The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-03-22

as we held our credln the DOOM snapped.
1--WE were half buried in surging, rising
waves, but stood a lighting chance had
not another gust fierces than the first il
possible, caught the weather side of the
canoe and fairly hurled US over the
swinging boom striking Ntanga on the
head as she clutched the sheet
LAS 1 came TO the surface 1 instinct
lively thought of sharks and began
splashing with my feet as 1 grasped the
keel OF the boat Valanda was already up
and the boy, natural swimmer. was
; crawling on to the bottom of the capsized
/ craft Dashing the salt water out of nay
/ eyes 1 looked for the others. Ntanga
| came UP with a bound a few feet away.
and was plainly unconscious from the
| blow. The current was Carrying her from
US swiftly Almost at the same instant
Valanda dived but not in the direction Of
| the girl. He went under the boat, but as
1 made ready TO plunge for the fastly
receding woman, he rose TO the surface
and motioned me to remain.
In his hand fish spear was grasped
tightly a spot of blood gathered on the
first finger, caused no DOUBT by the
| wrench Of loosening the spear from the
thwart to which it had been made fast
on the approach OF the storm. With his
agonized eyes speaking volumes to the
now unresponsiye figure tossed by the
waves several yards from US, he crawled
carefully to the canoe bottom. Keeping
his eyes fastened on the object he quickly
and stealthily it seemed, raised his own
body erect.
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 wave, her one
garment swashed about her graceful lit
tie 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 a moment did he lose
the line. Raising himself to a kneeling
posture he began pulling in rapidly
When she rose to the crest of the next
wave he groaned lamentably. The steel
point had missed the little roll of cloth
ing and pierced her thigh. Slowly and
carefully we now dragged her to the bot
tom of the boat.
1.-The fierceness of the squall soon pass
ed and we easily righted the canoe and
bailed it out. But where was Santi-
ago? Valanda simply answered Sharks
as he assisted me to dress the wound in
Ntanga's leg. And 1 knew why he did
not wish to swim for his love. Any ex-
ultation he may have felt was counter
balanced by the modification of having
missed his aim.
TO he
peculiar make of the spear used by the
San Bias men in their fishing eXpedi-
tions, and in the use OF which they are
exceedingly skillful.
They use a straight steel point fixed
to a haft of heavy rowa wood. The steel
is about sixteen to eighteen inches long,
without single garb while the shaft is
some eight feet or more. The weight OF
the shaft usually counterbalances that or
the fish thus allowing the line to be
drawn in without pulling the point out of
the quarry.
1t was with this sort of weapon that
Valanda speared the wife of his cousin.
and it was owing to the fact that it had !
a smooth. barbless point that the wound
did not prove serious in its effect upon
the young woman.
She appeared to take the whole affair
with peculiar Indian philosophy. and, /
in fact seemed glad 10 make the ex-
change from Santiago to the more ardent
Arriving at Porto Bello these two
lovers. with savage unconventionality.
became man and wife after the simple
tribal customs.
The boy seemed the only mournef -
SantIago.-Chicag Tribune