The Forrest City times., 1897-03-05

| o' -h"H"ioHl biggs could carry water on both shoulders about as well as anybody. We had to pass about 2o ! secretaries and assistant secretaries. and every blessed one of em had an obiee- tion, but Absalom outmaneuvered all of
 tiem. The foreign secretary was sit tn Tn chair as if it had been built m, | around him. What do you want?' said he' lookln' at his watch. Permission says Absalom, to catch Wally Bo Logn and his cannybals.' You have it' said the secretary, and if you are success ful, her maJesty will be pleased to ex
 tend to you her grateful thanks and | gracious commendation.' And what might that combination be worth?' asked Absalom Riggs. Ten thousand pounds, said the secretary, shortly | When we had note to that effect. we | left.
 So we sailed down the African coast with cargo part of rum and part of water. We had no firearms. 'Ammy- nition,' said Absalom. costs money.'
 didn't understand his plan. Once be fore trader had tried to do business and Wally Bo Logn at the same time with rum, but that sly old chap ate the trader first and drank his rum after wards. Business before pleasure.' re. marked Waliy Bo Logn.
 We went inshore at night by the dark of the moon, and while the heath en war sleepin', we lightered that rum to land. And then at daybreak we stood off There along the beach stood 1 barrel after barrel of rum. And every barrel had a spigot and bright new tin cup, chained fast, for tin cups cost money was what Absalom said.
 The heather came down to look at the brig and speculate about the chances for breakfast; the tin cups caught their | eye, and then, pretty soon, the rum caught them. Absalom stood on the upper deck and watched them: They're strong in the body, but weak in the head Then he went down below. and read his Pilgrims Progress and Guide to Wealth.
 Tn the afternoon, Absalom Riggs sur veyed the scene again. He seemed kind | of pleased. And finally, when WaIly Bo Logn got his marine cap jammed down | over his eyes and his lieutenants sword tangled up with his legs and sat down | to unmix himself, Absalom' ordered out | the boats. Take care of all of them that can't take care of themseIves,' kindly said he. By nightfall we had all the heather carefully slowed below.
 "'These are your instructions: Keep ] the brig out of sight of land until | further notice.' And then Absalom went back to his Guide to Wealth.
 We sailed up and we sailed down. We tackled this way and that, and | roamed around at our own free will. One more order we had from Absalom: All you need give the savyidges is | plenty of water and room to play No | rum,' he added, absent-mindedly for l rum costs money And then heard him chuckle again, and say: They're strong in the body, though weak in the | head
 Well, we went on a-sailin'. And Ab- salon consulted me just once more. | What do you know about 'rithmeticaI retrogression 9 he asked me. was | young in those days-almost young enough to know everything-and, hav- in the cannybals on my mind, an ] swered up smartly: The water is a leetle brackish, but the harbor is fair and there are plenty of palms. It hadn't any inhabitants the last time l was there Never mind he said; if you take 760 and divide it in two, and then every four days cut your fggers down one-half, how long'll it be until you have only one?' Bein' little weak on fig. gers, l said nothing. And then he fell to cipherin'.
 After that Absalom didn't seem to take any interest in our cargo. He usually stayed in the cabin and read. And the Keep Mum kept sailin' on, sometimes towards the tropics and sometimes towards the pole. It didn't seem to make any difference to Absa- lom whether her canvas from sky-sails to courses was spread to spankin' breeze or Tapped idly in a dead calm.
 But finally, one day, after he had held a deep consultation with the al. manac, our course was laid for London. The mornin' we went up the Thames, Absalom's interest in our cargo came to life. He lifted up the hatch, care less like, and after bit. Wally Bo Logn's black head appeared. Now, through Twin with and on mission aries. Mir. Bo Logn could speak Eng fish. We're goin' ashore,' said Ab- salon. 'To eat?' asked Wally Bo Logn, Yes replied Absalom, and Wally nod ded his head. So we disguised him with linen duster that fitted him rather soon, and added some other old clothes by way of adornment; then up went we to the foreign secretary. Between you'n me, he's better man to do business with than the lord high admiral, not havin' so many titles. The first as- sistant to somethin' stood in the door, way with his nose tilted skyward. We've business with the secretary said Absalom. And what might your busi- ness be?' said his highness, with con-