The Caldwell tribune., 1905-11-11
CHAPTER YY1r1

- OAa1 1Eh AAllI. aEE
II was heard in tie Office Of the paper
mnl'n had secured my services that there
was 70 De held special meeting, on an
S'eulhg early in October, of the Royal
geographical Society, in order to hear a
paper read by German traveller recent
arrived in Europe, after heightened
stay IN the South Sea Islands.
al the hour Of eight the chairman en-
'ereo with his captive traveller. The
tatter, certainly ore Of the tallese and
nneSI men have ever beheld, took his
ptace lA front OF his maps, and began,
a1tef the usual Introduction, to read his
paper.
after this paper was read, the usual
nfepressible persons got up and began
10 dlscuss. At this point retired TO adj
a feW things to my article and hand II
III: then repaired to the Savage Club,
which at II o'clock begins to be a cheer
ful place. Here found, in fact, an ami
mated circle, and among them my friend
OF the K. G. s., the Baron Sergius von
holstein, who had been brought by one
OF the members.
1t Is always interesting to meet With
men who have been on desert islands, or
lived among cannibals. 1t is enough for
some people only to gaze upon such @
man. For our part, at the Savage, wa
IouRd the baron not only an interesting
person, but also a singularly amusing
companion, and brimful of anecdotes ant
stories Of all kinds. as.e. ..s-
We talked till late. At about three II
the morning, when we had gone hall
round the world with him, he told us 4
very singular and surprising story.
He had not been the only European
on certain island all the time, he said
For six months or so he had a companion
in the shape Of a poor fellow-an Eng
lishman-who had been washed ashor
!; upon piece Of timber. The native
were going to spear this human jetsam
, when he interfered and saved him, an
continued to protect him until he wa
able to get him off the island in a vesse
which came a biackbirding. This fel
} low" said the baron, was the most in
tolerable creature in existence. Earle
! in his existence he had committed
murder, and during the whole Of his sta
Q on the island he was suffering agonie
3 of remorse; all day long he wept un
' groaned, and was afraid to leave me fo
y fear Of being speared. At night he wouI
= not sleep at distance Of more than
s foot or SO from me for fear And b
n was always visited every night by th
e ghost Of the respectable uncle whom h
had slain"
!. did you see the ghostY'
l 'No, nor did I hear It's voice. Y
e it spent the best part of the night
abusing the poor man, and he in a.
|; swering it with prayers and protest
Q tions. AS for revenge, suppose no OF
1t er murdered man ever took SO much O.
s Of his murderer. Well, it was tediou
Il At length my Englishman declared tn
he desired nothing so much as to &
n away from the island, and give himse
7, up to Justice If he could only make
k way to Australia aud then get q passa
h to England, he would give himself
le and confess the whole truth"
"A lively companion"
u Eyes. But to look at him you wou
ct think him a dull, heavy fellow, W
lie seemed to have no spirit for such a d.
perate deed Well, 1 got him away
6, length, and was left happy at last Al
t?, alone. Before he went, however, l wrc
ly down, at his request, statement of
10 murder; a confession, in fact. which
Y, and | witnessed. I warned him that
st should make any use of it that thong
Id fit. AS yet have done nothing with
1t and as l dare say he Is dead by this tin
ly l do not see why l should not tear 1t |
70, Here 1t is, however, written In my
Id note book"