The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-03-29


hint of such a retreat. 1t rose from the
profound blue like a yellowish surge
of sand, heaved up from the floor OF
the depths and blown by the Trades
1t gave no impression of glazing. in
congruous color, of a strange flash in
the interminable sparkling waters
One could hardly imagine that it bore
any vegetation except that comb OF
separate and unentwined palms. But
in the flank of this solitary undulation
of sand certain trees had found root
and many years before Spriggs, ex-
ploring his wilderness, had thrust his
tousIed head into their netted leafy
branches, sighed, and gone no further
in search of an abode
Time and again as I made out Sisal
from the deck of the "Mahukona, =
with Captain Bernard puzzling over
his chart spread on the wheeI-box try
Ing to reconcile his landfall with his
observations, it had seemed to me that
the isle had followed out its creation
as wave and progressed along the
sea in infinitesimal undulations: that
Spriggs must again and again have
suddenly awakened to find his arbor
open to the wild gust that smoothed
the slope to windward and raced down
to save himself from going over the
crest in a wild smoke OF breaking sand.
But every time discerned the tuft of
green that marked his home. ''Spriggs
hasn't been blown away, yet" I would
say, putting down the binoculars.
Seventeen and forty-two is fifty
nine and six makes FIVE Bernard
would respond without looking up from
his reckoning. "Sisal is seven miles
further to the southeastern than she
was last time. Spriggs always was a
fool"
$50 he was" I would assent.
That would be the total of our con-
versation till we had swung round to
anchor just out of reach of the CLASSY
swells that spun up the beach and
poured down again underneath to bub-
BILE up in sparkling foam about the
schooner. For Spriggs was a fool,
though king and lord of Sisal and
double score of shy natives.
I knew his deficiency the moment
set eyes upon him the day of my first
had missed him thereto. But Bernard
gave me the hint when we opened the
forehatch of the "Mahukona' and
swung out a mechanical piano and two
casks filled with bottled beer. There
is big bundle of tracts in the cabin
for him. he said. "Spriggs is a fool!'
He came off through the surf in a
canoe to get the stuff. He was dressed
in e11aa ri n oh c,,if willie
made, cotton shirt much faded,
patent leather shoes and carried a very
large umbrella over his bare, unkempt
head. "Scarecrow,'' / remember that
Bernard exclaimed.
A dozen times called at Sisal.
Spriggs never varied his costume and
his bills of lading were always for SINH
lar goods. In four years we landed
some dozen casks of bottled beer, some
bushels of tracts and musical contrap-
lions of assorted inutility. The whole
affair lost SAVIOR even as a joke.
Then the owners in Honolulu told me
one day that Spriggs had asked them
for a competent man to advise him in
various business projects he was on the
point of undertaking. We've decided
that you are the man for the place."
they said. "Spriggs is a good customer
of our firm; he is-er-er-Mr. Spriggs
is somewhat peculiar. He has traded
with us for some time and we feel that
you will best conserve the interests of
both parties. The tMahukona' will
drop you there and call for you on the
return voyage"
My protest was silenced. There was
nothing for it but that I had to go
down to this sand ridge in the Pacific
and spend an indefinite time with a
fool a lot of mechanical musical in
etruments and a library of tracts. So
it was that in due time I walked up
the slope of Sisal beach with Spriggs
and pushed aside the foliage that shell 7
tered his house from the torrid heat
Of the sun. Behind us a couple of ma
tives toiled under the two casks of
beer, the tracts and the latest music
box / turned, when I reached the
porch, and looked out through the lace
Of greenery. The Mahukona' was
beating out into the Pacific. An ex-
disgust of the future flow
ed into my thoughts as l saw Bernard
cave me- My ejaculation was forcible
II would rather-er-er-you didn't
swear said Spriggs at my side.
whirled round in amazement and
yazed at his uncouth features set in a
painful twist, apparently due to a.
strong resolve to fulfil some distaste-
'ul, difficult duty. Like gust there
,anf6 upon me a sudden huge curiosity
rbout Spriggs. ct beg your pardon 1
,pologized.
His face cleared. "I thought you'd
me- he muttered l
lon't want you to think me a fool"
lie sat down and commenced to exert
himself violently to pull off his patent
Gather shoes. The second came with
Jerk that nearly dislocated his shcul- ,,
Ter. He recovered himself and looked
4 me with genuine concern. These
hoes are too small" he said. i was
heated when I bought them. Tney !.
ost me seven dollars. I hate to De :
obbed Don't misunderstood me: I'm
ot stingy. I could have got a PAIR !
hat looked just as well for four DOL /.
ars. But I said 1 wanted good ones
nd 1 paid seven dollars in San Fran :
isco for these But I hate to be
heated
He brushed the shoes (they were or
fashion then ten years gomez and !