The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-10
TIE BEACH OF FALESA.
The Narrative Of a South Sea Trader.
BY Robert Louis Stevenson.
oJpyrigL. 1892. BY Robert Loai, Stevenson.
CHAPTER Ii.

THE DAN.
"And now" said |. what Is all this about 2"
"The truth Is can't rightly make 1t out N.Y.
so,f Thoy have q down on you." says Case.
Taboo q man because they have down on
him" | criod Il never heard the like"
"r's worse than that you see." sud Case
"You ain. .aboocd-I told you that couldn't
b. Tho people won't go near you. Wiltshire.
and there's where II Is
They won't go noar me2 What do you
mean by that? Why won't they go near me"
lcricl.
Case hositated. =" Seems they're frightened"
says he in n low voice.
stopped doad short. Frightened" re-
pcatcL. Arc you COMO crazy. Case2 What
ar they frightened OFF,
Il wish could mako out" Case answered.
shaSin his head. Appears like one Of thcir
tcmfool suporstitions. That's what don't
cotton to-" he said. IT'S like the business
about Nigours.'
ia like to know what you mean by that,
nnl I'll trouble you to tell mo-" saysI.
Wolf. you know. ViGours lit out and left all
etanling" said he. 1T was some superstt-
ton bnsincss-l nover got tho hang Of it; but
II began to look bad before the end
"rvo hoard a dfrcrcnt story about that"
said ]. md had better tell you SO. heard
he ran away because fyou."
oh we'll. suppose he WAS ashamed to toll
the TRUTH" says Case: guess he thought 1t
silly. And it's u fact that l packed him of.
what would you do. old man ? says he. Get.
says |. and not think twice about it, / was
the .ladiest kind OF man to 500 him clear
away. 1t amt nv notion to turn my back on n
mute when he's in q tight nlaco. but there was
that much trouble in the village that couldn't
see where it might likely end. was fool to
has rh nh with \iynnrs nhpv Of
up 20 me to-day. Didn't you hear Masa-that's
the young chief. tho Dig one-ripping out
about 'Nika't That was him they were after.
Tho don't seem to forget 1t, somehow"
This is all very WE'LL" said l. but 1t don't
tell mo what's wrong: it don't tell mo what
they're afraid of-whnt their idea is"
Well. l wish knew" said Case. II can't
say iaires than that"
You NJ Ght have asked. think" says I.
And 81 I did" says he. But you must
hive seen for yourself. unless you're blind.
that tho asking got this other way. I'll 60 rs
far as dare or another white man: but when
find I'm in tho scrapc myself think crst Of
my own bacon. The loss OF me is L M too good
nutured. Aud I'll take tho freedom OF telling
yuu you shows queer kind OF gratitude to q
man who's got into al. this mess along Of your
affairs"
"Thore's thing am thinking Of" said l.
:" You We're II fool to he 80 much about with Wig
our- One comfort. you haven't been much
alout WIKI me. notice you've never been in
side my hou ~. Own up now: you had word OF
this etora!"
IT'S a fact haven't BEEN" said he. 1T
shi:r But ABOUT coming now I'll be quite
plain"
on mcar you won'tI" asked.
"hwtnlIy sorry. Old man. but that's the sze
OF t." says Case.
IN short. you're afraid ?" saysI.
in sap t. I'm nt.a.I." says no.
And Ia still! t. be tab ,oed for nothing?"
In-kcd.
Il tell ynn you're not taboocd." said he
"Vhn Kana, - won't 20 near you. that's all.
AMI who's to make EN-! We traders have a
1T Of gall. rust say; wo make these poor
EaNakaI take back their laws and take w
thr,r t.hr"-. and that. whenever it happens to
suit ne. But you don't mean to say you expect
'nw-oUliSiag people to deal in your store
viii tier obey wan t. or not! You don't mean
to tell me you've got the gall for that? And II
you had. It would DO queer thing to propose
t" m, | wouid lust like to point oat to you.
Wlltshr'. trat I'm trader myself"
81 don't think would talk OF gall. II WAS
yoI." said |. Here's about what 1t comes to.
as vol as can m tko out: None OF the people
arc to trade with mo. and they're all to trade
with YOU. iour to havs the copra, and I'm
to 20 to the dovi and shake myself. And 1
don't know any native. and you're the only
man here worth mention that speaks English.
and you have the gall to up and hint to me my
LIES In danger md all you've got to tell me Is
You don't know wny!"
We'll. it is all | have to tell you." said he.
Il don't know-I wish did"
And 80 you turn your back and leave me to
To- hok th,,r
. II you like to put 1t nasty" says he. II
don't put it 30. l say merely I'm going to keep
clear OF you or. if don't. III get in danger
for myself"
"Well." says I. you're nice kind OF O
white mani"
"Oh. understand: you're rilod." said he
81 would DO myself can make excuses"
"All right" said. "Go and make excuses
somewhere else. Here's my way. there's
yours!"
With that we parted and I wont straight
home. in IL hot temper. and found Una trying
on lot Of trade goods like a baby.
"IIore" l suid. you quit that fooleryi
IIorc's a pretty mess to have made. as II
wasn't bothered enough any way! And I
thought l told you to get dinner"
Aud thon believe gave her bit Of the
rough side Of my tongue. as she deserved. She
stood up at once like a sentry to his Officer: |
for must say she was always well brought !
up and had a great respect for whites.
And now" says |. you belong round here.
you're bound to understand this What am |
tIDoocd for. any wnyl Or. Il aln't tabooed. |
what makes the folks afraid OF me?"
She stood and looked at mo with eyes like |
sagcers
You no savvy ?" she gasps at last
NO" said l. How would you expect me |
tOi We don't have any such craziness where |
leone from"
Fac no tell your" she asked again
Use was tho name the natives had for Case:
1t may mean foreign. or extraordinary: or it
might mean Il mummy apple: but most like 1t
was only his own name misheard and put In a
hanaka sIclng.j
Not much." said l.
'D---n Ese" she cried.
You might think 1t funny to hear this Nam
AKA gil come out with hi. swear. No such
'hihs. There was no swearing in her-no. nor
ahSor; she WAS beyond anger. and meant tho
word simple and serious. she stood there