The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-06-05

no indication in the way of goods or
stores that the woman had told other
than the truth. For the following fort
night the Manahikians and the Penrhyns
were on the Dart on the homeward vOy-
age back to Penrhyn, and not word or
a sign gavereason to suspect that tho
story was false.
Some weeks later Sustenance touched
in the course OF trade at Rakahanga,
and there again encountered the woman
Kokorarik. She asked at once If he had
heard Of Joe and Tamu. Apparently
much concerned when she heard that
they had not reached Samoa, she asked
in what direction Pukapuka bore, and
when tho shipmaster pointed down to the
west. she seemed much relieved, ana sug-
gested That the beach cOmbers had prob
ably reached that island.
yet in her original story and in this
renewed interest in the voyage OF the
beachcombers Kokorarikl was but play
ing a leading part in tissue OF fabri-
cation which was sufficiently TO deceive
Sustenance and It may be said that II Is
by no means easy 20 pull the wool over
the eyes of a South Sea trader
The three beachcombers had been
murdered on Suvarrow IN the presence OF
this woman and every other person on
the island. and KOkOrariki herself had
planned tho consistent story which had
cleared the mall from suspicion The
story came out by the confession OF the
wife OF Tamu, that is, Tom Charlton,
the American, which she made 10 Tairi,
the native missionary teacher on Raka-
hanga.
For some time after the last visit
which Sustenance made at Suvarrow the
people busted themselves about their
several occupations. Tamu and his Man
ahikians fished and cured the beche-de-
rner Joe and the Penrhyn Islanders
worked at the beds Of pearl shell, and
Jules seems 10 have diversied his chief
occupation OF doing nothing by spells
of watching the others az work. He was
well liked by the islanders so was Charl-
ton. But Joe Bird acted as the superior
bein- Is so apt 10 do when living among
the islanders. He brought two women
from Penrhyn TO SuvarrOw with hlm'
and while there he took away the wives
of three OF his divers. He was not choice
IN his wooing. for II was proved that
when he wanted 10 take woman he
logged her with a piece Of rope or tho
tail OF the stingaree until her consent
was won. A common threat When any OF
his divers proved refractory was that
he would cut them in two and would
eat their livers and when one IS In a
cannibal such a threat does not seem as
improbable as Il might appear In other
conditions in life. often he deprived his
divers OF their rations and water when
their take OF shell was not up 70 the
amount he fixed for a days task. the
divers plotted 70 take revenge upon him.
and saw clearly that they must mako
away with tho other white men at the
same.
The opportunity came early one morn
ING. Joe Bird missed some cocoanuts
from his pit He went first 70 Tom Charl-
toms and questioned the Manahikians az
20 the theft. This was no more than
matter OF form. for no one would ever
suspect a Manahikian or theft. Receiv-
ing their dental In good part Joe took his
gun and sword and strolled over 70 the
quarters OF his divers. The various peo-
ple on the island were engaged I'm various
concerns. K0korarikL was cooking bird
for breakfast. Here's wife was attend
ing her sick husband as lomoilomi the
effective South Sea massage the otner
Manahfkians had Just started out after
beche-de-mer. Tom, with his pistol and
sword. hurried after Joe Bird and after
hin, came Jules Farani with sword.
Arrived az the houses OF the divers Joe
charged ineir head man, Tangtroa- with
stealing the cocoanuts and fired the gun
over his head. Then he grappled WIN
Tangiroa and called 10 Tom for help.
Tom ran up and got hold OF TanEiroe's
head ana snapped hts pistol a, him. "
missed IRE and he recapped II, taking the
fresh can from a little chamber IN the
hutt OF the weapon. AS he aimed sec
ond tina a savage named Maori caught