Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1889-07-04
PAINTED FEATHER.
A SOUTH SEA ADVENTURE.

"What do you think of it2 Isn't it q
beauty" queried the old man in the
armchair, when turned from the win
dow where had been examining in 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
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.
cit would have caught you, too !" he
laughed. "This feather has no mate in
the wide, wide world-none that l know
of, at least, ;" he added. "Now what do
you think it costl"
had to say frankly that did not
know.
at cost nine human lives; nine brave
AAltu anu u NV VI AliCnNoy thloMClDl OlAA
Davy, with a momentary flash in his
eyes, which his seventy years had not
dimmed. "Haying gone thus far l 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 she sailed on her last and
ill-fated voyage to the Aru Islands. 1t
was then, as now, long voyage, and
the vessel that came back with none of
her crew lance-piercod or arrow-slain
was recko ed fortunate.
"The Aru group lies south of New
Guinea and abounds in many articles
of commerce. Fifty years ago there was
a demand among the markets of Europe
for pearl shells and the feathers of the
bird of paradise, and Captain Dustin,
who had large interest in our ship,
resolved to lead her with the choicest
of these commodities.
1--WE reached the Aru coast after a
long sail, and came TO anchor in little
cove sheltered by high banks, but not
at the point where we expected to do
our trading with the natives Though
we had dropped into the cove without
any warning of our presence, in q short
time the surface of the water was Gov
cred with canoes, filled with the dark
and wild looking inhabitants of the
country. They climbed upon the dock !
by means of the chains, and in a little
while were everywhere, chattering like
a lot OF monkeys.
"Captain Dustin was always on the !
lookout for something rare. He had |
collected on former voyages to the South /
Sea some of the most beautiful bird ]
skins | had ever seen, and nothing
would excite him so much as q rare
feather. / believe then, as / do still, I
that he wonld have rowed a thousand I
miles in an open boat for a peculiar |
plume such as he had never seen before. /
An old and enthusiastic genius was the 7
captain Of the Pearl.
"As the people who swarmed the ship /
were given to pilfering, Captain Dustin /
stationed guards about deck and these |
kept the dusky thieves at bay. But /
somehow or otherYan old man, who APP 4
peared to be person of authority, man /
aged to reach the captains cabin, and /
before he could be ordered out he placed .
on the table the magnii. emit feather you I
have Just examined.
81 do not know what effect the first /
sight Of the feather had on Captiu Dus-
tin, but when met him soon afterward, I
his eyes seemed to dance with excite /
ment. He called number of the ships |
officers and crew together in the little /
cabin, and for the first time we gazed /
on the fatal feather OF the South Sea.
There was from the first a slight /
difference of opinion among us. 1t did |
not seem possible that feather of such /