The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1902-02-08

hole through him as soon as he gets
within ten PAGES and then clear out
OF Samoa as quick as you can"
Quite a month after this l had to
visit the little port of Asaua, on the
island of Savai'i, and as ! was aware
that "Flash Harry" was in the vicinity
of the place on II malaga. or pleasures
trip, ] kept a sharp lookout for him,
and always carried with me in my
jumper pocket small but heavy Der
, ringer, the bullet of which was as big
as that of a Snider rife. l did not
want to have my arm pulled out. and
knew that "Flash Harry" being twice
my weight almost. would give me a
sad time if he could once get within
hitting distance of me: for. like most
men-of-war's men. he was very smart
with his hands, and was but strip
ling, not yet 20.
| had come to .Asaua with load Of
timber to be used in the construction
of Il church for the French mission,
and in the evening went to the resi-
dent priest to obtain receipt for de-
livery. As he could not speak Eng
fish and ! could not speak French. we
bad to struggle along in Samoan, to
our common amusement. However,
we managed very we'll, and was
about to accept his hospitable offer
to remain and have supper with him
when Il young CHIEF named Ulufanua
C"Top of a High Tree'). who knew
me well, came in hurriedly and told
MS that 'Fiash Harry" and ten or fiji
teen young men. all more or less
trunk, were coming to the village that
| night with the nvowed intention of
boarding the cutter under the pre-
tence Of trading. then, after Selling
all the liquor. they meant to give me
a father OF a beating--the latter to
avengc the insult of a month before.
Laughingly telling the priest that
under the circumstances discretion
was the better part of valor. ! babe
him good-hy, and walked down to my
boat, which was lying on the beach.
With two native sailors pulling, we
started for the cutter, mile away.
The night was beautifully calm, but
dark; and as WIS not well acquaint-
ed with the inner part of Asaua har-
Dor, | several times ran the boat on
submerged coral boulders. Finally I
lost the narrow channel altogether.
Then | told one of my men-a
sturdy, splendid specimen of native
of the Gilbert islands. named re
Manu- traura C'Rcd Bird'), to come
aft, and take the steer-oar. knowing
that his eyesight, like that of all
Poly nesians. was better than that of
any white man.
The ropr fellow laughed good-na-
turel!y. | little thought that this
simple order of mine would. when he
came aft and took the steer oar from
me. Indirectly be the cause of an in
jury which would cripple him for life.
| then seated myself on the after
thwart and began to pull. We were at
this time about 80 yards from the
beach. between ii and the inner reef
of the hnrl,or. The boat had been sent
along for tw" or three hundred yards
without a hitch. and I was thinking
of what my cook would have for sup
per, when we suddenly pumped into
Il patch of dead coral and stuck hard
and fast.
knowing that the tide was falling,
we all jumped out. and pushed the
boat # into deeper water as quick
ly as possible. just as half-a-dozen
bright torches of coco-nut leaves
81, 4
the boat dimly to the torch bearers.
At fist imagined that the chief of
the village Had sent some of his peo-
pie TO help us through the channel,
but | was quickly undeceived when l
heard "Flash Harry's" voice.
give got You now, my saucy, quar-
terdeckstyle of rotten pup. Slew round
and come ashore, or I'll blow your
head off,
One glance towards the beach
showed me that we were in desper-
ate position. "Flnsh Harry" who was
all but stark naked, having only a
girdle OF ti-tree leaves round his
waist, was covering the boat with his
Winchester rifle, and his armed fol-
lowers were ready to fire Il volley in
to us--if they had not been so drunk.
"rhry cant hit us. re Manu." cried
to the Gilbert islander. whose Unborn
lighting prnclivities were showing in
his cleaning eyes and short, painting
brenths. Most of them have no car
tridges in their guns. and they are all
too drunk to shoot straight. Let us
go on"
lie Manu- gripped the haft of the
steer oar and swung the boats head
round; and then | and the native at
the bow oar--a mere boy of l6-puled
for all we were worth. just as "Flash
Harry" dropped on one knee and fired.
Poor re Manu- sw;yed to- and fro
for Il few moments. and then cried
out, "lle has broken. my hand, sir!'
But go on. puIl-pull hard!"
| Under a scattering fire from the
hcach-comhcr's drunken companions.
we pulled out into deeper water and
safety; then. shipping my oar. /
sprang to rr Mann's aid. The bullet
lad struck him on the back of the
right hand. and literally cut off three
Of the poor fellows knuckles. did
what could to- stop the loss OF blood,
and told him to sit down; but he re-
fused, and although suffering intense
pain, insisted on steering wit h his left
hand. AS soon as we reached the cut
ter at once hove up anchnr and
stood along the coast before Il strong
| breeze tO M1tn,tn In rhnr ,ybnre |