Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-11-27
ocf the manatee in its Wild flight had

Fortunately the shock was so great
as to fling US clear of the hidden rock,
and rising from beneath the water we
struck out for the island. our speed NOT
a little accelerated by the fear OF
sharks and crocodiles.
Reaching the sandy shore OF the is
land. we crawled upon the beach, but
farther than this the waikas, with chat
tering teeth. declared they would not
go.
this "Dankwarra, the Isle of Fear"
for it was not unlike a hundred lagoon
islands | had seen-a heavy tangle of
tropical over and under growth. encir-
cled by a shining strip of beach. OF its
inhabitants, demons or otherwise, not
. trace was to be seen.
In response to an exclamation from
Witatala, looked toward the lagoon,
and there. on its surface, near the
beach, saw floating the dead body of
the manatee, which, in its moment Of
victory, had succumbed to death.
The waikas waded out into the water,
splashing as they went to brighten
away the sharks and crocodiles, laid
hold of the ropes attached to the har-
poems and drew the sea cow up on the
beach.
1t was certainly most remarkable
animal, if animal it may be called.
1t weighed, should say, between 1000
and 1880 pounds.
1t had two forefeet, or fiippers, but
instead of hind feet there was IA broad,
fiat tail which spread out horizontally
like IA fan. The skin was dark and
corrugated. and the few scattered hairs
upon it gave its body Il general resem-
blance to that of hippopotamus.
Witatala surveyed the dead creature
with anger, but philosophically re-
solved to make it pay in part for our
misfortune by serving as supper.
With the aid of couple of dry sticks
a fire was kindled, and the manatee was
prepared for eating.
did not wonder at the machetes
failure to penetrate its hide, for as the
flesh was cut in strips for broiling /
measured the skin and found it an
inch and half in thickness and as
tough as whalebone.
The manatee steaks proved to be ten
der, well Favored, altogether delicious
and far surpassed venison, to my palate.
After supper determined to do a lit
tie exploring on my own account, in
spite of the warnings of Witatala and
his men.
An eighth of n mile down the beach
came upon an old cannon half buried
in the sand. Scraping away the loose
soil. it proved to be. in spite of its
heavy crust of mold and rust, an an
cient Spanish cannon closely resem-
bling those the books picture to US as
having been used by the daring Span
ish freebooters in the days of Drake and
Kidd.
Farther along came upon other rel
ics-an old tiintlock, a dagger, several
pistols and piece of broken chain, all
scattered about as though they had been
left in some hasty flight.
As | walked back TO the waikas | re-
called the tales of the famous BLACK
beard. who made his name terror
along the Spanish main, and it seemed
probable to me that the now deserted
Daukwarra had been in those days n
secret stronghold of Blackboard" and
his piratical band.
Old Witatala evinced but little inter
est in the story of my discovery, his
mind being chiefly exercised over our
getting away from Dankwarra with
all possible celebrity.
This he determined to accomplish by
means of raft, which he intended to
construct from the clumps of bamboo
growing near the islands forest.
Night had descended with its tropical
suddcnncss Int this did not deter Wi
tatala from his preparations for max
ing the raft.
Despatrh;ng Quila and couple of
waikas for tietie vine with which to
bind the bamboo together, the rest of
US secured the machetes from the I'M
lucky manatee's hide and started for
the bamboo clumps.
The waikas would not carry torches,
for that they said would show our
whereabouts to the wicked Lassa, but
that we might not want for light they
caught handfuls of tirefies. pulled off
their wings and scattered them among
the bamboo trees, where they gave ra-
! dance enough for US to perceive clearly
! the surrounding objects.
At the first stroke of the machetes
/ on the bamboo the hitherto silent is
land seemed 10 break out into pande-
monium. | dropped my machete in dis
may, but Witatala claimed my nerves
| by telling me that the sounds were
made by the suddenly awakened ami
mai and bird life of the island. But
I what diaboliCal uproar il was!
There were unearthly groans and an
CRY snarls and shrieks. At times the
noises were blended and became sullen
and distant, then so sharp and near
they seemed at our very feet.
All the water birds and wild fowls
roosting in the trees gave Il sudden
futter and set up IA series Of croal1s and
screams which sent an adjacent TROOP
of bowling monkeys into spasms of de
light.
At intervals the heavy bodies Of
prowling animals would be heard crush
ing through the jungle, and ut thest
noises old Witatala would look anxious
ly around, in momentary dread of hav
ing Lassa and his demons swoop dow
upon him.
But nothing of the kind happened
and we were able to retreat in safet,
with our load of bamboo logs to tn
beach. where the construction of tn
raft began with great rapidity.
Inc great Teu Inoou Was beSlnnlLli
to grow dim in the approaching dawn
however, before the raft was completed
We had thrown ourselves down upol
the beach for brief rest before launch
ing our rude craft, when suddenly Wi
tatala grasped my arm like the teeth O
wise, and in n hollow whisper bad
me look toward the jungle. l did SC
and for minute every drop of bloc
seemed to stand still in my veins.
There, peering at us from the hal
parted bushes, was huge white face
terrible in its hideous ferocity. Be
Meath its low, slanting forehead blaze