Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-05-02

Atoa00 ohC&st essA = -. ff>>~~ ~-~s
would be. able To- tell them the
whereabouts Of Jack. having heard that
he had been seen around Salua.
"When the lieutenant opened the
gate, there was Jack. as bold ~ brass.
sitting on an easy chair upon the veran-
da reading an old newspaper and look
ing very much at home.
~ nearly died Of laughing when
Jack told me the story Afterward, MINI
licking the haw haw style Of the lieuten-
ant, who, Of course, did not know .
word Of Samoan, and took everything
that Jack said for gospel truth.
"'you are Mr. Williams, suppose,
said the lieutenant as polite as possible,
taking off his hat.
"Yessir, said Jack. Glad TO meet
you. Step right in and make yourself as
home.
$50 the lieutenant sat down on tho
veranda and Jack fetched out bottle
Of gin, and they had two or three mob
blers quite sociable. The officer explain
ed that he had come with warrant for
the arrest of one Jack Wilkinson, whom
the British government wanted for
murder, arson and whole host Of other
crimes.
"In return the officer got most amaz-
ing amount Of information about the
beach comber.
"'Do know the MANI says Jack.
why, he's the greatest scoundrel un-
hung. and he's running my trade by
the lies he tells the natives ] only wish
you would clear him out Of Samoa.
Help you to catch him? Why, l
should think would, and SO will every
native in the town when they see the
man of war here TO back them mp. The
fellow was here last week, but he's
gone to his old place. Tanuna, to try
and get some pigs.
"When the lieutenant heard this, he
was all in haste TO get away.
Don't be- in too much OF hurry,
said Jack. You'd better go slow. It's
most dangerous passage and the chances
are ten 10 one you'll get stuck on reef,
but IL you'll wait q minute while / close
the store don't mind going with you
and plotting You around. I'd do any
thing 10 get that wretch caught.
$50 Jack, putting ON my best coat,
went off with the lieutenant, and the
captain, knowing nothing Of the coast,
was very glad TO accept him as pilot,
and gave him $40 for his services too.
"On the passage round Jack spun
them a long yarn about the savage ma
tives Of Tanuna. They Were terribly
fierce, he said, always fighting, and
Wilkinson would probably stir them up
to attack the landing party and SO pre-
vent his arrest. Thoy ought to go ashore
with strong. armed force and, if pos
sible, field gun or two.
"The advice sounded reasonable
enough to the captain, and, Of course,
the officers and men were delighted at
the prospect Of scrimmage.
at was quite n little army which
landed that afternoon. There was a
whole bargeload Of sailors and marines,
all armed To the teeth, and couple OF
small cannon, which they pointed at the
big round chiefs house in the center OF
the village. You may be sure the peace
full people Of Tanuna were scared out OF
their wits.
at was Jack 3 turn now, and he made
the most of It, He called all the chiefs
together into tiN marae-that's the open
space in the center Of the village where
they always do their talking-and held
q long fono. The lieutenant stood by all
the time, not understanding word Of
what was going on. Jack told the trem-
bling Samoans that the great Queen
Victoria in her palace Of the big seas
had heard of the way in which one Of
her people had been treated and had sent
the man .of.war to blow the village into
the air, to hang all the chiefs and TO
carry of the rest of the people as slaves.
Naturally the chiefs, seeing all these
soldiers with their shining guns, be-
lieyed every word Of the yarn, and grow
eled before Jack, impioring him at
least to save their lives.
1.-The rascally interpreter explained
to the lieutenant that the natives wish
ed to pay homage to the queen, and that
they would take steps at once 10 find out
where Wilkinson was hiding.
''On the other hand, he told the
chiefs that be had interceded for them,
and that the officer had promised to
spare their lives il they brought next
morning q whole boatload Of pigs and
vans and taro and bananas, all the food
they could raise. The natives were glad
to get of so easily, the young men were
sent at once to plantations, and they
promised to have everything ready in
| the morning.
"After some more talk, just to cover
up his deceit. Jack informed the lieu
tenant that the man they were after had
gone to place few miles of in the
bush. but that the natives would send
after him and bring him back in the
morning.
$50 ths officer, well satisfied, took
bis men and his guns back on board
again, and Jack stopped with the ma
tiyes, being treated now with the great
est respect.
Next day he had the large village
war canoe, which seated 90 paddlers on
each side, loaded up with pigs and fresh
provisions Of all kinds, and went of t(
| do some business with the Sea Gull. Al
they had had nothing but salt horse on
board for month, the purser was GLAD
to buy the food, and Jack pocketed sl0(
by the transaction. He didn't give thu
natives penny Of it, but told them the
man. war would let them of thii
time If they would promise to behave
themselves in future.
"Then he informed the captain ht
bad learned that Wilkinson had gone
across the mountains to Salua, and tha
IL he liked he would pilot him bacl
there.
"On the way Jack thought Of q new
dodge. He knew that by this time
would have returned from the cattle
bunting expedition, and that, II he wen
ashore with the officer, they would fint
out who he was After the way he hat
fooled the man-of-war he felt certain
that there would be no mercy for him
So he persuaded the captain it was NJ
use going straight into Salua with tn
ship, for Wilkinson would only ruI
away again a. soon - he saw her com
ing.
"'You land me, he said, at poin
about mile this side Of the town ant
then stand out to sea for the night. II