The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-07-19


all we'll 20 back den Samoa"
1t was clearly impossible he should stop
at Mrs. C!yde's. Will Protheroe, in sheer
despair. took the man back with him to his
rooms in the Temple.
For several weeks RamaliralIro stopped
on In those comfortable quarters He was
IN no hurry 70 60. He liked civilization.
The particular elements OF our culture that
interested him most, to be sure, were the
penny toys and the sweet-ehops. But he
cared also for more adult occupations and
amusements. Poor heather though he was,
the lights IN the gin palaces seemed to at
tract his eye quite as much as they do
those of our own respected and beloved
fellow-citiZens. London clearly pleased
him. Now and again. Will made inquiries
about ships bound for Samoa and In want
OF q native hand; but the Kanaka showed
no disposition to accept these suggestions.
And Will couldn't turn him out. When a
savage from South Seas has managed TO
work his way across to England as COM
mon sailor, on purpose to serve you. how
can you possibly send him back again by
the very first chance. without even allow.
ing him time to improve his mind by few
casual visits to South KensingtOn and the
British Museumf
The Kanska spent much time proving
the streets by day. In the evening he often
sat and talked long with Will Protheroe.
Will liked to probe his mind; it was virgin
soil: fresh field in psychology. Ramali-
rallro's English improved fast under this
that the explosive syllable damn formed no
necessary part of a polite vocabulary. He
also learnt how to speak the English Ian
gnage with prOpriety. But the more he
talked to Will about the loss of the Llka-
Lika, the more did the idea rise no III W HIS
mind that it would be possible after all to
PROFOUND the testament the Kanaka had
brought from Manihiki Gradually this
idea took possession of him more and more.
The will had been drawn up, and was as
a q al IN Ia IN nj n ahaqncb
OF pen and ink on the island prevented Its
execution. ThOrOld Ashby had delivered
1t verbally to two witnesses, Howe and
Bathurst. Force majeure prevented the
witnesses from signing. Howe and Bath
urst were dead, but here was Ramalirallro
In evidence to-day to prove the chief facts
of the case at issue.
Oh. how Will regretted he had wasted so
much valuable time over botany and chem
istry and chat which prOtiteth nothing!
How he wished he had devoted himself,
body and soul, 10 Davey on Wills or to
Smith and Macleod on the Law of Probate!
However though the kshbys declared it
was frivolous and ,vexatiOus proceeding.
he got his case on at last before Mr.. Justice
Treeby, and proceeded to argue that
Thorold Asnby. deceased, had practically
executed his testament in Miss Clyde's
favor, though, for lack of materials to
write with on the island. he bad never
actually signed it. 1t was verbal will.
As such, it stood on all tours with viva
VOce requests made by wounded soldier
on the field of battle which the law of
England had always recognized as possess
ing testamentary validity. The cases fell
at once. Will urged. under the same gen.
eral principle.
Mr.. Justice Treeby, pen poised in hand
judicially, was pleased with the legal sub
tlety of the way the young counsel set forth
his singular plea, though as matter of
law it was plain the learned Judge was en-
tirely opposed to him: But when Will
PrOtherOe put forward RamalralirO in the
box to support his case expectation In
court stood on tiptoe with interest. So
strange witness had never before ap-
peared In that place-a POlynesian beathen.
who was only acquainted with the nature
of an oath in the most cOllOquial sense, and
whose English Mas still by far too imper-
feet to stand successfully the ordeal of
crOSs-examinatiOn.
However. by skIlIfully leading his savage
on, bit by bit. Will ProtherOe succeeded at
last in getting out of the Kanaka duly
sworn on his own fetish) such a coherent
account of the death of the three persons
involved in the will as at least interested
and amused the court for some twenty
minutes. RamalirallrO grew graphic after
a while. and proceeded in dumb show, after
his fashion, with running comment of
words to explain what he had seen of the
history of the document He described
how ThOrold Ashby had taken the paper in
despair from his pocket how he had looked
like this. and spoken earnestly in unknown
words to the man Howe at his side; and
how at last he had asked for q stlck-just
SOTO write with.
"A stickp the learned judge interposed.
leaning critically forward. what did he
want with stick. my friendf Show me
just how he used it,"
The Kanaka, nOthing 10th, and unabashed
by the dignity Of 18th the ermine: took q piece
then. with the blunt end of penholder.
went though the pantomimic act of writing
on it. very painfully and carefully. Him
do like that" he said SIMPLY. Him write
so. Him make letters"
But what did he write with?" the
learned judge asked again. smiling ynical
disbelief. The witness proved too much.
HE had no ink. you know, my man; and
there are no letters to be seen On the
paper"
The Kanaka looked disturbed. He shook
his head and touched his brow. His pres
ence of mind forsoOk him. Him write
with XII he said at last, after long
pause. Say XII. In Kanaka talk. No say
it in English"
"Oh, he wrote with a key" Mr.. Justice
| Treeby answered. with still broader
smile. "A most singular implement. GER
| tainly. And just now you told us he wrote
with a stick. didn't your Mr.. Protheroe.
| Pm afraid this witness of yours won't
| much avail your clients contention. He
swears too hard. His notions of truth are
too obviously Polynesian."
"A u III
| Kanaka raised his head, knit his bushy
brOws and glared about him defantly
| But at the same moment Will ProtherOe
clapped his hand, in turn. to his own fore
| head. 1t came back to him with a rush.
| He saw it all now. Great heavens! and
| he'd reprOached himself so often these last
months for having wasted all that time on
botany and chemistry and photographic
science. Why. the case was in his hands,
| and he'd as good won 1t.
| MY Lord" he said suddenly, turning to
the Judge. all flushed, this will is signed
| duly signed and witnessed. l haven't at
| present the slightest doubt of it. Ramali-
ralrO's words have suggested the truth to
me. beg the Courts leave for a very brief
delay. Ii your LOrdship will only Impound
| me twenty minutes to return to my cham
bers, | can exhibit it before the court with
| the signatures in proper order. If my
| learned friend wishes, he may continue,
| meanwhile. to cross examine the witness. y
Before the twenty minutes were out he
| was back in court again, breathless. but
| very triumphant. In one hand he carried
| a serious looking book; in the other a small
| phial of some chemical liquid.
"My Lord" he painted ont. jubilant. will
| your Lordship have the goodness TO let me
read this passagei It's in 'Tallboy's Ethnol-
ogy of the Equatorial Islanders and it will
explain the evidence l next intend to sub
| Eit to you"
it superciliously. AS he read, however. he
raised his eyebrows by slow degrees.
That's certainly possible" he said, in a
more judicial tone. You can try it. al
least, MIR. ProtherOe. Read aloud what the
| passage saysi" and he handed the book bac X