Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-31

~, anu, DIS ndQ Oeen seen Dy val, al dltSinpI
had been made to capture them by the means
of sweetened LIQUOR.
The marmosets appeared to be wiser than
the other monkeys, for they had refused to
taste OF the tempting liquid, but had started
off through the woods as if they understood
that there was plot against them.
The hunters followed the animals, but Doc
tor Burroughs did not remain with them
very long, having stopped to examine rare
specimen of an ant, and, while he was thus
engaged, an Indian had come up behind him,
making him prisoner in the same way as
Val himself had been taken.
The hunters did not remain together dur
ing the chase after the monkeys; and those
in the rear easily captured, for there
was no thought in the minds of any OF them
that Indians were In the vicinity.
After six had thus been made prisoners,
and only two of Swazey's Indians and two
of the sailors remained free, the savages ad-
vanced bodily upon them, threatening to
| shoot them with their poisoned arrows II
they did not surrender.
There was no opportunity to make any
defense, for the Indians sheltered themselves
behind their prisoners, and to tlre at them
would simply have been for the men to shoot
their own friends.
In this very simple way had the capture
| been effected, but what fate was IN store for
them no one knew.
Swazeys Indians believed that they we're
to be put to the torture portion OF some
of the festivals of the Parentintins, but Doc
tor Burroughs was of the opinion that they
had been made prisoners only that ransom
might be obtained.
"Mr Staples. with all that are left on the
| schooner, must be here soon now, Tor the
sailor who was with me escaped, sald
| Val.
HE will keep right on to the river, and
when the North Star comes up, there will
be force large enough to effect our release:
care you sure that he was not captured!
asked Doctor Borroughs-
/ Il sure that he escaped, tor, II he haa
not we should probably have been brought
here together"
But old George was by no means sure that
the men whom Mr.. Staples and Swazey could
muster would be sufficient to conquer the
Perentintins.
''They know enogh about fighting not to let
any one come upon them unawares, 3 "eorge s
said, referring to the Indians, and from
what 1 saw of the village, should say that
they could hold a large force il in CHECK, 4,
But they don't have rifles, SAID NaL
/ NO, lad; but they have those little ar
rows that are more deadly than a bullet, for
if one so much as scratches your SKIN, 1t does
the business
Val was silent. He had been certain that
when Swazey's party was strengthened by
those from the schooner, there could be nc
question but that the savages could easily
be overcome.
felt that the case was indeed desperate, anC
he became quite as depressed as ne had beer
elated.
the prison. a noise was heard from the ont
side Then the door flung open and {
man pushed inside, whom Val at once reeog
nized as the sailor who had started with hin
to go to the river.
&. The sailor said that, at the time Val haC
; been captured, an attempt had been made t
hut hat ha had 4
and, in his bewilderment, had run toward thu
river. instead of going to warn Swazey, as h'
should have done. The Indians did not try t
shoot their arrows at him, but had followed
unobserved until he had nearly exhausted him
self by running, and then, coming up stealthily
as before had accomplished their purpose.
j There was one thing in this wholesale tax
ing of prisoners that the captives could moi
understand, and which was brought up when
ever they speculated upon the matter.
The Parentintins had, contrary to their us
ual custom, if Swazey's Indians were to be
believed, refrained from committing any ac
tual deed of cruelty. They had made all the
captures in as gentle way as possible, and, a;
in the case of the sailor, had not shot any
one. when they could have done so without
any difficulty.
The prisoners had been supplied with
nlentv of food and water, but all save Val
whose hands were tied behind his back, were
bound in such manner that they could hard
ly move.
81 don't believe in aiming my rife at hu
man being unless ! have to do it to save my
own life" said George, after the prisoners
had been silent for some time; 'but, if ]
could have a fair chance at one of these vii
lains, l think he'd be sorry that he ever had
anything to do with coping us in here, where
we're trussed up so that we can't even wink
Before any reply could be made to this rath
er savage speech an unusual hustle was heard
from the outside, and every one waited in