davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1908-02-18

confguration of the rocks. One big
bowlder lay directly in our path, like
an island in the shale of the caves
floor. Perdosa stepped to the top Of
it for better look. The men attempt
ed to communicate their ideas of what
was to be done, but could not make
themselves heard above the uproar.
could see their faces comforting with
the fury Of being baffled. A big bull
made dash to get by. All the herd
fippered after him. If he had won
past, they would have followed as
ohstinate'y as sheep and nothing could
have stopped them, but the big Dull
went down beneath the clubs. Thrac-
kles hit the animal two vindictive
blows after 1t had succumbed.
This settled the revolt, and we stood
as before. Pull and Handy Solomon
tried to converse by signs. but evident
ly failed, for their faces showed angry
in the twilight. Perdosa, on his rock,
rolled and lit a cigarette. Thrackles
paced to and fro, and the niger lean
ed on his club farther down the cave.
They had been left at the entrance,
but now In lack of results had Joined
their companions.
Now Thrackles approached and
screamed himself black trying TO i'm
part some plan. He failed. but stoop-
cd and picked up stone and threw 1t
into the mass of seals The others un-
derstood. A shower Of stones follow
ed. The animals milled like cattle.
beloved the louder, but would not
face their tormentors. Finally an old
COW Topped by in a panic. I thought
they would have let her go, but she
died a little beyond the bull. No more
followed, although the men threw
stones as fast and as hard as they
were able. Their faces were livid with
anger, like that OF an evil tempered
man with an obstinate horse.
Suddenly Handy Solomon put his
head down and with a roar distinctly
audible even above the din that filed
the cave charged directly into the herd.
I saw the beasts cringe before him. /
saw his club rising and falling indis-
criminateiy, and then the whole back
Of the cave seemed to rise and come
at US.
This was no chance of sport now.
but a struggle for very life. We real
lied that once down there would be
no hope, for while the seals were more
anxious to escape than to fight we
knew that their jaws were powerful.
There was no time to pick and choose.
We hit out with all the strength and
quIckness we possessed. IL was like
a bad dream. like struggling with an
elusive hydra headed monster, knee
high, invulnerabIe. We hit, but with
out apparent effect New heads rose,
the press behind increased. We gave
ground We staggered. struggling des-
perately to keep our feet
How long this lasted I cannot tell.
II seemed hours. know my arms be
came Ieaden from swinging my club.
NJ eyes were full Of sweat Ny breath
gasped A sharp pain In my knee
nearly doubled me to the ground. and
yet remember eIamping 70 the
thought that I must keep my feet
keep my feet at sny cost Then all 81
ouce I recalled the fact that I wss
armed terked cut the short bar
rsled repolTer and tuned Il loose N
Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1908-02-18

did not sleep at all. The moon had
risen, had mounted the heavens and
now was sailing overhead. By the
fretwork OF its radiance through the
chinks Of our rudely built cabin l had
marked of the hours. A thunderstorm
rumbled and flashed, hull down over
the horizon. 1t was many miles dis
tant, and yet | do not doubt that its
electrical influence had dried the mois-
turc of our equanimity. leaving US rat
Ting husks for the winds of destiny TO
play upon. Certainly can remember
no other time in n rather wide expe-
rience when 1 have felt myself more
on edge. more choked with the rest
less. purpOseless nervous energy that
leaves a mans tongue parched and his
eyes staring. And still that Internal
cricket or whatever il was chirped.
/ had thought myself alone in my
vigil, but when finally / could stand
it no longer and kicked aside my COW
ering, with an oath of protest, was
surprised to hear It echoed from all
about me.
D that cricket cried.
And the dead shadows stirred from
the hunks, and the hollow eyed vic
tins Of Insomnia crept out to curse
their tOrmentor. We organized an eX
petition TO hunt him down. II was RI
diculOus enough. six strong men prOwl-
ing for the life Of one poor little insect
We did not find him. however. though
we succeeded in sIlencing him. But
no sooner were we back in our hunks
than he begsn it again. and such was
the turmoil Of our nerves that day
found Us sitting wan about a ERE, hug
ging our knees.
We were so genuinely enptied. not
so much by the cricket as by the two
years Of fermentation. that tot one Of
Us stirred toward breakfast IN fact.
not one Of Us moved from the listless
attitude In which day found him until
after Q O'Clock. Then We pulled our-
selves together and cooked coffee and
salt horse. As q significant fact. the
Niger left the dishes unwashed. and
no one cared
Handy Solomon finally shook him
self and arose
I'm sick Of this" said be. I'm 20
In seal hunting
They arose without q word They
were sick Of II. too-sick 20 death We
we're = silent. gloomy crew indeed a.
We thrust the surfboat afost. clam
bered IN and shipped the carr. No one
SPIKE & word. no one had q comment
20 make. ete1 vben we saw the rOOk-
err slide into the water while we were
stiI ffty yards from the beach We
pzled tack slowly along the eozst
Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1908-02-18

