Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1907-03-17

and rations."
AS he hesifated, undecided as to the
best course to pursue. the dull patter
OF a pony's unshod hoofs reached his
ears. A moment later the little brown
man bounced into sight his right hand
beating a tattoo on the animals lean
ribs and his voice raised in shrill ex-
postulations over the pony's unsatisfac-
tory progress.
short breathing spell and they
were again i'll the saddles. Not till
darkness set in did they reach the foot
hills, which marked the first forty
miles of their journey.
Dewey hobbled the horses in a grassy
ravine and turned his attention to the
preparation Of the evening meal. As
the provender consisted entirely of
hard tack and bacon, his reputation as
an excellent cook was not put to the
test Despite the hard days work
Reilly'S appetite was missing. While
Dewey ravenously devoured the scorch-
ed bacon Reilly sat idly tossing crumbs
to the white carrier pigeons.
Reilly finally lay down to sleep leav
ing Dewey to stand guard. At IL
o'clock the bearer of dispatches. who
had never closed his eyes for a mo-
ment. arose to his feet and enacted a
pant0mime which was supposed to rep
resent a tired trooper shaking off sound
slumber Taking this as the sign of his
relief. Dewey was soon sleeping hard
enough and loud enough for two men
When Reilly twisted him to his feet at
the first suggestion of dawn he was
chattering in broken English about
head hunters and poisoned arrows and
such like barbarities.
''What about the head hunters. Dew
ey?" said Reilly when they were once
more on the way after haSty assault
on the hard tack and bacon
Him much there" Dewey affirmed.
pointing in direction which would
seem to indicate that they were tray
picturesque savages.
''No more eat native" persisted Dew
ey. glad of an opportunity to exercise
his American vocabulary. Him now
eat only white heads" And he cast a
meaning glance at Reilly's roseate top
piece
The semblance Of trail wound in
and out but steadily upward over rock
strewn ground and through dense IN
dergrowth Suddenly Dewey pointed Z
brown finger toward a giant tree that
stood outlined against the sky. Mes
Ting III two, of its limbs was what APP
peared to be mammoth birds nest
''Head hunter live much high he eX-
planned NO can get
''Oh. it wouldn't be any trouble get
ting that"' said Reilly, and, snatching
his revolver from the holster, he took
a snapshot at the lofty dwelling. The
report was followed by faint cry, and
contorted body dropped to the ground
like stone.
Reilly paused aghast at the outcome
of his rash act. That" he said half
aloud, lis the poorest shot l ever made
in my life. If I get out of this mess
with head on my shoulders it will be
because | have more luck than
At that instant a moose dropped noise
lessly over his shoulders, and he was
endorsed by sudden tightening of the
rope.
The first thought which came to Reil-
ly's mind when he was set upon his
feet, after being securely bound was
one of wonder over where this myriad
of little brown men had all sprung
from. Chattering like so many mon
keys, they pressed about him, gesticu-
lating wildly and no doubt threatening
the most horrible forms of vengeance.
Gazing over their heads, he caught
sight of Dewey, also a captive, and
their horses being driven off in the
distance The little wicker cage had
evidently been broken open, and the
frightened pigeons f1uttered about high
in the air.
AS the natives dragged their cap
tives toward a distant clearing the
birds followed in circling flight. This
fact evidently afforded the savages
much pleasure, for they broke into a
sort of droning chant, accompanying
it with skyward gestures.
The advance guard finally came to a
halt before a collection of grass huts
which marked the center of the clear
ing. The prisoners were tightly bound
to a highly decorated post which had
evidently served in the same capacity
on former occasions. AS soon rs they
had satisfied themselves that there was
no possibility of the victims escaping
the whole company turned their atten-
ton once more to the two carriers
which were now skimming back and
forth scarcely twenty feet above the
ground At sign from the chief they
all Frustrated themselves as if in wor-
ship.
"What in thunder are they up to
now?' growled Reilly. "Why don't
they chop heads and get it over with?'
Dewey was trembling with excite
ment. Him gods" he explained Head
hunter much 'fraid of white bird. Him
spirit
AT tho direction of the chief huge