Chapter I Out to had this story from .
may credit the seductive influence of an old vintage upon for the beginning of it , and own skeptical incredulity during the days that followed for the balance of the strange tale .
When discovered that had told so much , and that was prone to doubtfulness , foolish pride assumed the task the old vintage had commenced , and so unearthed written evidence in the form of musty manuscript , and dry official records of to support many of the salient features of remarkable narrative .
do not say the story is true , for did not witness the happenings which it portrays , but the fact that in the telling of it to have taken fictitious names for quite sufficiently evidences the sincerity of own belief that it MAY be true .
The yellow , mildewed pages of the diary of , and the records of dovetail perfectly with the narrative of , and so give the story as painstakingly pieced it out from these several various agencies .
If do not find it credible will at least be as one with in acknowledging that it is unique , remarkable , and interesting .
From the records of and from 's diary learn that , whom shall call , , was commissioned to make a peculiarly delicate investigation of conditions in from whose another was known to be recruiting for , which used solely for the forcible collection of rubber and ivory from .
complained that many of were enticed away through the medium of fair and glowing promises , but that few if any ever returned to .
went even further , saying that were held in virtual slavery , since after terms of enlistment expired ignorance was imposed upon by , and were told that had yet several years to serve .
And so appointed to , but confidential instructions centered on a thorough investigation of the unfair treatment of by .
Why was sent , is , however , of little moment to this story , for never made an investigation , nor , in fact , did ever reach .
was -- -- mentally , morally , and physically .
In stature was above the average height ; eyes were gray , features regular and strong ; carriage that of perfect , robust health influenced by years of army training .
Political ambition had caused to seek transference from to and so find , still young , entrusted with a delicate and important commission in the service of .
When received this appointment was both elated and appalled .
The preferment seemed to in the nature of a well-merited reward for painstaking and intelligent service , and as a stepping stone to posts of greater importance and responsibility ; but , on the other hand , had been married to for scarce a three months , and it was the thought of taking into the dangers and isolation of that appalled .
For sake would have refused the appointment , but would not have it so .
Instead insisted that accept , and , indeed , take with .
There were and and , and and to express various opinions on the subject , but as to what severally advised history is silent .
know only that on a bright May morning in 1888 , , , and sailed from on way to .
A month later arrived at where chartered , , which was to bear to .
And here , , and , , vanished from the eyes and from the knowledge of .
Two months after weighed anchor and cleared from were scouring for trace of or , and it was almost immediately that the wreckage was found upon which convinced that had gone down with , and hence the search was stopped ere it had scarce begun ; though hope lingered in longing hearts for many years .
, , was , composed of -- .
was no exception to the rule .
were .
, while , was .
knew , or at least used , but two arguments in dealings with -- a belaying pin and a revolver -- nor is it likely that signed would have understood aught else .
So it was that from the second day out from and witnessed scenes upon such as had believed were never enacted outside the covers of printed stories of .
It was on the morning of the second day that the first link was forged in what was destined to form a chain of circumstances ending in a life for one then unborn such as has never been paralleled in the history of .
were washing down , was on duty , and had stopped to speak with and .
were working backwards toward .
Closer and closer came , until was directly behind .
In another moment would have passed by and this strange narrative would never have been recorded .
But just that instant turned to leave and , and , as did so , tripped against and sprawled headlong upon , overturning the water-pail so that was drenched in its dirty contents .
For an instant the scene was ludicrous ; but only for an instant .
With a volley of awful oaths , face suffused with the scarlet of mortification and rage , regained feet , and with a terrific blow felled to .
was small and rather old , so that the brutality of the act was thus accentuated .
, however , was neither old nor small -- .
As saw go down crouched , and , with a low snarl , sprang upon crushing to knees with a single mighty blow .
From scarlet 's face went white , for this was mutiny ; and mutiny had met and subdued before in brutal career .
Without waiting to rise whipped a revolver from pocket , firing point blank at ; but , quick as was , was almost as quick , so that the bullet which was intended for 's heart lodged in 's leg instead , for had struck down 's arm as had seen the weapon flash in the sun .
Words passed between and , making it plain that was disgusted with the brutality displayed toward , nor would countenance anything further of the kind while and remained .
was on the point of making an angry reply , but , thinking better of it , turned on heel and black and scowling , strode aft .
did not care to antagonize , for 's mighty arm wielded a punitive instrument which could appreciate , and which feared -- .
picked up , .
, tried leg gingerly , and , finding that it bore weight , turned to with a word of gruff thanks .
Though 's tone was surly , words were evidently well meant .
Ere had scarce finished little speech had turned and was limping off toward the forecastle with the very apparent intention of forestalling any further conversation .
did not see again for several days , nor did accord more than the surliest of grunts when was forced to speak to .
took meals in , as had before the unfortunate occurrence ; but was careful to see that duties never permitted to eat at the same time .
were , but little above , and were only too glad to avoid social intercourse with and , so that were left very much to .
This in itself accorded perfectly with desires , but it also rather isolated from the life of so that were unable to keep in touch with the daily happenings which were to culminate so soon in bloody tragedy .
There was in the whole atmosphere of that undefinable something which presages disaster .
Outwardly , to the knowledge of , all went on as before upon ; but that there was an undertow leading toward some unknown danger both felt , though did not speak of it to each other .
On the second day after the wounding of , came on just in time to see being carried below by while , , stood glowering at .