The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1894-02-10

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wooden images of men with up,u T..
swors1-ltke mao1aetes in the ground
This. explained Ossorio, was. te
frighten away amy evil spirits whc
might attempted steal the body.
The dead man's entire kit of weap
ons and bunch of plnntains wa.
placed in the coffin with him. to pro-
to the land oHeverlasEfng felicity.
Again the lpv-snurmured wall began
and continued until 1t renched n freq
zied pitch. Faster beat the, drum PM
faster vvhirled the women about the
open grave in a@.vild ecstathc dance ua,
til. weak and dizzy, they sank to the
ground. squirnting and clutchinz- al
the grass about. them. while tho Ioa,n
licked from their mouths as from
rAbid animals
Once more silence fell upon the as.
sembled crowd. The sUNsin stepped to
the grave and with mis- machete dis.
patched three dogso-nd a cat which were
journey.
II say, Ossorio, this is horriblc-it's
voodootsrn-1et's CO." muttered Struth-
ers.
Yes. Buclrra, obeah an vootloo: de
Waakas long time come from AfriceS;
uey still keep up er r'ligion oh.tier
1aders. But make me wait; he stop
now. See. dcy do something eise," added
the Carib. as the natives swayed back.
The crowd parted and two hideous
Ola hays stepped toto the open, drag
Ring between them q trembling young
beforel6er. >' Fa"e''s
giTA" murmured the Carib
what do you mean-who is goinfs to
Whip her, and for what reascn?'' de-
nanded Struthers-
DE Wail<a man tell me de dead
sukia's her fader," answered the Carib.
.NWaika always whip de 'lations of dc
dead man at de fun'ral; maybe she do
something when he live he no whip her
for-dey whip her now for shual1"
Hardly lAd the Carib spoken, when q
brawny Wail<a buck stepped forward
with a heavy manatee whip. which
flashed through the air down upon the
girls shrinking shoulders, and lett a
long rcd welt of tortured flesh.
A shrek burst from the girl and she
vvrithed and twisted vainly to escape
from the clutches of the hags who held
her.
Look out. Ossorio. can't stand
this easped Struthers- ''Im 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 the waikiki raised his
arm for the second lash. Bones, ut a
whispered word from Struther gave a
low Rrowl, and, gathering himself to-
gether, made one of his famous jumps
and launched his forty odd pounds of
bone and muscle straight at the execu-
toner's 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 a rush
at Bones.
Struthers and Ossorio were before
them, however, the former vowing no
would shoot the first man who touched
the dog.
Bones, obedlent to his master's1cor-
'nand. released the Wail<a, who. stag
gcring to his feet. rushed to the grave
and. Selling from beside it loaded
raised it to take aim at Struth-
ers.
Before he could fire. a knife thrown
by the Carib pierced his right arm,
which fell limp at his side.
To make q stand against such over
numbers was madness. SO
the two men dashed into the trail be-
hind them, hot pursued by the shriclc- |
ing. maddencd mob of Waikas.
On and on they dashed, till they vrerc |
till their hearts beat against |
heir breasts, as though they would !
burst through. With every step their |
oursuers seemed to- gain, and Struthers
was about to give up in despair when u |
,limmer in the heavy shade ahead re- |
7ealed the river.
They crashed out into the open, and |
n an instant had jumped into the pit |
pan, which had recently borne the |
corpse of the sukia, andbvvere we'll out !
nto the river when the. angry Waikas |
emerged from the forests.
The yclls of the disappoin ted natives |
purred them to swifter padding, and
hey were on the schsooner's deck be-
ore the Wailkas could launch another
lugout.
The Wailkas were. too cautious to
isk an immediate attack, but soon had
dozen pitpans manned and armed.
20, for a breeze" cried Struthers, ito
AXE us out over the bar and away from |
hese heathens!"
hor was Gated and oil sail set ready
or the wind.
On came the Waikas, the war drums |
'eating, the gourds rafting, and the
men yelling like demons.
Suddenly, amid the pandemonium |
aised by the Wailxas. came sounds Of |
asping and crealxing overhead. The
arb looked anxiously aloft from his
lace under the bulwarlks and gave
ry of gladness.
Hardly had he spoken when a shout
4 anger came from the Waikas. Struth-
RS, raising his head above the taft
all, saw the pitpans slowly falling !