Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-23

over 80 grains-of cyanide of potassium
suppose that months of constant mental
Stratn-tor I had never in all that time been
certain that any trip into the forest would not
be my last-had caused me to dramatize-or
Acknowledgment When / was project
ing this runaway trip, considered the factor
OF my possible capture very thoroughly and de-
cided that In case were set upon by the Peru
vians would do my best to engage them in
conversation before they killed me. And the
best way of attracting their attentions-know-
ing the animals did-was to offer them n
drink hoped, by my Borgia methods, to rid
myself of two or three at least, and thought
that my pump gun would account for several
more. Very reprehensible conduct OF course,
but how would you have done it?
WENT by c1rcuitouS route-firSt by the
stocks. Creeping through the bushes saw
that my houSeboy was imprisoned there. His
ankles were held closely in the orifices in the
stocks and he lay backward on the ground He
was badly injured, as he had q great machete
cut ON his head. The bleeding had stopped
however, and he was conscious for I saw him
as ne reached for gourdfuI Of water that was
lying near him.
Somehow had suspected that my plans had
gone wrong-in part at least. Now, Of course
that was obvious. The boy knew nothing it il
true and consequently could tell nothing But
he might say that he had been sent to Keysha
and Keysha were questioned how long would
he be able TO keep silence under the menace
or under the application-of the tapir hide
whip? MY instructive reaction was to effect
the boys release. Then it came over me that
that was what expected of me and that
some scoundrel might be hiding nearby waiting
with his winchester pointed at me. / was
afraid. Never In my life have I been more
frightened. and left the boy there and walked
rapidly toward the hut of my Indian friend
wondering what had happened and whether or
not would be able to escape
It was dark when reached Keysha's hut
called but not loudly, and no one answered
fumbled about and lighted lantern that was
among my secreted stores, raising it in order
to look about. Still there was no sound but as
turned my eyes fell q fearful object NV
hand, as it held the lantern, shook violently
with fear, and the shadows in the silent hut
quavered as IL in sympathy for there, staring
me hideously in the Observation-Disclosures
ghastly-was Keyshas dead body hanging from
the raftersi
I shrank back and turned to run, but stopped
abruptly as heard a half-stified wall from the
corner. Keysha's little grandson baby who
as yet could not walk-was smothering in the
dust. had not thought of the child until
heard the wall but then remembered. The
babys parents had been murdered some months
petore-now or why or by whom do not
know-and Keysha had gone into the Jungle
70 Wherever the family had lived and had
brought the baby back with him. Now whoever
had hung Keysha had apparently merely kicked
the baby into the corner and kicked a lot Of
Nth over him. I pulled the child out and he
walled again.
ran out to the stream to see If INV canoe
was still in its place. It was, and thanked
God fervently for that KeySha according tn
our agreement, had sunk it beneath a pile of
rotted logs, and Keysha-obviously-h died
loyal
Why was not shot do not know. made a
splendid mark standing there in the dark with
lighted lantern in my hand Perhaus the
devils, not knowing of the canoe and merely
knowing that Keysha and I had a secret, did
not think that contemplated escape, or per-
haps the thought that they might get me far
tller from the station, and so have more ulau-
sible story to tell when they blamed the Boras
and the Andokes with my death.
A NoTHER-and just as plausible explana-
tion-is that after numbering Keysha the
Scoundrels fed in terror. That was no new
thing to happen. had heard several times of
the lowest type Of Peruvians-and there were
such in the MISUNDERSTANDING in terror from
the body Of a murdered Indian when they found
that the man had been baptized In their
minds, apparently, there was deeply ingrained
the idea that there was a vast difference be-
tween numbering an "infdel"-an inndel or un-
baptized Savage-and numbering one who had
received the benefits OF baptism. The first
were "animaleS." The second were "Cristianos."
And Keysha had been baptized as the medal
lion at his bare throat plainly showed when the
light from the lantern fell upon it.
But at that moment had no time for such
thoughts. 1 hurriedly emptied my canoe OF
water, carried my hidden supplies from the hut
and put them aboard. Then went once more
20 look at the baby boy, was troubled 80 wen