|lHE inevitable happened. One
noon Pulz looked up from his
labor Of pulling the whiskers
IL from the evil smelling masks.
How many of these things we got?"
he inquired.
About three hunder' and fifty"
Thrackles replied.
"well, we've got enough for me.
I'm sick of this job. II stinks."
They looked at each other. l could
see the disgust rising in their eyes, the
reek of rotten blubber expanding their
nostrils. With one accord they cast
aside the masks.
1T amt such a fortune" groWled
Pull, his evil little white face thrust
forward. There's other things worth
all the seal trimmin's Of the islands"
"DiamOn's." glOOmed the Niger.
you've hit II. doctor" cut in Solo
mon.
There we were again. back to the
old difficulty. only worse. Idleness de-
scended on US again. We grew touchy
on little things, as a misplaced plate,
a shortage Of firewOod, too deep a
draft at the nearly empty bucket. The
noise of pickering became as constant
as the noise Of the surf. II We valued
peace. we kept our mouths shut The
way a man spat or ate or slept or even
breathed became a cause Of irritation
to every other member Of the company
We stood the outrage as long as We
could: then we objected in a wild and
ridiculous explosion which communi-
Gated its heat to the object Of our
wrath. Then there was 4 fight II
needed only liquor 70 complete the de-
pIorable state Of affairs.
Gradually the smaller things came to
worry us more aud more. \ certain
harmless singer Of the cricket o. per
haps Of the tree toad variety used to
Chirp his innocent note a short distance
from our cabin For all know b.
had done so frBm the moment Of our
installation. but ! bad never noticed
him before. Now caught myself lis
tening for his Irregular recurrence with
every nerve On the culver. IL be de-
iayed By ever 50 little. Il vas an agony.
ret when be did pipe NJ his feeble
strain struck to ny heart cod and
paralyzing Ike q dagger. And with
every advancing minute OF TIE night
became broader awake. more tense.
fairiy sweating with nervous1ess. One
nlght--Osd Cod was e only last
week. Il seems ages ago. smother eI-
istence. q state cut OF frcn this by
the wonder q q trznsufgrattoa st
ie<st Last week.
Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1908-02-18

to tell who wars against whom. Tie
sound Of heavy breathing, dull blows,
the tear of cloth and grunts of punish
ment received; the swirl of the sand,
the heave of struggling bodies, all riv-
eted my attention, SO that l did not
see Captain Ezra Selover until he stood
almost at my elbow.
"Stopw he shrieked In his high.
falsetto voice.
And would you believe II, even
through the blood haze Of their COM
bat the men heard him and heededl
They drew reluctantly apart, got to
their feet, stood looking at him through
reeking brows half submissive and
half defiant. The bullheaded Thrackles
even took a half step forward, but
froze in his tracks when Old Scrubs
looked at him.
II hire you men to fight when tell
you to and only then" said the captain
sterniy. "what does this meanY'
He menaced them one after another
with his eyes, and one after another
they quailed. And their plottings,
their threats, their dangerousness dis
sipated like mist before the command
of this one resolute man. These pirates
who had seemed so dreadful to me
now were nothing more than cringing
schoolboys before their master
And then suddenly TO my horror |.
watching closely. saw the captains
eye turn blank. l am sure the men
must have felt the change, though GER
tainly they were too far away TO see
II, for they shifted by ever so little
from their first frozen attitude. The
captains hand sought his pocket. and
they froze again. but instead Of the
expected revolver be produced q half
full brandy bottle.
The change in his eyes had crept into
his features. They had turned foolish
ly amiable. vacant. confiding.
lilo. boys" said he appealingly.
'You good fellows. amt your Have a
drink. = good stuff Good OF bottl'."
He lurcbed, caught himself and adj
vanced toward them, stiIl with the
empty smile.
They stared at him for ten seconds,
quite at a loss. Then:
Hes drunkr' Handy Solomon
breathed. scarcely louder than q whis-
per.
There was no other signal given.
They sprang as with single impulse.
One instant / saw clear against the
waning daylight the bulky. foolish
swaying form Of Captain Seloyer. the
next It had disappeared. carried down
and oblIterated By the rush Of attack
Ing bodies. Knives cleaned rudy in
the sunset There was no struggle. I
heard a deep groan- Then the murder.
ers rose slowly TO their feet
Ito be continuedD.
Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1908-02-18
their faces.

