Camps in the Caribbes : the adventures of a naturalist in the lesser Antilles

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A DAY IN THE DEEP WOODS.

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atory raids, always returning well rewarded. In one of these excursions the chief of the tribe captured the wife of the governor of Antigua, who lived in a secluded nook in that island, near the sea. She was brought a prisoner to this place, to this very cave, Meyong says, and held, contrary to their custom, for ransom. I will not try to depict the wrath and despair of the husband, nor the details of the pursuit he at once organized, but merely state that he sought her out, traced her to the Carib retreat by fragments of clothing torn from her by cruel thorns, and eventually succeeded in returning with her. She had been weeks in captivity, but had been well treated. This, then, was the cavern in which that delicate lady lay captive, nearly two centuries ago ! Truly, it was a poor retreat for a tenderly nurtured woman, but a grand one for Meyong and myself. After the fire was well going, Meyong made a large torch, which he stuck in a crevice outside as a guide to Coryet in his ascent. The crabs, which the sly fellow, with wise forethought, had deposited in a heap by the rock as we had ascended, were then brought in and some of them roasted ; and these, with some cold boiled yarn, made a grateful repast. We sat over the fire till late, then spread our blankets upon the earth and lay down to sleep. Several hours later I was awakened by a disturbance, and rolling over quickly, saw Coryet standing in the doorway. But it appeared more like his apparition than himself in flesh and blood, as he stood there shaking with cold. The dogs, which he held in leash, as soon as released slunk into a corner with their tails between their legs, uttering low whines. 10


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