Notwithstanding the confirmed assurance of the sufficient efficacy of
the antidote applied by Waantha for counteracting the poisonous
inoculation of the padre’s arm, he still continued the use of whiskey
with the thoughtless lack of consideration that fosters habits of
indulgence and self-imposed penalties. In verification of the advanced
statement, that artificial stimulation gave birth to war and the three
curative professions, the padre, in common with his paternal ancestors,
became polemically disposed when subject to the influence of his imposed
habits. Waantha’s happy manifestations of “regeneration” caused him to
urge dogmatically, “You must acknowledge, Mr. Welson, that the Jesuit
fathers have done much good, for of all nations and sects they alone
have succeeded in bringing tribes of Indians under the influence of
civilized control.”
“Yes,” replied Mr. Welson, but with the reprobating clause, that “they
have manifested in all their missionary labors a paramount zeal for the
selfish aggrandizement of their partisan order in the extension of its
power for enforcing the control of a hypocritical despotism; the real
welfare of the heathen converts being held as a blind of nominal
consideration. Indeed, the Jesuitical method enacts the part of whiskey
in its habitual rule over the faculties of civilized society; in
conjuring for the subjugation of reason superstition for the supremacy
of fanatical instinct.”
The padre startled, exclaimed, “Upon my conscience, Mr. Welson, I am
afraid you are little better than an infidel!”
Mr. Welson left the padre with an ill-concealed show of disdain. Finding
M. Hollydorf engaged, with the assistance of Mr. Dow, in removing a
powerful electro-magnetic battery—one of Shockwit’s best—from its case,
it occurred to him that amusement, if not more permanent advantage,
might be derived in trying its effect upon the savage chief. This
proposition was readily adopted, with the resolve that only those
necessary for the working accomplishment of their purpose should
understand the nature of their occupations. The experiment, under the
experienced management of Mr. Welson, promised some rare developments of
motor effects, in the production of instinctive superstition, without
committing an act of cruelty beyond the wholesome excitement of animal
fear. As it was necessary to keep the instrument out of sight to secure
the full impression of supernatural effect, the captain offered his
stateroom as the best adapted for the preservation of secrecy and the
effectual working of the instrument. With the aid of the two sailors,
the wires were passed out of the port and run unobserved outside of the
bulwarks, and so arranged that the old savage could not escape the full
force of the electrical shock. When completed, the connection of the
circuit was tried in the absence of persons from the neighborhood of the
intended victim. The result was a prolonged yell, that not only
surprised the uninitiated on board, but brought inquiring heads forth
from ambush on shore. To the wonder and alarm of all on board excluded
from a participation in the secret, the old savage was found writhing in
an agony of fear entirely bereft of stoicism. Various explanations were
suggested to account for the startling phenomena. The padre admonished
Mr. Welson that it was, without doubt, the working of the spirit of
repentant regeneration, as the Fathers had recorded numerous instances
where the self-convicted had cried out in anguish, “What shall I do to
be saved?”—the fact being made known after they had acquired a knowledge
of missionary language. He averred that there could be but little doubt
that it was the workings of the spirit of conviction, from the agony of
his expression. Thereupon he desired Aabrawa to inquire into the cause,
as it had all of the appearance of a miraculous conversion. But the old
chief stared at Aabrawa, helplessly unable to speak through an excess of
fear. Mr. Welson then counter-admonished the padre, that as a professed
follower of the Church it was his evident duty to point out to the
convert the appointed way of salvation. As all supported this
suggestion, the padre remonstrated, while looking wofully at his arm, “I
once offered him my sympathy and aid for his relief, but he repulsed me
so brutally, upon my conscience, I am afraid to try him again.”
His attention being called to the helpless condition of his late
antagonist, he was finally persuaded to adventure one of his hands upon
the head of the savage in the way of benediction. Answering to a given
signal the battery claimed the padre as a victim through the chief,
whose yell was accompanied with the exclamation, “My conscience’ sake
alive!”—then his fears became as vivid in expression as those of his
intended convert. Mr. Welson, addressing himself somewhat scornfully to
the padre, said, “You accused me of infidelity when I endeavored to use
my privileged endowment of reason bestowed by the Creator for human
direction; now you will see how much better it serves as an exorcist
than your faith in a religion that ignores man’s duty for the
fulfillment of intention in its bestowal.” He then made a few passes
over the Indian, and when he had gained the full attraction of fearful
awe with mumbling incantations, the padre was reluctantly induced to
replace his hands on the chief’s shoulders and remove them without
alarming impression. Then assuming an awful aspect and tone, as if
addressing the powers of air with the spirit of invocation, he implored
their aid to convict the reptile savage, and civilized devotee of a
blind infatuation, of their willful errors alike dangerous to the well-
being of humanity. When made sufficiently impressive he commanded the
padre to take the chief’s hands. Overawed by the majestic impersonation
of sublime authority enacted by Mr. Welson, the two joined hands, both
keeping their eyes fastened in blank wonder upon his face and movements.
