El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-11-20
overture
By Jack London
continued from Saturday,

who was killed by his boats crew. He
says that Port Adams crowd is out
fifty Of them, in big canoes-and camp
ing on his beach. They've killed half
a dozen Of his pigs already and seem
to be looking for trouble. And he's
afraid they may connect with the IF
teen runaways from Lunga."
''In which case?'' she .queried.
ON which case Billy Pape will be
compelled to send Boucher's successor.
It's Pape's station, you know. l wish
I knew what to do. don't ike to leave
you here alone"
take me along. then"
He smiled and shook his head.
''Then you'd better take my men
along" she advised. They're good
shots, and they're not afraid Of any
thing except Utami, and he's afraid
Of ghosts"
The big bell was rung. and fifty black
boys carried the whalebOat down to
the water. The regular boats crew
manned her. and Matauare and three
other Tahitians, belted with cartridges
and armed with rifles. sat In the stern
sheets. where Sheldon stood at the
steering oar.
MY. wish I could go with you"
Joan said wistfully as the boat showed
OF.
'T'm as good as a man." she urged.
you really are needed here" he re-
piled. There's that Lunga crowd;
they might reach the coast right here
and. with both Of us absent, rush the
plantation. Goodby. Wen get back
in the morning some time. It's only
twelve miles"
When Joan started to return to the
house she was compelled to pass
among the boat carriers, and one Of
them stepped up to her. In the dark
ness she could not make him out.
what nameg' she asked sharply.
what name belong you?"
me Aroa." he said.
She remembered him as one Of the
two sick boys she had nursed in the
hospital The other one had died.
'Me take m plenty fella medicine
too much" Aroa was saying.
well. and you all right now" she
answered.
me want IN tobacco. plenty fella
tobacco; me want m calico. me want
IN porpoise teeth; me want IN one
fella belt"
She looked at him humorously, ex-
pecting to see q smile, or at least a grin,
on his face The rest OF the boys had
crowded mp at his back in a solid wall
Some one Of them giggIed. but the
remainder regarded her in morOse ana
intent silence.
'Wen7" she asked What for you
want plenty tella thingsT"
NE take m medicine" quOth Aroa
"You pay me-
you 90 along quarters" she said,
starting TO turn on her heel to enter
the gate.
"You pay me- said the boy.
"Aroa. you all the same one big fool.
I no pay you. Now you go"
But the black was unmoved She
felt hat he was regarding her almost /
fnsOlently as he repeated:
i take m medicine. You pay me.
lou pay me now"
Then it was that she lost her tenn |
per and cuffed his ears so soundIy as
to drive him back among his fellows.
But they did not break up. Another |
boy stepped forward.
Me GogoOmy," he said "Bawo |
brother belong me-"
Bawo, she remembered, was the
sick boy who had died.
60 on" she commanded.
'Bawo take m medicine. BawO nm
ish. Bawo my brother. You pay me.
Father belong me one big fella chief
along Port Adams. You pay me-"
Joan laughed.
'GogOomy, you just the same as
ArOa, one big fool. My word, who
pay me for medicine?"
She dismissed the matter by passing (
through the gate and closing it. But
Gogoomy pressed up against it and
said impudently:
Father belong me one big fela
chief. You no bang m head belong
me. My word. you fright too much"
me frightY' she demanded. while
anger tingled all through her.
'TOo much fright bang m head be-
long me-" Gogoomy said proudly.
And then she reached for him across
the gate and got him. 1t was a sweep
ing, broad handed slap. so heavy that
he staggered sideways and nearly fell.
He sprang for the gate as If to force
it open, while the crowd surged for
ward against the fence. Joan thought
rapidly. Her revolver was hanging
on the wall Of her grass house. Yet
one cry would bring her sailors, and
she knew she was safe. So she did
not cry for help. Instead. she whistled
for Satan, at the same time calling
him by name. She knew he was shut
up in the living room, but the blacks
did not wait tn Sna- They fed with I