The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1905-12-01
CHAPTER XIII.

OhAFIGh AAlll.
1t was heard in TIE Office of the paper
which had secured my services that there
was to be held special meeting, on an
evening early in October, of the Royal
Geographical Society, in order to hear q
paper read by German traveller recent
ly arrived In Europe. after heightened
stay in the South Sea Islands.
At the hour of eight the chairman en-
tered with his captive traveller. The
latter, certainly one of the tallest and
finest men l have ever beheld, took his
place In front Of his maps, and began,
after the usual introduction, to read his
paper.
After this paper was read, the usual
irrepressible persons got up and began
to discuss. At this point retired to add
few things to my article and hand it
in. then repaired to the Savage Club,
which at IL o'clock Legins to be a cheer
full place. Here / found, in fact, an ami
mated circle, and among them my friend
of the K. G. s., the Baron Sergius Won
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 q
man. For our part, at the Savage, we
found the baron not only an interesting
person, but also a singularly amusing
companion, and brimful of anecdotes and
stories of all kinds.
We talked till late. At about three In
the morning, when we had gone half
round the world with him, he told us a
| very singular and surprising story.
He had not been the only European
on a 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 ashore
upon a piece of timber. The natives
| were going to spear this human jetsam
when he interfered and saved him, and
| continued to protect him until he was
able to get him off the island in a vesse
which came a blackbirding. This fel
low" said the baron, was the most in
tolerable creature in existence. Earlier
In his existence he had committed Q
murder, and during the whole Of his stay
on the island he was suffering agonies
of remorse; all day long he wept ant
| groaned. and was afraid to leave me fol
fear of being speared. At night he would
not sleep at distance Of more than {
foot or so from me for fear. And h,
was always visited every night by tn,
ghost of the respectable uncle whom h,
| had slain"
| did you see the ghostT
mo, nor did l hear its voice Ye
it spent the best part of the night il
abusing the poor man, and he in an
swering it with prayers and protesta
lions. As for revenge, suppose no 9th
er murdered man ever took so much on
Of his murderer. Well, it was tedious
At length my Englishman declared tina
he desired nothing so much as to ge
away from the island, and give himsel
up to justice. If he could only make hi
way to Australia and then get passag
to England, he would give himself u
and confess the whole truth"
"A lively companion
Eyes. But to look at him you woul
think him a dull, heavy fellow, VIII
seemed to have no spirit for such a des
perate deed. WE'LL 1 got him away a
length, and was left happy at last an,
alone. Before he went, however, wrot
down, at his request, statement of tn
murder; a confession, in fact. which h
and l witnessed. warned him that
should make any use of it that though
fit. As yet I have done nothing with il
and as dare say he is dead by this time
do not see why 1 should not tear it VI
Here 1t is, however, written in my oil
note book"
ITO be continued.)