The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1911-11-15

~ Jne morning DuNlu SUeIuOn ue-
cided that he was worse. That
he was appreciably weaker there
was no doubt. and there were
other symptoms that were unfavorable.
He began his rounds looking for
trouble. lie wanted trouble. In full
health the strained situation would
have been serious enough; but as 1t
was. himself growing helpless. some
thing had to be done The blacks
we're getting more sullen and defiant,
and the appearance of the men the
previous night OF his veranda-one of
the gravest of offences on Berande-
was ominous Sooner or later they
would get him. If he did not get them
first. if he did not once again scar on
their dark souls the haming mastery
of the white man
He returned to the house disappoint
ed No opportunity had presented it,
self of making nm example of insolence
or Observation-Disclosures as had oc.
Cured on every other day since the
sickness Smotp Berande The fact that
none had offended was in itself sus-
picious they were growing crafty
Ii was one man against two hundred.
and he was horribly afraid of his
sickness overpowering him and Ieav-
ing him at their mercy He saw VI
sions of the blacks taking charge of
the plantation. footing the store. burn
ing the buildings and escaping TO Ma
iaita Also one grewsome vision he
caught OF his own head. sun dried and
smoke cured Ornamenting the canoe
house Of cannibal village. Either
the Jessie would have TO arrive or
be would have to do something
The bell had hardly rung. sending
the Ia borers into the fields. when Shel.
don had a visitor Forty men. armed
with spears. bows and arrows and
war clubs. gathered outside the gate
of the compound but only one enter
ed They knew the law of Berande.
as every native knew the law of every
white mans compound in all the thou
sand miles of the far flung SolomonS
The one man who came up the path
Sheldon recognized as Seelee. the chief
of Balesuna village. The savage did
not mount the steps. but stood be.
meath and talked to the white lord
above.
Seelee was more intelligent than the
average of his kind. but his intelli
gence only emphasized the lowness OF
that kind His eyes. close together and
small. advertised cruelty and crafti-
ness. \ gee string and cartridge
belt were all the clothes he wore.
As he talked. or listened. he made
grimaces like Il monkey. He said yes
by dropping his eyelids and thrusting
his chin forward He spoke with
childish arrogance strangely at va1-
ance with the subServient position be
occupied beneath the veranda. lie
with his many followers. was lord and
master of BaleSuua village But the
white man. without followers. was
lord and master of Berande-ay. and
on occasion. single handed. had made
himself lord and master of BaeSuna
village as well Seelee did not like To
remember that episode. 1t had Oc
cured i'm the course of learning the
naturp of white men and OF learnin"
TO abOminate them lie had once been
guilty of sholtering three runaways
from Berande.
Unfortunately. he was ignorant OF
the ways of white men This particu.
lar white man educated him by arriv-
ing nj his grass house in the glay of
dawn In the first moment he had felt
amused He Was 50 perfectly safe In
the midst OF his village. But the next
moment aud before he could cry out.
a pair of handouts on the white mans
knuckles had landed on his mouth.
knocking the cry of alarm back down
his throat Also. the white mans other
fist had caught him under the ear and
left him without further interest in
what was happening When he came
TO he found himself in the white mans
whaleboat on the way to Berande.
When his tribe had returned the three
runaways. he was given his freedom.
And finally. the terrible white man
had fined him and Balesuna village
ten thousand cocoanuts After that he
had sheltered no more runaway Ma
laita men. Instead. he had gone into
the business of catching them. II was
safer Besides. be was paid one case
Of tobacco per head. But II he ever
got a chance at that white man. IL he
ever caught him sick or stood at his
back when he stumbled and fell on
bush trail-well. there would be head
that would fetch price In Mala
tia.
Sheldon was pleased with what See
lee told him. The seventh man Of the
last batch OF runaways had been
caught and was even then ut the gate
He was brought In. heavy featured
and defiant. his arms bound with CO
eoanut sennit. the dry blood still on
his body from the struggle with his
captors.
me savvee you good fells. seelee."
sheldon said. a. the chief GUIDED down