The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1889-08-30
Zinc ! consi5erabIe distlIrbance


creating a considerable disturbance.
This information staggered me. What
white men could be doing here was more
than could understand We advanced
slowly, with rifles in readiness. Before
Us was break in the forest, and without
any difficulty we gained the edge of the
bush and obtained clear view Of the
open.
Some fifty or sixty stalwart negroes
were dancing about and making strange
gestures, while few yards away, at the
base Of q small hillock, stood two swarthy
men. They were on the defensive, evi-
IDENTIFY, for they held rifles in their hands,
and three dead negroes lay PROSTATE on
the ground in front of them.
Then saw something else, for in the
center of the open lay one great mass Of
I glitteiing white ivory, tossed carelessly
in hap. 1t was an ivory caravan from
the interior; for these negroes belonged
TO No coast tribes.
What the dispute was about could moi
even guess, nor did have time to do so
for of a sudden the negroes dashed for
ward with a feice shout. The men mus
have been overpowered in spite of thei
incessant and deadly fire; but just at tn
critical moment we swept out from tn
bnshe.I, and the negroes fell back il
amazemenf.
The rescued men came forward wit
outstnstched hands, and I saw on close
view that they were Portuguese.
"senor, you have saved our lives,
said the leader, in tolerably good Eng
lish. He was an intelligent looking mai
of thirty or thirty-ive. 'sThe'
scoundrels were determined to kill II
Ny name is Torres, he continued, ian
this" pointing to his companion, sis n
friend, CASTILLO. We are ivory trader
and have brought these natives from Il
interior at great cost. We pledged on
I | selves 10 send them home in safety, b
= the fools suddenly made up their min,
4 that we proposed selling them to L
Arabs. and, mad with rage, they ma
this sudden attack on us.
I never did put much faith in Port
I euese, though this man was of bett
# type than many had met. Still
3 might be speaking the truth.
/ hesitated, not knowing what coul
to pursue The negroes were group
together at little distance, sullel
y watching our movements, but making
sr hostile demonstrations.
70 Suddenly one of them came forward
, big. stalwart fellow, with leopard 81
: about his waist, and stopped in front
me.
O He began to jabber out mixture
e. bad English and native African, al
IL more from his gestures than from
speech. l comprehended what he sa
" He declared that the Portuguese inten'
iss to sell them into slavery, and affirmed
Oh he had seen Torres lurking behind on
previous day TO talk to an Arab that
come out Of the forest.
its He told me his name was Zuba, tina
L was a head man in his tribe, and that
had picked up his English at Zanzil
No where he had been on several occasi'
he He knew that was English, and that
ic- English hated the Arabs, 50 he no
ds that 1 would protect his friends from
,ey Portuguese and the slave hunters
Torres's swarthy face flushed darke
inu Zuba poured out his appeal.
CO. ssThe hound lies, he exclain
cut angrily. sfWhen they take the iyor
Of the coast they viii be paid and sent
ort home"
vas sBut see here, Torres" Interrupt
ase for 1 was beginning to get an inkin
ex- the state Of the case. ''You know
ar. that these natives are not safe with
hundred miles Of the coast. It look
49, ns Is sAough yOu bad deceived y