The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1891-01-02

OsOOV ~ Uue1mS &fe6G anu 0m8ll, ana
the noise they made was deafening.
Their first move was to help their
victims in the traps. They attempt
ed to pull them out by main force,
and when this failed they got stones
and clubs and tried to break the
traps. They had neil pr the strength
nor ingenuity to aoenrs revenge On
us. We had been expecting the
move and were ready for It, OF
thought we were. We had tour guns
on the rail, had covered the cabin
skylight with boards and the decks
were clear for action. The tide was
yet running in, and although we
could almost look into the flashing
eyes OF the apes, we knew they dread
ed water and would hesitate to swim
out to Is.
don't know whose fault it was
that the yawl's painter, which was
made fast to the starboard rail
amidships was not securely fastened.
No one had gwen it any thought I'M
til we suddenly saw the yawl drive
to the mango bushes stern first.
There was no surf in that little bay,
and the tide would have held her
there it the apes had taken no action.
The boat no sooner within leaping
distance than fifty of the animals
sprang into it, and az it reached the
bushes it was held there. The
screams and yells of the apes for the
next five minutes prevented speech.
Then, at a given signal, all but one
leaped out of the boat. A second
signal all those in sight on shore dis
appeared, leaving only the victims
of the traps. These had ceased their
complaints and become quiet, and
now q great stiffness fell upon the
island. I asked the captain what
new move he thought the beasts in
tended to make and he replied:
II think l shall have great trouble
with them. If there was breeze
enough to stem this tide should be
in favor of getting out as soon as
possible. They will board us in the
yawl as soon as the tide turns"
1pointed to the fact that there
was only one ape in the boat, and
that / could put a bullet through his
head where he sat. It one of the men
would slip over the rail he could
swim to the boat and secure it.
This was looked upon as a good
deal. One of the Borneo men got
quietly into the water and swan for
the boat, and when he was close up
ON it fired and killed the ape in
charge. His dying yell was answered
from a thousand throats, and in ten
seconds the boat was filed with
apes. The sailor had to return
empty handed. It was no use to
fire upon the beasts, as their num-
bers were so great, and we therefore
renewed appropriations for defense.
The crew proper told us in so many
words that they would not lift a
hand except to defend themselves, as
they considered it a crime to kill an
ape. If the schooner was boarded,
then they would be justified in fight
ing.
After q few minutes all the apes
but one again left the boat. The
body of the one l had killed was car
ried ashore. The tide would not
turn until 5 o'clock, and we had
nothing to do but wait and watch.
l made shell out of a tin can filled
with powder and bullets, and tho
fuse of this was to be lighted by
Thomas when he could heave it into
the boat. We had three loaded guns
and revolver apiece, and l believed
the two of US alone could prevent
boarding.. The schooner swung bow
ing to the shore as soon as the tide
turned, and was now further away
by her length. We did not hear a
sound from the beasts after they re-
tired. There were scores of them
watching us from the bushes, no
doubt, but they did not show them
selves. When the tide began to
draw the yawl off shore the ape left
in charge took a turn with his tail
around a bush and thus held it.
At shutdown there was little
breeze, and we could have left, but /
wanted the apes in the traps and
the captain wanted his yawl. As it
grew dark all the crew went below
saying it was none of their fight,
and one of the Borneo sailors de-
clared with great vigor and much
grief that he had recognized an un-
Gle in the ape had killed. Another
had seen his brother, and the cook
fairly cried at the thought that his
favorite son, who had been dead
about five years, might have turned
into an ape and be waiting to de-
stroy his affectionate father. Thorn
as and / remained on deck to watch,
and at 8 o'clock we heard enough to
prove that the apes were moving in
concert and in large body. Itried
to get the crew up, but they refused
to come. ! had a double. barreled
shotgun, and Thomas was to throw
the shell if they came near enough.
The shore was in such darkness that
mo conldn,t soa what orr enemiea