Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-08
"fN A FLASH I FIRED FULL
INTO TUHlUMPIU'S BODY"

battle heated savages were in nasty
temper They were becoming holder
every minute. approaching in groups
of five or six in an attempt to borrow
our rifles and not always remember
ing to leave their spears behind them
even then.
We were rapidly losing our self
control. much as we wanted 10 avoid
another massacre. There was lun
in the trouble. however. when Tu-
huimpui. the JiVaro chief, came up
to powwow. still insisting that he
thought it would be as well if each OF
us captained a Jivaro dugout, at in
tervalS throughout the lOuE column,
TO inspire his men with confidence.
Our prestige. he said, was very
great. our power greater. We could
save them from disaster. should the
HuambiZas give chase. We would be
a tower of strength to them in the
gathering darkness. All this was
highly mplimentary. but CT course
merely served to concea. the crafty
designs of that smooth -tongued old
scoundrel who coveted our heads and
our outfit
If we were To avoid a rupture Of
diplomatic relations, we must walk
carefully. With infinite patience.
then, | explained to Tuhuimpui that
the most we could do would be for
four of US to so two and two, while
the fifth took third canoe. Scarcely
yelling his disappointment, bus forced
to give way before our determination
not TO he maSsaCred singly, he went
off at last, and gave the necessary
orders.
Had we been all separated, doubt
less at given signal the crew of each
Of our canoes would have capsiZed
their craft. themselves diving with
their spears. and precipltating us
and our WincheSters into the water.
where the JivaroS are as much at
home as on land. but where our arms
would be at a great disadvantage. In
a moment we should have been stuck
like common paichi.
4 moment later and the whole fleet
was on the move. Jack and Edsput
off with the leading f1otilla. Am
busha. our Indian attendant, cannot
he said TO have embarked with any
more zest than "A Missouri mule being
loaded for export. We put him
aboard a dueout which was stationed
in the middle of the column. Game
and | brought up the rear with
Tuhuimpui
In an hour we had made a sand
bar, where il was decided to stop for
the night Indeed by the time my
canoe arrived the fires We're already
blazing. the vanguard having had
few minutes start Of us. With the
same care as ever. we pitched our
camp at a safe distance from that
Of our allies
NEXT morning we were away as
usual with the sun. Once more
Tuhuimpui tried to make me see the
wisdom of adopting the formation he
suggested. Once more | STAYED him
off So the long line swung down the
river in the same order. an interval
Of perhaps a mile between the van
and the main body. and the same be-
tween the main body and the rear
guard.
Foreseeing trouble. we had ar
RANGED on the night before that in
case of a hostile move on the part of
the savages, the signal should be two
shots fired in rapid succession. II
was agreed that they should not be
fred without due cause. hut that once
the alarm was given, each of us would
exterminate the Indians In his vicin-
itv. There was to he no hesitation.
for. much as we wished to avoid
trAuole, If trouble came we must meet
Il Instantly.
For an hour we fioated along. moth
ing but the wash of the paddles to
break the silence except the occa-
aoa1al sQuawk of parrot. In the
stem OF my canoe sat Tuhuimpui
steering. The three paddlers in the
DOW swayed TO and fro with the cease
MSS rhythm that knows no fatigue
Game and l amidships, seated back
- back with our rifles across our
knees, smoked in silence. never taking
our eyes from the Indians for mo-
uaent Tuhuimpui had received his
orders-our dugout was on no account
TO move up from its place in the rear.
We were taking no risks that morn
ing.
Two shots 'from around the long
curve downstream in quick success
sion reused US from our reverie. In
a fash I had swung my rife to the
rietA and fred full into Tuhuimputs
body. The chief wilted and Gid into
the bflgetvaser IN a heap. turned
to see Came graphing with the near