The conjuration having fixed their attention, he pronounced in a loud
voice the magic word “Letonnow!” Immediately the two commenced a series
of contortionate grimaces, directed toward each other, accompanied with
spasmodic hand-jerking. The actors were so engrossed with their fears
that the spectators were fain to have recourse to a variety of
succedaneum vents to suppress the outburst of laughter, the sailors
adopting the novel expedient of revolving their quids around the tips of
their tongues, which ejected a jet of saturated decoction from the
corners of their mouths with every revolution. But for Mr. Welson’s
practiced command of his emotions, subject to the control of judgment,
the ludicrous scene might have been continued to the extent of injury,
for his associates were, from spasmodic action, to all intents
speechless. When at length the larger fraction of a minute had been
exhausted in husky attempts to command his voice, he managed to stay
proceedings with a sign evoked from head and hand, faintly sustained
with a vocal negative. When the current was checked the last vestige of
ferocity had departed from the face of the savage, leaving the vacuum
unsupplied, as it was his sole dependence for the facial expression of
his emotions. The padre’s face was confounded with a blending of
superstitious dread and suspicion, for with all his phantasmic
nervousness provoked by the excessive remedial use of whiskey and
tobacco, he could not fail to detect the covert effort of restraint that
prevailed. Indeed, with his natural powers of perception free from their
imposed embargo, he would have detected the means employed for the
production of effects known to the most illiterate members of scientific
academies. To dissipate his suspicions the padre had recourse to Doctor
Baāhar, of whom he anxiously inquired whether Mr. Welson derived his
power from a legitimate source compatible with the apostolic faith
inculcated by the tenets of the Church. The doctor, as instinctively
absurd when out of the scholastic thrills of antiquity, found especial
gratification in teasing those subject to the common frailties of his
kind. So, taking his cue from the padre’s necromantic suggestion, he
explained that Eusebius, and other Fathers of the primitive Church
acquainted with the practice of Egyptian astrology, had confirmed the
prevalent belief that in certain families, under peculiar conditions,
there was a power developed similar to that exhibited by Mr. Welson.
Here Mr. Dow interrupted their conversation by calling the attention of
the padre to the savage, who was following Mr. Welson with the docility
of a spaniel. Observing his emotions of superstition he asked, “Are you
in reality so blind, padre, that you are unable to detect the agency of
Mr. Welson’s power over the savage? You seem to be impressed with the
belief that Mr. Welson has been enacting the part of a magician in
producing these effects upon the savage, whose ignorance sympathizes
with, or rather reciprocates your superstitious delusions? How is it
possible for you to overlook, with thought, an impression so familiar to
your understanding, and in fact, place yourself on a level with this
savage from a lack of intelligent perception? Really, padre, you
confound me with astonishment. Time, place, and circumstances, with
certain abetting aids, have thrown you off your guard.” A shake of Mr.
Welson’s head prevented Mr. Dow from revealing the means employed, as he
wished to confound the padre with further evidences of his simplicity
and heedlessness. Beckoning the sailor satellites of the savage, he was
led back to his place of confinement, and secured in contact with the
wires of the battery; then, when the padre’s attention was otherwise
engaged, a glass of whiskey from his bottle was administered by Mr.
Welson to his experimental victim. But a short time had elapsed when
attention was called to an unusual disturbance forward, in which the
fierce snarling growl of the dogs was commingled with the guttural
“ughs” of the savage, whose face was contorted with an expression of
demoniac rage, causing his mouth to froth, exposing through its slaver
his pointed teeth, while his eyes gleamed with a ferocity that prompted
the padre to flight. But when assured that he was securely confined, the
padre asked Mr. Dow what he thought of the source of Mr. Welson’s agency
now! Mr. Dow led him to the captain’s room; with a glance at the
instrument the nature of his ludicrous position began to dawn. But when
his whiskey bottle with diminished contents was produced and proclaimed
as the magician of ferocity, his face mantled with the scarlet dismay of
shame, which with his ejaculation of “My goodness gracious, what a fool
I have been!” filled the cup of mirth to overflowing.
* * * * *
Since the morning of the 9th the strength of the current had increased
so rapidly that the captain feared we were approaching impassable
rapids; but at nightfall we entered into a broad expanse of water
resembling a lake. Keeping beyond the range of arrows, Mr. Dow and
Welson in the punt succeeded in killing sufficient wild fowl for a
week’s supply. Shortly after nightfall the dogs with their muzzles
primed over the chocks kept up a warning cry. Waantha with a crutch, the
gift of the carpenter, hopped about the deck with eyes on the alert, and
ears primed for sounds from the water and shore. Through the night his
vigilance was sustained, until in the darkness of the morning hours he
aroused Jack’s attention to floating objects on the water just visible
to his sight, but while peering the whiz of an arrow interpreted the
source of danger. The angle of flight enabled him to judge with
tolerable correctness the position of the foe who discharged it; the
yells which answered the report of his escopeta loaded with buckshot
bespoke his success with others if not the one whose intention provoked
retaliation.
