued:
Hit amt fur from Balsamaco to Inca,
reckon, an eff once we git thar we are
sure ter run into Their 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."
''Thet's jest whut I'm afeard Of" said
Bunco, shading his eyes with one hand
and peering ahead. "An' eff hit is,
to,. ,,,r, thor. Tpoo
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 steak. He wants to know when
you are going back"
Were 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 q 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, q 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 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
idetIs A4IAbIueu, AOl Il IdiSe 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 q place il
would be to spend the night in. Their
quarters in the vessel were so cramped
that whenever II was practicable they