Semi=weekly graphic., 1896-12-19


 have cleared them ont long before, and the fact that they were unheard of if not unknown outside the kings eoun. try argued that they were not impor- tant But the prospect of seeing real sannihals, even at distance. increased my desire to go.
 We carried provisions on pack horse, for the west coast was wild and unin- habited. N were armed with shotgun and pistols, not so much for self protee- t1on as to secure game if need be-
 1t was the evening of Dec. 20, and we had made camp in a beautiful valley. near the shore. where there were fuel. grass and water.
 We needed no shelter, for tho air yaa as soothing and bahny us in the land of the lotus eaters, where, the poet says, it IS one perpetual afternoon.
 We had an early supper and just at sunset the guide. who seemed unusual ly nervous, went 10 the top of an adjoin- ing h1U to spy out the land. " as he put 1t, for he had been educated at a mis- slonary school and was full of Biblical expressions
 After being absent so long that be- gan 10 feel impatient he came running breath1ess1y into camp
 Whats up?'' l asked.
 Pointing over tho hill, the guido gasped;
 People from the Hankan islands in camp over theIei And there's Il whito man with themp'
 But Is that surprising?" I inquired
 Yes, sir l should say 1t was, ho answered. Then he added 'Wo mustn' t stay here. It's dangerous.
 To the surprise of the guide I an- nouneed my purpose to have q lock a these people, and, fearing to remain alone rather than because he approvea of the undertaking, the guide accom- panied me
 We reached the top of the hill, from which we could see a fire ill the valley not more than 150 yards below us. About this fire four men stood, two of them unmia akably natives and two of them as enthusiastically white mon, though the slight attire eff all was the same
 There are two white men down there, l said to the guide No mat ter bow the others feel, these will De friends. Come with me And, making sure that my pistols were smooth in the holsters, l threw the shotgun into the hollow of my arm and strode down.
 Like man under hypnotic influence, khD rrr=ifto Fsf4r F,. utes we were at the fire.
 Tho nati .es were the first to hear us, and, without seizing their spears, which Wero on the ground, they uttered 4 yell of alarm and fled.
 The older of the two bronzcd white men-tho younger was about one and twentg-reaehed out his hands, and ill T voice trembling with emotion shouted.
 'Friendsi FFiends At last, friendsl"
 When tha younger man could eom- mand his tongue, after he had shaken hands with us. ho cried out "Get back from tho fret There's danger hercl" Ha and his companion picked up tire spears and. at run, they followed tie guide and myself to our camp
 There was no time for explanation Clearly these men had been captiyos 1 and were as anxious to escape as we were to hela them.
 We saddied up quickly, placed the older man on the pack horse, while the younger sprang up beside nc, and then, guided by the stars, we started eastward.
 During +bo night march the young man behind me told me his story. His name was Clifford Baldwin; that of his companion was George Wellman, mate of the lost ship Albatross and the brother of tAo captain,
 The ship foundered in cyclone after most of the crew, including the captain, had been swept from her decks. This was nine months after she had left New Bedford.
 Of the five men who got away in the lifeboat, three died of starvation Young Baldwin and the mate were flung ashore on one of the Hankan islands. where for SIX years the natives, who i'll every other way had treated them kind ly, kept them captive. Now and then they made lrays to tho main island to carry off f.aori cattle. and they had just landed for this purpose the night before
 .Take me to my father ill Boston, y said the young man in conclusion. Tor send mo to him, and ho will repay you for your trouble
 I told him that his father was then at Auckland, whereat he was so much affected that the poor fellow burst intJ tears.
 The Maoris were astonished at our discovery, and they gladly furnished us with fresh horses to get 10 the nearest stage line
 We had provided clothing for our nearly naked companions, and barber at the geysers had made them more pre- sentable
 It was now Christmas day when we reached Auckland. and to two men at least it was the happiest Christmas day in all the gorld
 Mr. Baldwin soon regained his health. He and his son-tho latter HOW married -aro living in California, and never Christmas day passes that l am not ask