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

complained of frequent twinges of rheumatism
and SaZed forlornly over the gunwale at the
empty waste of water.
If I've got to serve a term of imprisonment
on rock in the middle of the ocean for four
years, he said, Il might just well have done
something first to deserve it. This is a pretty
way to treat a man who bled for his country.
This Is ingrItitude, this is" Albert pulled
heavily on his pipe and wiped the rain and
spray from his face and smiled
"Oh, II won't be so bad when we get there"
he said: they say these southern people are
always hospitable. and the whites will be glad
to see any one from the states"
There will be round of diplomatic din
ners," said the consul, with an attempt at
, cheerfulness- Il have brought two uniforms
to wear at them"
1t was % clock in the evening when the rain
ceased. and one of the black. half naked fisher
men nodded and pointed at a little low line on
the horizon.
'.Opeki." he said. The line grew in length
and proved to be an island with great mount
aims rising to the clouds, and as thew drew
nearer and nearer showed level coast run
ming back 20 the foot of the mountains and
covered with forest of palms. They could
next distinguish a village of matched huts
around grassy square and at some distance
from the village wooden structure with tin
roof.
Il wonder where the town is?, asked the
consul with a nervous glance at the fishermen
One Of them told him that what he saw was
the town.
''That?' gasped the consul. sis that where all
the people on the island ive?" The fisherman
nodded, but the other added that there were
other natives up in the mountains but that
they were bad men who fought and ate each
other. The consul and his attache of legation
I gazed at the mountains with unspoken misgiv-
| ings- They were quite near now and could see
| an immense crowd Of men and women, all of
| them black and clad but in the simplest gar
ments, waiting to receive them. They
seemed greatly excited and ran in and
out OF the huts and up and down the
beach as wildly as SO many black ants. But
IN tho front Of the group they distinguished
| three men who they could see were white
| though they were clothed like the others
| simply In a shirt and short pair Of trousers
| Two of these three suddenly sprang away on
| a run and disappeared among the palm trees
but the third one, who had recognized the
American flag that Gordon had placed in the
halyards. threw his straw hat in the water
and began turning handsprings over the sand
| THAT young gentleman, at least" said Al
bert. gravely, Seems pleased to see U.S." A
| dozen OF the natives sprang into the water and
| came wading and swimming toward them, and
! shouting and swinging their arms.
! Il don't think it's quite safe, do you?" said
the consul, looking out wildly to the open sea-
You see, they don't know who I am" A
great black giant threw one arm over the gun.
vale and shouted something that sounded ss Il
II were spelt owah, owah, a. the boat carried
him through the surf.
.'How do you do?'' said Gordon doubtfullv
The boat shook the giant of under the wave
and beaehed itself 50 suddenly that the Afneri
can consul was thrown forward to his knses
Gordon did not wait TO pick him up, bu,