The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-01-16
THE ROANOKE TIMES, sATUaDA ~ JANUARY Is. 1892

If ever thanked Heaven for nv six
feet four of flesh and bone it was then.
for my long legs sent me far ahead of
my shipmates and reached the boat
first.
The wood in the boat made her
heavy, but my fright augmented my
natural great strength, and, placing
my shoulder against the bow, sue
cccded in pushing her into the water
| just as my shipmatcs came tearing
| down the beach
'Quicll, or we're lostw cried, as
they splashed into the water and scram-
blcd into the boat
But hurry us they might the savagcs
were close behind, and as the last man
| climbed aboard the foremost natives
dashed into the water with fierce wells
of triumph.
l stood up to my knees in water hold
ing the boat for my companions, and
as turned to jump on board IL brawny
Fiji sprang upon me with upliftcd club
l lodged blow which would have
scattered my brains about. and rs the
huge club struck the water l struck
out straight from the shoulder, putting
all my two hundred and fifty pounds
into the effort.
1t caught the fellow under the ear
and lie dropped like Il dead man.
The next instant l sprang into the
boat and seized an oar. BY this time
the other sailors had got out their oars
and attempted to row, but in their
| fright they were making poor worl, of
it, and one man fell backward in the
boat nearly losing his oar overheard.
hc I
away from the shore two more savages
rushed forward, brundishng their
clubs, while Il spear whistled within an
inch of my 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 livcs!" shouted as I
seated myself on the bow thwart and
shipped my oar.
But we were not TO escape so easily,
for with hoarse cry of rage the ma
tives dashed into the water up to their
armpits and one of them seized the bow
of the boat with both hands
Just then l saw u sharp Ratchet lying
at my feet in the boat, and seized it
without delay. 1t was the work of an
instant to deal the savage deadly
blow, and he fell back into the water.
his head cloven in two.
fearful chorus of yells burst from
the baffied Fijis us they saw us bend
to the oars and shoot off beyond their
reach, and then they scrambled ashore
and ran swiftly into the BUSH
"ThanlS the Lord, boysr' said the
second mate, that was n close call
We're safe now unless they've got Il
canoe around that point!"
But no canoe appeared, and we were
beginning to breathe easier, when sud-
denly we saw large war. canoe shoot
around the point mentioned, manned by
fully score of naked Fits.
Not II word was spoken as we bent TO
our work. II was life or death with 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, boys" said the
mate, who stood up in the stern with
the long steering oar as he glanced
back at the canoe. They've only got
Il 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. and the broad backs
swaycd back and forth in perfect uni
son. Every oar was dipped deep in the
water and the boat fairly jumped ahead
every time the muscular arms straight
ened out.
Inch by inch we began to gain, until
at last we were drawing near the bark
Then with one accord our pursuers
stopped padding and united in shout
of disappointed rage, after which they
turned about and padded slowly bacl,
to land.
1t was not till afterward we learned
the probable cause of their attack. The
cocoannt tree is sacred in some of these
islands, and it is death to fell one We
had narrow escapc.-Chicago Tribune
Antiquity of the Rose.
1t is curious To find how long the rose
has been beloved and admired Solo.