The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-05-08
the crew went on with their unholy bust

the crew went on with their unholy eus1-
ness.
Partly prompted by curiosity, partly
owing to the threats of the priest, who
spoke to me once when I shut my eyes in
shuddering horror, saw the fearful orgies
to the end. What I saw shall never tell
I could not if would. No words I could
use would suffice to depict in all their
dreadful blackness the acts of that de-
moniac circle I supped full of horrors.
and when at length 1 was released I
swooned away.
ssWhen / recovered consciousness, was
living in a small cave on a rude couch, and
before me, intently looking into my face,
was that monster in human shape, the
priest of the midnight debauch. How long
had been there knew not. I felt weak
and faint, and overcoming my disgust so
far as to ask for water he gave me a Gala
bash full of some heavy, sweetish liquid,
which 1 drank eagerly. 1t must have
been a narcotic, for / fell asleep at once
and have now only a dim recollection of
waking several times and on each occasion
being supplied with food and drink of
some sort.
II must have remained in the cave for
several days with that evil being, in semi
comatose state, but at last l awoke feeling
much refreshed, though with numb sem
sation of terror hanging round me, OF which
have never yet got rid, and which know
will never leave me. Facing my jailer, l
asked him what he now intended to do
with me.
SCI have done with you in the mean
time said he, but have marked you for
the future and he pointed to my arm,
when 1 saw what you have just seen.
sAnd then the demon told me that though
he was but a poor, ignorant Niger he
could weld on an all knowing Englishman
a chain that would bind him all his life,
from which he could never free himself.
"'Go out into the world said he. BE
prosperous. 1 give you that with the rest
that whatsoever you put your hand to
shall prosper. Be happy if you can. l
cannot, with all nay power, give you that,
even if would. But remember that while
you wear that chain-and you can never
pluck it off your arm, where have made
it part of your body-you are in my pow
er. Wherever you are, when l choose l
can call you. even from the ends OF the
earth, and you must come. The sign will
be that when you feel the chain you will
know that am calling you
"You may be sure l left that accursed is
land with all speed, and yet nine times
since then I have seen it and seen that
cruel devil worshiper. From arctic SHOWS,
from the heart of Africa, as well as from
the busy centers of civilization have been
dragged I have buried myself in the
depths of the Australian bush, and yet he
has called me thence round half the worlds
circumference. Wherever / am, if feel
this dreadful chain causing me discomfort.
know my hour has come, and must up
and away If resist-and have resisted
the pain becomes unbearable, but as soon
as start for that hateful spot the pain
disappears. When I see the monster, he
only laughs at me for taking the trouble to
comeso far to see poor, ignorant niger.
Thank God he never forced me again to
look on at another Obeah ceremony, though
he sometimes threatens to do So"
We soon afterward parted for the night,
after arranging to meet again next day.
When at the appointed hour called fol-
him, was informed that he had left early
in the morning for abroad on urgent bust
ness.
Not business, I now knew. had called
him, but his remorseless tormentor,
through the power by which he was chain
ed.-Million.