San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-07-11

of the case You know well that these ne
tives are not safe within a hundred miles of
the coast. 1t looks to me as though you had
deceived them, whether you intended to sell
them to the Arabsor not They are certainly
ignorant of their real peril"
The Portuguese grew confused, and tried
to stammer out some explanation, but made
up my mind at once that it was clear case
of treachery.
1t was an extremely perilous situation all
round, and one that called for prompt action.
| at once ordered the arrest of the two Portu-
guese, and before they could think Of resist
ance my marines had disarmed them and
pinioned their limbs.
The delighted negroes crowded round us
with cries OF gratitude but soon convinced
them that their danger was by no means
over. l could not hberate and let them go,
for the bands of slave hunters that r5amed
the country would soon have seized them; 90
my only course was to take them on board
the gunboat and let the authorities Of the
Racer decide their fate I now had no doubt
at all that Torres and CASTILLO had intended
to sell them ill.,, slavery, and felt highly
elated at my capture Of these Portuguese
slave hunters.
At my command, Zuba and his dusky
friends took up their burdens of ivory, and
we started back along the rough trail, Tor
res and CASTILLO marching sullenly between
two marines
noticed that they turned their heads aside
from time to time in 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 retraced half the distance back when
he hurried toward us, waving his arm
frantically, 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 mar
ticulate sounds and point with his trembling
hands.
The negroes, with a wall of terror, dashed
down their ivory and prepared to flee.
"Shoot the first man that runs" cried
"Now into the bushes, quick, all of you'll"
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 | have said, and
preferred, if possible, to escape conflict
and gain the gunboat with my prisoners.
The negroes were unarmed, with the excep-
ton of Zuba, who carried 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
ed sounds came nearer, and soon, peering out
IL. 81. g. ,1ol l.
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
fled past, suddenly Torres gave 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 a 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.
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, cur 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 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
thickly. 1t was more than they could stand
and in frantic terror they scattered and fed
directly into the midst of their foes They
were lost saw at a glance.
Every second was precious, and we were
about to make dash for the creek when
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.
Welcomed forces and charged the enemy, who
fed in confusion, but sad to say bore of with
them half of the negroes,
We found Costello lving dead with bullet