The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-12-16

forrard in a minute with both his shoot
inS-irOns cooked. PIP. we spawn. n git
some exercise; yer getun' too Fat lazy.
says he
80 we trudged about praying that he
might drop dead. but none OF us willing
as get to face certain death by defying
him. The blessed night came NJ last.
and we We're able 10 get a little rest hs
having gone below. and Pie officers.
though willing enough 20 Keep in with
him at our expense. not being bad enough
20 drive Us all uient unless Dee was
around 20 see II done. Along about eight
bells came the steward with "a biscuit
apiece for US and a bucket Of watcr-
about half a Pint each We We're so
starved and thirsty that the bite and sup
was a gOdscnd. What made things worse
for us was the suspicion we had one ot
the other AS 7 said we was. as usual.
mixed crowd, and ready to sell one
another for trife lie knew that.
curse him. and reckoned with consider
able certainty on getting hold Of the
victim he wanted. We'll. the nirht
passed somehow. and when morning
came he was around again making US
work. securing iron-work bright holy
stoning decks. scruhhing oversize. as II
cur very lives depended on tie jobs being
done fun pelt
small group Of islands-Closer than We
had been yet in those waters-and We
an wondered what was IN the wind.
Suddenly he gave orders TO back the
mainyard and have the dinghy lowered.
She was tiny tub Of a craft such as
I never saw carried in a whaler before.
only about big enough for three. a little
Scotchman and myself was ordered into
her; then. to our amazement the ola
man got in. showed off. and headed her
for the opening through the reef sur
rounding the biggest island Of the group
It was fairly well wooded with cocoanut
trees and low bushes, while unlike any
of the other islets. there We're several
big rocks showing up through the vege-
taton in the middle Of Il We weren't
long getting to the beach. where we
jumped out and ran her up a piece. SOS
he could step out dry. We waited for q
minute or two while ire sat thinking.
and looking straight ahead Of him at
nothing.
Presently he jumped cut and said to
me. Come. and 10 Sandy. stay here
on he went Up the beach and straight
into the little wood. just as if somebody
was calling him and he had to go. APP
parently there wasn't a living soul on the
whole island except just Us three. We
had only got a few yards into the bush
when we came TO a little dip in the
ground, a sort Of valley. Just rs We got
10 Nlc DOllOlls we suddenly lolIQ cur
selves IN the grip of two Kanakas, the
one that had hold Of the skipper being the
biggest man I ever saw. made one
wrfggle, but my man, who was holding my
two arms behind my back. gave them a
twist that nearly wrenched them out Of
their sockets and quoted me good.
LAS for the skipper. he was trying to
call OF speak, but although his mouth
worked no sound came, and he looked Ike
death. The giant that had him flung
him on his face and dashed his wrists
behind him with bit OF native dshline,
then served his ankles the same. was
tied next, but not so cruel as the skipper,
indeed they didn't seem to want to hurt
me. The two Kanakas now had n sort OF
consultation By signs, neither OF them
speaking a word. While they was at Il
I noticed the big one was horribly SCARED
all over his back and loins Ohey was
both naked except for a bit of a grass
belD as we'll crippled in his gait Pres
emily they ceased their dumb motions
and came over to me. The big one opened
his mouth and pointed to where his
tongue had been, also to his right eye
socket which was empty. Then he
touched the big white sears on his body.
and finally pointed to the skipper. Whole
books couldn't have explained his mean
ing better than understood it then. But