The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-11-29

years to his present location and then do
veloped mal-du-pays to such an extent that
the local priest and devil catcher, ono
Pare-vaka, was sent for by her female al
PENDANTS. Pare-vaka was not long i'll
making his diagnosis. A little devil in
the shape of an octopus was in Tenenapa's
Drain. And he gave instructions how to
get tne hend out, and also further instruc-
lions TO one OF the girl attendants to fix.
| polnt upward, in the sick womans mat
inc 1910, or barb of the sting ray. So,
When hennedy-who, in his rough, care
less way, had some faint fondness for tho
Wolnah VINO, three years ago. he went mad
overheard loud Cry in the night and
was toid that Tenepapa was dead, he did
not KNOW that, as the sick woman lay ON
her slde the watchers had quietly turned
her With her face to the roof and with
the needle pointed toto, pierced her to the
heafG. And old Pare-vaka rejoiced, for he
had a daughter who, in his opinion, should
be avaga to the wealthy and clever white
man who could tori nui and sisi atu (pull
cocoanuts and catch bonito) like any ma
tive, and this Tenepapa-who was she but
dog eating stranger from Maraki, only
fit for sharks meat? So the people came
and brought Kennedy the "gifts of attic
ton" to show their sympathy, and asked
him to take a wife from their own people.
And he asked for Laumanu.
There was a dead silence awhile, and
then wild looking creature, with long
white hair falling round his shoulders like
a cloak, dreading to shame the papalagi
before so many, rose to his feet and mo-
toned them away. Then he spoke: "For-
get the words you have said and take for a
wife the girl from the house of Pare-vaka.
Laumanu is taba, and death walks behind
her," But Kennedy sulked and wanted
Laumanu or none.
And this is why he feels SO bad today
and the rum key gives him no consola-
| tion, for the sweet voiced Laumanu al
ways runs away from him when he steps
out from his dark little traderoom into the
light with unsteady steps and peculiar
CLEAN in his black eyes that means mis-
chief-rude love to woman and challenge
to fight to man.
Lying there OF his mat, plotting how to
get possession of the girl, there comes to
him faint cry, gradually swelling in vol
ume until every voice in the village, from
the full, sonorous tones Of the men to the
shriH treble OF the children blend together:
''Te vaka motu! TIE vaka motu!" CA shipl
A shipP) Springing up, he strides out,
and there, slowly numbering round the
southwest end of the little island, under
cruising canvas only, he sees her. One
quick glance shows her to be whaler.
In ten minutes Kennedy is in canoe,
flying over the reef, and in as many more
alongside and on deck The captain is an
old acquaintance, and whils the boats are
sent ashore to buy pigs and poultry Ken-
nedy and he have a long talk in the cabin.
Then the skipper says as he rises, swell,
it's risky, but it's a smart way Of earning
$500, and I'll land you and the creature
somewhere in the Carolines.'
The whaler was to lie off and on all
night, or until such time as Kennedy and
the girl came aboard in canoe. To avert
suspicion the captain was to remain ashore
with his boats crew to witness dance.
and if all went well the white man was
to be aboard before him with Laumanu
and stow her away, in case any canoes
came off with the boat.
The dance was in full swing when Ken,
| nedy, stripped to the waist, with heavy
bag of money in his left hand and knife
in his right, took long farewell of his
house and stepped ost into the silent
groves of cocoa palms. A short walk
brought him to a salt lagoon. On the
brink he stood and waited, until trem-
bling, voiceless figure joined him from cut
the depths of the thick mangroyes. Hand
in hand they fled along the narrow, sandy
path, till they reached the beach, just
where a few untenanted matched hnts
stood on the shingle. Between these Gov
cred over with coooanut branches, lay a
canoe. Deity the two raised the light
craft and carried it down to the WAGER,
that broke in tender, ripping murmurs on
the white sand. And, with Laumanu seat
ed for'ard, gazing out beyond into the
blaokness before them, he urged the canoe
seward with quick, nervous strokes. Far
away to the westward he could SEQ the
dull glimmer of the whaleship's lights.
The mate Of the Essex was leaning over
the rail, drowsily watching the phosphor-
escence in the water as the ship rolled
gently to the ocean swell, when a cry
came from for ard, GA heavy squall COM
ing down, sir, from the land'' And it did
come, with swift, fierce rush, and so
strong that it nearly threw the old whaler
over on her beam ends. In the midst of
the hum and roar of the squall, some one
in the waist of the ship called out some
thing about canoe being alongside The
mates comment was brief, but vigorous,
and the matter was speedily forgotten.
Then the rain fell in torrents, and, as
the ship was made snug, the watch got
, under shelter and the mate went below to
get a drink of rum and curse his captain
for loafng ashore, watching naked women
dancing.
Three miles farther out canoe was
drifting and tossing about with outrigger
carried away. Now and then, as the big
sea lifted her, the stern would rise high
out Of the water and the sharp nosed
whaleback for ard go down as if weighted
heavily. And it was-with bag of dol
lars lashed underneath. When, in the
early morning, the whaleship sighted the
drifting speck, floating on the bosom of a
now placid sea, the thoughtful down east
skipper, observant Of the canoes bows be-
ing under water, lowered a boat and
pulled over to it. He took the bag of dol
lars, and, muttering something about
"rather thinking he was kinder acquainted
with the poor mans people, % went back
to the ship and stood away on his course
in J,lIreIlit of hic Oreacu vocation