Evening journal., 1907-03-29
miles OF the ? inn-ner


preparation Of the evening meal. As
the provender consisted entirely OF
hard tack and bacon, his reputation as
an excellent cook was not put 10 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 mo-
ment, arose 10 his feet and enacted n
pantomime which was supposed TO rep
resent tired trooper shaking or 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
cyl" said Reilly when they were once
more on the way after a hasty assault
on the hard tack and bacon.
"Hlm much there" Dewey affirmed.
pointing In a direction which would
seem TO indicate that they were trav-
cling straight for the region Of these
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 a trail wound In
and out but steadily upward over rock
strewn ground and through dense un-
dergrowth Suddenly Dewey pointed a
brown finger toward n giant tree that
stood outlined against the sky. Mes
Ting In two Of its limbs was what ap-
peared to be a mammoth birds nest
"Head hunter live much high" he ex-
plnined mo can get"
"Oh. II wouldn't be any trouble get
ting thatl" said Reilly. and, snatchng
his revolver from the holster, he took
a snapshot at the lofty dwelling. The
report was followed by a faint cry, and
a contorted body dropped to the ground
like a stone.
Reilly paused aghast at the outcome
Of his rash act. "That" he said half
aloud, "ls the poorest shot ever made
In my life. II / get out OF this mess
with a hend on my shoulders 1t will be
because have more luck than
AT that instant a moose dropped noise
lessly over his shoulders, and he was
unhorsed 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. Chatterlng like so many mon
keys, they pressed about him. gestlcu-
latlng wildly and no doubt threatening
the most horrible forms Of vengeance.
Gazing over their heads, he caught
sight Of Dewey, also captive. and
their horses being driven OF in the
/ distance. The little wicker cage had
/ evidently been broken open. and the
frightened pigeons fiuttered about high
in the air.
As the natives dragged their cap
tves toward distant clearing the
birds followed IN circllng flight. This
fact evidently afforded the savages
much pleasure, for they broke into n
sort Of dronlng chant, accompanying
It with skyward gestures.
The advance guard finally came TO a
InfN ..N
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 as they
had satisfied themselves that there was
no possibility OF the victims escaping
the whole company turned their atten-
tion once more 70 the two carriers
which were now skimmlng back and
forth scarcely twenty feet above the
ground. At sign from the chief they
all Frustrated themselves as II in wor-
ship.
what in thunder are they up TO
now" growled Reilly. "Why don't
they chop heads and get It over withT
Dewey was trembling with excite
ment "Him gods" he explained. Head
hunter much 'frald OF white bird. Him
spirit"
At the direction OF the chief huge
wooden bowls heaped with rice were
brought out and displayed invitingly,
but the birds did not respond 70 this
enticement The natives drew back
and were about to again PROSTATE
themselves when. TO their amazement
the birds darted down swiftly and
alighted with perfect confidence on the
broad shoulders OF the white prisoner.
Seizing upon this auspicious omen,
Dewey broke forth into a ranting dis
course addressed TO the superstltous
head hunters in their own dialect.
Beware. devil begotten head hunt
ersr' he howled "You have dared to
waylay mighty god. See how the
spirits come to him when you could
not tempt them with much rice. Re-
Aease him before an earthquake swal-
lows you up OF typhoon blows you
into the sea. Act quickly. The time is