The Yale expositor., 1908-08-21

Capt. Nelson made no reply. In the
throw of Destiny the dice had turned
against him. He could frame no words
of apology for what he had done, even
II he had been disposed to sue for
clemency.
Il see you recognize me-" went on
the monarch of Bobo with a hideous
leer, but the hand Of oppression has
cut the bonds of friendship between
us. When you set me on this island
to be eaten up by solitude or the ma
tives, that was your day. To-day is
mine. / rejoice that it is so. Seen
after you left me here l fell in with
a band of natives, and they made me
a prisoner. They took me to their
village, and when they had sized me
up, they came to the conclusion that
the most profitable thing to be done
was to barbecue me. That was not
pleasant situation-for me. 1t set my
mind to work. Something must be
done, and the incentive to do it was
prodigious. Here was a chance to
show Caucasian superiority over the
dark-skinned progeny of Ham. The
mere appetite for food, when not rein
forced by actual starvation, is not the
strongest of human desires. Man will
often neglect the calls of his stomach
to provide entertainment for the mind.
A brilliant thought came to me. BY
furnishing entertainment for my cap
fnrQ i MIGHT Induce fhaun IN
their intended feast. BY some skilful
straightforward tricks / gained their
attention. AS / proceeded, they grew
more and more enthralled / put forth
all my skill, and went on and on. They
pressed about me. Their interest grew
into amazement, amazement into won
der, and wonder into superstitious
awe. From that moment all thoughts
of the barbecue were forgotten. 1t is
long step from a fricassee to
throne, but before the sun had set
they made me their king. 1t was the
victory of the mind over the mind.
They placed before me all the wealth
of the tribe. They Toasted me, they
Frustrated themselves before me, and
endowed me with nine wives. AS the
monarch of Bobo my word is law.
The captains face was a study in
humiliation and anger, but he knew
he could say nothing to help the
cause of himself and shipmates. And
the monarch of Bobo reclining on his
tawdry throne, smoked a pipe of
prodigious size in silence.
He did not see the face that was
glued to an opening in the structure,
nor the pair of scintillant eyes that
was fixed upon him. But even as he
ceased speaking, a form pushed
through the opening, and entered the
enclosure. AS the curious gaze of the
monarch rested on the figure his
small eyes blinked with sudden energy.
He arose and peered before him, his
face working with emotion. Then, as
he recognized the stern, implacable
features of his wife, his form became
face paled, and he tried to speak, but
only gurgling sound issued from his
throat.
And straight toward the throne the
woman marched, the wonder-stricken
blacks falling back to let her pass. She
never paused till she stood before the
trembling monarch. Then, stopping.
she fixed on him a look of whitening
scorn.
"a fine spectacle you are making OF
yourself with these niggers!" she said.
with suppressed wrath "A fine hus-
band you are, to let your lawful wife
shift for herself while you play king
to lot of apes!"
"Manda-" he faltered, but she
checked him with a gesture of con.
! tempt.
Don't you dare speak till l am
DONE" she warned. Il have heard
every word you said. So, while l have
been at home working like a slave.
| pinching and saving, you have been
taking your ease, playing king with a
lot of niggers and Boosting of nine
wiyes!-Oh-"
Her voice rose to a shrek and she
made a grab for the monarch's ear.
1T was a joke, 'Manda," he cried
lodging about the throne. II tell you
1t was all joke; you never could
take a joke"
"A joke, was it," she fairly
screamed. you dare tell me that
I'll make II dear joke for you before
I'm done with you, Solomon Brownl
Don't you dare to say a word back,
she warned, as he essayed to speak
"Order those niggers to release these
men at once, and come with me back
to the ship. Do you hear?"
"Yes-yes, 'Manda," he said. II am
ready to do anything you say" He
made a signal to the natives, and they
released the prisoners. and fell back
Then Mrs. Brown took the monarch's
arm, and followed by Capt. Nelson
and his men, marched from the place
And thus fell the dynasty of Solomon
Brown.
10 never sailed in the Petrol again
There is a well-patronized sailors inr
in Melbourne, where both Capt. Mel
son and his crew often repair when in