Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-06


the beach to MALTA Nulla, and did not mind
showing it. Indeed, the fact that he screw
ed up his determination sufficiently to make
the trip at all says great deal for his
admiration of Carter.
Carter, on the other hand, though he was
fully alive to the desperate risks that lay
ahead. felt himself to be the white man In
command and adjusted his demeanor &C
cordinsly. To look at him one might have
thought that he was merely taking exer-
else and the evening air for the general
good Of his health.
Had there been cover he would have
taken it, but there was none. The beach
was the only PATH the bush which walled
it on one side was impossible, and though
the might have been considered an alter
native route, they had only cottongood dug
outs at the Smooth River factory, and it
would have taken at least surfboat to
get out over the Smooth River bar. to say
nothing of landing, when the time came,
through the rollers which crashed always
on Malla-Nula beach. So he marched
along where the sand was wet and hard,
just above the cream of surf, and he car
ried the twelve-bore, hammers downward,
| over his shoulder, with his forefinger on
the trigger guard above. He was very
grateful for those past days of rabbit
shooting in Upper Wharfedale which had
| taught him to be so quick and deadly on
sudden mark.
The surf on one side and the night noises
of Africa on the other roared in their ears
as they marched, and every now and again
they came into a cloud of irefiies, which
switched their tiny lamps in and out with
inconceivable rapidty and left them quite
blinded during the intervals of darkness.
So that on the whole, as Carter realized
very fully, If the King of Okky had set
men to waylay him, these could scarcely
be incompetent enough to miss their mark.
But he did not admit this knowledge to
White Man s-Trouble. When that kroo-
boy stated things exactly as they were
Carter pooh-poohed his deductions lightly
enough and stormed at the man because
ha tpnn nf
method of pe-claying shoes.
An African moon foated Clearly over
head and great African stars punctured the
purple roof of heaven, and to Carriers chill
ed fancy he and the krooboy were as con-
spicuous as two actors strutting under
lmelight. But there were two things he
overlooked, and these | believe must have
been the salvation of the pair of them.
The thick night mists were steaming out
of the forest and from the surf the thick
white smoke drove in on the land breeze
to meet them. This translucent fog, though
it might not be very apparent to the eyes
of the walkers themselves, would be quite
enough to screen them from the gaze of
hostile pickets, who, after the manner of
Africans. were already half scared out of
their dusky skins by the fear Of ghosts.
They had made the journey out to Smooth
river In five and quarter hours; they
completed the journey back TO Malla-Nulla
in four, which meant good travelling; and
because a heavy march like this may not
be undertaken without physical payment in
the stewy climate of the coast Carter felt
certain premonitory symptoms which told
him that good, humping dose of fever
would be his when once he slackened his
efforts and gave it chance 10 take charge.
But he was not much alarmed at the cir
cumstance. AS he told himself coolly
enough, either by the time the fever came
on he would have rejoined Nh. Smith at
Malla-Nulla. who in that case was per-
fectly capable of looking afte- hin, he
would have rejoined Mr. Smith in the
had a
body left behind on earth would not mat
ter. AS it happened, neither of these alter
natives had to be barganed with.
Malla-Nulla factory was caves deep in
white. wet mist when they got to It, and
found it earthy-smelling and empty. 1t
was unmarked by fire. unsmirched by signs
of battle, and, strangest Of all, unlooted.
The pair of them charged up the veranda
steps Carter in the lead, with the twelve
b' re held ready for an instant discharge.
The Krooboy, with matchet uplifted and
teeth at the snarl, looked the very picture
of savage desperation and ferocity. They
stepped into the empty mess room and lit
matches and lamp. The land breeze sang
through the bamboo walls, and Carers
homemade punkah SwiShed overhead to
the unseen impulse of the water wheel;
but of quick, human life there was not a
trace
He had fitted up bells about the place,
or rather strings that actuatcd wooden
cappers which could beat on wooden
drums He set these all a-clang and lis
tened. The place reeked of its usual mil
dew and the smell nauseated him. They
had got rid of the mildew scent at the
Smooth River factory. But there was not
a murmur of reply to his clamor.
White Man s-Trouble delivered himself Of
wisdom oh Carter, l think dem Smith,
an all dem boys at factory lib for die. DIS
place lib for full OF ghosts. l fit for run
back for Smooth Hi1el."
Run away, them said Carter, who was
beginning to examine the mess room sys-
tcmatically.
The Krooboy covered in a chair and COW
cred his eyes. oh, Carter. l no fit for
march back alone. Dem ghosts plenty-too-
much fond O Kroo chop. oh, Carter, you
no be dam fool an stay here. You lib
back for Smooth River all-e-same me"
My pagan friend don't get too familiar.
The next time | hear you calling me names
l shall break my knucklcs up against one
of the places where the worsted's been
shaved off your skull. Observe said Car
ter, and poured some whisky onto the table
flames that crawl and nicker about, but do
not burn the wood. In those the ghosts
that have been threatening you are now
Icing most painfully consumed. DO yod
believe it?'
Il fit for see 'em de- said White Mans
Trouble devoutly. oh Carter. you plenty
much-fne witch doctor. | fit for pipe-clay
Gem shoes, three pair day. Oh c. rter if
CAy men lib for come, you burn them.
tOo?"
Certainly" said Carter anything to
soOthe your nerves. Though. as a matter
of fact l shoI 1 demonstrate 10 them
with a shotgun, not by burning atnylated.
Now, just nose around. boy, and help me
to find out where Mr. Smiths evanor&tei
to. They can't have eaten him. some of
them must have stayed behind to digest
the meal and they cant have kidnapped
him, he'd have broken up The happy
home before he condescenGei t. &C, and
as we see 1t now it's more squaiid tlar
usual So now, Trouble, produce Nh,
Smith"
smith? Oh, Carter, dem Smith lib for
surf boat"
How on earth do you know that?'
Dem surf boat no lib for beach. Dem
paddles no lib for veranda Okky man no
fit for boat boy. So Malla-Nulla lArooboy,
dey boat boy for dem Smith in Mala-Nulla
surf boat. Savvy?"
II do clearly. But why the deuce didn't
you tell me all this before?
Because" said the Krooboy simply. Il
too plenty-much frightened O. dem ghosts
before you burn en-
II wonder said Carter thoughtfuly, "if
/ shall ever understand all the workings of
the African mind?' He vert onto the
veranda and peered out into the mists. A
fieecy blanket covered the sea and slotted
out the water and all things of low eleva-
ton that fioated thereon. In the distance
between him and the moon, the two black
mastheads of an invisible steamer ploughed