Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1905-02-17
A BLACK KENG

copyright. 1904 by T. c. AicCiSre.l
While the crew of twelve n.as OF the
trading brig wanderer went ashore
one night in August. IS, to have q
feast with King John. who ru,ad oycr
seven islands of the Paumotu group,
south Pacific, was left alone aboard
to keep anchor watch.
1t was about @ O'Clock in the evening
when the men pulled ashore in the
yawl. and the shouting and laughing
and the bonfires were evidences that
the entertainment began almost at
once. It had just grown fully dark
when King John and about fifty of his
subjects came alongside In their ca
noes and clambered on board. Before
could ask any questions was knock
ed down and had my feet and ankles
securely tied. None of them deigned
to explain what was going on, but IN Il
few minutes picked up sufficient to
satisfy me that the men ashore had
been oyerpowered and that King John
proposed to get the brig up the river,
which emptied into the bay just there.
There was water enough to float her,
but our captain had preferred an out
side anchorage for obvious reasons.
King John played fair with the trad
ers only when there was no opportuni-
ty for treachery.
The tide was running out rather
strong, but in their hurry to get pos
session the natives either overlooked
the fact or thought they were strong
enough to overcome It. A long two
inch rope, which they had either
bought or stolen from some craft, was
made fast to the briggs bows, and the
canoes took the free end; then they
began work at the iron cable; but, not
knowing how to unshackle 1t, they
presently grew impatient, and King
John ordered me cast loose to do the
work. got hammer and drove out
the shackle pin.
The canoes were almost In line under
the cable, and, as it was unshackled al
most at the windlass and when out of
the hawser hole as If pulled by a steam
engine, Ave or six canoes were upset
and score Of natives more or less hurt.
As their tow rope Strengthened out
there was a grand yell for the canoes
to go ahead, but the brig started
down the bay stern first and pulled
the lot OF them after her sneaked
aft and put the wheel over and lashed
it, and five minutes later the brig
swung around until her bows pointed
down the bay.
The natives were all Ihore OF less un-
der the influence of the keg of rum
which went ashore with the crew, and
when the brig started of with them
they became at first hilarious and then
panic stricken. Pretty soon they all
scrambled aboard and began to weep
and howl like a lot Of children. A ship
was a mysterious thing to them, and
that one should run away with them
without having sail set was something
to mystify them still further. They
could have escaped to the shore in their
canoes. but they did not want to aban-
don their prize. King John caught
sight Of me and threatened me with In
, slant death If l did not take the brig
back TO her anchorage. / told him that
only the captain could do this. and,
though knives and clubs were -four
ished. they finally decided to spare my
hfe.
| An oGtshore breeze helped us down
the bay. and in half an hour we were
at sea. 1t was quiet night. but there
was big ground swell rolling in from