Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1894-05-17

savages were collecting IN eager
groups by white patch OF beach, ana
putting out rude but well-manned
canoes into the calm waters OF tne
lagoon. At sight of their naked arms
and bustling gesture. Mur1el's heart
sank suddenly with her. .'Oh, MT.
Thurstan," she cried. cllnglng 10 MS
arm in her terror, what does 1t all
mean? Are they going to hurt us:
Are these savages coming over! Arc
they coming to kill us:''
Felix grasped his trusty knife hard
in his right hand, and swallowed a
groan. as he looked tenderly down upon
her. "Muriel," he said, forgetting in
the excitement of the moment the
little conyentionalties and courtesies
OF civilized life, IF thew are. trust me,
YOU never shall fall alive into their
cruel hands. Sooner than that" he
held up the knife significantly, with
it's open blade before her.
The poor girl chung to him harder
still, with a ghastly shudder. ION,
it's terrible, terrible" she cried, turn
inc deadly pale. Then, after short
pause. she added, But [ would rather
have it so. Do as you say. | could
bear it from you. Promise me that,
rather than that those creatures should
kill me-"
II promise" Felix answered, clasp
ING her hand hard. and paused. with
the knife ever ready IL his right,
awaiting the approach of the half
naked savages.
The boats glided fast across the Ia
COON, propelled by the paddles OF the
stalwart Polynesians who manned
them, and crowded to the waters edge
with groups of grinning and shouting
warriors They were dressed in aprons
of dracaena leaves only, with necklets
and armlets OF sharks teeth and cow
RE shells A dozen canoes at least were
making toward the reef at full
speed, all bristling with spears
and alive with noisy and bolster
Gus savages. Muriel shrank back
terror stricken at the sight, as they
drew nearer. But Felix, holding, his
breath hard, grew somewha nervous
as the men approached the reef. He
had seen enough of Polynesian life be-
fore now to feel sure these people were
not upon the war-path. Whatever
their ultimate intentions toward the
castaways might be, their immediate
object seemed friendly and good
hundred. The boats, though large.
were not regular war canoes; the men,
instead of brandishing their spears,
and lunging out with them over
the edge in threatening attitudes,
held them erect in their hands,
at rest, like standards; they were
laughing and talking, not crying their
war-cry. AS they drew near the
shore, one big canoe shot suddenly a
L l., 40,
leader, standing on the grotesque
carved figure that adorned it's PROV,
held up both his hands open and empty
before him, in sign of peace, while at
the same time he shouted out a word
or two three times in his own language,
to reassure the caseways.
Felix's eye glanced cautiously from
boat to boat. He says, We are
friends,'" tho young man remarked in
an undertone to his terrified COM
'panion Il can understand his dialect.
Thank Heaven, it's very Gloss to Fl ian.
| shall be able at least to palaver to
these men. I don't think they mean
Just now to harm us. [ believe we can
trust them, at any rate for the present."
The POOR girl drew back, in still
greater awe and alarm than ever. sob,
are they going to land here?" she
cried, still clinging closer with both
hands to her one friend and protector.
''Try not to look SO frightened!' Fe-
lix exclaimed with a warning glance.
"Remember. much depends upon 1t;
savages judge you greatly by what de-
neanor you happen to assume. II
you're frightened, they know their
power: if they see you're resolute. they
suspect YOU have some supernatural
means of protection Try to meet
them frankly. as if you were not afraid
OF them" Then, advancing slowly to
the waters edge, he called out aloud,
in strong, clear voice, a few words
which Muriel didn't understand, but
which were really the Eli ian for ''We
also are friendly. Our medicine is
good. We mean no magic. We come
to you from across the great water. We
desire your peace. Receive US and
protect u.s."
At the sound of words which he
could readily understand, and which
differed but little, indeed, from his
own language, the leader on the fore
most canoe, who seemed by his man
neg to he {. great chiefv turned round to
his followers and cried out in tones OF
superstitious awe. ''Tuekila-Kila spoke
WE'LL These are. indeed, what he told
us. Korong. Korong. They are spirits
who have come to us, from the disk OF
the sun, to bring us; light and pure,
fresh fire. Stay back there, all of you.
You are not holy enough to- approach.
I and my crew. who are sanctitied by
the mysteries, we alone.will 90 forward
to meet them"
TO BE CONTINUED-
A Good Horse,