The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-17
THE BEACH CT FALESA.
Tho Narrative Of q South SEA Trader.
BY Robert Louis Stevenson.
orvrtgM 1885. " RoAet Lovts Sss-~so..
CHAPTER IIL-tContinuod)
TIE MISSIONARY.

CHAPTER III.-tContinued)
TIE MISSIONARY.
40 Va ran him UP bltofa meal Twas bound
"A let tho old lady have hand In It. to show of:
A deputizel her to brew the tea don't
think over mot such tea rs she turned out.
hut that was not tho worst for she got round
With tho salt box. which she considered an
sxtra European touch. and turned my stew
into sea watcr Altogether. Mr.. Tarleton had
a devil OF n dinner OF IL: but no had plenty en-
t,rta inment by the way. for all the while that
". were cooking. and afterwnrd. when no was
making believe to eat. kept posting him up
on Master Case and tho beach OF Falcsa and
IA putting questions that showed he was fol-
lowing close.
"Wel," said no at last, II nm afraid you
have dangerous enemy. This man Case is
very clover. md soems really wicked. I must
toll! you I have had my eye on him for nearly a
year, and have rather had the worst Of our on
counters. About the timo whom tho last repro
sentative OF your Arm ran so suddenly away I
had letter from Manu-. the native pastor. beg.
Glng me to come to Falcsa at my earliest CON-
veuisnce, as his flock were all adopting
Catholic rracticcs.' ] had great confidence in
Manu-; !oar II only shows how easily we arc
deceived. No ono could hear him preach and
not DO persuaded he was man OF ertraordi-
nary parts. All our islanders easily acquire a
Kind OF sloquence. and can roll out and illus
trate with great deal OF vlcor and fancy
second hand sermons: but Nnmus sermons
are his own. and cannot deny TINT huve
found them means Of grace Moreover. he
has keen curiosity In secular things. does
not fenr work. In clevor Mt oarpsntering. nud
has made himself so much respected among
the neighhorlng pastors that wo call him. In q
lAat ,yb cl IL hal tha ~ hA
East. In short. was proud Of the man: all the
moro puzzled BY his lotter. and took IN occa-
sion to como this way. The morning before
my arrival. Vigours had boon sent on board
tho Lion. md Manu- was perfectly at his case.
apparently ashamed OF his letter. and quite
unwilling to explain II. This. Of course.
could not allow. and ho ended by confessing
that he had been much concerned to find his
people using the sign OF the cross. but since he
had learned the explanation his mind was sat
isaed For Vlgours had the Evil Eye. a COM
monthlng in q country Of Europe called Italy.
where mon were often struck dead by that
kind OF devil and 1t appeared the sign Of the
cross was q charm against its power.
"'And explain it. Misi.' said Manu-. In this
way: The country in Europe is Popey coun-
try. and tho devil Of the Evil Eye may be a
Catholic devil. or. ut least. used to Catholic
ways. SO then reasoned thus: II this sign Of
the cross were used in q Popey manner It
would be sinful. but when It Is used only to
protect men from q devil. which Is o thing
harmless In itself. tho sign. too must be harm
less For the sign Is neither good nor bad.
even As a bottle is neither good nor bad. But
II the bottle be full OF gin. tho gin is bad: and
II the sign be INSIDE In idolatry bad. SO is the
idolatry.' And. very like q native pastor. he
had a text Apostle about the casting out Of
devils.
And who has been telling you about the
Evil Eyer asked.
He admitted It was Case. Now am afraid
you will think me very narrow. Mr.. Wiltshire.
but must tell you I was displeased. and can
not think trader at all o good man to advise
or have an influence upon my pastors. And.
besides. there had been some flying talk in tho
country Of old Admins and his being poisoned
to which had paid no great heed: but 1t came
back to mo at tho moment.
And Is this Case a man Of a sanctined
HE? I asked.
HE admitted he WAS not: for. though he
did not drink. he was proaigate with women.
and had no religion.
"'Then. said I. I think the less you have
% do with him the better
But It ia not easy to have the last word with
Q man like Manu-. He was ready in moment
with an illustration. Misi.' said he. you
have told me there were wise m len. not pastors.
not even holy. who know many things useful
to be taught-about trees. for instance. and
beasts. and to print books. and about the
stones that are burned to make knives OF.
Such men teach you In your college. and you
learn from them. but take care not to learn to
be unholy. Mist. Case is my college,
Il know not what to say Mr.. ViRours had
evidently been driven out Of Falesa by the
Vaccinations OF Case. and with something not
worry unlike the collision OF my pastor. I
oallod to mind 1t was Manu- who had reas-
surod me about Adams. and traced the rumor
to tho Ill will Of the priest And saw must
inform myself more thoroughly from an i'm
partial source. There is an old rascal Of q
chief here. Fataso. whom dare Gay You saw
to-day at the council: he has boon oil his life
turbulent and shy. grent fomeuter OF rebe-
lions. and thorn In tho side Of the mission
and the island. For all that, no is very shrewd.
and. except In politics or about his own mis-
demeanors. teller OF the truth. wont to his
house. told him what had hoard, and be-
sought him to lie frank. do not think l had
ever . moro painful interview. Perhaps you
vii! understand me-. Mr.. Wiltshire. II l toll you
that am perfectly serious IN those old wives
talos with which you reproached me. and as
anxious to do well for these islands as you can
you arc to remember that thought Manu- q
paragon. and was proud OF the man n one Of
the first rpe fruits OF the mission. And now
WAS informed that no had fallen In sort OF
dependence upon Case. Tho beginning Of II
was not corrupt; 1t began. doubtless. In foar
and respect. produced by trlckery and pro-
tence: but was shocked to find that another
element had been lately added. that Manu-
helped himself In the store. anu was believed
to be deep In Cases debt Whatever the ira
dor said. that Manu- believed with trembling.
10 was not alone in this: many In the village
lived In similar subsection: but Nnmu's case
was the m at influential. It was through Manu-
Case had wrought most evil; and with a
certain following among the chiefs. and tho
pastor In his pocket. the man was rs good rs
master OF the village. You know something
Of Vi.ours and Adams. but perhaps You have
n'ver hoard OF old Undorhiil. Adams's pr.do-
ces'or. Ho was quiet. mild old fellow, rc-
member, aud We wsre told he had died sud-
denly: white men die very suddenly in Faos;i.
The truth. as now heard it. made my blood