Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-30
self. He had no conceivable right to make
pearl poachers serve in any war. He would

self. He had no conceivable right to make
pearl poachers serve in any war. He would
be held responsible.
Next morning the cables wished to know
whether he had found the crew Of the Hall
otis. They were to be found and freed and
fed-he was to feed them-till such time as
they could be sent to the nearest English
pert in a man-of-war. If you abuse a man
long enough in great words flashed over
the sea beds things happen The governor
sent inland swiftly for his prisoners, who
were also soldiers and never was militia
regiment more anxious to reduce its
strength. No power short of death could
make these mad men wear the uniform of
their service; they would not fight except
with their fellows, and it was for that rea-
son the regiment had not gone to war, but
stayed in a stockade, reasoning with the
new troops. The autumn campaign had
been a fiasco. but here were the English
men. All the regiment marched back to
guard them. and the hairy enemy. armed
with blowpipeS, rejoiced in the forest. Five
OF the crew had died. but there lined up on
the governors veranda two and twenty
of leech bites. Five of them wore fringes
that had once been trousers, the others
used loin@ cloths of gay patterns: and they
existed, beautifully, but simply, in the gov
errors Veranda, and when he came out
they sang at him. If you have lost seventy
thousand pounds worth Of pearls, your
pay, your ship and ell your clothes, and
have lived In bondage for eight months be-
you know what true independence means
for you become the happiest of created
things-natural man.
The. governor told the crew they were
evil, and they asked for food, When he
saw how they ate. and when he remem-
bered that none Of the pearl patrol boats
were expected for two months, he sighed.
But the crew of the Haliotis lay down in
sioners on the governors bounty. A gray
bearded man, fat and bald headed. his one
garment a green ami yellow loin cloth, saw
the Haliotis In the hartor and beloved
with joy. The men crowded to the veranda
rail. kicking aside the long cane chairs.
They pointed, gesticulated and argued free
ly without shame. The militia regiment
sat down In the governors garden. The
governor retired to his hammock. 1t was
as easy to be killed lying as standing. and
his women squeaked from the shattered
house..
she sold?' said the gray-bearded man.
pointing to the Haliotis. He was Mr.. War
drop.
No good" said the governor, shaking
his head. mo one come buy"
Hes taken my lamps. though" said the
skipper. He wore half a pair of trousers,
and his eye wandered along the veranda
The governor quailed. There were cuddy
camp stools and the shippers writing table
in plain sight.
They've cleaned her out, O. course" said
Mr.. Wardrop. They would"
Wen go aboard and take an inventory.
See! He waved his hands over the har-
Dor. "We-hve-there-n Sorry?"
The governor smiled smile of relief
Hes glad of that" said one of the crew,
refectively IT don't wonder"
They flocked down to the harbor front,
the militia regiment Gathering behind, and
embarked themselves in what they found
1t happened to be the governors boat Then
they disappeared over the bulwarks of the
Haliotis, and the governor prayed that they
might find occupation inside.
Mr.. Wardrop's first bound took him into
the engine room, and when the others were
patting the well-remembered decks they
heard him giving God thanks that things
were as he had left them The wrecked en-
gines stood over his head untouched; no in
expert hand had meddled with his shores;
the steel wedges Of the store room were
rusted home; and, best of ALL the hundred
and sixty tons of good Australian coal In
the bunkers had not diminished.
II don't understand it," said Mr.. War
drop. ANY Malay knows the use O. copper
They ought to have cut away the pipes; and
with Chinese junks coming here, too. It's
a special interposition O. Providence"
You think so?" said the skipper, from
above. There's only been one thief here
and he's cleaned her all out our side"
Here the skipper spoke less than the
truth, for under the planking of his cabin,
only to be reached by a chisel lay a little
money which never drew any interest-his
sheet anchor to windward. 1t was all in
clean sovereigns that pass current the