The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-02-04
The ADVENTQKEJ Of A SQ7EKCAKQO
BY LOUIS BECKE

not observed the steamer; but those
who had remained at the village, and
who numbered less than a dozen, soon
came on board, with their canoes deep
ly laden with fruit and vegetables,
fowls, ducks and squealing pigs. All
these were bought by Christie and his
crew for a few shillings, and two 80
pound tins of ship biscuit. They in
formed Christie that the French priest
he wished to see was away at another
village across the bay, but that he
would be sure to come OH board in a
few hours, as the people there had seen
the steamer entering the harbOr. He
was, they said the only white man
there on the island, though a few years
previously there had been two others
traders-living on the island One,
however, had died. and the other, who
was a native of Pitcairn island, and a
descendant Of Quintal, one of the
Bounty mutineers, had wearied of Ra-
pa and its beauties, and gone back to
the lonely little island, always so dear
to the hearts and memories of its peo-
pie.
A few hours after the steamer had
anchored, the French missionary
Whaleboat appeared, sailing across the
Sn Doth waters of the lovely harbOr,
which were now sparkling under the
silvery light of an all but full moon.
She ranged alongside, and there step
ped out of her an active little
man with snow white hair and beard,
dressed in the usual priestly vestment
of black. He started with pleased as
constituent when he heard Christie's
voice addressing him as he stood on
the gangway. Grasping the skipper
oUtstretched hand he poured forth in
mingled French and English, questions
and compliments in one breath. and
when he learned that Christie was Ill,
he at once became very sympathetic,
and went with him to his cabin, where
he remained for some time. Then Chris
tie called for Tom whom he intro
duCed to the cleric as the young gen
tleman who had been blown out to sea
from Sydney harbOr." The old gentle
mans kindly, beady black eyes lit up
with pleasure when Tom, in answer
to his inquiry if he could speak French.
answered in the affirmative, and added
that he had been taught both French
and Spanish.
Spanish, too, Tom?" said Christie.
astOnished. why. you are a secretive
yOungster. Now, if 1 had known that
you could speak Spanish, I should have
asked you to give me lessons, for a
little knowledge Of it will be a big
help to me, when We get to Callao."
on, we'll, there is plenty of time yet,
captain"
Christie nodded pleasedIy, and then
said: tom, 1 am going ashore to stay
with Pere LeblOnd for a few days. He
is going to doctor me up and put me
to rights. Now, will you ask Mr.. Clam
cy to muster the hands, and bring them
aft"
Clancy and the eight men who
formed the steamers complement soon
appeared, and Christie told them all
that on the morrow they could have
three days liberty on shore, and en-
joy themselves. Father Leblond," he
added, tells me that he will get the
chief of Ahurai to put a tapu on the
ship, and not a single native will come
on board if I object
The men thanked him and then went
off; and shortly after Christie and the
priest started for the shore. The mis-
sion house was situated on a spur Of
one Of the verdure-clad mountains, and
Tom, although he was asked to &C
company them, and was anxious to put
foot on shore. decided to remain on
beard with Clancy, who, like himself
was an ardent fisherman, and who had
been told by the natives that splendid
fish could be caught from the steamer,
and that they would bring them off
some flying fish for bait. This they
did, and Tom and the Irish engineer
had some glorious sport with some
great brean1-like fish, called by the ma
tlveS tahulu, many of which weighed
over thirty pounds.
The two slept on the bridge, enjoy
ing to the full the cool breeze from the
shore between the deep mountain val
ley, bringing with it the sweet odor
of orange blossoms, and the yellow
flowers Of the pandanus palms.
At dawn. and whilst Clancy was still
sleeping, Tom rose, and as he looked
across to the entrance Of the harbor
he saw a large paddle-wheeI steamer
just bringing TO, to anchor, and as her
cable rushed through her hawse-pipe.
there came flash and a puff of smoke
from her deck, and then the report of
a gun.
Clancy sprang to his feet, wide awake
in an instant, and with Tom gazed at
the stranger.
she's a Yankee" he said. with a
sigh of relief. see her walking beam
We have nothing to be afraid of, but
wonder what the blazes she is doing
in this part of the world. All. there's
another gun. She wants assistance,
perhaps, as well as a pilot
Rousing the hands he had one of
the WarrigaPS boats lowered and
manned. and a quarter of an hour later
he and Tom were on board the strang-
eT, which they found was the Aztec
City, bound from San Francisco to
Sydney, and in distress. with a mutt
nous crew as well
CHAPTER XIII.
The captain Of the Aztec City was a
Scotchman, named Seaton, two of his