Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1904-03-29
"A SACRIFICE A HUMAN sAcR1F1cE?"

"A SACRIFICE? HUMAN sACRIFICE!"
the Englishman, rushing forward and
grasping Selkirks hands. MY name
is Brandywine. l think we met in
Amapala. These wild fellows want to
eat me or something. Can you under
stand their lingo? My guides deserted
me day ago; stole everything I had
except this blanket, my rifle and
The wild black Caribs interrupted
them. They had been talking to Sell
kinks guide, and they were now de-
manding hearing.
What do they want?" demanded
Selkirk to his native guide. Then. in a
side tone to the Engiishman: you
can't trust any Of these treacherous
guides. They'd sell you for dollar
and kill you for a piece Of gold"
''They say we're prisoners" the guide
mumbled humbly. land we must give
up our weapons. They are bad men
bad black Caribs" Then in a brighten.
ed whisper. They eat white men
sometimes, and
Selkirk laughed harshly. you tell
them I'd give them indigestion II they
should eat me. Besides, I'm not their
prisoner" eH-& .f-.'
How can we get out of this hole?''
murmured the Englishman. Il wish
I'd never come here"
What did you come for, anyway
because I was fool. Some Eng.
lish rubber company sent me to ex.
plOre the interior to locate rubber for.
ests. l didn't know. l was fooled"
Selkirk did not reply. He was quiet
ly watching the natives. His two
months experience in the interior
ought to help him in the present emer
gency. He had heard stories Of the
wild black Caribs. They were not bad
ut heart, but If they took it into theil
heads that they needed human sac
rifice for their religion they would
spend their last drop of blood to &C
complish the end.
Selkirk talked a few minutes with
the leaders of the Caribs through his
guides and then once more addressed
the Englishman.
"They demand sacrifice. One OF u:
must be offered up, and the other car
return to the coast"
"My God! A sacrifice? A human sac
rifice?"
Eyes. To please the wrath Of some
of their gods" coolly replied Selkirk.
ITS terrible! Monstrous!' shouted
the Englishman, the drops Of perspira
ton appearing on his forehead "Wha
can we do? You don't propose yieldins
to them. I'd rather die fighting than
than
being roasted alive? Well. so would
l. But one of us can escape, and 1t Ii
folly to sacrifice both lives"
Brandywine's face was livid, and nj
hands trembled violently. His eye
bulged from their sockets as he STAN
mered, "YOu mean that we should
should draw lots to see which ONE
1--WE might do that" laconically m
terrupted Selkirk.
I-I-my family--my dear wife ant
} child" muttered the Englishman.
Selkirk suddenly stiffened. You nav
4 family-wife and child"
"Yes; the best that ever lived. sn
J did not want me to come out here l
was my pigheadedness. She said
..That makes a difference. coul
MT draw lots with yUu. ! have q
family-no wife or children-only a.
. .Sweethsart; some one waiting 70
you to-
"No> not that: she 10 not waiting.
. fear she does not care"
There was q bitterness In the ton
, which made the Engiishman wihce
!. Instinctively he held forth MS name
i selkirk srssped II. squeezed It a mr.
u nerf ana then said: "I'il stay. 70
can 90 back - the coast. No one "
miss m" .-..rsg fsks'E