The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-11-20
who was just behiad, caught me round
the waist and threw me backward with

" Nv was JuSS OcuAAup Caught lUe COuuu
the waist and threw me backward with
all her force. She was strong wom-
an, and 1 was weak and tired, and |
rolled over like a baby. At the same
Instant she fell, dozen spears through
her body, the door burst open, and a
crowd of naked savages dashed out
and made rush for the boat. They
thought me dead or badly wounded,
suppose; but, at any rate, they cid not
stop to look they were in such hurry
to get the goods, and the oversight
saved my life. 1 yelled out to the
boats crew to shove off, and then l
crawled up to where nay wife was ly-
ing. 1t was all over with her, 1 could
see at glance, and all she could whis-
per was, Wave, wave, run quick and
save yourself!
Perhaps l should have staid. l do
not know; but, at any rate. had no
time to reason over the matter There
were the savages coming back from
the beach full of rage and disappoint-
ment at finding the boat out of their
reach. crawled to the right and made
circle round to gain the shore, and
luckily l got away unobserved. The
boat was lying 100 yards off, and, for
tunately, the men had had the sense to
wait and see if we escaped. l swan
off to them and found the children all
well and the native boys shivering
with fear. But kick or two soon
reused them. and had the boat pulled
as close inshore as dared.
''The savages We're rushing. about
and shouting and making tremen-
dous row. Evidently they were search
ing for me. and they had lit great
torches of dry cocoanut leaves, which
showed them up as bright as day. This
was just what wanted, for emptied
my rife into the midst of them, and
the boys gave them volley with
theirs. They scattered like magic in
every direction. made rush up the
shore and carried the wife down, for
was beginning by this time to feel a bit
ashamed of myself for having left her
so quickly. But what could do? My
gun was in the boat. and if l had STOP
ped should only have been killed, too,
and the children would have been left
without a father. found her lying in
the same spot, but she was dead, and
the wretches had even tied her up
ready to carry her away.
''By the time | had lain her in the
boat it was nearly daylight, and
through. MY blood was up, and I felt
ready for any devilment. I took big
drink of schnapps and gave the boys
a strong dose too This, as they were
not used to liquor, made them quite
mad, and they wanted to land at once
and wipe out the whole settlement
But thought it wise to rest awhile,
and, with my rifle on my knee, 1 snt
still and looked at the dead woman as
she lay on the bottom boards of the
boat and at the little children sleeping
so peacefully by her side. We pulled
the boat off just out of range of their
spears. By and by, when the sun was
up, a great big savage stole down to
the beach to have a look round, and l
done wild pig-then another and
another until they began to see that
the business was dangerous one and
gave it up. Having scared them suff1-
GENTLY, we anchored the boat close in
and waded ashore. 1t took me half a
day to do it, but cleaned that town
out thoroughly. Their houses were lit
tie bits of huts. not like our fine Sa-
moan dwellings, raised off the ground
on poles and each fenced in as II
they were always afraid of attack.
Most Of the people had cleared out into
the bush, but any that l found I shot,
and burned every hut in the place.
don't think they will forget me there
in a hurry. Next day buried the wife
at the head station and resigned my
billet. I had had enough of New Brit
ain"
The old man stopped suddenly. "Pass
the kava silei," he said to the girl, who
was still squatting patiently on tho
floor. "And now you will understand
young man, why do not wish to mar
ry again."