their faces.
Whether the flash and defamation
frightened them, whether Perdosa,
still clinging to his rock, managed to
turn their attention by his flanking ef-
forts or whether, quite simply, the
wall Of dead finally turned them back
I do not know, but with one accord
they gave over the attempt.
looked at once for Handy Solomon
and was surprised to see him still
alive, standing upright on ledge the
other side of the herd. His clothing
was literally torn to shreds, and he
was covered with blood. But in this
plight he was not alone, for when l
turned toward my companions they,
too, were tattered, torn and CORY. We
were a dreadful crew, standing there
in the half light our chests heaving,
our rags dripping red.
For perhaps ten seconds no one
moved. Then with yell Of demoniac
rage my companions clambered over
the rampant of dead seals and attacked
the herd.
The seals were now cowed and de-
fenseless. It was a slaughter. and the
most debauching and brutal l have
ever known. / had bit out with the
rest when II had been a question Of
defense, but from this turned aside
in n sick loathing. The men seemed
possessed of devils and of their unnat-
ural energy. Perdosa cast aside the
club and took to his natural weapon,
! the knife. / can see him yet rolling
over and over and embracing a big
COW, his head jammed in an ecstacy Of
ferocity between the animals front
| fllppers, his legs clasped to hold her
body, only his right hand rising and
falling as he plunged his knife again
and again. She struggled, turning him
over and under, wept great tears and
fairly whined with terror and pain.
/ Finally she was still. and Perdosa stag
| gered to his feet. only to stare about
| him drunkenly for a moment before
throwing himself with a screech on an
other victim.
The Niger alone did not jump into
the turmoil. He stood just down the
cave. his club ready. Occasionally a
disorganIzed rush to escape would be
made. The nigger's lips snarled and
with a truly mad enjoyment he beat
| the poor animals back.
pressed against the wall horrined.
fascinated, unable either to interfere
or to leave. After a little q tiny
stream, growing each moment, began
to iow past my feet IL sought its
channel daIntily. as streamiets do. feel
I ing among the stones In eddies. quiet
pools, miniature falls and rapids. For
/ the moment I did not realize what II
could be. Then the light caught II
down where the Niger waited. and
saw Il was red
At first the racket Of the seals was
overpowering Now gradually Il was
losing violence. began 20 hear the
bIasphemies. ferocious cries. screams
Of anger hurled against the cave walls
By the men The thick. sticky smell
grew stronger. the light seemed %
grow DINNER. as though Il could no;
burn In that fefid air. A seal came
and looked up at me. big tears rollins
frum her eyes Thea she fippsre1
sfnteNiy sway, cut q her PeR Nlts
Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1908-02-18

Beyond the rock we made out the en-
trance to the dry cave.
There's seal in there" cried Handy
Solomon. Lots of 'em!"
He thrust the rudder over, and we
headed for the cave. No one express
ed an opinion.
AS it was again high tide, we rowed
in to the steep shore inside the caves
mouth and beached the boat. The
place was full of seals. We could
hear them believing.
1.-Two Of you stand here" shouted
Handy Solomon, and take them as
they go out! Wen 90 in and scare
'em down to you"
They'll run over usr' screamed
Pulz.
"No. they won't. You can dodge up
the sides when they go by"
This was indeed well possible, so
we gripped our clubs and ventured in
to the darkness.
Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1908-02-18

