Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-15


in basket.
"Are these Hillmen used to guns?' asked Cor
don. Stedman said no, they were NOT
This shotgun Of mine is the only one on the
near enough to them before to do anything with
it. 1t only carries 100 yards, The Opek-
ians never make any show of resistance. They
are quite content il the Hillmen satisfy them
selves with the outlying huts a. long a. they
come to close quarters" The four men walked
on for q quarter Of an hour or SO in silence,
peering intently on every side, but It was not
until they had left the woods and marched
out into the level stretch Of grassy country that
they came upon the enemy. The Hillmen were
about forty in number. and were as savage and
ugly looking giants as any in picture book OF
travels. They had captured dozen cows and
goats. and were driving them on before them As
they advanced further upon the village. When
they saw the four men they gave mixed
chorus of cries and yeiis, and some Of them
stopped and others ran forward, shaking their
spears and shooting their broad arrows into the
ground before them. tall gray-bearded,
muscular old man, with q skirt Of feathers
about him and necklaces Of bones and animals
claws about his bare chest, ran in front Of
them and seemed to be trying to make them
approach more slowly.
eyes" said Stedman, ~he means to keep them
back. don't believe he ever saw a white man
before.
.'Stedman," said Albert, speaking quickly,
''give your gun to Bradley and go forward with
your arms in the air and waving your handker-
chief and tell them in their language that the
king is coming. If they so at you Bradley and
I will kill goat or two to show them what we
can do with the rifles, and if that don't stop
them well shoot at their legs, ard If that don't
stop them-I guess you'd better come back and
we II all rum"
Stedman looked at Albert and Albert looked
at Stedman, and neither Of them winksd or
hinched
ais this another Of my secretary's duties7"
.'Yes," said the consul. ''but q resignation il
ALWAYS in order. You needn't go If you don't
like it. You see, you know the language and !
don't, but know how to shoot and you don't
''Thats perfectly satisfactory" said Sted-
man, handing his gun to old Bradley. wanted
to know why was to be sacrificed instead OF
one of the Bradleys. ats because know the
language. Bradley. ST., you see the eyll results
Of high education. Wish me luck, please, he
said, and for goodness sake don waste much
time shooting goats" The Hillmen had
stopped about 200 yards off and were
drawn up in two lines shouting and
dancing and hurting haunting remarks at their
few adversaries. The stolen cattle were
man walked steadily forward with his handker-
chief auttering and bowling out something in
their own tongue they stopped and listened.
As he walked forward his three companions
followed him at about fifty yards in the rear.
He was $50 yards from the Hillmen before they
made out what he said and then one OF the
young braves resenting it as an insult
to his chief shot an arrow at him.
Stedman lodged the arrow and stood his
ground without even taking step
backward, only turning slightly to put
his hands to his mouth and to shout something
which sounded to his companions like '.About
time to begin on the goats" But the instant
the young Hillman had fired King Messenwah
swung his club and knocked him down, and
none the others moved. Then Messenwah adj
vanced before his men to meet Stedman. and
on Stedman's opening and shutting his hands
to show that he unarmed the king threw
down his club and spears and advanced without
q weapon.
..Ahn' gasped Bradley, IT,, with his finger
trembling on his lever, ''let me take a shot at
him now" Gordon struck the mans gun up
and walked forward in ali the glory OF his gold
ana blue uniform, for both he and Stedman
saw now that Messenwah was more impressed
by their appearance and in the fact that they
were white men than with any threats Of i'm
mediate war. So when he saluted Gordon
haughtily that young man gave him naughty
nod In reply and babe Stedman tell the king
that he would permit him to sit down: The
king did not quite appear to like this, but
he sat down nevertheless and bowed his head
gravely.
'.Now tell him." said Gordon, "that come
from the ruler of the greatest nation on earth
anu tuaL i recognize DuS Lie OHiy hiHS
of this island. and that come to this little
threepenny king with either peace and presents
or bullets and war;.
..Have got to tell him he's little three
penny king" said Stedman. plaintiveiy.
mo, you needn't give literal translation; 1t
can be as free as you please"
Thanks, said the secretary, humbly.
"And tell him." continued Gordon, THAT We
will give presents to him and his warriors If he
keeps away from OIypybus and agrees to keep
ha la hat frx-< 10
him to agree to stay away for three months
and when our time Of probation is mp and he
and his merry men come dancing down the
hillside we will blow them up as high as his
mountains. But you need not tell him that
either. And If he is proud and naughty and
would rather fight ask him to restrain himself
until we show what we can do with our weapons
at two hundred Yards Stedman seated him
self in the long grass in front OF the king, and
with many revolving gestures of his arms and
much pointing at Gordon and profound mods
and bows retold what Gordon had dictated.
When he had finished the king looked at the
bundle Of presents and at the guns, Of which
Stedman had given a very wonderful account,
but answered nothing.
Il guess" said Stedman, with a sigh. "that
we will have to give him little practical DEM
onstrat ton to help matters. am sorry, but
think one of those goats has got TO die. Its
| like vivisection. The lower order Of animals
will have to suffer for the good of the higher"
"Oh." said Bradley, jr., cheerfully, I'D just
as soon shoot one OF them niggers as one of the
goats"
So Stedman told the king to tell his men to
drive goat toward them and the king did SO,
| and one of the men struck one of the goats
| with his spear and it ran clumsily across the
plain.
"Take your time, Bradley" said Gordon.
''Aim low, and if you hit it you can have it for
| supper"
And if you miss it." said Stedman gloomily,
"Messenwah will have US for supper"
| The Hillmen had seated themselves hundred
yards off while the leaders were debating, and
| they now rose curiously and watched Bradley
as he sank on one knee and covered the goat,
| while he gave it a long start When it was
about $50 yards of he fired and the goat fell
| dead.
And then all the Hillmen, with the king
broke away on the run toward the dead ami
NAL. with much shouting and yelling. The
king came back alone, leaving his people stand
ing about and examining the goat.
He was much excited and talked and gesticu-
lated violently
| HE says" said stedman. The says"-
What, yes; go on"
| "He says-goodness me, what do you think
| he says?'
| 'Well, what does he say?' cried Gordon, in a
great state Of nerves. Don't keep 1t all to
| yourself"
HE says" said Stedman, "that we are de-
| ceived. He is no longer king of the island Of