The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1895-12-04

the local priest and dovil catcher, ono
Paro-vaka, was sent for by hor female ut
tendants. Paro-vnka WAS not long In
making his diagnosis. A littlo dovil in
tho shape of an octopus was in Tenonapa's
brain. And no gnvo instructions how to
got the fond out, and also further instruc-
tions to ono of tho girl attendants to fix,
point upward, in tho sick woman mat
tho foto, or barb Of tho sting ray. So,
when Konncdy-who, in his rough, caro-
less u had some faint loneliness for tho
woman who, three yours ago, ho won't max
overheard u loud cry In tho night and
was told that Toncpapn was dead, no did
not know TINT, MS tho sick woman lay on
her side, tho watchers had quietly turned
hor with her faco to tho roof, and, with
tho ncedlo pointed toto, pierced hor to the
hoart. And old Paro-vaka rojoiced, for he
had u daughtcr who, in his opinion, should
DO avnga to tho wealthy and clever whitu
maj who could tori nui and sisi atu quill
cocoanuts and catch bonito) like any M
tive, II this Tcnepapa-who was she but
u dog eating stranger from Maraki, only
fit for sharks meat? So the people came
and brought Kennedy tho gifts of aflic-
ton" to show their sympathy, and asked
him to take IL wife from their own people.
And he asked for Laumanu.
There was II dead silence awhile, and
then u wild looking creature, with long
white hair falling round his shoulders like
II cloak, dreading to shame tho papalagi
before so many, rOSo to his foot and mo-
toned thcm away. Then he spoke: 'For-
get tho words you have said and take for u
wife the girl from tho house of Parc-vaka.
Laumanu is taba, and death walks behind
her" But Kennedy sulkcd and wanted
or mono.
And this Is why hc feels so bad today
and tho rum key gives him no consola-
ton, for tho sweet voiced Laumnnu al
ways runs AVA from him when he steps
out from his dark little tradcrooln into tho
light, with unsteady stops and II peculiar
glcam in his black eyes that means mis-
chicf-rudo love toa woman and challenge
to fight to u man.
Lying There on his mat, plotting how to
get possession of the girl, there comes to
him Il faint cry, gradually swelling in vol
ume until every voice i'll the village, from
the full, Sonorous tones of tho mon to tho
shrill treble of the children blond together:
Ito vaka motu! To vaka motu!'' CA ship!
"A ship!'D SpringinG up, no strides out,
and there, slowly numbering round tho
southwest end of the little island, under
cruising canvas only, ho sees her. One
quick glance shows her to DO u whalor.
In ten minutes Kennedy is in u canoe,
flying over the reef, and in as many more
alongside and on deck. Tho captain is an
old acquaintance, and while the boats are
sent ashore to buy pigs and poultry Ken
ncuy and he have II long talk in the cabin.
Then the skipper says us ho rises, "Well,
it's risky, but it's a smart way Of earning
5000, and I'll land you and tho creature
somewhere in the Carolincs."
The whalcr was to lie off and on all
night, or until such timo as Kennedy and
fbn rtp1 o,t ,AA nIIa. - ----
suspicion tho captain was to remain ashore
with his boat's crew to witness n dance,
and If all went we'll tho white man was
to bo aboard before him with Laumanu
and stow her away in case any canoes
camc off with tho boat.
Tho dance WAS in full swing when Ken
nedy, stripped to tho waist, with Il heavy
bag of money in his left hand and q knife
in his right. took II long farewell of his
house and stepped out into the silent
groves of cocoa palms. a short walk
brought him TO n salt lagoon. On tho
brink he stood and waited. until u trcm-
bling, voicclcss figure Joined him from out
tho depths Of tho thick mangrovcs. Hand
in hand they fled along the narrow, sandy
path, till they reached the beach, Just
where u few untcnuntcd matched huts
stood OH tho shinglc. between these, COW
cred over with cocoanut branches, lay "a
canoe. Deity the two raised the light
craft and Carried it down to the water,
that broke in tender, ripping murmurs on
the white sand. And, with Laumanu seat
cd for'ard, gazing II beyond into the
blackncsa before them, he urged the canoe
award with quick, nervous strokes. Far
way to the westward he could sec the
dull glimmcr of the whalcship's lights.
Tho matc of tho Essex was leaning over
thn pni rnt.-ri! ,,.,tnI;,. 49,. t-..l
csccnco in tho water MS tho ship rolled
gently to tho ocean swoll, when IA cry
came from for'ard, "a heavy squall com
ing down, sir, from the land!' And il did
come, with n swift, fierce rush, and so
strong that it nearly threw the old whalcr
over on her beam onds. In the midst of
tho hum and oar of tho squall, some ono
in the waist Of tho ship called out some
thing about II canoo being alongside. The
mates was brief, but vigorous,
and the matter was speedily forgotten.
Then tho rain fell in torrents, and, rs
tho ship was made snug, tho watch got
under shelter and tho mate went below to
get II drink of rum and curse his captain
for loafing ashore, watching naked women
dancing.
Three miles farther out n canoe was
drifting and tossing nbout with outriggcr
carried away. Now and then, as the big
sen lifted her, tho stern would rise high
out of tho water and the sharp nosod
whalcback for ard go down as if weighted
heavily. And it was-with n bag of dol
lars lashcd underneath. When, in tho
early morning, tho whnlcship sighted tho
drifting speck, f~oating on tho bosom of a
now plncid sea, the thoughtful down cast
skipper, obscrvant of tho canoes bows be-
ing under water, lowered u boat and
pulled over to it. He took the bag of dol
lars. and, muttering something about