News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1889-06-27
PAINTED FEATHER.
4 SOUTH SEA ADVENTURE.


''What do you think of it, Isn't it a
beautyl" queried the old man in the
armchair, when turned from the win
dow where had been examining i'll the
warm afternoon sunlight the most beau
tIful feather | had ever seen.
1t was twelve inches in length, wavy
and graceful, and SO light that the be-
holder would have guessed at once that
itwould float ON the air. The combination
of colors which have no language at my
s command to describe was SO delicate
and rare that said, IN reply to Old
Davy's queries, that Nature must have
made but one feather of its kind and
then broken the moulds.
The old mana sailor and adventurer
from boyhood, who had but lately quit
the sea-smiled at my praise, and took
the feather from my hand.
"It would have caught you, too - he
laughed 'FIhis feather has no mate in
the wide, wide world that j know
of, at least, he added. ''Now what do
You think it cost ~
1 had to say frankly that L did not
know.
ssIt cost nine human lives; nine brave
men and n lot of friends, answered Old
Davy, with momentary flash in his
eyes, which his seventy years had not
dimmed. Having gone thus far think
You must have the story of that wonder
full feather. | don't tell it very often
because don't show it to everybody.
81 was the youngest soul ON board the
Pearl when sine sailed on her last and
iIl-fated voyage to the Aru Islands. 1t
was then, as now, long voyage, and
the vessel that came back with none of
L l.. e1o
was recko>ed fortunate.
'fThe Aru group lies south of New
Guinea and abounds in many articles
of commerce. Fifty years ago there was
O demand among the markets of Europe
for pearl shells and the feathers of the
bird of paradise, and Captain Dustin,
who had IL large interest in our ship,
resolved to load her with the choicest
of these commodities.
owe reached the Aru coast after 9
long sail, and came to anchor in little
cove sheltered by high banks, but not
at the point where we expected to dc
our trading with the natives. Though
we had dropped into the cove without
any warning of our presence, In short
time the surface of the water was GOV
cred with canoes, filled with the darl
and blocking inhabitants of the
country. They climbed upon the docl
by means of the chains, and in little
while were everywhere, chattering like
lot of monkeys.
Captain Dustin was always ON the
lookout for something rare. He hac
collie ted on former voyages to the Soutl
Sea some of the most beautiful bird
skins J. had ever seen, and nothing
would excite him so much as q rare
feather. / believe then, as L do still
that he wonld have rowed thousand
miles in an open boat for peculiar
plume such as he had never seen before.
An old and enthusiastic genius was the
captain of the Pearl.
GAS the people who swarmed the shiI
were given to pilfering, Captain Dustin
stationed guards about deck and these
kept the dusky thieves at bay. But
somehow or other Jan old man, who ap
peared to be a person of authority, man
aged to reach the captains cabin, and
before he could be ordered out he placed
on the table the magnificent feather yol
have just examined.
81 do not know what effect the frs
sight of the feather had ON Captiu Dus
tin, but when l met him soon afterward
his eyes seemed to dance with excite
m6nI. ne onAP
officers and crew together in the httl
cabin, and for the first time we gazcC
on the fatal feather of the South Sea.
"There was from the first a sligh
difference of opinion among us. 1t dlt
not seem possible that II feather of sltcl
beauty had grown from the back of
bird, and some of the officers SAID tina
its exquisite hues were the production
of skilled native artist. To end TIN
dispute Captain Dustin submitted tn
feather to the Pearls naturalist Thi
individual put the prize to various tests
one of which was immersing it in
solution which he prepared for the pun
pose, but 1t came from tho ordeal a
light and beautiful rs when the oil
native presented it to the Captain.
When the Paupuan was uuestione'
about the bird from which the feathe
had been obtained, lIe begged n privat
interview with Captain Dustin, an
when this had been granted aud had
we were called back into the cabin
Never shall l forget the eager tonCrl
with which the infatuated Captain
the Pearl told us that the roosting plaC
of the rare birds was in the forest, III
far from the very cove in which we wei
anchored, and that the old native ha
promised to guide n party to the sp'
fnr few trinkets, which a tradir
vessel always carries. Again there aro