West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-01-10

Tour cases where the Captain bawled at
them through his trumpet we heard their
defiance in answer.
When we reached our anchorage IL
was nearly dusk. Only one boat came
of TO us, and the native who boarded Us
acted TO me like man bent or some
errand Of mi chief He said that trade
was dull and Old Lop i.k OF fever. but
that he would see on the morrow what
could be done. Our Captain was the
only one aboard who could talk the
lingo, and for reasons of his own he 4 ia
not let on that he had encountered the
brig or had suspicion that anything
had happened. AS soon as night came /
put the watch under arms, and twice
during the night we heard sounds 10
prove that we were being sp ell upon.
Next morning, however, things assumed
a different look. Several boats came oil,
the Captain was invited ashore, and a
messenger from Old / op said that trade
would be good. We wanted dyewoods.
roots, barks, cocoanut kernels, and other
| products, and when the Captain landed
he had assurances that VIC could fill up
In week. Not native had word to
say about the brig, but the Captain soon
saw broken heads enough to satisfy him
that there had been row. Old Lop had
been Knocked silly by a blow from "A
capstan bar instead of having fever. and
the women had blackened their thumbs
rs they never do except when in mourn
| ing.
We lay at anchor quarter OF mile
! from the beach, aud when the Captain
returned he gave orders TO have the
| schooner taken into little cove within
biscuit throw OF the sand. The natives
had complained that IL was too much
work to pull the cargo out TO MS. l
asked the Captain if it didn't look like
n plot to get us in a helpless situation,
and he laughed and replied:
''rhe row with the brig will last
these fellows for good while yet. They
don't seem to cry for me as they did
when lac before, but there's plenty OF
trade, and We'll get 'em good natured
after bt. You've got charge and YOU
can point your guns as you like"
We pulled the schooner into the cove,
/ and for three days the natives brought
us stuff as fast as we could stow IL
away. The Captain spent most of his
time ashore, and whenever he came
aboard it was to announce that the ma
/ tiyes were in better humor and that we
need lot be apprehcnsiye. Had not had
all the men with me in my suspicious |
should no doubt have relaxed my vigil
ance. Each sailor, however, by catch.
/ ing on to this or that, was satisfied that
danger mcnaced, and was only too glad
10 see Preparations made TO meet it, /
had the cannon loaded with whatever
would answer for canister, muskets and
cutlasses kept ready, and would not al
low over ten natives aboard at once.
/ They had bows and arrows and ears
and clubs, with now and then an old
musket, aud each one who came had TO
leave all weapons behind. ON the third
/ day saw no less than three of them cut a
notch on a stick to represent each one
OF us, and those who came aboard had
smack of the impudent in their dc.
meanor.
/ On the fourth morning not native
came oil TO us, aud when the Captain
went hOTe with a new stock Of LIQUOR
to proptiatc Old Lop he found that it
was a holiday with the people, and that
all were excused from work He sent
me word to let all go ashore who wished,
and when l made the announcement
every hand was of except one. A fore
mast man named Parker, steady, mid
die aged man, finding that was TO stay,
asked that he might keep me company,
aud we had scarcely been left alone
when he said:
"Mr Winters, beg your pardon for
being so bold Of speech, but don't like
the looks of things ashore
"Nor ], either
81 am glad Sir, that we arc agreed,
for / think there'll be throat-cutting
done before night. / haven't been easy
at all since we dropped anchor here.
I've been among the Foeiee, Tonga,
Ph nix, Uniol and other groups, and
these cha are too saucy for men who
haven't got plot on hand "
"And what do you think of the holi-
dayf
'All moonshine, sir. It is an excuse
to get all Of us ashore These natives
have holiday every day in the year
so far as tfat goes IL isn't for the likes
Of nc TO give you advice. but / tn nix VIC
sho I'D get ready for a row."
] thought 80, too We took the cover
of the mainsal and hoisted il part way
mp, ran up the jib, uncovered the fore
sail, and acted rs two men might who
were caring for a craft at anchor. We
lay headed toward the channel, as the
tide was running in, and had ONLY
enough chain out TO let her swing. We
oyerhaulcd the cable and fixed 20 for
hiVplu4. got the cannon aIt, where 10
could have a rakiDg fire. and were then
as readyas we two men could be. Ashore
al was hilariiy and confusion, with
natives marching up and down, and
beating their drums and blowing their
horns. We had made the preparations
spoken Of, when tie Captain sent one Of
the men oG TO us TO tell us 20 come
ashore as everybody was having u good
time. questioned the messenger closely.
bat ho had seen nothing suspicious. /
] sent word that VIC might come soon.
but did not intend 20 move n foot. Two
hours passed and we had remarked that
the tide had just turned, when old Lop
sent as pressing invitation, backed by
o second message from the Captain
The sailor had been aloft with the glass.
aud on coming down reported that our
men were acting as III drunk, and that
every native appeared TO be armed. /
sent word back that ] would not leave
the schooner, and half an hour later
the expected climax came We heard 70
general bowling and shouting. and
Parker, who was again aloft. hurried
down TO report that inc he'd seen three Of
our crow cluobcd TO death. lie had
scarcely gained the deck when about POO
natives made q rueh for the canoes drawn
zap opposite us. While we we're not more