Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-29
CHAPTER XVI.
A NARROW ESCAPE.


One afternoon we sighted small island
which the chart designated as uninhabited,
and after running down within short dis
tance from the coral reef which surrounded
it, a boat was lowered and the second mate
and a crew were sent to find an entrance if
possible through the reef and procure a
small tree from shore As my boat was the
one selected, removed the harpoons and
lances and we pulled along outside the
rect, while 1 stood up in the bow until I
discovered narrow passage, scarcely wide
enough to admit the boat. We passed
safely through and soon landed on the
white beach, leaving two men in the boat
10 keep her ahoat Just clear of the shore, as
a whaleboat is made of half-inch cedar
boards and is easily injured by the small
pebbles. We felled a suitable tree, Topped
off the branches at the top, and after regal
ing ourselves with the green nuts, we cut off
a piece of the trunk about six feet in
length and carried it down to the waters
edge, placed it in the boat, and were pre-
pairing to leave when we heard chorus of
wells and long spear whizzed over the
boat, narrowly missing one of the men.
Looking up in alarm we saw a score of
naked savages running swiftly toward us
On the beach, brandishing their clubs and
uttering loud cries OF rage. We scrambled
hastily into the boat and seized our oars
but BY this time they were so near to us
that had they been armed with spears We
should undoubtedly have been slaughtered.
Luckily for u.s. however, the one which was
thrown was the only weapon of the kind
on hand, but as the boat gathered headway
slowly, owing to our excitement, several of
the wicked looking natives rushed into the
water nearly up to their waists in the en-
deavor to seize the oars and capture us.
Pull. boySr' shouted the second mate,
eve re dead men if they reach us!' In the
terrible excitement of the moment one of
the crew missed his stroke and fell back
ward. upsetting the man behind him, caus-
ing us to lose headway, and at this instant a
brawny savage laid his hand upon the
boat S gunwale with fierce yell of triumph.
His face was streaked with tattoo marks
and huge rings of ivory depended from his
ears and nose, giving a most horrible ap-
pearance to his features, while his upper front
teeth were filed like the teeth of saw and
sent a shudder through my veins as he shout
ed to his companions who were close behind
him.
l had given up all hope, when the second
mate suddenly seized the heavy tiller, which
lay in the stern sheets, and dealt our unwel
come visitor terrible blow over the unpro-
tected head, causing him to relinquish his
hold upon the boat and fall back into the
water, while, freed from his detaining grasp,
the boat shot away from the shore before
the rest of the warriors could reach us.
Hope nerved our arms, and the light craft
was soon beyond reach of the clubs which
they now hurled after us in inpotent rage.
-PeTT.El that they might pursue us in a
canoe, e lost no time in pulling for the
channefin the reef, and our fears were only i
too well grounded, for we saw them run |
Ia Fa,r h,n
yards away, and before we were we'll out OF |
the passage a long canoe, manned by not |
less than 20 men, shot in sight and headed |
directly for us.
Ny readers have doubtless read of the |
speed OF which these native canoes are capa- |
BILE, propelled as they are by broad-bladed |
paddles in the hands of savages, whose life |
Is largely spent in them, and if the water |
had been as smooth outside the reef as it |
was inside our fate would soon have been |
decided. The strong trade winds, however, |
cause considerable swell, and thev inter |
tered with the progress of the savages after |
the reef was passed. while our boat was |
built for such conditions, and under our |
long, powerful strokes shot rapidly along, |
gaming slowly but surely. BY this time |
the Captain had discovered that something |
was wrong and the ship was put about and |
ran down toward US, but not until we were |
actually alongside did our blood-thirsty |
pursuers give over the chase and then, with !
q chorus Of wells, they returned to the
island, pausing every few moments to wave
their paddles high in the air and give vent
TO their rage in savage cries and gestures.
There are said to be no cannibals on these |
islands, but there is no doubt in nv mind |
but what we would have been slaughtered, |
If not devoured, if We had not succeeded in |
making our escape.