The National tribune., 1898-03-31

I'm this paradise the crew lived like de-
generate lotus-eaters, and gave no thought
to probable accidents and dangers OF their
position. But we were destined to have
another experience at this spot in which
tapir figured. During one OF those con-
vivial evenings, when our ships company
gathered in their picturesque camp to
talk interminably and drink with an I'M
Quenchable thirst, while the mellow light
of watch-fires flashed on swaying boughs
and the AIadeiras broad expanse, CON
fusion and shame came upon that band OF
braggartS.
Sounds like the rushing of frantic hose
men suddenly arose close at hand, which
no doubt would have been heard sooner II
everybody had not been trying To talk
down everybody else. A large anita. dis
tracted by terror and streaming with blood,
galloped across the glade's indistinctly
illuminated edge, and plunged into the
river.
What had happened was evident at
glance. 1t had evidently been attacked
by puma or iapuar near our camp.
Springing upon the animals back, as is
often done, its aSsailant had begun To
tear with fang and claw while the tortured
brute ran wildly through thick jungle, try
ing to displace its terrible rider. In this
instance. being close to deep water, il had
made at once for the stream. Whether
lion or tiger, according to native parlance,
the beast IF prey had abandoned its VIC
tim on being carried towards US; but II
death in person, mounted on his pale
horse" had charged these incapables, their
CONSERVATION could not have been more
extreme.
Save three or four Moios, who now
snatched up weapons, quickly gathered
about our bivouac and probably would
have fought a little If there had been any
occasion. not a man remained within
sight. The rest dispersed, scattered by a
blind panic. 1t was a fine commentary
upon their everlasting boaStInG,- and
nice set were they Ia consort with, when
any day might put US INTO deadly peril.
All the same there was no help for il, since
nothing less than a sufficient force OF re-
liable adherents to thrash them salts
factorily every day for week or two would
have made the slightest permanent I'M
preston upon such wretches.
When they came struggling back, re-
ioiced to find themselves alive, and we had
relieved our own feelings by few appro-
pirate remarks, Maria Gomez. one Of the
crew, after some subdued talk with the
rest came forward and begged To say a few
words. He was in the reactonary stage Of
terror, and not yet quite sober. Why they
ran away he said remained incompre
hensible; but most likely that must have
been due to n spell. At all events, high
born and mapnanimous cavaliers like our
Excellencics, he continued, in his high
flown fashion, would doubtless so far over
look this circumstance as not to seriously
insist upon certain things that we had
said. There was no use iii delivering them
over to devils and if this intention could
be reconsidered, truly they who looked upon
il as an honor TO serve us would hereafter
stand fast.
We saw that our figures OF speech had
been taken literally; yet il might well have
been suicidal To relax the only control over
these men we could cffectualiy exercise.
except that given by personal prowess. So
their orator was waved away with few
enignnatical words intimating our resolu-
ton Ia regulate supernatural affairs ac-
cordinc as they behaved.
For "A little while Capt da Silva and his
crew felt and behaved like frightened
children. These hulllng creatures scruti-
nized each other to see if there were any
evidences of the evil eye, or other magic
influences at work; they misconstrued
every trifinG occurrence, and thought each
OF their own grotesque imaginations was
probably reality which had been some
how sent. Then, as nothing serious took
place, the whole matter vanished from
their minds like dream, and the former
unregeneratc state returned in full force.
To be continual