Gilpin observer., 1899-08-03


me on every side, but saw only the
slender and countless stems OF the tall
bananas, whose broad leaves, as they
spread under or over each other, inter-
rupted the rays of the sun, and formed
shade that was pleasing and gloomy.
Now, when about to cross what
seemed a hole or hollow in the jun
gle, by stepping from the strong ten
drill of one creeper to another, naked
arm and great human hand came up
from amid the mass of leaves!
was seized by the right foot and
in an instant found myself dragged
down through the foliage and inter-
twisted plants-down-dow knew
not where; and before 1 had time or
breath to cry or resist, lay PROSTATE
on my back in hole-a lair under
the matted jungle-with man above
ME, his knees planted on my breast,
his strong hands upon my bare throat,
and his fierce wild eyes glaring like
those of a hyena into mine.
Then, how terrible were my emotions
on recognizing in the light that fell
through the mass of foliage above. as
through a vine-covered trellis-now
overspread with hair, as beard and
whiskers were all matted into a mass
the dark and ferocious face of An
tonic, whom I believed to be drowned
and lying at the bottom Of the sea
Antonio ell Cubani!
"Silenziow said he, in a low voice,
like the hiss of serpent in my ear;
but the injunction was unnecessary,
for SO completely was taken by sur
prise-so utterly at his mercy, and SO
destitute alike Of breath or weapon
that resistance was impossible.
Perceiving that I was almost stran-
gled he relaxed his fierce grasp lit
tie, but still kept the sharply prick
ing point of his knife at my throat,
as hint to remain quiet.
1t would be impossible for me to de-
scribe the emotions of my soul dur
ing this time, which seemed an eter-
nifty to me! Utter fear was one, for 1
thought the fellow had something su-
pernatural-something truly demon
about him; that he could neither be
drowned nor destroyed; and lay still
in that dark hollow, painting in his
fierce clutch without thought Of re-
sistance.
Now l heard my name shouted re-
peatedly.
'Rodney-Mr. Rodney-Dick Rod
ney-where are you?"
1t was Tom Lambourne and others,
my companions, who had now attained
the summit of the rock. and were
scrambling over the jungle. and push
ing between the stems of the bananas,
searching for me, rather than for the
first object of such mystery.
My disappearance alarmed them.
Can he have gone adrift over the
bluff" 1 heard Tom Lambourne ray,
''or is he only having i game with us
by hiding himself?"
"Oh, yes!-that is it," replied Pro-
bart. the carpenter: "he can't have
gone aloft into one of these bananas.
for they are as clear of branches as
spare topmast; SO let us sheer off to
the mate, and Mr.. Rodney will soon
come down after u.s."
well, my lads, there are neither
wild men nor wild beasts here" said
Lambourne! 80 we shall return back
to Master IIislop. who is hanging in
the wind halfway down. and then be
off to the hut. We've earned stiff
glass of grog by this bout, anyhow"
My emotions became almost suffocat-
ing when / heard them turn away to
descend and rejoin Hislop without me.
saw and heard them pass and re-
pass over us. the creepers of the jun
gle yielding their weight.
The leg and foot of one, named Hen
ry Warren, came down through the
green network Of leaves and actually
touched me.
l drew long, gasping breath, and
the atrocious Cubano, believing / was
about to cry aloud. compressed my
throat so tightly with his muscular
hands, that a thousand lights seemed
to fash before my eyes. and l must
have become senseless for some min
utes, as the next incident that dwells
in my memory is seeing him sitting In
a crouching attitude, with his elbows
on his knees; his black-bearded chin
resting in the hollow Of his right hand,
and with his knife-his murderous
Albacete cuchillo-clenched In Iris
white teeth, while he surveyed me
with a strange and sardonic smile in
his deeply-set black eyes. which gilt
tered like those of snake In the rays
of sunlight that struggled through the
woven roof OF leaves about us.
heard no more the voices of my
shipmates. They were gone, and was
left alone and unarmed with this man
or devil-as yet l knew not which he
was; but knew that IL he had the will
he had assuredly the power. to kill and
leave me in his lair. or to cast me.
n'angled heap, to the bottom Of the
cliff whereupon he lurked.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
II might have been about the hour