The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1894-09-27

bank of the stream. but half mile
away, and approached by such tortu-
GUS paths through the dense forest that
it was plain that they were warlike
and strategic tribe, and that all the
redcoats in British Guiana could not
successfully attack the place Each
path, as / afterward came to know
was defended by sort of abittis, and a
| sentinel or scout was always on duty.
| Our advent into the village created
but little surprise, and this mostly
among the women and children. This
was a pretty good proof that the sight
Of white man was no novelty to the
men We We're held under guard on a
piece of vacant ground within the vii
lage for few minutes. while one Of
the natives went off to see the chief
and during this interval [ said to the
men:
1T is true, mates, that we have been
made prisoners, but we must hope for
the best. 1t is most likely, from the
looks Of everything, that We are being
held for ransom. In case we are separ
ated here and one of rs has the luck to
get away. let him take the creek for his
compass to get back to the river
Price growled back in an angry
tone. saying that but for me we could
have beaten them off, but Keys was
silent | think he was considerably
overcome by our situation. After
bit the native returned, and we were
separated and marched off in different
directions. [ was conducted to a small
hut, which appeared to have been emp
ty for some time, and left alone in the
darkness. There was no door to shut
on me, nor was anyone left as guard,
but | kept my eye open as We entered
the village and knew that it would be
impossible for me to find my way out
| found bed of leaves and branches,
flung myself upon it, and after few
minutes given to thinking over the sit
uation [ fell asleep, and it was sun up
before lopened my eyes. A native
had already entered the hut with my
breakfast. which consisted of stew in
which the meat might have been mon
key for all | could tell or cared. He
also brought calabash Of water, some
ground nuts Of pleasant taste, and a
species of fruit resembling the Ameri
can mandrake. | was eating breakfast
when [ heard a great shouting and
saw men running, but it was half an
hour before learned the cause Of the
excitement A native then conducted
me to the house Of the chief, where [
found Keys, greatly agitated. On the
ground beside him was heap of cloth
ing which [ recognized as the gar
ments worn by Price. and as | entered
the hut Keys called to me-"
oh Mr. Thompson but Price has
been done for. He was in a hut next
to me, and little time ago had made
a break to get away. Think he must
have wounded some Of the natives.
and that he gave them a sharp fight,
for they finished him off | saw his
dead body as they brought me there
The chief was not bad looking
fellow He had droll and cunning
look about his eyes, and he watched
and listened attentively while we We're
speaking. Near him stood a native
who proved to be an interpreter. He
had evidently been in the employ of
the English, for he could speak fairly
well. At assign from the chief he
asked of u.s.
. You write ?"'
Keys shook his head, while I said
yes. He then placed before me paper.
ink and pens, and, after confab with
the chief, he said"
o., e
dead He buy others. Want muskets,
powder, hatchets, beads and cloth. He
buy you, you no get away. Write
quick. Canoe take him down to cap
tain"
"Icaught the idea at once. We We're
to be held for ransom. Sailor men use
the pen SO little that none OF them can
boast of their scholarship in that di
rection, but at the end of an hour [ had
finished letter to the captain. telling
him all the circumstances and entreat-
ing him not to leave us to our fate. 1t
was no sooner placed in an envelcpe'
aud directed to him than a native
seized it and hurried away, and Keys
and myself were taken back to our
separate huts. This was about
o'clock in the morning. BY noon the
fellow was back with an answers (which
read"
you must try to escape. [ ihave
no authority to trade off the goods.
How much do they want? Could
boat load of men release you?'
The chief and his interpreter were
watching me as [ read the letter, and
they We're quick to discover that [ had
bad news. The interpreter could not
read writing, and they must, therefore,
take it as | gave it. | explained that
the captain had only few goods left,
and that be advised them to cond act