The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1897-09-30

4
possible. They will board us in the
yawl as soon as the tide turns"
l pointed to the fact that there was
only one ape in the boat, and that
could put bullet through his head
where he sat If one of the men
would slip over the rail he could swim
up to the boat and secure it. This
was looked upon as good idea One
of the Borneo men got quietly into
the water and swan for the boat, aud
when he was close upon it l fired and
killed the ape in charge His dying
yell was answered from thousand
taroats, and in ten seconds the boat
was filled with apes The sailor had
to return empty han9ed. 1t was no
use to fire upon the beasts as their
numbers were so great, and we there
fore renewed our preparations for
defence The crew proper told us in
SO many words that they would not
lift hand except to defend themsel-
YES, as they considered crime to kill
an ape. If the schooner was boarded,
then they would be justified in fight
ing.
After few minutes all the apes but
one again left the boat. The BODY of
the one / had killed was carried to
shore. The tide would not turn
until 5 o'clock, and we had nothing
to do but wait and watch. / made a
she'll out of a tin can filled with pow
der and bullets, and the fuse to this
was to be lighted by Thomas when he
could heave it into the boat. We had
three loaded guns and a revolver
apiece, and believed the two of us
alone could prevent boarding. The
schooner swung bows to the shore as
soon as the tide turned, and was now
further away by her own length. We
did not hear a sound from the beasts
after they retired. There were scores
OF them watching us from the bushes.
DO doubt, but they did not show
themselves. When the tide began to
draw the yawl off shore, the ape left
IN charge, took a turn with his tail
around bush and thus held it.
At sundown there was a little breeze
and we could have left, but [ wanted
the apes in the traps and the captain
wanted his yawl. As it grew dark.
all the crew went below, saving it
was none of their fight, and one of
the Borneo sailors declared with great
vlgor and much grief that he had re
cognlzed an uncle in the ape l had
killed. Another had seen his brother.
and the cook fairly cried as he thought
that his favorite son, who had been
dead about five years, nigh have
turned into an ape and be waiting to
destroy his affect;onate father. Tho
mas and remained on deck to watch,
and we heard and saw enough to
prove that the apes were moving in
concert and IN a large body I had
tried to get the crew up, but they re-
fused to come. l had double barrel
ed shotgun, and Thomas was to throw
the she'll if they came near enough.
The shore was in such darkness that
we couldn't see what ollr enemies were
up to till the boat was suddenly seen
floating along our port bow. fired
into the black mass. and Thomas light
ed the fuse and heaved the shell, bat
IN his excitement missed the boat.
From the splashing IL the water 1
knew that large numbers of the apes
swan off, l had scarcely fired when
three or four appeared on the bows.
and the next moment they boarded
from every quarter. Their scream
ing and chattering was terrific, and
we no sooner saw the first half dozen
aboard than we made rush for the
cabin. From that moment we were
besieged, and by an enemy su>h as
never captured sailing craft before.
The crew were willing enough to
fight now, realizing the danger. We
were all together in the little cabin
and all armed, but the question was
what to do. The apes raced up and
down the decks, pulled at every rope,
and the number of them must have
been a full thousand. Their racing
about made the little schooner trem
BILE clear to her keel, and now and
then their weight lurched her from
side to side. The scnttle to the fo'-
castle was secured, the hatcees all
fast, aid the boards over the cabin
| skylight had been nailed. We heard
them pulling and hauling, however,
and every moment was an anxious
one. They wrenched the water butt
loose and rolled it around the deck.
and six cages of parrots were broken
up in no time and the birds killed.
1t was full hour before the pes
| quieted down. and from thence to
] daylight we caught few winks of
| sleep As we watched ana waited
| When day broke and we could see
through the cabin side lights, the
scene on deck was one of desolation.
Every running rope had been pull
ed down, great holes had been gnaw-
ed in the sails, and whatever they
could break up was broken. They
were still at it. Some of them were
even gnawing at the deck planks It
was clear that if left uninterrupted
they would ruin the schooner above
board, and SO we raised great shout
to draw their attention. It succeed
ed to a charm. 1t wasn't five minutes
before they had wrenched the boards
off the skylight. The sash was a hea
Wy one and the penes small, and even
when they crowded upon the sash to
the number of fifty it bore their
weight Holding my revolver close
to one OF the panes. fired three shots
and this cleared them off. From the
great chattering above we knew that
three of the gang had been killed OF
badly hurt They tried it again in
about five minutes. and now we used
both reviewers and peppered fonr Oh
, five more. From then on they KEEP,
clear of the skylight, but we knew
| thev were watching the doors
) On each side of the companionway
| was q pane of glass over an opening
J four inches wide by twelve long.
| smashed out one and Thomas the
, other. and we began shooting TIL,
, crowd made &c us, seeming to be pc.
fectly reckless. and several were sho
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