St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1894-02-24

wooden images of men with upl,f,,d d
swori-like machetcs In the ground
This, explained Ossorio, was /,
frighten away any evil spirits whc
might attempt to steal the body.
The dead mans entire kit of wcap
ons and bunch of plantains wa.
placed in the coffin with him, to pro
tect and feed him on his long journey
to the land of everlasting felicity.
Again the lOw-murmured wall began
and continued until 1t reached fren.
zied pitch. Faster beat the drum ant
faster whirled the women about The
open grave in q wild ecstatic dance un.
til. weak and dizzy. they sank to the
ground. squirming and clutching nj
the grass about them while the foam
licked from their mouths as from
rabid animals.
Once more silence fell upon the as
sembled crowd. The sukia stepped tc
the grave and with his machetc dis
patched three dogs and cat which were
to bear the dead man company on his
journey.
Il say, OssoriO, this is horrible-it's
voodooism-let's Co." muttered Struth.
ers.
"Yes. Buclxra, obeah an voodoo; de
Waikas long time come from Africa;
dey still keep up er r'ligion OBJ der
faders. Hut make me wait; he stop
now, see dcy do something else" added
the Carib, as the natives swaved back.
Tho crowd parted and two hideoua
ola hags stepped into the open. drag.
ging between them = trembling young
native girl. who cast terrified glances
before her
shame to whip such q nice little
girl" murmured tho Carib
''What do you mean-wbo is going to
whip her, and for what reason?" de-
manded StrutherS
DE Waika man tell me de dead
sukia's her fader," answered the Carib.
''Waika always whip de 'lations of dc
dead man at de fun'ral; maybe she do
something when he 1--we he no whip her
for-dey whip her now for shuah."
Hardly had the Carib spoken, when Q
brawny Waika buck stepped forward
with a heavy manatee whip. which
flashed through the air down upon the
girls shrinking shoulders. and left
long red welt of tortured flesh.
A shrick burst from the girl and she
writhed and twisted vainly to escape
from the clutches of the hags who held
her.
Look out, Ossorio. I can't stand
this, " aasped Struthers. ''rm going to
stop it,
But the faithful Bones, who had
crouched till then at Struthers' feet.
relieved them from all further respon-
sibility. for. as tho Waika raised his
arm for the second lash, Bones. at .
whispered word from Struthers, gave q
low growl. and. gathering himself to-
gether, made one of his famous jumps
and launched his forty odd pounds of
bone and muscle straight ut the exccu-
toners breast
1t was all SO sudden that the Walks
was down, with Bones at his throat,
before the assembled crowd realized
what had happened.
Then. with fierce yells. machetes
were drawn and the men made q rush
~ Bones.
Struthers and Ossorio were before
them, however. the former vowing no
would shoot the first man who touched
the dog.
Bones, obedient to his masters COM
mand. released the Waika, who. stag
gering to his feet, rushed to tho grave
and. selling from beside it q loaded
musket. raised it to take aim ut Struth-
erA
Before he could fire, . knife thrown
by the Carib pierced his right arm.
which fell limp at his side.
To make a stand against such over
whclming numbers was madness, 50
the two men dashed into the trail be-
hind them. hot pursued by the shrek.
ing, maddencd mob of Waikas.
On and on they dashed. till they were
breathless, tilltheir hearts beat against
their breasts, rs though they would
burst through. With every step their
pursuers seemed to gain, and Struthers
was about to give up in despair when .
glimmer in the heavy shade ahead re
vealed the river.
They crashed out into the open, and
in an instant had jumped into,the pit
pan, which had recently borne the
corpse of the sukia, and were we'll out
into the river when the angry Waikas
emerged from the forests
The yells of the disappointed natives
spurred them to swifter padding, and
they were ON the schooacr's deck be-
fore the Waikas could launch another
duRout-
The Waikas were too cautious to
risk an immediate attack but soon had
. dozen pitpans manned. and armed
70. for . breeze" cried Struthers ito
take us out over the bsrand away from
these heathens!"
But no breeze came, though the an
Choir was Gated aud all sail set ready
for the wind.
On came tho Waikas, the war drums
beating, the gourds rattling. and the
men yelling like demons
Suddenly, amid the pandemonium
raised by the Waikas, came sounds of
rssping and creaking overhead The
Car,b looked anxiously aloft from his
place under the bulwarks and gave a
cry of Rladnes&
Hardly had he spoken when . shout
Of anger came from the Waixas. Struth-
ers, raising his head above tho tan
rail. saw the pitpans slowly falling
behind, while the fresheniug breeze
carried them faster and faster toward
the open sea
For Z long time He watched the re-
cediu9 canoes until they were but
snecks far stern. Finally the Carib
touched his shoulder.
s.n.,cl,~ - ssiA (lesnri0 ssyve are out at