The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1901-02-09
CHAPTER MI.

n thanked my Creator.
CHAPTER XII.
MY Father Explains.
Before I proceed my further with my
narrative I must say that you will not
find herein n notes concerning the
fauna and flora Of Fiji, and that except
that I have seen them. I know very lit
tie more about them than you who are
reading this. My story has to do with
men and mems passions, and h feel
ings that held me left me little room
for observation of my surroundings
cept in SO far as they might help to-
wards my sustenance, and you must,
therefore, imagine for yourselves, the
trees, ferns, and so forth h a made up
the landscape on which I gazed. BY
the sea shore, and in comparatively
shoal water, I found some shellfish, and
from them I made a meal; coming upon
q cave that was dry, I gathered grass
and leaves and made a couch, and lay
there until the next morning.
Behind me was a ridge of hills, and,
gaining the crest Of this with some dif-
fculty, I had a splendid view OF the
island, and there, not a mile from. me-
in a corner Of a bay, lay a village. a
roughly-constructed pier ran out into
the sea for some distance, and I could
see people moving about on this. p1ling
up bales Of goods, and heir occupation
and the pier itself bespoke a state OF
civilization that promised both food and
water.
Pulling myself and the few rags that
were left me together, I scrambled
downwards through the thfckets, and,
getting close to the outskirts of the VII
lage, I lay perdu for some time, till, h
signs of peace working upon me, I
made q detour, and came close to n
shore end Of the pier before I was seen.
Then there was such a hubbub that i
scarce knew whether the d~ark-skinned
individuals who surrounded me were
rejoicing at the prospect of eating me,
or lamentfng over the meager meal =
should furnish, when a tall native.
dressed in European fashion, pushed
the others aside and accosted me In ex-
ceedingly good English. Not only were
his words correct, but his accent was
as perfect as my own, and I afterwards
learned that he had been educated at a
first-class school in Tasmania.
"You have been shipwrecked, he
said. "Tell me, in M word, was your
ship the C~orisande?"
"No," said ].
.Thank God for that" he replied.
1--WE could ill-afford to lose such men
as Capt. Tremayne. But you are faint
and tired. Come to my house, and we
can talk presently" And with that he
led to what, after my h~ardships.
seemed a veritable palace. He made
me comfortable, and had meat n
drink brought for me, and my lee
beat fast when he told me that my
fathers vessel was expected In q rev
days. "There isn't a better man afloat
than Capt. Tremayne. He calls here at
stated times to take away u produce.
such as cotton, fruit, and so forth, n
bring us news Of the big world"
It gave me the keenest pleasure to
hear him singing my fathers praises.
but I did not tell him who I a as 1t
would have been very embarrassing to
have gone into a long explanations; n
so I let him regard me as n who was
travelling 6or recreation, and who had
lost his belongings when the Ntghtin.
gale went down. In this character j
took up my quarters in his pleasant
house, and he played the host so natur-
ally, and, withal, so kindly. that my
heart was drawn towards him. and be-
fore i had been q week on the island. I
told him that I had come from England.
simply and solely to see Capt. Tre-
mayne.
Some ten days had passed, end ! was
sleeping, In the cool Of the evening, on,
the veranda that. surrounded the mouse,
when I was aroused by q comnotion
betoksning that something OF more.
than ordinary moment vas about to
happen, and I noticed that the inhab-
itants Of the village were hurrying TO
the pier. Joining them saw on q
horizon the smoke of steamer, md !
knew that In a few hours ! should De
looking on the features Of him whom
my soul hungered to see. RS
Night came on quickly, and darkness
set IN some time: whentw saw the
iishts Of aSvessel. close to the 8headland,
and IN answer to the glare that went
up from the huge bonfire the islanders
lighted, she threw up q rocket.
everyone was 80 excited that my pres.
ence was not noticed. And ct last ! got
close 10 the man who had played host;
to my willing guest.
& i want toispeak.to you for one min
iute,"s / eaid. Ss"sTs have come thousands,
&c miles; ~ I told you. to esCapt. Tres
imrnaay,ne; and tell him something that
nearly eoncerns him that anyone.
preventing my doing % VIII u putting
;hisnfin dangersofahis life. you NOT
scohtriye that 4 may e him, "a your
prresance ana yours only. ID soon.sas
III iii
,pls pryseeingsh him must bs..
urgent AZ AZ ~ u ~ ~ "A who y 1la9,g
ne II co,lds snusts.thbi .sNsS
aaSsassslGGy NAME = = thu 1asneea1S2hisu,ss$I said..s
ss4IsslamahiS zonlyson,bu meet
htmfalis ssstFalnnSaIfsz Kills lknpM WN1hys