The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1905-08-16
CHAPTER l.

IL Will now, said the Germdn. read
your statement over. and you can sign
it if you like. Remember. however,
what your signature may mean. Az for
what l shall do with 1t afterward de-
ponds on many things"
''Do what you like with it." replied
the Englshman, slowly and hnskily.
''Send 1t to tho police In London. if you
like. l don't care what becomes OF 1t.
or Of myself either. For | am tired OF
it; give in. No one knows what it IL
like until you actually come to fight
with it."
He did not explain what at" was; but
the other seemed to understand what he
meant. and nodded his head gravely.
though coldly.
The two men were a most curious
couple to look upon. set among most re-
markable surroundings. The scene was,
IL possible. more interesting than the
couple in the foreground. For in front
there stretched the seashore. the little
waves tapping softly and creeping slow
ly over the level white coral sand; be
yond the smooth water lay the coral reef
with its breakers: at the back Of the
sandy shores was a gentle rise of land.
covered with groves Of cocoa palms and
bananas: among them were clearings
planted with fields of sweet potatoes and
two or three huts were visible benea tn
the trees. Again, beyond the level belt
rose n great green mountain, five or six
thousand feet high. The time was about
an hour before sunset the air was warm
and SOFT the sloping sunshine lay on
grove and clearing. seashore and noun
tain side. forest and green field. making
everything glow with splendid richness
and prodignlity of color.
AS one saw the place this evening one
might see il every evening, for In New
Ireland there il neither summer nor win
ter. hut always all the year round the
promise OF spring. the heat of summer
and the fruition of autumn; with no
winter at all, except the winter of death.
when the branches cease to put forth
leaves and stretch out white arms, spec
trail and threatening. among their living
companions In the forest.
One of the men--the German--was of
colossal proportions. certainly six feat
in height. He was still quite young
well under thirty. His hair was light
brown, short and curly; an immense
brown heard covered his face and fell
over his chest. His eyes were blue and
prominent. and he wore spectacles. His
dress was modelled on the dress of the in
habitants of these islands. His only robe
was great piece of Feeje tapu cloth.
white, decorated with black lozenges and
a brown edging; 1t was rolled once round
his waist, descending to his knees. and
was then thrown over his left shoulder.
leaving the right arm bare. The sun had
painted this limb rich warm brown.
He wore cap something like that in
vented. and patented for the use of soil
taires, by Robinson Crusoe; it was conf
cal In shape. and made of feathers
brightly colored. He had sandals of
thin bark tied to his feet by leather
thongs. and he wore kind of leather
scarf from which depended revolver
case, field glass. a case of instruments
and large waterproof bag. These con
stituted his whole possessions. except a
thick cotton umbrella. This he con-
.stantly carried open.
The other was an Engislman. The
rough flannel shirt. which had lost all its
buttons and one of its sleeves: the coarse
canvas trousers; the old boots broken
down at heel-all spoke Of the soil. His
gait and carriage sung aloud of plowed
fields: his broad and ruddy cheeks, his
reddish-brown hair and beard, spoke of
the south or west of England. His age
might be about six or eight andtwenty.
His hair hung in masses over his shout
ders. and his beard was thicker than his
companions, though not so long. His
face. which had been once n square full
face, was drawn and haggard; his eyes.
which were meant to he frank were tron-
bled, and his carriage. which should
have been upright and brave. was heavy
and detected. lie seemed. MS he stood
before the other man. at once ashamed
and remorsefu,
Listen: will read it carefully and
slowly" said the German. sit dow;
while | read it. If there is n single word
before you sign"
The man sat down obedeutIv-thpr.
was curious slowness about his move.
ments as well as his speech---whie the
German read the document. which was
written very closely on two pages of a
notebook.
Listen" he said again, "and correc,
me when | am wrong
This was the paper which he read on
the shore of the Pacific ocean aud ON tn,
island Of New Ireland one evening in the
year 1854:
81. David Leighan, farmer of Challa.
combe. Devonshire, being now on All
island in the Pacific ocean, where | ex.
pect TO be shortly killed and eaten by
the cannibals. declare that the followinr
. Is the whole truth concerning the deatl
Of my uncle. Daniel Leighan.
"He jockeyed me out of my property
he kept on lending me money in larg,
sums and small sums, and making m,
sign papers In return. and never let me
know how much | owed him; he mad,
me mortgage my land to him; he encour
aged me to drink. and to neglect IN,
farm. At last, when was head ovel
ears in debt. he suddenly brought dowr
the law upon me. forecosed and took my
land. ! stayed about the place till my
money was nearly all gone. Then
must either starve, or | must become q
laborer where had been master. or
must 60 away and find work somewhere
else. had but thirty pounds left In
the world, and l made up my mind te