The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1904-06-09
he Snakes Curse.

Bu SIR II. II. JOHNSTON.

, the beach by the new made road. She
few at the first party of negroes who
We're descending in that direction, bit
one OF them in the leg, and his death
two hours afteSward, in spite of all
| antidotes I could think of. caused all
the other native laborers to take to
their canoes and desert the island.
WHEN WE CUT THE BOMBAX
! TREE.
| I supplied their place with Krooboys
| from my residence at Old Calabar; but
| meanwhile I was left on the island
| with an Indian steward and an Accra
cook till the English builder arrived
! with his materials and men.
We made determined onslaught on
| the female snake, no doubt very much
| at the risk of our lives. We cut down
the huge bombax tree, and our i'm
| ported laborers-their legs and much
of their bodies sWathed in felt-hew
at the Kissing snake with long slaves
and did her to death.
But it seemed that i'll luck was to
| continue to follow me 50 long as re-
manned on that island.
Prior to these events my Indian SER
want. who had accompanied Inc on my
previous African Journeys, had always
been a very quiet, well-conducted per-
son. But now the poor fellow was sud-
denly seized with q bad attack of
black-water fever, and after recover
ing. quite lost his mental balance, and
became at times raving maniac.
MY DANGEROUS SERVANT.
A strong house of logs had to he built
hastily for his detention, pending the
arrival of some steamer by which he
could be sent away to healthier cli-
mate. Although slim and spare in
build. his strength when seized by one
Of these fits Of raving became almost
superhunlar.
One evening, as was preparing for
bed. and was, in fact, clad in nothing
but pajamas and slippers, the door OF
my temporary house was dragged open,
and the Indian servant stood before me
with flashing eyes and a huge club,
which was really an uprooted log from
the house out of which he had broken.
After glarirg at me for moment he
said:
IF you ktd not been such 4 good
master would kill you tonight"
Not thinking it wise to trust in
definitely to his clenency or gratitude,
sounded my whistle and called up my
six krooboys.
Very friendly relations had existed
between the krooboys and this Indian
servant. They therefore cndcavored
in their broken English to persuade
him to go back to the log hut
Turning Oh them, however, like
tiger, he stabbed one Of them mortally
and another very nearly so. The rest
of the Krooboys fed. and I was left
alone with this ravin@ mailman in the
bright moonlight on the sea beach.
Showing me the still dripping knife,
he flung it behind him into the sea,
saying as he did so:
Il Go that lest should be tempted
to stab YOU
l have never in all my life been
| placed in such an awkward position.
| The English builder was a mile or
more away. all my men had bolted into
| the bush, and the only outward and
| visible sign OF legal authority was at
the little settlement Of Victoria. two
| miles across the sea.
NV first thoughts turned toward the
wounded men. il TIC hope that botE
might be saved.
| l managed 10 stanch the flow OF
blood from the less seriously wounded
| of the two. AS to tho other, he was
stabbed in tie stomach.
While attempting to restore him to
! consciousness. l. was suddenly aware
that the murderer was holding 4 candle
and assisting in every possible way.
He betrayed no trace Of his recent
excitement. but in a tone Of the deepest
commiseration Kept saying:
1 tOOr 1ICHQO. w llO COliu INV Z OuhS
! this? Poor Graado3
Under the circumstances I thought
it best to avail myself of all the help
that he could render st this moment.
ard lie was most deft in binding up the
wound.
| DURING HER MAJESTY'S
PLEASURE"
| When all that could be done for the
two men with the limited means at our
disposal had been accomplished, l had
| to turn 10 the Indian and say:
Now have got TO put YOU in irons
He held out his hands quite submis-
sively for the handouts.
By this time the English builder had
arrived. and one or two OF his men
helped to get out my boat and row
us over to the mainland. where the
Indian was put il custody.
He was eventually tried at a con-
sular court ard sentenced to be de
tained during her maiesty's pleasure
With assiduous attentions one of