Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-01-13

Ing to madden the gorilla, for all the
rest of that night We could hear him
thrashing about up and down the rig.
Ging. Fortunately the weather was
calm and the wind light. Then came
the worst trouble of all-our stock of
water in the after scuttie butt ran
out; there was plenty forward on the
main deck, but all next day the gorilla
seemed to sense our predicament. for
he lay crouched on top of the deck
house ready to spring on whoever at.
tempted to reach the casks.
by nightfall Captain Graves was
desperate with the crying and wailing
of the boy, whose one cry was thirsty,
mummy! so thirsty!' ..
Il was at the wheel; the skipper
was below. The gorilla, when I last
saw him, was curied up in the fore.
top apparently asleep. Captain Graves
came softly up the companion and
whispered that he was going to steal
out of the cabin door on to the main
deck and make a dash for the sorely
needed water.
let me go. captain begged, but
he refused, saying that he could better
locate the water casks in the dark.
ness. while might trip or stumble
and bring the beast down on me- So
remained aft, listening intently. There
was no moon and the night was pitch
dark. the brig rolling heavily and max.
ing all the weird noises usual to a
wooden vessel in seaway.
While stood there heard a quick
rush, smothered, choking cry, and
the sudden splash of body alongside
| knew what it meant-the captain
had gone to his death like the rest of
his unlucky crew.
"Maddened with horror and rage
left the wheel and sprang for the main
deck. Selling Delaying pin as | ran
But the grizzly gray devil eluded me,
although | searched every nook and
corner, even climbing on the bulwarks
to look in the boats swinging in the
davits.
Happening to look aft spied the
shaft of yellow light streaming from
the open cabin door, and my heart
gave jump of dismay. In an instant
| realized the utter futility of my rage,
and what the consequences of it might
be. Mrs. Graves and her baby had
been left alone, exposed to the fury of
that incarnate fiend had he chosen to
pay them visit. While | had been
raving aloud. running to and fro and
thrashing the empty deck it would
have been easy for the gorilla to steal
into the cabin and wreak his ferocity
on the defenseless mother and child
within. 1t must have been a Fremont.
ton, for even as looked a dark shape
blurred the oblong of light and in two
jumps reached the rail. where it
tossed something oversize.
my yell startled the fiend, for with
a snarling yelp he sprang for the main
rigging and vanished overhead in the
gloom, where | could hear him chat.
tering and crashing his great teeth.
Il made dive for the cabin. bang.
ing the door behind me, hurried to do
likewise for the companion, and then
called for Mrs. Graves Too well
knew what the result would be. Only
my own voice echoed in that silent
cabin; mother and babe had gone to
join father and husband, and I was
alone on the brig! Then | must have
swooned, for when came to the
morning sun was cutting zig-zag pat.
terms on the floor as the ship swung
aimlessly hither and yon.
in a moment the dread happenings
of the past night of horror flashed into
memory, and in that same instant /
resolved to quit the brig, if possible;
otherwise it would be my turn to feel
the gorilla's claws gripping my throat
and in a trice I'd be pitched over
board to join my shipmates
Cautiously | peered out of the
cabin windows along the main deck;
the great hairy brute. as tall as full.
grown man, was summing himself on
top of the galley, and. hoped, asleep.
My plan was to make a rush for the
stern, where the boat was still tow.
ing, slide down the painter, cast OF
and trust to luck for being picked up.
Better slow death by exposure and
starvation in an open boat than by
with the hot and fetid
breath of the ape in my nostrils.
We'll, stuffed some ships biscuits
in my shirt, opened the companion
doors very quietly and made a break
for the taffrail. 1t was only half a
dozen strides, but quick as moved
the gorilla was quicker, for as l strad-
died the rail | heard the swift patter
of his feet on the deck planks. I made
a dive for the painter. fortunately
caught it and landed in the boat.
Looking upward, saw the ape
making to follow me, but hesitating at
his bulk to the light, swaying
rope. To head him off l whipped out
my knife and slashed at the painter,
severing it with a single stroke.
But before | drifted clear the fiend |
leaped for the boat, struck its bow,
bounded off into the sea, and came up |
suffering alongside ready to Chamber |
over the gunwale. With cry of rage |
| seized an oar and let him have It |
with the sharp edge of the blade |
squarely on top of his fiat and ugly |
skull Still snarling and swapping, the |
dirty carcass sank alongside. leaving |
but a ring of bubbles. Then for the |
second time lost my senses.
"When next I oDeued nv ewes I WAC