with terror. The sight finished me.
I staggered down the length of the
black tunnel to the boat.
After a long interval little three
months pup waddled down to the wa
ter's edge, caught sight Of me and.
with a squeal of fright, dived far.
Poor little devil! would not have
hurt him for worlds. AS far as
know, this was the only survivor Of
all that herd.
The men soon appeared. one by one,
tired, sleepy eyed, glutted, walking in
a catlike trance Of safety. They were
blood and tatters from head to foot,
and from drying red masks peered
their bloodshot eyes. Not word said
they, but tumbled into the boat, push
ed off, and in a moment we were float
ing In the full sunshine again.
We rowed home in an abstraction.
For the moment Berserker rage had
burned itself out. Handy Solomon
continually wetted his lips, like an ami
NAL licking its chops. Thrackles stared
into space through eyes drugged with
killing. No one spoke.
We landed in the cove and were sur
prised to find 1t in shadow. The after
noon was far advanced. Over the hill
we dragged ourselves and down to the
spring. There the men threw them
selves fat and drank in great gulps
until they could drink no more. We
built n fire, but the niger refused to
cook.
Some one else turn" he growled.
IL cook aboard ship"
Perdosa, who had hewed the fuel, at
once became angry.
IL cut heem de WOOD he said. Il
do my share. Eef cut heem de wood
you mus cook heem de grubr'
But the Niger shook his head, and
Perdosa went into an ecstacy Of rage.
He kicked the fire to pieces. He scat
tered the unburned wood up and down
the beach. He even threw some Of 1t
into the sea ...
"Eef you no cook heem de grub you
no hab my woodg' he shrieked, with
enough oaths to sink his soul.
Finally Pulz interfered-
Here. you foreigners" said be,
quit il. Let up, | sayl We got to
eat. You let that wood alone or you'll
pick it up againr'
Perdosa sprsng at him with a
screech. Pulz was small. but nimble.
and understood rough and tumble
! fighting. He met Perdosa's rush. with
two swift blows, short arm jsb and
an uppercut Then they clinched and
+ In a mament we're rolling over and
over Just beyond the wash OF the surf.
The row walked the Niger from his
suIlen abstraction. He seemed to come
to himself with q start. his ere fell
surprfse1ly On the combatants. then III
up with an unholy tpv. He drew his
knife and crspt down on the fighters.
II was too good an opportunity to pay
OF the Mexican.
But ThrsckIes fnterfered sharply.
Gene CIR he commanded None
o. thafr
go to h-I-' grOwied the Niger.
A great rage fell on them all. blind
and terrible. ike that leading TO the
slaughter Of the seals. They fought
Enthusiastically, hitting at each Other
WITH fsu and knives. II vas diGczlt
Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1908-02-18
Ito be ContinuedI.

The Democrat y nou making . BIG
magazine offer in order TO induce
subscribers to pay In advance and 10
secure new subscribers. For A.
cents . month. which Is less than 2
cents . day. you can secure the Even
ing Democrat and three u1cnfhlF
magazines. nameiy, Spare Moments,
Dressnaking 1t Home and the Moth.
erss Magazine. Al that IL neces-
s.ry IL 70 pay I'm sdranee. You mag
par oae. tuo OF ~ many months II
ndFance ~ yoz desire.
Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1908-02-18


We advanced four abreast. for the
rave was wide enough for that. As
we penetrated the believing and bark
ing became more deafening. II was
impossible TO see anything. although
we felt an indistiaguishable tumblinz
mass receding before our footsteps
Thrackles swOre violently rs be STUN
bled over a lsggard With uncanny
abruptness the black wall Of darkness
IN front Of Us vas alive with fiery
eyebaIis The seals had reached the
end % the cave and lad turned toward
rs We too. stopped, a little uncertain
ss 70 how TO proceed
The frst plan had been to get behind
the hand and drive II slowly toward
the entrance 70 the cave. This vas
now seen to Be Impossible. The cav
sru was too narrow. its sides at this
point too step and the animals too
tAickly conzested Our eyss. becon-
n accustomed to TIE twilight. now
befn TO make cut dimly the Indfvid-
ual kodies Of Tire seals and the general
Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1908-02-18

TlHE inevitable happened. One
noon Pulz looked up from his
IL labor Of pulling the whiskers
from the evil smelling masks.
The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1908-12-15
MAYoNNAIsE DRESSING.

Beat the yolks of two eggs until
light-coloreo and thick. : Add half a
teaspoonful' of salt, one-fourth a tea
spoonful or more of paprika, and beat
again. Then beat in two tablespoonfuls
of acid,-lemon or vinegar, or half of
each as is preferred. When the mixture
is smooth, beat in half teaspoonful
of olive oil. Continue beating in the
oil, increasing the quantity to a tea
spoonful, and, finally, to a tablespoon
full, until pint has been added. Use
a Dover egg heater, and beat vigorous
ly from the start. If the dressing is
to stand any time Before using, cover
the receptacle with glass or china
plate, and set it aside in cool place.
Beat the full quantity of acid given
into the yolks at first, or the oil can
not be added in the quantity Indicated
Follow the directions carefully, and a
perfect mayonnaise may be as
sured.
The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1908-12-15
oMELET CELEsTINE.

