The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-01

noes. The body of the unfortunate Vega
was on a rude bier on the open plaza.
The circle had formed again IN the church
A Conibos Indian had drawn the deadly
arrow from the wound, and forcing his
way through the crowd, held up the ar
row, shouting:
Look! it is the arrow of the Uchpas!"
4 veil Of rage filled the church. Their
most deadly enemy had robbed them of
the satisfaction of killing their despot
themselves. The tuft of cotton at
the end of the arrow was stained
Gayaro tribes. Then tottered to
his feet the ancient sage
of the Conibos. STOPPING under the
weight of 100 years, his long white hair
covering his shrunken neck and bosom
like a matted, tangled network OF tar
nished lace, he stretched one withered arm
toward the girl, and shouted IN qnavering
tones: You must not shed the blood of
that creature; ii would bring Us pestilence
and death. 1t is not a woman; II is the
sorceress of the Uchpas-the accused
Gavarosl The black that stood by her
vanished! 1t was spirit Give her TO
the Yacu Mamau' A hundred voices took
up the fierce yell-''To the Yacu MamaW
There was no appeal from that sentence.
A guard was chosen who were TO have her
in custody until the full OF the moon;
they would take her TO the spot dedicated
to the victims of the monster known as
the mother of the watersw
No more impressive scene of desolation
ever met the eve of man than that of the
lake of Morana. Between the river of that
name and the PastaZza is a dense swamp
with the black, still lake in its center.
There Is a small island near the head Of
the lake. mere circular mound of mud
and shells, but a few inches above
the surface of the water, fringed around
- -. ~
this mound offerings 10 the mother of the
waters were placed. at the full of the moon,
and here the unfortunate Cora was brought
by her savage conductors. They had been
escorted by large party TO the margin OF
the lake. From thence she was taken by
the four selected TO carry out the sentence
by placing her on the mound described.
From here no doomed victim ever escaped.
They approached the place beating their
drums 10 waken the monster hidden in
the cavernous gloom, under the arches of
overhanging vines.
By the light of the rising moon they
saw black forms of the caymen like rot
ting logs upon the surface OF the dark
water, but sinking as the canoe approached
them. The air was laden with their rank,
musky odor. Cora left the canoe in obedi-
ence to their frantic gestures. They were
IN haste TO escape from the dreadful place.
She was resolved TO meet her fate bravely
As she sprang lightly from the PROV of
the canoe long, moaning howl came
from the somber shadow of the swamp. the
frightened Indians heard it, they glanced
towards the shrubbery. With a yell
Of terror they turned the canoe and
padded for their lives. They, like
Cora, had seen the head OF the monster
emerge from the gloom; they heard again
the terrible moan. two enormous eyes of
livid green luster turned toward the
.~ra- - t.
full height of q man above the water, and
as they gszed for one terror-striken mo-
ment the long sinuous form of the mon
ster glided out on the open water; its tail
beat the black water into foam. 1t seemed
at least twenty yards in length, and on its
corrugated back and sides they could see
its scales glisten in the clear light of the
moon. They piled their paddles in q
frenzy OF terror 10 escape the liked gaze of
those terrible eyes.
4 cold chill seemed to freeze Cora's
blood. A nj of trembling and extreme
weakness made her kneel with hands
ciasped in fervent appeal 10 heaven. not
for deliverance but for swift and painless
death.
She was sinking TO Inconsistencies
as the head OF the monster pushed through
the rushes. the light OF the terrible eyes
glazing fiercely upon her covering form.
Three months later a garretea was on
the broad waters of the lower Amazon.
PaClo was at the helm. Our canine &C
quaintance. Sarou, was seated near Marco
at the bow. 81 erCedes and Cora, under the
awning. watched the fight OF the birds and
conversed of future plans, or Cora swept
the cords of the mandolin and sang old
Moorish ballads that brought tears to
Paulo's eyes.
Under the forward deck, the dormitory
of Sarou, was seventy or eighty yards of a
dark purple point that had once been used
as the hide Of 8 Yacu Mama. planned and
constructed over canoe by Paulo and
Marco; long bamboo was used for the
tail of the monster. \ green silk vail
served to cover the holes cut for ewes. and
a lighted torch inside gave IL the desired
effect.
Il never hear sarou howl. mother. with
out thinking of that dreadful night" said
Cora. as she laid her mandolin aside; "and
how he acted when | came 10 myself in
the canoe. And Paulo, too"
at was our only plan for escape and 70
pass the village, said Paulo. lit was the
very last OF all the goods we had lefr.n
remarked Mercedes, taking up her lace
work.
Yes, dear mother; you furnished the
material. Paulo and Marco made up the
scenic effects, | was the leading character,
and Sarou furnished the music for the dis
NAL drama of the Yacu Nama-didn't
you, Sarou?"
Sarou, with his eye on a red porpoise
plungIng across the bow of the boat as she
careened TO the freshening breeze. said
Wool" WoLFERT WAYNE.