The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1891-11-26
Az ADVENTURE In FIJI
NARROW ESCAPE OF THE CREW OF A
SOUTH SEA WELLER.
Surrounded by "a scora of savage War
r.ors tie Sailors Have IA Close Cali
for Their Lives.

finished Il season NJ tie SHdlhah
Islands in the South Pacific. aud were
~ among the T III Islands after hump
back whales were scarce. and we spent
our time in making fancy articles. such
as canes, cocoanut dippers. work boxes.
etc, which we could sell in New lea
land ut cxorbitant rates.
One day the Captain happened to
want some cocoanut wood for canes.
so he ordered boat cleared away and
the second mate aud five men jumped
in and rowcd TO the nearest island to
procure a voting tree. was among
the number and thought it Il fine
chance to stretch my legs ashore for
awhile.
we took no arms. as these Islands
are many of them uninhabted by man
or beast, but we bitterly regretted this
later on.
The land was scarcely two miles
away and not Il breath of air rufiied
the surface Of the blue waters as we
sped along. A coral reef encircled
the little island aud it was some time
before we found a narrow opening just
wide enough to admit of our passing
through. Once inside pull of hun
Ired yards brought us 10 the white
beach
The second mate and myself lit our
pipes aud one of the men took a
hatchet aud felled Il young tree. 1t
was soon cut up into pieces of the right
length and placed in the boat, aud
then we sat down in little grove of
palm trees short distance away and
nuts.
After we had eaten our fill we
sauntered slowly back toward the
boat. We were about half way when
| happened to glance over my
shoulder.
The next instant | gave a shout, for
not twenty-five yards behind us were
not less than twenty misunderstanding
Fiji warriors running after us at full
speed. carrying their huge war clubs
aud shields. Their bare feet made no
noise in the sand, and had / not
clIauced TO look back they would have
been upon Us 4 moment later.
Good Godin cried the second mate.
Eve are dead men, sure! Run, boys,
runi'
And we did run.
If | ever thanked heaven for my six
feet four of flesh and bone it was then,
for my long legs sent NE far ahead of
my shipmates aud | reached the boat
first.
The wood in the boat made her
heavy, but my fright augmented my
strength, and, placing my shoulder
against the bow. | succeeded in push
ing her into the water just rs my ship
mates came tearing down the beach.
Quick, or were loStn' | cried as
they splashul into the water and
scrambled into the boat.
But hurry rs they might the savages
were close behind. and as the last man
climbed aboard the foremost natives
dashed into the water with fierce yelIs
of triumph.
stood up to my knees in the water
holding the boat for my companions,
and rs turned to jump on board Il
browny FIJI sprung upon me with m
upiftcd club. | doigcd blow which
would have scattered my brains about.
and as the huge club stuck the water
| struck out straight from the shoulder,
putting all my 25) pounds into the
effort.
1t caught the fellow under the ear
aud he dropped like Z dead man.
The next instant | sprlng into the
boat arl seized an oar. Bv this time
the other sailors had got out their oars
and attempted 10 row. but in their
fright they were making poor work of
it. and one man fell backward in the
boat nearly losing his oar overheard.
As | raised the oar to push the boat
away from the shore two more savages
rushed forward, brandishing their
clubs, while a spear whistled within an
inch of NV head
Up went the huge war clubs in the
air and made desperate sweep with
the heavy oar. striking one warrior in
the neck and sending him staggering
against his companion, who nearly fell
with him.
Then mighty shove sent the boat
fully ten feet away.
Pull for Your lives!' shouted as
seated myself on the bow thwart aud
shipped my oar.
But we were not to escape so easily,
for with a hOarse cry of rage the ma
tireS dashed into the water up to their
al III p4AN anu OlC vi iHtln StlLtu tue
bow of the boat with both hands.
just then | saw Il sharp Ratchet lying
ut my feet in the boat, and | seized it
without delay. 1t was the work of an
instant to deal the savage a deadly
blow, and he fell back into the water
his head Glove in two.
fearful chorus of wells burst from
the batlied Fills rs they SAW us bend 10
the oars and shoot off beyond their
reach, and then they scrambled ashore
and ran swiftly into the bush.
Thank the Lord, boysm said the
second mate. that was Il close call.
We're safe now unless they've got 8
canoe around that pointm
But no canoe appeared, and we were
beginning TO breathe easier, when sud
denly we saw a large war canoe shoot
around the point mentioned. manned
by fully a score of naked Fills.
Not word was spoken rs we bent
TO our work. 1t was life or death for
Us now and we made every stroke tell.
We shot through the narrow opening
III the reef some fifty yards ahead OF
our pursuers and our hopes arose as
we saw the old bark was standing to-
ward us, bringing light breeze with
her
Long and strong. boysm said the
mate, who stood UP in the stern with
the long steering oar, as lac glanced
back at the canoe. They've onlv got
couple of dozen of men and that
craft is made for about fifty paddles.
They amt gainin' anyhow. Send her
along!'
How we did pull! The men were
all used to the work aud the broad
backs swayed back aud forth in per
feet unison. Every oar was dipped
deep in the water aud the boat fairly
jumped ahead every time the muscular
arms Strengthened ont.
Inch 10y inch we began to gain. until
ut last we were drawing near the bark.
Then with one accord our pursuers
stopped padding and united in 4
shout OF disappointed rage. after which