Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-18


in his own life and extreme hazards
awaited him.
A fortnight passed and the afternoon Of
Henry vivian's visit to the Obi Man ar
rived. This event had been reserved for
his last holiday in Tobago. In two days
time a royal mail packet would leave the
island, and by 1t the visitor designed to re-
turn to Barbados, that he might pick up the
next vessel that sailed for home
While he packed his cabin trunks young
Vivian reviewed that events of recent weeks
and thought, not without regret, OF much
that had happened. The pursuit of Sweet
land had caused him deep sorrow. He for
gave Dan his ducking and only mourned
that his own sense of duty had made 1t
necessary to try and secure the escaped
prisoner. He would have given much to
know what had become of the fugitive, and
hoped against his conscience that Daniel
was safe in the Peabody. But the young
man did not doubt that Sweetland had
been guilty. for evidence of his crime SEEM
ed overwhelming, and the final fact that
he had escaped from justice showed too GER
tainly how the poacher had feared it. The
circumstances of Jabez Ford's dishonesty
were also material for unduiet reflections.
Mr.. Ford acquitted himself an ideal
host. and every instinct in the guest re-
belled and hurt him for the part that he
must play. Vivian felt himself guilty OF
treachery, and 1t was only by keeping the
truth concerning Jabez Ford resolutely in
sight that he could view his courtesy, good
nature and hospitality with an easy mind
That Ford had robbed his father, Henry
Vivian could not question; yet he blamed
himself for being SO silent. He felt that
he had done better and more bravely to de-
clare his doubts and charge the other
openly. Then he reminded himself that
he had actually done so, that he had ,ex-
pressed frank dissatisfaction on many &C.
casions. and that JabeZ Ford. with imper-
turable good humor had listened to his
structures. regretted his opinions and as
sured him of his mistakes. At least Vivian
determined that he would not leave the
overseer in any uncertainty He had fall
ed to find a trustworthy and experienced
man to take Ford's place in Tobago; but
he doubted not that such a man might be
forthcoming at Barbados. Letters would
reach him there from his father, and those
letters, Henry believed would grant him
powers to dismiss Jabez Ford and appoint
another overSeer. He might, indeed, have
to return to Tobago before leaving the
West Indies. At any rate, on the following
day Ford was to lunch with Vivian on
shipboard before the steamer sailed, and
then Henry determined that the overseer
should hear the truth. in order that he
might make preparations for his departure
from the Pelican" estates.
While the traveller thus decided JabeZ
Ford was engaged upon communication
to Sir Reginald: and it was this letter and
not his employers son that the overseer
intended should travel homeward in two
days time.
The fire-f1ies danced across the velvet
darkness of night; strange sounds of frogs
echoed in the marshes, and sheet lightning
sometimes outlined the dark heads of the
palms as JabeZ wrote Now he slipped his
grog; now he turned his cigar in his mouth;
now he listened to the football of his guest
on the floor above. Vivian was whistlng
"Widecombe Fair. Already he wearied
of the tropics and began to yearn for a
sight of home.
Mr.. Jabez Ford tapped away at his type
writer and described with many an artistic
n ora hat had nt vet
happened. He told how Henry Vivian ac-
companied him to the abode of the old
negro, Jesse Hagan; how, after inspecting
the Obi Mans mysteries, the visitor had
ridden off alone to return to the Pelican
Sugar Estate; how he had not come back,
and how, protracted search being made, his
clothes were discovered upon the seashore,
while a single row of naked footprints were
also observed leading from them to the sea.
He added that young Vivian's custom was
to battle twice daily, and that on more than
one occasion, disregarding warnings he
had swum in the open water instead of be-
hind the projections of the regular bathing
place. Mr.. Ford left it to the sorrowing
father to guess what must have happened
in those ark-haunted waters He con-
Guided with haste to catch the mail. He
promised to write again as soon as posi-
bic, and to send message by cable if any
hopeful news might be dispatched.
Then, we'll pleased with the effort, he
slept, and presently woke again refreshed
in the dawn to make his story good
Soon after noon Vivian and the over
seer rode together by the steep forest path
to Jesses lofty haunt and the Obi Man in
expectation prepared himself. Daniel
Sweetland had vanished, only tall, silent
negro waited on the master of the mys1.
teries. All being arranged to Jesse's salts
faction, the ancient man disappeared into an
inner sanctum behind curtain. and there
completed his own horrible toilet. Upon
his head he placed a fur cap with long
black horns sprouting out of 1t, and over
L a H., hn 4 hot,
daubed with white and scarlet paint These
things We're girt about his waist with
belt of feathers of the king bird-a tropc
fowl of gorgeous plumage. His arms re-
manned bare, but to his wrists and ankles
he fastened strips OF lizard skin and hung
bracelets of rafting seeds. About his neck
he placed a chain of human teeth, and
upon his breast, for loathsome amulet the
shriveled-up mummy of a monkey hung-a
hideous ghost of a thing that had never
lived. He next painted sundry blue hero
gyphics over his wrinkled face, and then
gazed with unqualified pleasure at the gen.
eral effect seen in scrap of looking
glass.
obj somebody dis day. said Jesse as
he marched out into the daylight; and If he
looked unearthly in the gloom of his own
den, the display in full blaze Of sunshine
was still more terrific. He pranced hither
and thither for his servants benefit. He
jingled and clashed and famed. His fam
tastic adornments glittered in the light;
peared amongst his accouterments. A
brass-bound Bible hung round his neck
with a big jack-knife: upon his knees pair
of old naval epaulettes were fastened. The
CHASTITY thing on his breast had yellow
beads stuck into its head for eyes, and
now they flashed with sort of life, whilst
its little mummied arms chung about Jesse
and seemed to hug him.
The big attendant eyed him without awe
or admiration. Jacky, as he was called
lacked some Of his senses, and never
spoke Then, while Jesse capered about
like a pantomime monkey, down in the
hot haze of the distance amid trees and
rocks, the old monster suddenly saw q
cavalcade struggling up the hill. Two
horsemen were approaching.
Now the Obi Man retired again to COM
!, plete very special and secret preparations
for the hope of the house of Vivian He
retired behind the curtain, stopped low in
| his secret corner, and drew forth a box
from beneath much rubbish that covered
| It, Next he lighted candle. opened the
| box and from 1t took a smaller one. This
| contained a gray. sticky matter, like bird
lime. Digging out some of the stuff upon
| the point of a wooden skewer. Jesse, with
his thumb held back the flesh Of his mid
die right hand finger. and. under the nail.
| deposited the compound from the box. He
| plastered II there, and since all his nails
| were long and dirty, the presence of this
| strange ointment was not likely to attract
| attention. He hid the box again, blew out
| his candle and returning to the air, went