Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-21

| 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 a strange manner, and
my suspicious were aroused.
Zuba was watchfu and uneasy, and crept
along some distance ahead of the column
closely inspecting the jungle on all sides
We had retraoed half the distance back when
he hurried toward US, waving his arm
frantically, while the leopard skin tapped
about his loins.
ARABS heap Arabst" 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" criod
Snow 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 have said, and I
preferred, if possible, to escape conflict
with the arabs, whose number was uncertain,
and gain the gunboat with my prisoners
The negroes were unarned, with the excep-
ton of Zuba, who carried a great knife, so I
put them in the rear of the marines and left
the Portuguese in Zubas care.
We scarcely ventured to breathe, but
croucbed down to the ground holding our
arms in readiness for an attack The dread
ed sounds came nearer, and soon, peering out
through the bushes we saw a 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 harshiy 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 Zuoa felled him to
the ground, but it was too late; the mischief
was already done.
<
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
4 P4,-, ~
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, 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 a march
on US, for as we started to cross the open,
struggling fire was poured in on US from all
sides, and the poor negroes began TO fall
and i'll frantic terror they scattered and fed
directly into the midst of their foes They
were lost, l saw at a 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
Welcomed forces and charged the enemy, who
o. !
them half 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 outnunbered Us and their
knowledge of the ground gave them a de-
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 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.
Listen he said What is thatT-
Off to our right bushes were cracking,
and we could hear voices raised in anger. I |
was sure 1 reCotsuiZeu the SOUND OF IorreS /
voice. We broke through the jungle into l
az open glade, and found Zuha and Torres |
in deadly combat Before we |
could reach the spot the enraged negro /
wrested himself from the grasp Of the |
Portuguese, and drawing his knife, buried |
il in the unhappy wretchs breast
See" he cried, springing to his feet. ''It /
is right he die, when all my people be be-
rayI"
We tried 70 seize him, but with cry he
sprang into the forest and disappeared
Torres was stone dead; and leaving him
where he lay at the foot of a tree, we bur
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 as We
rpYed out % the guabostS A1ex ruznAof