The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-01-01

deserted hut like the present one.
i guess we'd better stay here for
tire night" said Mr.. Etynge. .'The
building is q stout one and proof
against both wild beasts and wild
men: Suppose couple of youngsters
bedding"
Jack and Russell stepped to the
door, and drew back suddenly, the
former reckoning to the captain as
he did SO.
"There's a crowd of natives COM
ing this way" he whispered. "Look
through the window while we bar
the door,"
Mr.. Etynge sprang to the small
window and glanced towards a body
OF men rapidly advancing in the d.
rection of the cabin. They were with
IN gunshot before catching sight of
the house, then they fell back con-
cealing themselves behind some trees
and bushes, and jabbering away like
an army of monkeys.
Well said Russell, as he and
Jack finished barring the door, this
is nice adventure, isn't it? The
idea OF leaving the boat with OILY
one rifle among us!"
They looked into each others
faces, but no one spoke.
Whiz!
A short, sharp pointed piece OF
wood flew through the window
and buried itself in The opposite
wall. Another and another followed,
some of them striking the cabin and
others coming in by way of the open
window
The men threw themselves on the
floor, at Bunco's suggestion, aid all
but Jack Campbell remained in that
position for nearly half an hour.
The latter had seized the captains
small repeating rifle and cautiously
approached the window.
For some minutes the arrows from
the natives air guns flew so thicklv
that he was unable to get shot at
them, but presently there came a lull
IN the one sided bombardment, and
the sharp crack of the rife was fol-
lowed by a death yell from without.
Rut one rifle, although it kept back
tor some time the assault OF the say
ages, was not sufficient to drive them
away, and late in the afternoon.
Jacks cartridges having given out,
the natives approached nearer to the
cabin.
They seemed to realize that the
deadly ammunition of their enemies
had become exhausted, and were
preparing for hand conflict, know
ing that they outnumbered the in
mates of the cabin ten to one.
But as they cautiously approached
the hut, shooting almost constantly
at the door and windows, an unex-
pected but powerful reinforcement
came to the aid of the tourists in the
shape of their engineer on board the
launch. -~
Bill was slow to comprehend the
real danger of his friends position;
but when he did 80 he at once made
preparations for their relief. He
gathered all the ammunition
he could find into the pilot
house, and loaded nearly a dozen re-
peating rifles before commencing to
shoot. When he finally opened fire
he was able to keep a steady stream
of bullets trained upon the savages,
and this thoroughly demoralized
them and caused the majority to re-
treat precipitately from the hut and
turn their attention toward the
river.
Bill was not particularly noted for
craftsmanship, and not more than
one in every twenty bullets took ef-
feet; but the unceasing fire was too
much for the natives, and they broke
and ran like SO many sheep.
For a few minutes it looked as if
Bills plan would enable those i'm
prisoned in the hut to make their es-
cape; but with the cessation OF the
firing the courage of the natives re-
turned, and they speedily placed the
cabin between themselves and the
vessel. Then they sent half dozen
particularly good shots at the
doughty engineer.
"It looks ter me-" said Bill to him.
self, as several of the sharp pointed
sticks flew past him, "as if we'd
kinder got inter hornets nest.
These burned savages will starve the
boys out unless I can drive them off.
guess I'll wait till after dark and see
i'll can't carry some rifles to them.
For some time afterwards the
mind of the engineer was busily
engaged in choosing from a number
of plans the one best suited for the
speedy deliverance of his fellow
tourists. 1t would be necessary to
reach the cabin without alarming
the savages, and at the same time
leave behind him some Indication of
his presence on board the vessel,
thus distracting their attention from
his expedition.
He finally perfected a scheme that
would carry out his idea, and when
night fell, he had completed his
arrangements for liberating the tour
lists. He secured all the rifles in
bundle and slowed about his cloth
ing oil the cartridges he could carry.
Then he set the whistle on the boat
to blowing, tying back the valve
cord, so as to frighten the ma