Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-16

dened by the scene which met our eyes, after
we had ascended by rope ladder and steps
cut in the bank the cliff on which the plan
tains waved their long arms. Everywhere
was desolation. The huts were almost all
destroyed by fire and only charred poles and
half burnt thatch remained to show where
once had extended the broad pleasant street
of a comfortable African village The
beautiful stems of the bananas and plantains
were blackened by fre-or cut down in
enormous masses they blocked up the paths
between the houses. or lay half suspended
across the still hanging center pole oil some
partially destroyed hut.
We wandered about for some time amid
the ruins, wondering at the cause of this
destruction, and seeking if we might find
some poor savage lurking in the bushes near
his but recently destroyed home. Presently
from across the river voice called out to
us. timidly and family, and looking in the
direction whence it came, we perceived a
small canoe with two occupants creeping
close in to the opposite bank and stealing
up stream in the shadows of the trees. To
our cries that we were friends and should do
them no harm if they approached. the timid
natives only answered that they had moth
ing to sell or even give us save the advice
that we should sleep anywhere else rather
than on the site of their DESTROYED village,
for that the Lufemhi at the back were only
short distance off and would probably
come down on us in the night.
FLIGHT FROM AN INVISIBLE FOE.
However, as there was plenty of good wood
to be had from the partially burnt frame
work of the houses, we determined to remain
the night there, and put all hands to pull
ing down poles and charred timbers, saving
them on the top of the bank and throwing
them down the cliff, whence we had them
carried on board the Florida. This work
by freight went on gaily enough we'll into
the night, the men chatting each other and
occasionally saying in half-play, half-earn-
est: "What will we do if the Lutembi come
down upon us by and bv?"
Gradually, work being finished and the
wood all carried on board, the men sank to
rest round their fires upon top of the cliff,
each man with his loaded Snider rifle beside
him, and guard having been posted we all
went asleep with feeling of security. had
not Jain very long, 1 fancy, on my camp
bed out on the deck of tine Florida when |
was startled from sleep by an awful noise
coming from the top of the bluff-yells and
shrieks and hoarse cries, amid which con-
tinually sounded sharp and clear the bang!
bang! of the rifles being discharged. L
jumped from bed, seized my revolver from
under my pillow, and with Glave and the
engineer, whom encountered running for
ward similarly clad and armed, 1 was just
going to leap on shore and scale the steep
path up the plateau, when, tumbling helter-
skelter over one another, rolling down the
entire distance from the top to the waters
edge, or even Ieaping from the summit,
came the greater number of the crew of the
Florida. For a moment there was a scene
OF indescrible confusion among the panic
stricken men, struggling up to their necks
in the river.
ALL CAUSED BY THE GOAT.
No one could tell the cause of the sudden
flight. All were shouting at once, and ex-
pecting the next moment to be nearly over
whelmed BY a shower of spears from the
banks, where we doubted not the savage
Lufembi must be gathering for an assault
on the steamer. We endeavored to arrest
the men in their scramble, and were lust
mounting the scaling ladder when voices
from the darkness on top of the bluffs and
ringing peal of laughter caused us to pause.
Then came the tones of Bionelo's voice re-
lating the cause of the panic, and the shouts
of laughter from the men who q moment be-
fore had been risking their lives in their