The Russellville Democrat., 1889-01-03

! channels. and it struck me as verJ
 curious that all the native boats kept
 well out of hail We sighted a score
 or moro of them. but they wanted
 nothing Of us In three or four eases
 where the Captain bawIed at them
 through his trumpet we heard their de-
 Hance fn answer.
 \ WheR'we reached our anchorage Il
 was nearly dusk Only one boat came
 of to us. and the native who bearded
 us acted to me like man bent ou some
 errand of mischief He said that trade
 was dull .nd Old Lop sick of fever, but
 that he would see on the morrow what 1 could be done. Our captain was the only one aboard who could talk the lingo, and for reasons of his own he did < not let on that he had encountered the
 brig or had 8 suspicion that any thing had happened As soon as night came 1 l put the watch under arms. and twice during the night we heard sounds to prove that we were being spiet uroa- Next morning, however, things assumed different iook. Several boats came ! of, the captain was invited ashore, and a messenger from Old Lop said that trade would be good We wanted dye woods, roots, barks, c0coauut kernels.
 and other products, and when the cap | tain landed he had assurances tha. we could i'll up in week. Not native had q word to say about the brig. but the captain soon saw broken heads l enough 70 satisfy him that there had been 8 row. Old Lop had been knocked silly by blow from aeapstan bar. in stead Of having fever. and the women had blaekened their thumbs. as they never do except when in mourning. We lay al anchor a quarter O. mile from the beach, and 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 it was too much work to pull the cargo out to us. asked the captain fl Ii didn't look like plot to get Us in g helpless situation. aud he laughed and replied:
 ''The row with the brig will last thsee fellows for & good whiie yet. | They don't seem to cry for me as they did when here before, but there's plenty of trade, and we'll get 'em good-natured after bit You've got charge. and you can point your guns as you ike
 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 ! il was to announce that the natives were in better hllnlor. and that we need not be appreheusive- Hzd l not had all the men with me iII my suspicious should no doubt have relaxed my vigil lance Each sailor. however, by catch l ing on to this or that. vas satisfied that { danger meuaced. and were only too ] glad to see preparations made to meet I it had the cannon loaded with what eTer would answer for canister, mus icets and cutlasses kept ready, and 7 would not allow over ten natives aboard at once. They had bows and arrows ] and spears and clubs. with now and { then a1 old Enuss,es, and each one who came had to leave all weapons behind. { On the third day l sa 10 less than { three Of them cut g notch on stick to ! represent each one of Us, and those who came aboard had smack ot the impu- { dent in their 6emeznor.
 On the fourth morning not & native came oT 10 us, and when the captain went ashore with new stock of liquor to propitiate O.d Lop he found that it
 was holiday with the people, and that all were excused from work. He sent me word to let all go ashore who wish ed, and when I made the announce ment every hand was of except one. 4 soremast man named Parker. a steady.
 niddle-aged man, finding that l vas to stay, asked that he might keep me company. and we had scarcely been left alone when he said:
 sMr. Winters. bes your pardon for being so bold of speech, but don | like the look Of things ashore
 Nor I, either"
 Il am glad, sir. that we are agreed. for think there'u be throat-cutting done before night l haven't been easy at all since we dropped anchor here. I've been among the Fee3ee, Tonga Phoenix. Union and other groups, and these niggers are too saucy for men who haven't got plot on hand "
 And what do you think of the holi- day:~
 .'AIl moonshine. sir. It is an excuse to get all of Us on shore. These mig gers have holiday every day in the year. so far ss that goes It isn't for the likes Of me to give you advice, but l think we should get ready for row." thought so, too We took the cover of the mainsail and hoisted it part way up, ran up the jib. uncovered the fore sail, and acted as two men might who were caring for craft at anchor. We lay headed toward the channel, as tha tide was running in, and had only enough chain out to let her swing We overhAuled the cable, and fixed it for | slipping. got the cannon aft, where il
 could have 8 raking fire, and were then
 as ready as tsro men could be. Ashore
 all was hilaFity and confusion. with na- tives marching up and down and beat
 ing their drums and blowing their
 horns We had made the preparations spoken Of, when the captain sent ore
 of the men Of 10 us to tell Us to come
 ashore, as every body was having a
 good time. Iquestioned the messenger closely, but he had seen nothing suspi-
 ciOus. l sent word that we might come soon. but did not intend to move loot
 Two hours passed, and we had remark
 ed that the tide had just turned, when