Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-09-12
a SAILOR IN AFRICA.

The British bark Margaret, on
which was carpenter and sailmaker,
had put into the port of Quiloa, on
the east coast of Africa, in distress,
homeward bound from the Red Sea.
l had shipped for the voyage out and
back, but when we ran into Quiloa l
determined to take French leave.
Three more brutal officers than those
in command Of the bark never walked
a ships deck, and although | rated
above the common sailor, | had come
in for my share of abuse. l was
young, full of adventure, and should
not perhaps have cut sticks if every
thing had been pleasant aboard the
ship. My first idea was to go alone,
but an apprentice aboard named
Thomas Cade, about 1S years old, sus-
pected my designs, and entreated per
mission to go along. He had been
knocked about and dogged around
until he was ready to commit suicide
to escape further i'll treatment. Twas
glad enough of the opportunity to
take him, and on the second night of
the bark's arrival we were off.
Quiloa twenty years ago contained
only a few hundred inhabitants.
There was wharf, a warehouse, two
or three trading stores, and few
In1an hutc onI bnncaS onI Tho nnnn-
lation was badly mixed. As we were
fast at the wharf, and as Thomas
stood deck watch during the earlier
hours of the evening, we had no diff
Guilty in getting away. We took with
us a change of clothes, two of the
ships muskets and ammunition, a
light axe, a few pounds of provisions,
and means for building fire, and we
passed through the village and into
the forest to the west of it without
meeting any one. We did not go
more than half a mile before we
camped down for the remainder Of
the night, but even as close to town
as that the hyenas and jackals were
so numerous that we did not close our
eyes in sleep. Where we were going
or what might befall us we did not
know or care. The idea was to get
away from the bark. After that,
things might take care of themselves.
We were up and off at dawn, hold
ing straight for the west by a pocket
compass which | had. 1t was likely
that we would be pursued, and for
two hours we hurried ahead at a
smart pace, and then halted for break
fast. We had been travelling through
forest and jungle all the time, not
meeting with even a footpath as evil
dence of civilization, and after having
a bite to eat we began to look at the
serious side Of the situation. With
er were we bound What should we
do after getting there These and
other questions we asked ourselves
without being able TO answer in sat
isfactory manner, and then, sailor
| like, we dismissed the matter from
our minds, and agreed to take the
good and bad as it came. When we
resumed our journey it was at a more
leisurely pace, but at noon We were
probably fifteen miles from the town.
The country was just as wild as If
Quiloa was thousand miles away.
1t being daylight and a hot day, most
of the savage beasts were asleep, but
now and then we saw a Jackal or a
serpent, and just before noon We
routed out two big hyenas who seemed
disposed for a while to dispute the
way.
Always keeping due west, and al
ways travelling through an unbroken
wilderness, we made about twenty
five miles that first day. When we
went into camp we collected large
amount of firewood, and it was well
that we did so, for the night came on
dark, and the wild beasts gathered
around US to make such pandemoni-
uIn that we were almost frightened
out of our wits. We heard the lions
/ begin to roar as soon as the sun went
down. and two of them hung about US
all night long, coming so close to the
fire on two occasions that hit one OF
them with a burning brand. Thomas
was no good to me after the lions
made their first appearance. l. would
have been better for US had we taken
to a tree and tied ourselves TO the
branches. but we had an idea that We
must protect ourselves with a fire,
and the presence of so many wild an
finals frightened the boy until ne was
helpless. | did nothing but feed the
fire all night long, and when daylight
came and we were left in peace, L
flung myself down and was asleep In
a moment. 1t was noon before l
opened my eyes, and Thomas was yet
asleep. We gathered some wild fruit,
of which there was a grand supply,
ate sparingly of what We had brought
from the ship, and after shaking our
thirst at a water-hole which was evil
IDENTIFY much resorted to by animals,
we headed to the west, and made a
good fifteen miles during the after
noon. The forest was now more
broken. and now and then we came