South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1893-01-27


scene. the horror of which can new
er be erased from my memory.
How long | lay there 1 cannot
tell, for i must haveswooned ut tho
terrible sight 1 had been compelled
to witness. The next l rcmem Der
was OF lying there among the bush
es trying to recall tho past. As
soon as could realize the situation
| arose and peered down into the
valley. The savsges had all disap-
peared as mysteriously as they had
come. The sun was low in the ho-
rison, and q desthly stiffness had
fallen over the scene.
"For half an hoar | stood there.
waiting aud listening for sounds Of
the savag s, but ct length, hearing
nothing TO excits'my fear, step
Ped from the thicket of bushes and
stole cautiously down to the little
grove whore the camp had besn.
"There amid the rank shrubbery
lay the mangled remains of the i'll
fated sailors, disiigured beyond re-
cegnition. For several moments /
stood there almost paralyzed by the
horrors of my situation. Then the
deadly peril that surrounded me
reused me to the knowledge OF the
necessity Of Immediate action. 1t
would not do to linger tn re q mo.
ment, as there was no telling when
the sayages might again appear up
on the scene; but what WAS l to
do?
"Suddenly ] thought OF the boat.
Was it still there, or had it been
taken away by the saVages? With
a boating heart | fairly rau toward
the place where it had been left. l
could har ;ly suppress a cry of Joy
as | pushed through III, thick
branches TO the waters edge and
found the boat still there unmoles-
ted by the natives. A glance told
me that nothing had been removed.
from the boat but a small portion
OF the provisions, aud l at once re.
solved to pat to sea in it and trust
to chanco to be pekei up by some
passing ship.
1t only required few moments
for me to board the boat and push
out into the little bay. l was well
skilled in it's management and soon
had the sail hoisted to catch the
strong off shore breeze that was now
blowing. Taking the rudder, |
ran swiftly down the inlet to the
open sea. A mic farther on l
rounded headland AMI WAS stand
ing out toward tho middle OF the
bay when | heard the sound of ma
ny strange voices coming from
the shore. CHANGING toward mar
row peninsula that lay on my left
l saw a band OF savages running
swiftly toward the waters edge,
brandishing their weapons and ut
tering savage ordinations ga they
ran. A shudGer passed over me as
i thought Of what my fate would be
should / fall int their hands. But
as | could see no boat In which they
could pursue me upon the water I
felt that | was safe beyond their
reach. However, my feeling Of Sc
eurity was. Of Eh9rt Duration, for
scarcely had thu seyages reached
the waters edge when I saw them
scramble down among the rocks
aud disappear into what seemed to
be kind of grotto. A moment la
ter a long canoe filed with the ma
tives shot out into the bay and
came swiftly in pursuit. Then an
other and another followed in quick
succession till half dozen had
joined in the chase.
although l was fully quarter
Of a mile in advance of them now, I
recognized the fact that there was
the greatest danger that l would be
overhauled by them.
"TLer were no weapons IN the
boat with which / could defend nv.
self, and even if there had been /
would have stood no chance OF re-
polling a score of blood thirsty saw
ages. There was but one chance of
escape, and that lay in fight. Re-
cognizing this fact, l held the lit
tie craft before the wind which was
now growing strong as / neared the
open sea.
"But in spite of this I could see
that the pursuing canoes were slow
y but surely gaining on me. Near
or and nearer they drew, til. CLAN
cling back, could SEQ the fierce
look Of ezultation on the hideors
faces Ct the savages. and hear their
wild calculations OF triumph as
they bore rapidly down upon me
Fifteen minutes more and they
would be within reach OF me. With
a feeling Of despair lashed the rud-
der IN place I grasped plank
from the bottom Of the boat-tbe
oars had been removed By the rob.
bers-and began to row with itas
best / could.
eve had now left the inlet, and
were out IN the open seas /; 1 cast a
hasty glance across the water with
the hope Of seeing some passing
ship bat there was no sign OF a sail
ia sight.
"But now for the irst time 7 no.
licod that an oohg v,a1o- 49,