Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 1014 — page 7: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

| | | | | This was so different from what he expected, that Frank could not refrain from saying: ‘“* That’s taking a sensible view of it, Ned, and I’m glad ycu look at it that way.” He knew it was not fear that caused the cnange in Ned, but he had no suspicion that the next words he himself uttered gave expression to the thought which rendered the usually hot- tempered, independent boy so submissive, ** Of course,” continued Frank, ‘‘if you would not do as this fellow says we must, I should have to stand by you, but it would only end in our being killed,” ‘* Oh, there’s no use butting ove’s head against a stone wall,” Ibe words were spoken carelessly enough, und gave no indication of the anger and in- dignation, which Ned suppressed, at the thought; ‘* lve brought. bim into this trouble, and if I don’t submit, he won’t—and that will be the end of him,” More at ease now, Frank suggested that they should resume their inter: upted sleep, and using the floor-mats for pillows, both stretched out on tbe hard earth which formed their bed—quite different, as it occurred to Ned, to the big feather-stuffed bed-tick in the farm-house near Falmouth, Next morning, they were aroused by the en- trance of Bamwa, accompanied by two negroes carrying cush-cusb and water. ‘** You willdoasI told you last night?’ asked the interpreter, almost anxiously, when his com- panions had gone, ~Ned merely nodded, while Frank replied that they would, _** It is well,” said Bamwa, looking much re- lieved, ‘‘ I will come when the king is ready to receive you. Be very careful, and do nothing toanger him. If you pass the morning safely, you need fear yt! As slaves of the king’s wives you will be well treated, and your life a happy one,” rom the standpoint of the African, ever careless of the future, Bamwa’s assertion was probably the truth, but the boys were not des- tined to test it. After again warning the boys to be careful— his words being directed at Ned—the friendly negro went to ascertain if the king was ready, and what humor he was in, An hour elapsed before Bamwa returned to announce that *‘ the Great Kitonga would deign to listen to the petition of his slaves,” ‘** You must speak to me for a little while,” said Bamwa, ‘‘ and I will make your petition for face wenene. _Notwithstanding the danger that this peti- tion (which was no matter of form) might be retused, and his head ordered off, Ned grinned at the interpreter’s high-flown speech. thereby causing that well-intentioned person much un- easiness, ‘* Be careful!” was Bamwa’s parting injunc- tion, as, halting them some distance from Kitonga, he hastened forward to announce the Fite (?)-of the slaves to make their peti- 10n, The desired permission being granted, and the boys being on their knees before the ferocious- looking king, Bamwa said to Frank: ‘* You must now talk to me for a few min- utes. Look sad—sad as you can, for the danger is not past.” The in reter spoke more truth than he knew—the danger was only approaching. Assuming a8 meek and lowly an air as he could, Frank said: 8 am my face is fit for a funeral, and, backed by your eloquence, it ought to carry me through. “As this isn’t a very easy position, you might sail in now and tell him my heart is too sad to say any more,” Despite the fact that he was in the presence of royalty, Ned grinned on hearing this, and un- fortunately Kitonga caught him in the act— much to the dismay of bamwa, who delivered the petition (/) in a rather confused manner, Apparently, not noticing his interpreter’s con- fusion, Kitonga motioned Frank to arise and step aside, while Bamwa told Ned to say a few words, “*Oh, fire away! Say what you please, but make it brief, There’s a confounded stone un- der my right knee, and I feel like a hen on a hot griddle,” This response, delivered ina carelessly im tient tone and manner, alarmed Bamwa, who, assuming ao air of severity, warned Ned that the king was watching him, and implored him t» say something more, with an assumption of sadness, * ~ = ite ! » * a ae a! Don We Oma © te see“ Middy Ned, the Runaway. 7 Out of regard for the friendly interpreter, Ned did assume a most miserable expression of countenance, but spoiled the effect by com- pletely upsetting Bamwa when he replied: “All rigbt! Let the ugly brute look—it may improve the expression of his countenance, and it can’t be made worse. He’s the worst look- ing case ]’ve ever laid eyeson,” Gamwa was horrified at this speech, but again Kitonga passed over his confused address, and motioning Ned to stand up, spoke to the inter- preter, who in turn informed the reckless boy that the king desired a drink, pointing as he spoke to a gourd and cup standing on a mat midway between the master and slave, Picking uy the gourd and the cup, Ned ad- vanced and, following Bamwa’s instructions, knelt and handed the cup to the king, who held it while his slave filled it, Then, with a malicious grin, Kitonga dashed the water in Ned’s face; but, he reckoned with- out his host, The water had scarcely touched Ned before Kitonga was knocked off his mat, being struck in the face by the water gourd which the angry bov had hurled at bim with all bis strength, For a moment the warriors, who stood back of the king as already described, appeared to be paralyzed with horror, but as Kitonga scrambled to his feet,they rushed forward to avenge his outraged majesty. Meantime, Ned bad drawn both his pistols and prepared to die where he stood, us was evidenced by his cry: ** Have nothing to do with this, Frank! They won’t hurt youif you stay out of it! Good-by!” By way of reply, Frank fired his heavy p'stol, ao as the leading warrior fell, sprung to Ned's side, **Come on! Tothe woods!” he cried, At the same moment several gun-shots rung out from the woods, and the savages baited irre- solutely as a half-dozen sailors, headed by Blood and Turner, made their appearance at the edge of the forest! The halt was only momentary, however, and before the boys were half-way across the opening, the savages, led by Kitonga, were close upon them, ‘* Wheel and fire! Then turn to the right!” panted Frank, He turned as he spoke, as did Ned, and both fired at the nearest of the