The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-06-26
Copyright, 1892 by Robert Louis Stevenson.
CHAPTER l.

Copyright, 1892, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
CHAPTER L
A SOUTH SEA BRIDAL
Isaw that Island first when it was neither
night nor morning. The moon was to the
west. setting, but still broad and bright.
To the east, and right amidships of the
dawn, which was all pink, the daystar
sparkled like diamond. The land breeze
blew in our faces, and smelt strong of wild
lime and vanilla; other things besides, but
these were the most plain; and the chill
of it set me sneeZing. l should say l had
been for years on low island near the
line, living for the most part solitary
among natives. Here was a fresh ex-
perience; even the tongue would be quite
range to me; and the look of the woods
and mountains, and the rare smell of
them, renewed my blood.
The captain blew out the pinnacle lamp.
"There l' said he, "there goes a bit of
smoke, Mr.. Wiltshire, behind the break of
the reef. That's Falesa, where your sta
ton is, the last village to the east; no
body lives to windward-I don't know
why. Take my glass and you can make
the houses out"
nearer, and l saw the tangle of the woods
and the breach of the surf, and the brown
roofs and the black insides of houses
peeped among the trees.
"Do you catch bit of white there to
the BASTARD? 2" the captain continued.
THAT'S your house. Coral built. stands
high, veranda you could walk on three
abreast; best station in the South Pacific.
When old Adams saw it he took and shook
me by the hand. I've dropped into soft
thing here, says he. So you have says
/, and time, toop Poor Johnny!
l never saw him again but the once, and
then he had changed his tune-couldn't
get on with the natives. or the whites, or
something; and the next time we came
round there he was dead and buried. /
took and put up bit of stick to him:
John Adams, oba eighteen and sixty
eight. Go thou and do likewise |
missed that man. / never could see much
harm in Johnny"
what did he die Off" / inquired
"Some kind of Sickness" said the cap
tain. at appears it took him sudden.
Seems he sot up in the night and filled up
on Pain-killer and kennedy's Discovery.
No gol-he was booked beyond Kennedy.
Then he had tried to open a case of gin.
No go again mot strong enough. Then
he must have turned to and run out on
the veranda, and capsized over the rail.
When they found him the next day he
was clean crazy-carried on all tho time
about somebody watering his copra. Poor
Johni'
''Was it thought to be the island ?"
asked.
"Well, it was thought to be the island,
or the trouble. or something" he replied.
IL never could hear but what it was
healthy place. Our last man, Vigours,
never turned hair. He lett because of
the beach-said he was afraid of Black
Jack and Case and Whistling Jimmie, who
was still alive at the time, but got drowned
soon afterward when drunk. AS for old
Captain Randall, he's been here any time
since 1910, 45. / never could see much
harm in Billy. nor much change. Seems
as if he might live to be Old Kafoozleum.
No. guess its healthy.v
"There's boat coming now" said /.
"She's right on the pass; looks to be a
sixteen-foot whale; two white men in the
stern Sheets"
That's the boat that drowned Whist
ling Jimmie !" cried the captain; LETS see
the glass. Yes, that's Case sure enough,
and the darby. They've got gallows bad
reputation, but you know what place the
beach is tor talking. My belief that
Whistling Jimmie was the worst of the
trouble; and he's gone to glory, you see.
Whatli you bet they amt after gin? Lay
you five to two they take six cases."
When these two traders came aboard
was pleased with the looks of them at
once, or, rather, with the looks of both and
the speech of one. | was sick for white
neighbors after my four years at the line,
which always counted years of prison;
getting tattooed and going down the Speak
House to see and get it taken Off; buying
gin and going on a break, and then repent
ing; sitting in my house at night with the
lamp for company, or walking on
the beach and wondering what kind
of fool to call myself for be-
ing where l was. There were no
other whites upon my island, and when |
sailed to the next, rough customers made
the most of the society. Now To see these
two when they came aboard was pleas
ure. One was negro. to be sure but they
were both rugged out smart in striped pyja-
mas and straw hats, and Case would have
passed muster in q city. He was yellow
and smallish, had a hawks nose to his
face, pale ewes and his beard trimmed with
scissors. No man knew his country be-
yond he was of English speech and II Was
clear he came of a good family and was