The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1896-07-09

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small stream, up which we waded
! for some distance, until, finding tree
! dense enough for cOncealment, | help
| ed my companion up among the
| branches Wrung his hand, and plung
! ed again into the forest to draw fl
/ the dog and the sayages that | felt
wOnld be sharp enough to follow ann.
With both barrels full cooked, re
traced my steps towards the open
country, trusting should | escape dis
cOvery, to reach the nearest planta
ton, some SIX miles off, and bring re
lief to my companion, as ! knew a
strong guard of over one hundred men
was posted at the place | hoped to
reach
| had covered about half mile,
when the unwelcome sound Of my
dogs bark fell upon my ear.
BY the short, sharp yelp, | conld tell
that the running water had destroyed
my scent. but as there was no saying
how soon the lynx eyed sayages might
find it. had they not given up the
chase. | sped onward. not pausing un
til | had secured enough distance,
when / could prudently look in their
direction
When | did venture to peep out, a
column OF smoke was rising from the
huts, and a mob of Looshais, with
some hapless captives in their midst
| was returning across the plains.
could do nothing to assist them,
SO hurried on till | was sufficiently
far away from the place they would
enter the Jungle for me to venture an
other peep at their proceedings
Nhen | did, | was just in time to
witness the cruel murder Of an old
man, who, presumed, could not keep
mp with them, and then, beheading
the unhappy victim. ! saw them dis
appear into the forest.
At that moment, the yelp of the ter
rler close to me almost caused my
heart to cease beating. In another
minute L had recovered, and dashing
ont Of the forest, made straight across
| the open at the top Of nay speed, not
daring to look behind for fear of STUN
! bling over some clOd or other obstacle
! Ping. came bullet, that struck the
ground ahead me. but though nearly
at my last gasp, | held on, knowing
my only chance now lay III getting
what sailors call good of1ing"
The dog was now with me- Rest.
even for Il brief period, / must nave,
| for | felt my strength failing, and
knew [ should need what breath had
| left for the final struggle.
A strip Of tall pampas grass extend
! ed 10 my right, reaching TO Il consid
cradle distance, and just as | noticed
an opening in it-apparently cattle
path for which | intended to make,
the audible sound of feet behind caus-
| ed me to wheel suddenly around.
So close was the foremost of my
half dozen pursuers, that as | came to
standstill he actually dashed past
me- aiming an abortive blow at my
head with his spear.
Quick as thought, fired into his
| back, sending the contents Of my bar
| rel into the face of another, as he
was in the act Of yelling, and warding
| off Il desperate cut from the third.
knocked him scnseless with my club
ed gun.
Shaking all over with excitement
and want of breath, a momentary halt
on the part Of the others enabled me
10 reload with my only two remaining
| cartridges; Just III the nick of time.
Tor 50 close were the others. that [ had
to fire from the hip, luckily hitting
the nearest in the knee and as the
! remaining two came on, side by side,
my last shot crippled both, being aim
ed low for the purpose.
The others. who had again emerged
from the Jungle. little imagining such
a termination to the chase, now De
tached a full dozen Of their number,
| bat as | knew most of those We're for
the purpose Of carrying off their dead
and wounded the invariable custom
| OF the Looshais-i Felt ! should have
chance. Long ere they We're half
| way toward me- | had recovered my
! breath, and hasty reflection showing
what fearful odGs | should have to
contend with, I seized one Of my fallen
enemies spears, and bOlted down the
path i'll the pampas grass, turning at
the entrance. and thankful TO see | had
a capital start.
L was soon through the strip. and
tiinging my now useless gun far into
the grass, ran along the opposite
side, outstanding my strength for an
other trlal Of speed if they shOuld fol
low me when no longer under its
frienly shelter
As | neared the end Of the strip
Of grass, [ edged away into the open.
and then put on y fresh spurt I'LL /
gained Il clear enough distance to
look round without danger.
They had not followed through the
grass. 81 | dropped into a walk, ready
for flight in case they might have
been running parallel to me on their
| side of the the pampas
The country was interspersed with
clumps Of trees and belts of grass: and
having fully distanced, rs | hoped. aIl
pursuit, / paused behind cIump IF
trees. from which | could command
II good view of the only two points
from which the sdvages must come
waiting fully five minutes.
| had just turned to resume my
! journey for | felt the reaction conse
. quant on the tremendous exertions of
the morning setting in-whan the
faint click of Il pony's hoofs on the
! hard ground caught my ear Oyer-
joyed at the sound, | hurried forward.
| soon spying a brother planter. who. it
/ seems, was on his way to breakfast
| with us.
{ As presented myself, he reined up,
staring at me III blank amazement,
( with an uneasy look on his face as he
glanced at the formidable weapon
carried, as if doubtful of my sanity;
; but, laying my hand on his pony's