The St. Mary banner., 1902-05-31
style with which we are unfam-

iiiat.
AT last We were off. The canoe was
Carlb rigged dugout Of quite large
dimensions. | never liked Carib
liggcd boat, but as there was every
promise of fair weather I contented
myself The boom Of the foresail Of
this class cf craft is longer than the
distance from the main TO the fore
mast, and consequently overlaps the
mainsail. It is good for fair wind
but very dangerous tor shifting
breeze. In going abou! the foreboom
must be lifted UP to pass the main
mast. If she gybcs sac usually goes
over in strong breeze.
Before being half a day in that boat
1t was very evident to me that Ntanga
was more in love with Valanda than
her husband. Anyone could look at
the formers eyes and tell that they
held only longing for the little woman.
Bound by t.ibal tradition he could say
no word of love to her But his eyes
were very dynamocs, sending off
We're a pair Of sparkling, responsive
little magnets, receiving all that came
within her range.
Late in the afternoon it began to
/ look murky off the east and steadily
grew worse. 1t was evident that some
bad weather was bearing down on us,
but whether it was only a squall or
regular heavy weathe-, conld only be
conjectured. One never knows what
is aoing to happen in these climes
until it is full over with. However
we were prepared foc it. l wanted
one Of the sails lowered, but a San
Bias thinks he can carry all sail until
tho first Dulr of a squail hits him fair
lv. Finally it was on us, and we were
thinking ourselves in for nothing
worse than a few minutes wild and
rain, when there was iull and all the
air that had been pushed to the west
ward seemed to have gathered and
started back with the force Of a half
hundred demons.
The foresail jibed-strained for the
fraction of second of the canoe
careened over, and as we held our
breath the boom snapped. Thank
God! We were over the worst-but
no. the leech caught and the freed
boom hung. The impact as that fierce
gust proved too much for the little
rope. 1t parted, leaving part of the
foresail in shreds on the mainsail
hoops. We were half buried in surg
ing rising waves, but stood fighting
chance had not another gust, fiercer
than the first if possible, caught the
weather side Of the canoe and fairly
hurled us over. the swinging boom
striking Ntanga on the head as she
clutched at the sheet.
AS 1 came to the surface instinc-
lively thought of sharks and began
spashing with my feet as l grasped
the keel Of the boat. Valanda was al
ready up and the boy, natural swim
mer was crawling on to the bottom
Of the capsized craft. Dashing the
salt water out of my eyes looked for
the others. Ntanga came up with a
bound a few feet away and was plain
ly unconscious from the blow. The
current was carrying her from us very
swiftly. Almost at the same instant
Valanda dived, but not in the direc-
tion of the girl. He went under the
boat but as | made ready to plunge
for the fast receding woman, he rose
to the surface and motioned me to
remain.
In his hand fish spear was grasped
tightly. spot of blood gathered on
the first finger caused no doubt by
the wrench of loosening the spear
from the tliwart to which it had been
made fast on the approach of the
storm. With his agoniZed eyes speak
ing volumes to the now unresponsive
figure tossed by the waves several
yards from is, he crawled carefully to
the canoe bottom. Keeping his eyes
fastened on the object he quickly and
stcalthily, it seemed, raised his own
body erect Never will l forget him
as he stood with supple knees, one
bare foot clinging to each side of the
keel, his arm poised aloft, watching
for sure chance to cast that fish
spear at the woman he loved. AS
she shot upward again from the crest
of lashed wave, her one garment
swashed about her graceful little
figure by the mad waters, he flung the
implement, a wave he saw not tossed
the canoe-he lost his footing and fell.
But never for moment did he lose
the line. Raising himself to a kneel-
ing posture he began pulling in rapid
ly. When she rose to the crest of the
next wave he groaned lamentably. The
steel point had missed the little roll
of clothing and pierced her thigh. |
Slowly and carefully we now dragged
her to the bottom of the boat.s
The fierceness of the squall soon
passed and we easily righted the canoe
and bailed her out. But where was
Santiago? Valanda simply answered
sharks. as he assisted me to dress the
wound in Ntanda's leg. And | knew