The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-07-31

well. you no got breadfruit. said She
could have torn my hair. "Now, look
here, old lady," said !. ''you dry up, for
I'm tired of you. III take the Bible,
whichIl put me as straight as the mail,
and that's the last word I've got to say"
The night fell extraordinary dark, clouds
coming up with shutdown and overspread-
ing all; not star showed; there was only
an end of moon, and that not due before
the small hours. Round the village, what
with the lights and the fires in the open
houses and the torches of many fishers
moving on the reef. it kept as gay as an
illumination; but the sea and the noun
tains and woods were all clean gone. /
suppose il might be S o'clock when took
the road, laden like donkey. First there
was that Bible, book as big as your head,
which had let myself in for by my own
tomfoolery. Then there was my gun
and knife and lantern and patent
matches, all necessary. And then there
was the real plant of the affair in hand,
mortal weight of gunpowder, pair of
dynamite tishing-bombs, and two or three
pieces of slow match that | had hauled
out OF the tin cases and spliced together
the best way | could: for the match was
only trade stuff, and man would be crazy
that trusted IL. Altogether, You see. | had
the materials of pretty good blow up
Expense was nothing to me; | wanted
that thing done right.
AS long as l was in the open and had
the lamp in my house 10 steer by | did
well. But when L got TO the path il fell
so dark | could make no Roadway, walk
ing into trees and swearing there, like a
man looking for the matches in his bed
1 l.. - Il. 1 -.
my lantern would be visible all the way TO
the point of the cape. and as no one went
there after dark il would be talked about
and come 10 Cases ears. But what was
10 doP | had either Ia give the business
over and lose caste with Maea or light up
take ms chance and get through the thing
the smartest / Mas abie.
As long as | was on the path. walked
hard, but when came 10 the black beach
| had 10 run. For the tide was nearly
flowed. and In get through with my pow
der dry between the surf and the steep hill
took all the guickncss | possessed. As IL
was. even the wash caught me 10 the
knees, and | came near falling on stone
All this time the hurry ] was in. and the
free air and smell at the sea, kent nv
spirits lively; but when was once III the
bush and began to climb the path | took It
easier. The tearsomeness OF the wood had
been a good bit rubbed of for me by
Master Cases banjo strings and
craven images; yet 1 thought il was
n dreary walk. and guessed, when
the disciples went UP there. they
must be badly scared. The light of the
lantern, striking among all these trunks
and iorSed branches and twisted rope-end 5
al hanas made the ~ hole place, or all that
YOU could see OF II, kind OF puzzle of
turning shadows. They came 10 meet Won,
solid and quick ike giants. and then spun
oil and vanished; they hove up over your
head like clubs. and dew away into the
night like birds. The floor Of the bush
glimmered with dead wood, the way the
match box used to shine after you had
struck q luciter. Zig cold drops fell on
me from the branches overhead like sweat
There was no wind IL mention. only lit
tie icy breath Of land breeze that stirred
nothing; and the harps were silent.
The first landIalt | made was when |
sot through the bush OF wild cocoanuts.
and came IN view 81 the bogics on the
wall. Mighty queer they looked by the
shining Of the lantern. With their painted
faces aud shell eyes, AMI their clothes and
their hair hanging. one after another |
pulled them all up and piled them In a
bundle ON the cedar roof so rs they might
60 IL glory with the rest. Then chose a
place behind one Of the big stones at the
entrance. buried my powder and the iwu
shells. and arranged my match along the
passage. Aud then ] had look al The
smoking head, just for goodbye. IL was
doing fine.
cheer up" says l. You're booked. -
Il was nay first idea 10 light mp ana he
getting homeward, for thc darkness ami
the gilmmer OF the dead Wool and the
shadows ot the lantern made me lonely
liut bnoy where one of the harps hung
't~es pits az shouldn't 50 with tAe