Break three eggs into bowl; add
onefourth teaspoonful of salt and a
teaspoonful of sugar and beat with a
spoon until full spoonful can be TAX
en- up. Butter hot omelet pan, turn
in the egg mixture and cook as for a
French omelet. When the omelet is
about cooked, spread over it table,
spoonful, or more, of any sort of jam
or marmalade, (aprieot marmalade is
often used) or use currant jelly mixed
with powdered macaroons. Roll or fold
the omelet and turn it on to hot plat
ter. Dredge the top of the omelet with
sifted powdered sugar, score the sugar
with hot iron and serve at once as a
dessert dish.
The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1908-12-15
BABIES AND CHILDREN

should be fairly plump. They
ought to put on fat as fast as
they use 1T up; for fat is fuel,
and the burning of it makes pow
er and force. Thin children
even along to the age of eighteen
or twenty-are in danger from
consumption, and from other
wasting complaints. The chill
dren who starve, and the young
men and women who are con-
sumed-why, the very idea of
it is frightful. For such as
they, there is always what is call
ed a mighty famine" in the
land. Food, though it may be ia
ken plentifully, does not nourish
them. 1t makes no fat; it gives
no strength. To prevent this, to
cure this, to save the young ones
at the mothers knees, and the
bright boys and girls who are
just looking at the world with
ambitious eyes, is the purpose of
WAMPOLE'S PREPARATION
It's success is decided and set
tied. Thousands owe to it life
and health. 1t is palatable as
honey and contains all the cur
, alive properties of pure Cod
Liver Oil, extracted by us from
fresh cod livers, combined with
the Compound Syrup of Hypo-
phosphites and the Extracts
of Malt and Wild Cherry. In
building up pale, puny, emacia-
ted children, particularly those
troubled with Anemia, Scrofula,
Ricketts,, and bone and blood dis
eases, nothing equals it; its ton
ic qualities are of the highest or
der A Medical Institution says:
"We have used your preparation
in treating children for coughs,
colds and Inflammation +; its APP
plication has never failed us in
any case, even the most aggra-
waited bordering on pneumonia.
The children like it, and it
builds up their bodies many
little children owe their lives
ito it," Effective from the first
dose, and you cannot be disap-
pointed in it." Sold by chemists.
The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1908-12-15
A MULVANEY NEEDED
ON WMPAHu PLANTATION

Readers of Kipling will remember the
story of Khrisna Mulvaney and the
railing of the palanquin. Down ON the
Waipahu plantation is n luna who is
also in the rafting game, but no Sol
diers Three have yet appeared upon
the scene to break up the game. The
matter is discussed as follows in the
English edition of the Hawaii Shinpo:
According to a report received at
this office from Waipahu, there seems
to exist certain grievances among the
Japanese laborers there against Chi
nese luna, who is alleged to be exact
ing undue profit from the laborers un.
der him. 1t il said that this luna has
conducted raffies twice within very
short time along system WHICH is
arousing the Japanese and some trouble
is anticipated.
"The Chinaman Is scheme is to an
nounce n rattle whenever he is in fnan-
cial stress and needs some money. He
goes around the camps and offers to
sell chance or two in his rattle. Those
who buy are treated kindly in the
course of their work, and those who do
not are handled roughly. Tn this man
ner the crafty luna has taught his men
how they may have an easy time in the
field; and to use the word of our cor.
respondent 'his pocket has swollen in
proportion to the dwindling in the size
of cane.
"The Japanese are looking for some
change with the turn of the man
ager."
The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1908-12-15

the asinine behavior of young fellow
among the party which he had taken
for sail. When the boat sprang
leak far out from the shore the boat
man somewhat allayed the alarm of
the rest of the party by serving out
life belts, but he gave no belt to the
would-be wit. "Wheres minef" said
the terrified youth. Don't you worry,
my lad" said the boatman, with vim
dictive smile. ''You don't need no
life belt. You II never be drowned. A
Teller with an 'ead as 'oller as your n
can't sink. Natures given you a
nat raj lifebuoy."
The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1908-12-15

"You didn t seem to enjoy your din
ner." "No,' answered Mr.. Cumrox
81 confess | was wondering about how
much ] ought to give the waiter. You
see, if you give a waiter too little he
snubs you and if you give him too
much he knows you are a stranger in
the place and scorns you anyhow. -
Washington Star.