The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-02-23


spears. and who, having discovered
him. were stealing up to take hlm
prisoner. Resistance was out OF the
question, for two of the party had
their arrows drawn TO the head,
ready TO send them thr ough him, and
the Others had their spears poised for
the same purpose; and so, anxious to
preserve his life, he held up both hands,
palms outward, in token of peaceful
surrender
The natives evidently had a whole
some fear of the white man; for, before
they would approach him, they made
signs that he must lie down and cross
his hands; and when he had done this,
they came up very cautiously, with
their weapons all prepared for instant
use. But when they finally got hold of
him, and got his hands tied their fears
all vanished, and they fairly danced
and yelled with delight They took
him into the village, and all the inhab-
itants, old and young, crowded round
him, danaing and singing, and this
made him fear that their joy merely
sprang from their anticipating pleasure
of feasting on his body, which was
doubtless true, for they were really
cannibals.
They now robbed him of every thing
he had-his watch, knife, keys and a
few trinkets-then stripped him of all
his clothes, piece by piece, till he was
perfectly naked. This done, they shut
him up in one of their huts, tying his
feet and releasing his hands, SO that
he could help himself to the food they
placed for him, some stewed goats
flesh and casSava bread. of which, be
ing very hungry, he ate heartily, not
knowing but it might be his last meal
Soon after this the fetich-man-a dia-
bolical looking fellow, with low fore
head, Hat nose, huge mouth and wicked
eyes-came IN anu examined hlIn ana
went.away He was not disturbed again
that day and night, but he slept very
little thinking of the horrid doom that
he believed was in store for him.
At an early hour next morning he
heard a great noise in the village, and
supposed the natives We're preparing
for a feast; and when some of them
came. unbound and led him forth, he
thought his last hour was surely at
hand To his surprise he found the viii
lage filled with large Moorish caval-
cade, comprised of mep, women and
slaves. rich Moor was making a
Journey to the coast, with his harem OF
body-guard of Arabs, all mounted and
armed, and a large number of slaves,
of different races, travelling on foot and
driving a herd of cattle and a number
of beasts of burden.
Jarvene was at once conducted to the
Moor himself, who was a stout, middle
aged man, superbly mounted on
thorough bred, and whose turban, toga,
tunic trousers and sandals were of the
richest stutfs and glittered with costly
Jewels The Moor eyed him SHARPLY.
addressed him in two languages and
then in French. On hearing his native
tongue, the poor sailor burst into tears,
and piteously begged the other to take
him with him and restore him to his
country.
will your countrymen pay a hand
some ransom for you?" inquired the
Moor, who had only speculation in
view.
''Oh, yes, your royal highness. I'm
sure they WILL replied Jarvene.
IF not, what them?
God will reward YOU" said the
sailor, solcmnly.
81 never purchase prisoners with the
view of getting any pay from thai
quarter" rejoined the Moor, with
with the expectation that they will be
ransOmed, that | shall sell them for
gain, or that they will more than com
penSate me as slaves. | will buy You,
because | think | can make money by
the purchase"
He called up one of his overseers and
ordered him to take Jarvene away, Civ.
him cloth for his loinS and put him To
work among the slaves till further no
tice. This saved the poor sailor from
being devoured by negro cannibals-
The cavalcade soon moved forward
and travelled at the rate of about fifteen
twenty miles a day. At night tents
were put up for the Moor and his house
hold but the slaves slept in the open
air The latter were obliged to watch
the cattle till they We're done grazing
and then drive them in and secure them
in a pen, which they also had to take
down and put up every day, so that,
for the mos part, they got very little
sleep, and often felt the whip of the
overseer when any thing went wrong.
AS they drew near the coast, Jarvene,
whose flesh had more than once tingled
under the lash, determined to effect his
escape; and at last he succeed a in get
ting past the Arab sentinels and max
ing his wav into port W here a French
vessel lay, and his countrymen gladly
gave him their protection and bore hin.
from the scene of his troubles back to