The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1895-03-13

sides over these orgies-came forward,
and with a word stayed them. Set on
nv feet again at his co nmand, he eyed
me steadily, for few moments, and If
ever the devil looked out of human eyes
he did then. Such another diabolical
countenance | have never seen.
she appeared to cogitate few mo-
ments Then, speaking to the negroes
in iargon of which all but few words
we're unlnteligible to me, he spoke to
me in fairly good English.
"'You are an Englishman. Had you
been of any other race l would not haye
wasted breath on you, but left you to
your fate; but you English are the boast
ed conquerors of the world, and think
you know everything. Before | am done
with you you will know-anl can tel
your people if you choose-that there
are some things you have not got hold OF
vet. Meantime, first of your proud race.
YOU shall behold the most solemn rite of
obeah in this, one of its most sacred
places @
$50 saying he turned on his heel and
left me, while the negroes seized me
again, and, hurrying me nearer the large
fire burning in the center of the open
space, bound me securely, but not, l
must say, too tightly to tree, while
right before me the rest of the unholy
crewwent on with their unholy business,
''Partly prompted by curiosity, partly
owing to the threats Of the priest, who
spoke to me once when | shut my eyes
in shuddering horror, l saw the fearful
orgy to the end. What saw 1 shall
never tell could not if / would. No
words could use would suffice to depicl
in all their dreadful blackness the acts
of that demoniac circle, | supped full
of horrors, and when at length was re
leased | swooned away.
"When l recovered consciousness ]
was lying in a small cave, on rude
couch, and before me, intently looking
into my face, was that monster in human
shape, the priest of the midnight de
bauch. How long | had been there |
knew not. l felt weak and faint, and
overcoming my disgust 81 far as to ask
for water, he gave me calabash full Of
some heavy, sweetish liquid which l
drank eagerly. 1t must have been
narcotic, fer l fell asleep at once, and
have how only a dim recollection I
waking several times, and on each occa-
sion being supplied with food and drink
| of some sort. l must have renamed in
the cave for several days with that evil
| being in semi-cOmatOse state, but at
| last | awoke feeling much refreshed,
though with a numb sensation of terror
hanging around me, of which / have
never yet got rid and which know v i'll
never leave me. Facing my jailer, |
asked him what he now intended to do
with me.
'tT have done with you IN the mean
time, said he, but [ have marked you
for the future and he pointed to my
arm, when saw what you have just
seen.
''And then the demon told me that
though he was but poor ignorant mig
GER he could weld on an all-knowiDg
Englishman chain that would bind him
all his life, from which he could never
free himself
Go out :nto the world, said he; BE
prosperous; give you that with the rest
hat whatsoever you put your hand to
shall prosper. Be happy, if you can! l
cannot, with all my power, give you that,
even if could; but remember that while
you wear thatschain-and you can never
pluck it off your arm, where have made
it part of your body-you are in my
power. Wherever you are, when choose
[ 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 [ am calling you
"You may be sure l left that occurs
ed island with all speed, and yet nine
Il mes since then have seen it, and seen
that cruel devil-worshipe From arctic
SHOWS, from the heart of Africa, as well
as from the busy centers of civilization,
[ have been dragged. L have buried my
self in the depths of the Australian bush,
and yet he has called me thence round
half the worlds circumference. Wher-
ever l am if [ feel this dreadful chain
causing me discomfort, know my hOu E
has come, and must up and away. Ii
| resistant [ have resisted-the pain
becomes unbearabIe; and as soon as /
start for that hateful spot the pain dis
appears.
"When see the monster he only laughs
at me for taking the trouble 20 come so
far to see a 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 afterwards parted for the
nigh, after arranging to meet again next
day. When, at the appointed hour, |