_June 11._—Jack’s morning salute awoke all on board, causing a general
muster to learn the source of provocation. While Mr. Dow was taking his
coffee in the dawning twilight, Waantha hobbled to the place where he
was sitting and after directing his attention to an approaching swan,
took one of the dead ducks hanging under the awning and placed it on his
head, at the same time imitating the movements of a man decoy.
Understanding his meaning, Mr. Dow took his rifle from the rack and sped
a bullet with sure aim; the unfortunate bird extended above the surface
a black pair of arms, then with a gurgling cry sunk out of sight. Flocks
of ducks which had been gradually nearing the steamer on all sides made
for the shore without taking wing, showing by the wake the nature of the
fowl before the submerged Indians clambered up the banks. The undaunted
perseverance of the savages in tracking the steamer, despite of our
superior weapons, showed an indomitable determination, proof to danger
and disappointment, which detracted greatly from our prospective
feelings of safety when exposed to the disadvantages of land travel.
The steam-whistle and gong had startled them at first, but they had
tested their harmless natures, and evidently thought the howitzers
relatives, whose destructiveness could be avoided as easily as the
poison of their arrows when they had obtained a knowledge of the
antidote. The forbearance of the captain had favored this impression,
and it was determined in consultation to use our weapons to the full
extent of their destructiveness. An opportunity was soon offered, for in
passing a raft lodged on the eastern shore Waantha pointed out a rampart
of logs ready poised for an overthrow, with interstices between in which
were seen the protruding muzzles of their blow-pipes. One of the
mountain howitzers loaded with solid shot was discharged point-blank
against the upper tier causing it to fall inward, catching the lurking
savages in their own trap, while it exposed those in the rear to the
full effect of grape and our small arms, which caused the river echoes
to resound with the yells of the wounded. Without stopping to learn the
extent of the slaughter, the steamer kept on her course. In passing a
glade reaching to the water the plain was seen covered with panic-
stricken savages on foot and horseback, directing their course to the
foot-hills. Although surprised at the large number collected, we felt
safe with the impression that the wood rafts of the left bank would be
left free for our acceptance thereafter.
_June 14._—While collecting wood from the scattered lodgments of the
western bank, parties of mounted Indians watched our movements from the
opposite plain. These Waantha informed us were of his own tribe. When
asked if he would like to be set on shore to rejoin them, he expressed,
with signs, a reproachful negative, blended with fear and sorrow. After
a moment’s hesitation he seemed to understand that the proposal was made
to test his feelings, then with a pleased look of Indian cunning he
pointed to the old chief, who had been regarding him with a revengeful
look of ferocity. Understanding his meaning as a proposal of
substitution, Mr. Welson asked, through Aabrawa, if they would kill the
old chief if set on shore? This was answered with a decided negative,
and the pantomimic addenda of labor as a substitute for death. As the
captive was sufficiently recovered from his wounds to control his own
movements, Mr. Welson took him in charge for initiatory preparation in
presage for association with his foes on shore. That it might not, in
form, be considered an arbitrary expedient for riddance, after Mr. Parry
had fitted to his neck a brass collar, proof to Indian appliances for
removal, he was freed from his bonds under the supervision of Mr.
Welson, who offered him his choice between the continued hospitalities
of the steamer, or liberty, such as he might be able to secure from his
congeners on either bank of the river? The speedy announcement of his
choice was urged by three strong shocks of the battery. When his
agitating consternation had sufficiently subsided from the last
talismanic touch to his neck decoration, his head disappeared over the
bulwarks with his heels in reversion, giving farewell nods to his
civilized entertainers. When last seen beneath the water’s surface he
was making for the eastern shore with a frog’s exampled despatch.
The kind-hearted readers will be unnecessarily excited, if from the
foregoing relation they are inclined to think our enactments were
dictated solely for the gratification of instinctive mirth. Mr. Welson’s
object was to obtain a clear demonstration of instinct in the
rudimentary foundation of habit as the source of progressive inclination
in its bearings upon the present standard of civilization. The
participation of the padre in the vague terrors of the savage from a
reciprocation in kind, from the two extremes of cultivated progression,
offered absolute evidence of a common origin and source of provocation,
the variations in expression being dependent upon practiced habits and
customs. The padre attempted to offer his own experience to subvert the
ferocious testimony of the old savage while under the effects of
whiskey, pleading that it had ever exerted an opposite influence with
him, exciting in its action a genial flow of sympathy. This partial
testimony was overruled by the acknowledgment that in social whiskey
bouts, indulged in as night passatempos, he had invariably been obliged
to act as a peaceful arbitrator. With the impression made from the
effects of whiskey on the savage, all our habits of indulgence were
curtailed, greatly to the advantage of kindly reciprocation which had
often been chilled by theoretical disputations that ended as they began,
in the void of instinctive mutation.