The herald., 1895-06-09

bones were lying in heaps at the base OF
the rude altars. constructed with stones
and coral and decorated with flowers and
shells and the spears OF captured enemies.
Their weapons in war were long spears
tipped with flint and huge axes of stone.
The edges of both instruments were
poisonous. having been dipped in poi
son made OF herbs and roots. The
natives ate their food raw, tearing the
fish or game with their fingers and devour-
ing 1t like wolves. The chief and his sons
drank liquor distilled from the ava.
The process was slow. Roberts, in the alb
sence of Scotch whisky, and grog. tried
the substitute. The effect was stupefying
rather than inebrating, and after trial
Roberts returned to cocoa milk and water.
\ fter diet of many months OF sun baked
fish and fowl and iruit. Robert one day no.
ticed that the spear points were flint. So
with his pocket knife for steel he made
flame and started a bonfire. The natives
were dun bfounded; they repeatedly
burned themselves in the flames; but i'll
few days they accepted the ire and over
it cooked their white gods food. This
miracle caused them to worship Roberts
godliness more than ever. But Alexander
Selkirk never was more tired of being
monarch of all he surveyed than Rob
erts was in ruling his savage king
dom. His thoughts all tho while were OF
bonny Scotland, OF home. mother and
friends. As he sat on the shore and
watched for the sight of vessel. twice
he saw distant sails. The natives noticed
his stiaction and redoubed their atten-
tions, but this only made life more lrk-
some to Roberts. At last his day OF res
cue came.
He went down to the beach and saw
a three masted vessel lying at anchor sew
eral miles distant. He ordered the ma
tives. who followed close at his heels. to
bring canoe, and in few minutes they
were well out at sea, padding vigorously
toward the vessel. When within signal
ing disance. Roberts attracted the atten-
| ton of the men aboard. The ship hove
| to, and when near enough Roberts leaped
into the sea and struck OUT boldly for the
| vessel. He was making u daring dash
| for liberty. but the natives did not COM
| prehend his purpose, and in moment
| he clambered up the side OF the ship and
| addressed the captain in English. This
| was the first intimatlon TO TIL se on
| board that he was white like themselves,
| for the sun and frequent applications OF
F! cocoanut oil had made him as black as
| the Polynesans and the sailors supposed
! he was only friendly savage coming to
| trade.
| When the natives in the canoe learned
| that Roberts was 'aving them they
| showed the widest grief. They tore their
| halr beat their breasts, and screamed.
| They beseechej him to return to them.
| Other boats illed with black men were
| attracted by the strange sight of a foreign
| ship. and gathered about the merchant
man as she lay nere waiting for a breeze.
When the vessel got under way again
| the natives, in theif swift canoes, fol-
| lowed for miles, calling out lmplorlngly
To theiI beloved white god to return.
| Their grief was ptiful. The twelve
| handmaidens were especially vehement
| in expressing their grief.
| They were truly heartbroken. Roberts
paid no heed, although he always con-
fessed that he was touched by their love
| for him.
| Alter q safe voyage the vessel entered
the Golden Gate, and Roberts for the first
time set foot on the soil of the country
of which he was destined to become a
citizen, and under whose sovereignty he
! died at the end OF long life.