The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1891-08-13
TAKEN BY TARTARS.

pests OF tnOSe seas, and are dreaded
by all honest trading vessels. We
were lying at the mouth of the Ho
Tong, small river or creek emptyine
into the Pacific, and Commander
Napier had sent me, with a boat.
swain named Joe Maxted and q
launchs crew of twelve men, up the
creek to hunt for and, if possible, de.
stroy the stronghold of certain
Tartar pirate who had recently
made himself particularly obnox-
ious.
We got into the creek and rowed up
about five miles without finding any
thing or anybody, and without being
molested in any way whatever.
Then | thought we had gone far
enough, but being young and painting
for glory, ] determined to reconnoitre
little further inland. So taking
with me Joe Maxted and two men,
and giving orders to the men left in
charge of the boat that if we did not
return in forty eight hours they were
to come in search of us, we started
upon what was undoubtedly very
foolhardy trip.
| The whole river bank on either side
was a dense jungle for about half a
mile, breaking into n belt of pine for
est and then into the open. Here and
there were narrow cuttings down TO
the river side-the river was only
about eighty feet wide, about the
width OF fairly wide strickland oc-
casiorally one came upon a tiny vii
lage with n clearing and small rice
farms. The inhabitants of these vii
lagos, We suspected, all took q hand
in the piratical excursions which the
Ticker was endeavoring to suppress,
but on the present occasionit was the
head man of a small tribe, which even
attacked the village pirates them
selves, that we were after.
1t was early morning-about 5
O. clock--when we started out upon
our excursion. We thought to take
advantage of the cool morning air
and, If necessary, rest i'll the shade
during the intense heat of the day. OF
course we were well armed. We each
carried q Colts's navy revolver, the
men had each u rife and cutlass and
my sword. Being fully aware of the
possibility of losing our way and not
getting back to the boat, we bazed
the trees along our route and cut a
fair path through the underground.
We also kept a lookout for a mbushes,
for their was little doubt that our
pirate knew perfectly well that we
we're after him. We were not quite so
well acquainted with the country as he,
however. We made the discovery too
late and to our bitter cost.
After about two hours cutting and
hacking at the dense underground nd
having reached the belt of pine trees
ordered halt, and we sat down to
breakfast. For two of our party it
was their last meal. do not know
how 1T happened, for l had risen to
my feet and was again moving onward
the men to follow instantly,
when l heard Joe Maxted's vioce
to me:
"Mr. Martini Lie down on your
face! Flat down for Gods sake"
1t saved my life. just turned an
in time to see my two poor
ablebodied seamen on their backs
with dozen arrows in the body of
each, and Joe on his face on the ground.
The whole wood seemed to be alive
with the most horribly rugged Tartar
villains lever set eyes on. Some had
masks on their faces and all carried
Javeins and great swords. Well, /
threw Jpn hands. | couldn't do less.
In an instant we were surrounded.
and leaving the two dead bodies
where they lay, we were dragged along
until we came to large clearing about |
II quarter of mile away, the existence |
OF which we had never suspected. |
Here was sort Off village of bamboo |
huts, little more than an encamp. |
ment OF about eighty or hundred |
men. Not more. We were in the hands |
OF the pirates we had come to exter- |
inmate. There was nothing for it. |
They would exterminate us. We had |
not n chance. Our men wouldn't |
come after us for two days. There |
was no hope of release. We might |
Just as well make up our minds to it.
Up to this time we had been so far
apart, separated by our guards, that
we could not speak to each other. or
suggest any plans. When we reached
-he clearing, however, we were brought
together, and marched before the
most villainous looking rascal ever
set my eyes on-evidently the chief of |
he band. Joe was filling the air with
he most lovely and choice selections
rom his truly magnificent vocabulary
of Billingsgate, and calling upon each
md every separate Tartar to let him
nave the use of his hands and his cut
ass and meet him on fair ground.
What would they do with us? We were
very soon to know.
With n hospitality we could not
Understand, the chief signed us to sit
Town, and presently q great dish of
delicious rice was placed before us and
We were by signs invited to eat. Our
morning trip had made us both hungry
Notwithstanding that we had already
iad some breakfast, and not even tho
ad memory of the death of our COM
AIDES could prevent our pitching
Then come bowls of most refreshing.
parking spring water. What would
ONE next?
We noticed, as we finished our re-
'ast, a perfectly hellish grin spread
'ver the features of our host. He
made sign and said something which
We, OF course did not understand. Two
elbows came up and evidently said all