The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-22
CHAPTER XVI.
A NARROW ESCAPE.

In company with the Alaska. We passed out
squared away for New Zealand. bearing our
green fruit for the good .pcnplc in Mongonni.
The next day we raised land again. and ran
lying to while two boats went. Ashore and re-
turned with load after load OF old coconnuts.
Thch We threw int n, the lHwer hold between
have omitted to state heretofore how we
passed our leisure moments. and will take this
o. rare Wood with The handles made Of wh Hhss
hut dRRsTs; viii Mt anss wS
atisles Whaf,rs call sac% Two work '"ss sc RIM
the origin Of tic word: I make this eSi!ann-
ton here. as it was on account OF this fancy
ws hsa w h 81 Flen sr Gt nns s
cruising down toward tho Fiji group. which
we reached after q few days. intending to
lad several barrels salted down " "''''' "'
As have already explained, tho cocoanut
palm furnishes these savagess with nearly all
many Of the islam IS it is pronounced sacred by
the chiefs. and all persons are "tabooed' from
had heard. but rs tho youni: trees arc not as
porous us tho older growth. We We're very anx-
ous to Secure supply Of with which
beautiful cane when polished;
,,S onH afternoon, we sighted small island
and after running down within a short dis
lance from the coral reel which surrounded
nnS sans to "na ind s mate
possible through the reef and procure small
tree from shore. As my boat was the ono
and we pulled along outside the reel, while I
stood up in the bow until | discovered n mar.
row passage, scarcely wide enough to admit
soon landed on the white beach. leavins
two men in the boat TO keep her atioat
Is made ." ha,-nch cellar boards and I Is easily u
suitable, trcs. Topped of the branches at the
about six feet in length and carried it down to
s1x in @ hSs1s and
chorus Of yells and long spear .Mniz1eI over
the boat. narrowly missing ono Of the men.
Looking up in alarm We saw Il score OF naked
savages running swiftly toward us on tho
,heach, beach; b o their clubs aud utterinG
the boat and seized our oars hut nv this time
they were 30 near US TINT had they been arm ed
with spear, We should undoubtedly have been
ses n ne ' %s3~" Via Haqa 'nf Pn as
ing to- to. our excitement. Several n"'s Of t Tie
wicked looking natives rushed into the water
nearly up to the. waists in the r,ndeayor to
they reach ss a terrific sTs nn u
ana feel back ward. npsetting tho nan Behind
him. causing us to lose hatdway. ana at this
instant .brawny savage laid hi. hand upon
u@r His face was ssreakea i'1 WITH i t., too
ma marks: and huge rings Of ivory depended from
t. his whe nt his n ntt'oH r ant
sent sl,5 tder through my veins as he shout
mate suddenly the he %" t lie s Whan
come visitor a terrible blow over his mn npS,.
f hnd head 6 causing tnnf him 70, 70 rSelnsh his
the boat shot away from the shore before tho
rest OF the warriors :ou'd reach u.s. Hope
beyond reach OF the club which they now
hurled after us in impotent rage.
Fearful that they might pursue us in
we'll @ f"r we saw Them ner run 's sws
away. and before We were we'll out Of the pas
sage a long canoe manned by not less than
twenty men shot in siEht and headed for US
OF which these native canoes are capable; pro.
PEELED as they are by broad. badGa paddle. in
spent in them. and II the water had been as
smooth outside the reef as 1t was in side our
e w9nd haze sssn aseded The
erabiS swell. and they interfered with the
progress q the sayaGes a 9,,r the resi was
ditons. and undar our long powerful strokes
shot rapidly along. gaining slowly but surely.
by this time the Captain had discovered that
something was wrong and the ship was put
about and RIM down toward U.S. hut not until
thirsty pursuers give over tho chase and then,
with chorus OF yclls they returned to tho
island. pausing every few moments to wave
their paddles high in the air and give vent to
their iage in savage cries and gestures.
There are said TO be no cannibals on these
islands but there is no doubt in my mind hut
what we would have heen slaughtered, II not
devoured. If we had not succeeded in making
our ESCAPE.