The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-12-29

deck. j knew that a savage had step
ped ON my tacks, but had little doubt
that IL would drive him and those who
might be with him back TO bis canoe.
And ii did. The savages knew that
must have been warned of their COM
ing by the cry and, dreading the con-
tents Of my rifle, took themselves
away. The rest of the night was
passed In quiet.
The next morning / was still ailing
and unable TO sail on. Not daring TO
remain in the cabin, where / could not
see the approach of an enemy. l took
a mattress on deck and lay there. l
| also removed my cabinet containing
my medical supplies and set it on the
deck beside me. One thing 1 neglect
ed to do--that is, lay rifle beside me.
! I thought of doing so, but at the time
was seized with a violent pain. which
SO far engaged my attention that the
rifle passed out of my mind.
A cup Of water stood beside me into
which l had put three drops of the
fiery medicine l have mentioned. Aft
er a paroxysm l would take tea
spoonful of this diluted medicine.
Gradually the pain left me. and with
relief came drowsiness. l knew that |
to fall asleep might cost me my life; |
but, not having slept at all the night
before and soothed by absence OF re-
cent pain, I was unable to resist.
should have suspected that the
medicine was taking to relieve pain
contained an opiate or at least soda
l tive. for pain alleviations almost all
; rely on deadening the sensibilities. But
, did not think Of this or would never
3 have taken it. for it would have been
much better to suffer temporarily than
Q to 90 to sleep surrounded by those who
Y We're bent on murder.
@ I had removed the tacks from the
: deck, for, having unwittingly stepped
f on them, did not relish the situation,
and 1 did not suppose | would have
q any use for them during the day. HAD
- I expected to sleep would have GER
I, tainly left them on the deck. AS 1t
4 was with my rifles below and the
;, lacks removed, ! was absolutely de-
,, fenseless-no, not absolutely; there was
: weapon at hand that required pres
~ ence of mind and thought to use. But
~ as Law there trying to fight of SUM-
:. Der was absolutely unconscious OF 1t.
- The demon of the strait must nave
~ been in league with the savages, FOL
never had I floated In calmer water
:. A canoe is not fitted to breast waves
~ and l never feared the Fuegans II
-. saually weather. 1t was when TIM
:. strait was Of smooth surface that the.
~ made their forays.
How long l slept don't know, no
ns can account for being awakened be
." fore a blow was aimed to end my life
l must have been conscious In m
~ sleep Of the approach Of savages Sue
:. denly opened my eyes. l was lynn
~ on my back looking up at the blue SIX!
- over which light, feecy clouds wer
~ sailing leisurely. My head was higl
10y had purposely used more than on
'"' pillow in order to be able to see abo,
me, and, casting my eyes to the righ
saw a canoe only hundred yarf
n away.
IN The defenselessness Of my positio
Inc rushed upon me in full force. The
was no time to get my rifle. Beside
49, IL stood up might be picked or
W.. an arrow. My medical cabinet WI
no open, and in 1t espied syringe. II
rn. bottle from which l had poured Il
,nt. fiery draft stood beside 1t on the dec
Don Selling the two, put the point Of Il
uck syringe into the neck of the bottle al
BILE sucked up charge Of the medicine.
}, it was protected from the savages
ok the gunwale, and If they saw me
n. the syringe probably they did not CO
hen slider it a weapon. They came on nois
1T lessly--the paddle gives no sound-al
at through a narrow space between t
,oot lids Of my eyes l saw a head rails
beyond the forecastle. The sava
1air made signs to those in the canoe tn
ihd l was asleep. With his hand on t
gunwale he guided the canoe to a pol
nat amidships where he was much near
age me. There he paused and, keeping
e, .n eyes fixed on me, drew knife fro
- his belt.
tied s'eo "u ,, -.
Id I Ieauy LUZ USE INC o"'ase u.s.
IN knife. His body above the waist
oral above the gunwale. He did not ne
, in to come on deck to reach me.
.nce Suddenly l raised the syringe. New
Tide did / so concentrate my faculties
cat an aim. Bringing the weapon to be
NV on his eyes, l pushed the piston. L
,ma Fuegan fell back with a howl,
ded hands pressed against his eyes.
nan In twinkling l had recharged 4
IONS gun and lay waiting for another
tack None came. | heard hubb
ans In the canoe and, raising my head, So
linz the savages padding away for de
age life Nor did they stop till they we
, an out of sight.
saw. That was the closest call had VIII
dry trying to pass through the domain
low. the demon of the strait Whether
INV was the rub / had had or the me-
the cine or the tonic of my fight for life
TIM arose from my recumbent posture fe