The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1894-01-06
a small circle of light surrounded by

monies began.
Bending low over the swathed body,
the sukia began in a low, rapid muir.
muir to bewail his loss and recount the
good deeds of the dead man; one by
one the women Joined in-the chant in.
creased rapidly in velocity and volume
until it formed a grand swelling chorus
of distress, then slowly died away into
an iaarticulate sorrowing.
In a silence broken only by the muf.
FLED. tones, of the tom-toms and the sobs
of the c%rouching women, the new sukia
kneeled down and solemnly stuck little
wooden images of men with uplifted
s~wOrd-like machetes in the ground
This, explained Ossorio, was to
brighten away any evil spirits who
might attempt to steal the body.
The dead mans entire kit of weap-
ons and a bunch of plantains was
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-murmurcd vail began
and continued until it reached Il fren.
zied pitch. Faster beat the drum and
faster whirled the women about the
open grave in a Wild ecstatic dance un-
til, weak and dizzy, they sank to the
ground, squirming and clutching at
the grass about them while the foam
flicked from their mouths as from
rabid animals.
Once more silence fell upon the as
sembled crowd. The sukia stepped to
the grave and with his machete dis
patched three dogs and a cat which were
to bear the dead la company on his
journey.
al say, Osscrio, this is horrible-it's
voodooism-let's go, muttered Struth-
ers.
Yes, Buckra, obcah an voodoo; de
Waikas long time come from Africa;
dcv still keep up cr rligion oil der
faders. But make me wait: he stop
now. see. deg do something else" added
the Garth, as the natives swayed back.
The crowd parted and two hideous
ola hays stepped into the open, drag
ging between them a trembling young
native girl, who cast terrified chances
before her.
Shame L whip such Il nice little
girl" murmured the Carib.
What do you mean-who is going %
whip her. and for what reason" de-
mandcd StruthcrS.
"De Waika man tell me de dead
sukia's her fadcr," answered the Carib.
"Waika always whip de 'lations of de
dead man at de fun'ral: maybe She do
something when he live he no whip her
for-dey whip her now for shuah."
Hardly had the Carib spoken, when a
brawny Waika buck stepped forward
with a heavy manatce whip. which
flashed through the air down upon the
girls shrinking shoulders. and left a
long red welt of tortured flesh.
A shrek burst from the girl and she
writhed and twisted vainly to escape
from the clutches of the hags who held
her.
Look out, OssOrio, ! can't stand
this" paspcd S%truthers. I'm going TO
stop it,
Bat the faithful Bones, who had
crouched till then at Struthers' feet,
relieved them from all further rcspon-
sibilitv, for. as the Waika raised his
arm for the second lash, Bones, al a
whispered word from Strnthcrs, gave a
low growl, and. gathering himself to-
gethcr, made one of his famous jumps
and launched his forty odd pounds of
bone and muscle straight at the execu-
toners breast.
1t was all SO sudden that the Waika
was down, with Bones at his throat,
before the assembled crowd realized
what had happened.
Then. with fierce yells, machetes
at Bones.
Struthcrs and OSsorio were before
them. however, the former vowing he
would shoot the first man who touched
the dog.
Bones. obcdIcnt to his masters com
mand, released the Waika, who, stag
gering to his feet. rushed to the grave
and, Selling from beside it Il loaded
muskct, raised it to take aim at Struth-
crs.
Before he could fire, a knife thrown
by the Carib pierced his right arm,
which fell limp at his side.
Make fo' de boat" roarcd the Carib,
.'or we done for. shuah!"
To make a stand against such over
whelming numbers was madness, SO
the two men dashed into the trail be-
hind them, hot pursued by the Shrek
ing. maddcncd mob of Waikas.
On and on they dashed, till they were
breathless, till their hearts peat against
their breasts. as though they would
burst through. With every step their
pursuers seemed to gain, and Struthers
was about to give up in despair when a
glimmcr 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 well nut
into the river when the angry Waiias
emerged from the forests
The yells of the disappointed natives
spurrcd them to swifter padding, and
they were on the schooncr's deck be-
fore the Waikas could launch another
dugouL.
The WaikaS were too cautious to
risk an immediate attack, but soon had
n dozen pitpans manned and armed.
20, for Il breeze" cried Struthers, 'to
take us ont over the bar and away from
these heathens..'
But no breeze came, though the an
Choir was Gated and all sail set ready
for the wind.
On came the Waikas, the war drums
beating, the gourds rattling, and the
men yelling like demons.
Closer and closer crept the pitpans,
while the men on the schooner Law
close to the deck and awaited the on
slaught
Suddenly, amid the pandemOnium
raised by the Waikas, came sounds of
rusping and creaking overhead. The
Carlb looked anSiously aloft from his
place under the bulwarks and gave a
cry of gladncss.
Hardly had he spoken when Il shout
of anger came from the WaiKas- Struth-
ers, raising his head above the taft
rail. saw the pitpans slowly falling
behind, while the f~reshening breeze
carried them faster and faster toward
the open sea