pursuing savages. Which fired the fatal shot was never known, but between them lay the honor of killing the ferocious Kitonga. The fall of the chief created a panic, which was increased by a volley from the sailors, who, now that the boys had divided— Ned running off to the right, and Frank to the left—had an op- poentty to fire without damage to their com- rades, Circling about as they ran, the fugitives had almost reached their friends, when, recovering from the panic caused by the fall of their chief, the savages again rushed forward, uttering yells of rage, and firing showers of arrows as they came, It was a critical moment. Several of the sailors bad been wounded by the arrows. The savages were coming on, regardless of the vol- leys from guns and pistols, and were close upo | the whites, when a shower of arrows and spears issued from the forest, over the heads of the sailors, It was a deadly shower in more than one sense, for not only wero many stricken down, but every man struck died. Following the discharge of arrows and spears a swarm of little men—none over five feet in height—led by Ned’s “slave,” dashed into the opening. The ‘ate pursuers now became the pursued, for without a moment’s hesitation they turned and fled, terror-stricken by the deadly character of the dwarfs’ spears, the poisonous character of the dwarfs’ arrows, The first to grasp Ned’s hand, and then Frank’s, was the little fellow rescued from the gorilla the previous day. He was accompanied by one of the tribe, who proved to be an inter- preter, and who informed the wondering white men that the ‘‘slave’”? was the son of the chief of the Akkas, and that the latter wished to thank those who had saved the young chief's life, CHAPTER X, WITH THE DWARFS, THE rout of the Kitongas being complete, their village destroyed, many of their best war- riors dead (and many more prisoner:) the Akkas were ready to return to the camp, where they ae left the old chief, with a guard to protect m, ** Longa,son of Batwa, awaits your pleasure,” said the interpreter, when all the ‘“ spitfire ” warriors—as Blood called them—had returned from the pursuit of the Kitongas, and taking this asa hint that they wished to depart, Ned, to whom the words were addressed, signified his readiness to proceed to the camp. On the march, the boys learned, that, having received a hint of what bad happened from one of Bruce's party, Blood and Turner, with four of the old hands, had deserted the schooner, and traveling day and night, arrived on the outskirts of the Kitonga village, just as Frank and Ned were brought before the king, Through the interpreter, they learned that after leaving them, Longa had burried back to his father, who with a part of his tribe was traveling to thesea coast, to makearrangements for trading a large quantity of ivory, gold-dust, wax,ete., either with ships, or with tribes near the coast. Full of the spirit of adventure, Longa—who by the way, was much older than either of the boys—had traveled many miles ahead of his par- ty, and the return journey was long and ardu- ous, He had seen the danger the boys were more than likely to encounter, and, on acquaint- ing the old chief of his rescue, the latter imme- diately dispatched Longa, and nearly all his men to their rescue, Batwa, who was a stout old man about as tall as hisson, greeted the white party very cordial- ly,and made aspeech to his people, which, from his gestures, and the acting of the listeners, it was easy to see, was a recital of the story of Longa’s rescue, There was much cheering at the conclusion of the®speech, and the Akkas began tocrowd around the boys, but the young chief drove them away, while the interpreter informed Ned that he and Frank were to eat with the old chief, and their friends with Longa, During, and after the meal, (which was quite a lengthy affair, and more sumptuous than any- thing the boys had tasted since leaving port) the old chief heard the story of Ned’s adventures since leaving home, which, of course, included Frank’s story. **How do you expect to get back to your country ?”’ asked the chief, when Ned’s story was finished, Being told that they were trying to get tothe coast, where they would ship on the first vessel found, the old chief showed great pleasure, and summoned his son, evidently to tell him the good news, ‘* But vour friends—they cannot go back to the rascal, your captain?” asked Longa. **No, poor fellows, they lose everything— money and clothes—like Frank and myself,” re- plied Ned, The young chief seemed rather pleased to hear this, and after some conversation with his father, said that if the party would accompany the Akkas to the coast, and assist in the trad- ing, the chief would gladly allow them a share of the goods, ** We have some gold-dust and wax with us,” continued Longa (of course, through the inter- preter), ‘‘ but there is much more, and a great deal of ivory, for which we will send back car- riers, if you will only join us, for, if you are there, we will not be cheated,” This offer was too good to be refused, and the boys having signified their acceptance, Longa immediately dispatched twenty-five men for the balance of the ivory and gold-dust. While the young chief was thus engaged, his father asked many questions concerning the country from which the boys came, but at length, growing drowsy, he permitted them to retire, and, accompanied by the interpreter, they joined their friends, to whom Ned related the conversation with Batwa, and his acceptance of the latter’s offer, Ned was still talking, when Longa joined the party, and when the boy finished, the young chief made a lengthy speech, which, being in- terpreted, proved to be an offer to recover what helonged to the men from the captain of the Volunteer. _“*Some of his ivory must be yet. on shore,” said Longa. ‘* We will seizeit an’ keep it, if he does not give what is yours, Our carriers will not return for ten days, and we can start before suprise to-morrow, so there will be no danger of missing our people on their return.” This offer, too, was promptly accepted— Blood, in particular, being delighted over the prospect of forcing Captain Brown to pay what was due, and give them tbeir kits, Accordingly, next morning, before dawn, the entire party, consisting of one hundred and chooks.