The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-30

of deadly combat. and ended by pointing
over to where the boat had been attacked;
Then touching Maurice on the chest, and
then himself, he pointed 10 the sea, and
lying on the ground. worked his arms and
sS;ure, PERHAPS omiilln1 he's a friend" said
Maurice. IAN wants me to swine off to the
ship. But perhaps he's a thraitor and only
Anyway, It's not much of choice I've got
at all SO come on, blackamoor, IN via
Although not understanding a word that
Maurice said, the native boy smiled when
he saw that the white lad was willing to
they ran quietly along till they reached the
beach; and here the native, motionlng
Maurice to keep out Of view, crept on ms
and then slowly raised his head above it
and peered cautiously ahead.
Whatever 1t was he saw evidently sausned
him. for he crawled back to Maurice and
again taking his hand broke into run, but
instead Of going in the direction Of the river
he led the way along the beach in the OPP
posite direction Feeling confident now that
he had found a friend, Maurice's spirits
boy unhesitatingly.
At last they rounded a sandy point. COW
cred with a dense growth Of cocoanut
trees and pandanus palms; this point
formed the southern horn of a small deep
bay, in the center Of which stood an ISL
and encircled by a snow-white beach, and
on the nearmoSt shore Maurice saw canoe
drawn up.
The island beach was quite three hundred
"
mer, and although he shuddered at the
thought of sharks, ne plunged in the water
after his dark skinned companion and soon
reached the iSet, which was but a. tiny spot,
containing some two>or three score OF coco
palms and three untenanted native huts. ii
was used by the natives as hshlng sta
ton, and the canoe which was a very small
one, had evidently been in use that day.
Close by were the marks IN the sand where
a larger one had been carried down. In one
of the hIts smoke was arising from native
ground oven, which showed that the fisher
Would ire return when t the food was cooked,
for the native boy pointed out the oven to
Maurice with a look of alarm.
The two boys soon launched the canoe,
and each seized a paddle at once struck
out in the direction Of the ship. The native
lad sat aft, Maurice for'ard, and clumsy as
paddle, he Yet managed to keep his seat and
not capsize the frail little craft.
'IIurroo" cried foolish Maurice. turning
I'm thinkin'. There's the ship"
There she was sure enough, and there also
were four canoes, padding along close in
captains boat. They heard Maurice's loud
shout Of triumph, at once altered their
course, and sped swiftly towards the two
boys.
Scarcely had Captain Williams and his ex-
hausted crew gained the ship when the
coming across from the mainland of New
Britain, and orders were at once given to
IOdQ the snip 6lSnL guns with grape ana
canister. Qn those days of Chinese and
Malay pirates and dangerous natives of the
South seas, al merchant ships, particularly
those engaged in the sandal-wood trade,
were we'll armed and almost man-of-war
discipline observed.
Wen give them something to remember
us by, HodgSOn,' said Captain Williams
grimly.+ THAT poor lad! To think l never
noticed he was not in the boat till too late.
I expect he's murdered by now; but shall
take a bloody vengeance for the poor boys
death Serve out some grog to the hands,
steward; and some of you fellows stand by
with some shot to dump into the canoes if
we should miss them with the guns and
they get alongside"
But just as he spoke the mate called out,
The canoes have stopped padding sir, all
except one, which is coming right on
'Ail right, 1 see it. Let them come and
have look at us. AS soon as it gets close
For some minutes the canoe, which con-
tanned seven men, continued to advance
with great swiftness; then she ceased pad
ding, and the steersman stood up and
called out something to the. ship, just as she
bort side. In another minute m nut she she Would
have been blown out of the water when
Tommy. Sandwich ran aft, and said
fight ship: think he want talk YOU
Perhaps SO, Tommy; SO well let him
come a bit closer"
Again the natives paddles sent the canoe
onward till she was well within easy hail
i ing, distance OF the ship, and the same ma
Hi, cap'n. No you shoot me. Me Bar
inga. !, Me Nell like come board r,n v,u,.
The moment the canoe ranged alongside,
Baringa clambered up the side, and ad-
Where capn? he asked, 'p pushing Rfdp uncere
moniously aside those who stood in his way
and mounting the ladder at the break of the
''Boadicea and held out his hand.
In very short time by the aid of Tom
my Sandwich whose language was allied
rift
tain Williams learnt how matters stood
His visitor was anxious to help him, and
volunteered to join the white men in IAN
attack on the treacherous people of Mano
though he gave but little hope of finding
Maurice alive. They had he said, stolen
his own son twelve months before and
eaten him and he wanted his revenge. Pres
emily: as proof of his integrity, he pro-
duced from a dirty leather cartridge pouch
soiled piece of paper, and handed it to the
captain 1t read as follows:
The bearer, Baringa, is the chief Of
Kabaira coast. He is a thorough old can
nibal, but far as 1 know may be trusted
by white men. He supplied my ship with
ut-throat.-Matthew Wallis, master, ship
Al!gyerine, Of New Bedford. Oct. p, 1899
Williams turning to Tommy. Tell him that
| am going to land to try and find Maurice,
and he can help me with his people. Mr..
Hodgson, man and arm the boats again."
In moment AL was hustle and excite
meDt, in the midst of which loud hurrah"
came from alOIJ from sailor VINO was on
the foreyard watching the remaining
canoes of Baringa's fleet. "Hurrahi Here's
Maurice, sir, coming off in a canoe with
niger an a lot of other niggers in four
canoes a chasin' him."
Springing to the taffrail Captain Williams
saw the canoe, which had just rounded the
point and was now well in view. The two
boys were padding or their lives: behind
them were the four canoes filed with yell
ing savages.
Into the boats, men, for Gods sake!'
roared the captain. Had greater distance
separted Maurice from his pursuers the
master OF the Boadicea would have en-
ceavored to have sunk the four canoes with
the ships guns, but the risk was too great
to attempt it as they were. However, the
gunner and carpenter were sent into the
foretop to try and pick off some of the
natives by firing over MauriceS canoe.
Five minutes later the ships three boats
were pulling swiftly TO the rescue, and
Barlnga jumping into his own canoe, beck
oned to the rest of his fotilla to follow
him. and six natives urged his light craft
furlOusly along after the boats.
On, on came the two poor boys, straining
every nerve; but every moment their pur-
suers gained on them; and on, on dashed
the heavy cumbersome boats. Already the
nearest canoe was within fifty feet of
Maurice and his black friend, the savage
pacdiers undaunted by the fire from the
muskets of the gunner and carpenter, when
CAPTAIN Williams saw native rise up and
lightning the captain picked up his musket
fhca foil ord wit