Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1911-11-24
CHAPTER VII.

CHAPTER VII.
A HARD BITTEN GANG.
@TEXT morning Joan aud Shell.
don. at breakfast. were
aroused by swelling MUIR
muir of angry voices. The
first rule Of Berande had been broken.
The compound had been entered with
out permission or command. and all
the 200 laborers. with the exception
of the boss boys. were guilty Of the
offense. They crowded up. threaten
ing and shouting. close under the
front veranda. Sheldon leaned over
the veranda railing. looking down
upon them. while Joan stood Slightly
back. When the uproar was stilled
two brothers stood forth They were
large men. splendidly muscled. and
with faces unusually ferocious. even
for Solomon islanders. One was
Carin jana. otherwise the Silent. and
The other was Bellin jana, the Boast
.r. Both had served on the Queens
land plantations in the old days, and
they were known as evil characters
wherever white men met aud gained.
I'VE fella boy We want IN them
two black fella Mary" said Bellin-
Jana.
what do you want along black
fella Nary" Sheldon asked.
xiii m" said Bellin-Jama.
what name you feila boy talk
Dlong me:" Sheldon demanded. with
show of rising anger. big bell he
ring. You no belong along here. You
belong along field. Bime by. big feIla
bell be ring. you stop along kai-kai.
you come talk along me about two
fella Mary. Now all you boy get
along ont Of here.
The gang waited to see what Bellin-
lama would do. and Bellin jana stood
still.
ME no CO." be said.
You watch out. Bellin jana" Shell
don said sharply. ''or send you along
Tulagi one big felIa Iashing. My word.
you catch m strong fella."
Rellin-Jama glared up beIliserently.
You want m tight" he said putting
up his fists in approved returned
Queenslander style.
Now. in the SoIomons. where whites
Gre few and blacks are many, and
where the whites do the ruling. such
an offer to fight is the deadIiest insult
Blacks are not supposed to dare SO
highly as to offer to fight white man.
A murmur Of admiration at Bellin-
Jama's bravery went up from the
listening blacks. But Bellin-Jalna's
VOICE was still ringing in the air, and
the murmurins was just beginning,
when Sheldon cleared the rail. leapins
straight downward From the top OF
the railing to the ground. it was fifteen
feet. and Bellin-Jama was directly
beneath. Sbeldon's flying body struck
him and crushed him to earth. No
blows were needed to be struck. The
black had been knocked helpless. Joan.
startled by the unexpected leap, saw
Carin. jana. the Silent. reach ont and
seize Sheldon by the throat as he
was halfway to bis feet. while the ten
score blacks surged forward for the
killing. Her revolver was out. and
let 60 bis grip. Keeling
backward with a bullet in his shoulder.
In that feeting instant of action. she
had thought TO shoot him in the arm.
which. at that short distance. might
reasonably have been achieved. But
the wave Of savages leaping forward
bad changed her shot to the shoulder.
It was moment when not the slight
est chance could be taken.
The instant his throat was released,
Sheldon struck out with his fist, and
Joined bis brother on the
ground. The mutiny was quelled. and
i've minutes more saw the brothers
being carried to the hospital. and the
mutiheers. marshalled by the gang
bosses. on the way to the fields.
When Sheldon came up on the
he found Joan collapsed on
the steamer chair and In tears. The
sight unnerved him as the row just
over could not possibly have done. He
glanced down at her helplessly. and
moistened his lips.
II want to thank you.' he began.
There isn't doubt but what you
saved my life. and must say
She abruptly removed her hands.
wrathfui and tear stained
face.
You brute! You coward" she cried.
you have made me shoot man. and
never shot man in my life before"
Its only flesh wound, and ne
isn't going to die" Sheldon managed
10 interpolate.
What of that? shot him just the
same. There was no need for you to
Jump down there that way. 1t was
brutal and cowardly."
"Oh. now I say he began sooth
ngly.
go away. Don't you see I bate
rou: hate you! Oh. won't you so
lwayw