The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-02-13

/ pany had been told on Tor duty here
and there along the coast thar availa-
bic men were scarce. 50 the chief en-
gineer ordered me ashore mere In com
pany with another youth named sere-
nus Conkiin to try our prentice hands
at spot watching
Our orders were strict One Of the
other was TO watch spot constantly.
and never take bis eyes from i.
Provisions for a week or more and a
kerosene stove were landed. and a
Maltese sailor called Tony the great
est coward ever knew. was also put
ashore 10 cook for us He knew noth-
ing whatever Of cooking. be it said.
II was a dreadfully lonesome place
nothing III sight on the land side but
sand dunes. and away on inland. four
red mountains and a few sfubby
palms. The captain assured as that
we should be perfectly safe there. and
that nobody would come near us But
by way OF defence. the third Officer
gave ns an old German needle-gnn and
eight cartridges.
We did not feel altogether secure. but
put on q brave front and Just al sun
set watched the cable ship steam
away, leaving as alone there on the
deserted coast Of Africa.
Twilight came on: and then we dis
covered that we could not get the
Maltese out OF the hut. even TO tend
the kerosene stove at the door He was
IN abiect terror He crept into the far
corner Of the hut. and sat there with
his lower lip hanging down The man
had lived ia towns or on shipboard all
his life. aud knew nothing Of solitary
nature.
In default Of his services made tea
and cooked our supper. while Serene
watched the galyanometer. Every five
minutes by the watch, be pressed the
key and noted DETECTION. We agreed
10 watch spot two hours each. of and
ON.
The moon rose. II was a beautiful
night At eight o'clock II was my
turn to watch spot. and Serene sat in
the door aud looked out We were so
dlsgusted with Tony that we took no
notice Of him.
After n time some creatures about
the size Of dogs began running TO and
fro along the beach 10 front Of the hut.
They would 20 flying past, and their
feet on the hard sand sounded like
drums. Tony would moan every time
one Of them glided past They may
have been laclsnls. or perhaps wild
dogs. For an hour or two these crea-
lures disported themselves after this
, singular fashion. aud then disappeared,
BY this time II was Serene's turn "a
watch spot. and I sat down IN the door
!. / was not in the least sleepy. The
1 moon shone on the lonely sea. and the
!. noise Of the breaking waves was now
the only sound 20 be heard Far away
: there were black clouds. aud now and
I then a dun fash of silent lightning Il
turned colder. and a peculiar low sigh
! ing came fsam The hillocks or sand
! about the hut
!. ! had been sitting there for an houl
4 or more. when saw a dark object. d
/ human being evidently. on the beach
5. or 20 the south Of the hut II darted
) forward. stopped. then ran forward
e again. Soon another disappeared, thez
a half a dozen others all stealing Tor
ward Ia the same furtive manner
a Each carried something that looked
{. like a mallet. with a handle severa
. feet long
= said nothing 10 Serene for the mo
{ ment. but continued watching the new
q comers as they moved along the beach
I had a vague idea. at FIRST that the.
i were chimpanzees. or balloons. II wa
g not easy TO make them out by moon
z light. I might even have imnRinel
I them 70 be elves. dancing on the sea
Z Shore They were not dancing. hoss
ever. but came steaithily forward: an,
s when they reached where the spide
sheaves had been anchored. the!
1 stopped short by this time afseen o
sixteen were in sight
"sereuea ! said. under my breath
! t'come here and tell me what yoe max
Of these fellows
He came and looked out by Jovef
he exclaimed. his voice rising a little
= = Were IN for Il. sure Natives. deser
4 men. aren't theyT
4 had no idea whatever whe OF wha
I. they were They had approached with
. N a hundred yards % the hut hurry
Ing about hlther and thither on n
! beach. as III examining every track an
trnra fnef. h.. tha r.an vsvfFn famain