The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1907-05-16


pantomlme witch was supposed to req
resent tired trooper shaking on sound
slumber. Taking this ns the sign Of his
relief Dewey was soon sleeping hard
enough and loud enough for two men
When Reilly twisted him 10 his feet nj
the first suggestion OF dawn he was
Z ehaitering IN broken English about
head hunters and poisoned arrows aud
such like harbarities
what about the head hunters, Dew
eyf" said Reilly when they We're once
more on the way after hasty assault
/ on the hard tack and bacon.
.'fIim 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
ent 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 un'
dergrowth. Suddenly Dewey pointed 4
brown finger toward giant tree that
stood outlined against the sky. Mes
tling In two of Its limbs was what ap-
peared to be mammoth birds nest.
Head hunter live much high" he ex-
planned. "No can get"
"0h, II wouldn't be any trouble get
ting thatw said Reilly, and, snatching
his revolver from the holster, he took
snapshot at the lofty dwelling. The
report was followed by faint cry. and
a contorted body dropped to the ground
Ike stone.
Reilly paused aghast at the outcome
OF his rash act That he said half
aloud, "Is the poorest shot ! ever made
In my life. II get out OF this mess
with head on my shoulders It will be
because have more luck than
AT that instant moose dropped noise
lessly over his shoulders, and he was
unhorsed by a 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, gesticu-
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
tives toward distant clearing the
I' faci eyidentIy afforded the savages
much pleasure, for they broke into a
sort of dsoning chant, accompanying
It with skyward gestures.
The advance guard finally came to n
halt before collection Of grass huts
which marked the center of the clear
Ing. The prisoners were tightly bound
to highly decorated post which mad
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-
tlon once more to the two carriers
which were now skimming back and
forth scarcely twenty feet above the
ground. At n sign from the chief they
all prostrated themselves as II In wor-
ship.
"What I'm thunder are they up to
nowT growled Reilly. "Why don't
they chop heads and get 1t over withT
Dewey was trembling with excite
ment. Him gods" he explained. Head
hunter much 'fraid 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 to this
pnticement. The natives drew back
and were about to again prostrate
themselves when. to their amazement
the birds darted down swiftly and
allghted with perfect confidence on the
broad shoulders OF the white prisoner.
SeIzing upon this auspicious omen,
Dewey broke forth into n ranting dis
course addressed to the superstitious
head hunters In their own dialect.
Beware, devil bcgotten head hunt
ersr' he howlcd. "You have dared to
waylay a mighty god. See how the
spirits come to him when you could
not tempt them with much rice. Re-
lease him before IN earthquake swal-
lows you up or typhoon blows you
Into the sea. Act quickly. The time is
short"
Whether or not the presence Of the
pigeons, together with Dewey's ha-
rnngue, would have alone been suff-
cient to effect release viii never be
known. Scarcely had he ceased speak
ing when black cloud blew across the
hills and the distant rumble OF thunder
spurred the head hunters to action.
"If this is god,' said the chief, not
entirely convinced, "hc can Kill, and he
can make alive. with the boon-boom
he has snitten my son. Let the white
god restore him TO life. and II Is we'll
What's all the powpow about, Dew
eyy asked Reilly anxiously. II am
not afraid to die, but like TO know
when II Is coming"
You no die, you no die" cliattered
Dewey. "Me Tx. Me tell him you
much god. You quick loose. Ride like
blaxes. Dewey come soon"
Then. turning TO the chief, Dewey
resumed bis palaver. The white god
can KILL" be announced. but not make
alive. Let him depart |, too, am
great spirit will say word In your
sons ear, and be shall be restored.
With his own hands the aged chief
unbound Reilly and motioncd him 20
u.