New-York tribune., 1900-12-23

second cousins and various breeds of aunts and
half uncles travelled up to Matautu Point to
partake of his hospitality He did his best but,
IN a day or so. remarked sadly that he could not
catch fish fast enough in poor canoe. If he
had boat he could make $50 week. he said;
ana with $50 week he could entertain his
wfe's honored friends continuously and in be-
nltlhg manner. The relatives consulted, and
thinking they had good thing subscribed and
bought z boat (On credit) from the German firm,
Ewing mortgage on piece of land as security.
Then they presented REQ with the boat. with
many complimentary speeches. and sat down TO
chuckle at the way they would make the old
fool work.; and the "Old fOOl' went straightway
TO the American Consul and declared himself to
be a citizen of the United States, and demanded
his countrys protection, as he feared his wife's
relatives wanted to jew him out of the boat they
had given him
The Consul wrote out something terrifying on
big sheet of paper and tackled ii TO the
boat, and warned the surprised relatives that
an American man-of-War would protect REQ
with her guns. and then REQ went inside his
house and beat his wife with canoe paddle.
and chased her violently out Of the place. and
threatened her male relatives with a large knife
and fearful language.
Then be took the boat round the other side of
the isaHe. and sold it for $500 to trader. and
came back to Apia to Denison. and asked for
passage to Tutuila; and the German firm entered
into and took possession of the mortgaged land
while the infuriated relatives tore up and down
the beach, demanding Tarreo's blood in a loud
voice TarreO. with his $500 in his trousers
pocket sat on the schoOner's rail and looked at
them stolidly and without i'll feeling.
Denison landed the ancient at Leone Bay. on
Tutuila, for he had taken kindly to the old
scOundrel, who had many virtues and could give
points to any one white or brown in the noble
art of deep fishing. This latter qualification
endeared him greatly TO young Tom. who when
he was not employed in keeping the captain
sober. or bringing him round after attack of
ID. t.'s.' spent all his spare time in fishing.
either at sea or in port.
REQ settled at Leone. and made a good deal
of money buying copra from the natives. The
natives got to like him, he was such conscien-
tiOus old fellow When ne hung the baskets of
copra on the iron hook of the steelyard. which
was marked to weigh up to one hundred and fifty
pounds he would call their attention TO the
marks as he moved the heavy pea" along the
yard. Then, one day, some interfering TOngan
visitor examined the pea, and declared that it
weigh up to four hundred pounds REQ so
hurt at the insinuatiOn that he Immediately took
the whole apparatus out beyond the reef IA his
boat and Indignantly sank 1t in fifty fathOmS or
water Then he returned to his house bade his
wife Che had married again a sOrrowful fare
well, and said his heart broken by the SLAM
ders of a vile Tongan pig from a mission school
He would, he Said go back TO Apia, where he
was respected by al who knew him. Then he
began to pack up. Some of the natives sided
with the TOngan. some with REQ. and in a few
minutes free fight took place the village
green. and REQ stood in his doorway and
watched it from his narrow. piglike eyes; the-f
being of a magnanimous nature he walked
over and asked three stout youths who had
beaten the TOngan into a state of unconscious
ness and were jumping on his body not to hurt
him.
About midnight 'Reo's house was seen to be in
flames. and the owner, uttering wild. weird
screams of Fla olar' Fla Olar' C'Mercyr'
"MercyrO fled down the beach to his boat. fol-
lowed by his wife. large fat woman, named
appropriately enough Taumafa (Abundance).
They dashed into the water. clambered into the
boat and began pulling seaward for their lives.
The villagers thinking they had both gone mad,
gaZed at them in astonishment. and then went
back and helped themselves to the few goods
saved from the burning house.
AS soon as REQ and the good wife were out of
sight of the village they put about ran the boat
into little bay further down the coast. planted
a bag containing 500. with the best of the
trade goods (salved before the fire discOv-
ered). and then set sail for Apia to get justice
from the Consul"
The Consul said il was a shocking outrage;
the captain of the United States ship Adiron-
dack cOncurred: and so the cruiser. with the in
jured. stOlid faced REQ board, steamed off to
Leone Bay and gave the astOnished natives
twelve hours to make up their minds as to which
they would dO-pay REQ $1,000 in cash or have
their town burned. They paid S6O0-all they
could raise-and then in dazed sort of way
sat down TO mediate they saw the Adiron-
dack steam off again.
REQ gave his wife a small share of the plum
Tom DensOn next him he keeping a
boarding house at Levuka. in Fill He told
Denson he welcome to free board and lodg'
| ing for year. REQ had his good points. as
have said.