Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-12-06

I could be obtained only by an inlme-
date sacrifice of the stalwart pris-
oner, and late in the afternoon of the
next day, after the lions had driven
N tire planters, Quobah was conducted
to the center of the enclosed village.
where every inhabitant had gathered
TO see him die
Dat OF the desperate straits into
which he had fallen Quobah was able
TO find a way of escape from the
| priests. In most polite speech ne
told the people that the way TO use
| him as sacrifice was TO give him
arms and let him go forth TO meet the
| ions at the hour when they came in
search of further victims. The king
and the priests accepted the offer.
thinking no doubt that il he were
| killed fighting the lions the wrath of
the evil fetish would be averted Ac-
cordingly. as the sun sank to the west
ern horizon, Quobah walked forth from
the palisadcd town, armed with his
spear. his broadsword, and his light
carbine. The priests, with faces paint
cd white. chanted a dismal strain.
the women howled, and the soldiers
clashcd their swords and spears TO-
gether as he passed the gate. And the
gate was not yet shut when the male
lion came to the edge of the brush
ard with main up, and tail flashing
from side to side, galloped towards
the wall. But Quobah, who had boast
cd that he knew how to die like an
Ashantee warrior. now advanced to
| meet the beast. and finally sank on
his right knee. with his hand grasp
ing his huge spear. which he placed on
the ground with the point well TO the
front.
At that the bowling of the people
within the village died out entirely,
and the lion crouched and leaped for
ward. while Quobah lifted the point
Of the spear so that it pierced his
shoulder
The impact of the heavy brute upon
the spear broke the shaft just below
the head. Quobah. by leaping to one
side. avoided the brute. but it was soon
on its feet again ready for another
spring. in spite of the steel blade
through its shoulders. Quobah raised
the carbine to shoot the beast, but
before he was able to aim the weap-
on roar was heard in the edge of
the brush, and lioness, with too
large kittens, came galloping into the
clearing. Hearing the approach of
these, Quobah turned to look at the
new danger. and as he turned his head
the lion sprang at him once more.
Quooah saw his danger in time,
and as the lion landed and fell over
on its wounded shoulder, he fired
bullet into its brain.
Dropping mis- carbine beside the car
cass OF the lion. Quobah drew his
sword and turned to meet the lioness.
1 An instant later she rose in a flying
leap straight at the big Ashantee. but
! he caught her on the point OF his
sword. thrust it through her mouth
into her vitals. and fell beneath the
struggling brute.
Fer moment the people on the pail
SADIE wall supposed that Quobah had
been killed, but when the kick of the
| lioness showed that she was in her
death struggles they fiocked forth and
released him, badly scratched. but not
dangerously hurt For this splendid
! fight Quobah was invited TO become
a member Of the Kings family He
might have become Dahoman king in
time. but he was a true Ashantee,
and with his arms restored to him he
walked away alone to his home
A number of years later(February
| 13, 1910 the white boy, who had been
ransomed by his uncle. Capt. Willing.
sailed from the African coast on the
snip Cabenda for Rio Janeiro with $50
slaves on board The ship reached
Rio early in April, and on the Sth
young Drake and an old friend went
| &c visit a large estate known as the
San Benito. The owner of this es-
tate was rdan named Floss. He had
been an overseer for a Brazilian plant
er, and by successful ventures in the
slave trade had acquired the means
for the purchase of an estate of his
own. Both as an overseer and an
1 oMGtI IIOSS hdu bIGIl UOttu lOT Ills
cruelty TO the slaves "a common char
acteristic of overseers who became
owners.) and while he was entertain
irg his guests the slaves of the San
3enitG reyolted.
At the time of the uprising Floss
happened TO be away from the great
house. ami for two days he sulked
around the plantation, while his guests
with an overseer or two and few
faithful servants held the house like
fort. Eventually. however. the lead
er of the negroes found FLOSS track
and rar him to the mansion as hound
chases deer to water Then, know
ing that they had their enemy sur
rounded, the whole mob gathered
about the house. charged up, in spite
of deadly shots from within. and set
ii on fire from every side. Night
came on as the fire spread beyond
control of those within. and the light
of the flames revealed Floss and his