Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1905-10-07
CHAPTER III.


looking about him with doubt, that we
shall do no business here?''
He was a young fellow of two-and-
twenty or so, a frank and honest-look-
Ing sailor, though his business was that
of a cunning kidnaper. He was armed
with n revolver, ready to hand, and Il
cutlass hanging at his side. Behind him
were four sailors, also armed, In readi-
ness for an attack, for Polynesians are
treacherous. But there were no island
in sight, only two Europeans-one a
tall man, dressed in fantastic imitation
of the natives; and the other apparent
ly, an ordinary beachoomber, quite out
of luck, ragged, detected and haggard.
A little way off the land lay the schoon-
er. His business was to enlist, kidnap,
procure or secure, by any means in the
power of the captain and the crew, as
to bring them to North Queensland,
where they would be hired out to plant
erS.
1T Is an unlucky voyage" said the
mate, gazing earnestly at the two men
before him, whose appearance and the
contrast between them puzzled him.
1.-Two months out and five weeks becalm-
ed; no business done. Say, how did you
come hereY'
''For my part" said the German, 81
am a naturalist. l make butterflies my
special study. 1 have, believe, enriched
science with so many rare and previ-
ously unknown specimens, if 1 succeed
In getting them to Europe, that my name
will be certainly remembered in scien-
tihc history as one of those who have
advanced knowledge. Gan any man ask
more?'
How did you get such a rig, MANI
81 am a linguist,' the Baron Sergius
Won Holstein went on to explain, "as
well as a naturalist. l therefore learned
the language before landing here, hav-
ing found native or two of New Ireland
in the mission of the Duke of York ISL
and. 1t is a great thing to know how
to talk with these black children. 1 am
also a surgeon and a physician, so that
can heal their wounds and their diseases
when they get any. You see, further,
that l am bigger than most men. l am
also thorough. l adopted their dress, at
least some of it, and therefore being
able to talk to them, 1 landed among
them without fear. When they came
round me with their spears l shouted to
them down from the sun. And as
know a little prestidigitation and conjur-
ing, and am a bit of a ventriloqust, l
am from time to time able to work a few
of the simpler miracles; so that they
readily believe me-"
"How long are you going to stay
here?'
AZ know not; New Ireland is rich in
new species; but 1 shall have to stop as
soon as my means of collection and de-
scription come to an end When that
day comes 1 shall be glad to see ship.
But it will not be yet"
''They may kill you"
at is possible;" the baron shrugged
his tall shoulders.
"Have you no arms?'
81 have a revolver, and my reputa-
ton for magic and sorcery."
"And how do you liver
'The people bring me food every day
If they did not, l should afict them
with horrible misfortunes, as they very
well know. l should tell them that iA
three days such a one would be dead.
and then it would be that mans duty
to go away and die in fulfllment of
prophecy. 1 suppose his friends would
never speak to him again if he refused
to fulfill the words of the prophet, so
great is their faith. They bring me the
unripe cocoanut for it's milk; there are
fish of every kind in the sea, which they
roo and cassowary on the hills, which
they snare and trap for me; there are
birds which they shoot for me; there are
mangoes, bread-fruit, bananas, yams,
sweet potatoes. 1 assure you we feed
very well. Don't we, DavidT He laid
his hand on the other mans shoulder.
I'VE have also tobacco. There is, how
ever-which you regret, David, don't
you?-no rum on the island"
us -your-chum also worship
ed asked the mate, regarding David with
an obvious decrease of interest.
mo; David is recognized as of infe-
rior clay. This poor fellow was wrecked
upon the island; he came ashore on
plank, the rest of the ships crew and
passengers having given Indigestion to
the sharks. He is not happy here. and
he would like you to take him off the
island"
Eyes," said David, eagerly, but still
in his slow way, anywhere, so that |
can only get on my way to England"
'He was just getting off his plank
and the people were preparing to receive
him joyfully, warmly. and Hospitality.
after their fashion; that is to say. into
their pots-they have beautiful method
of cooking, in a kind of sunken nor
which would greatly interest you if Won
were captive and expecting your turn
when l fortunately arrived, and suc
ceeded, by promising an eclipse if l was
obeyed, in saving him. The eclipse came
In good time; but 1 had forgiven the
people for their momentary mutiny. and
/ averted its power for evil So long as