Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1911-10-24

Again he rode out into the reeklng
baat He clutched the blacks neck
tightly and drew a long breath; Dut
the dead air seemed to shrlVel MS
lungs, and he dropped his head ana
dozed till the house was reached.
Every effort of will was torture, yet
he was called upon continually to
make efforts of will. He gave the
black he had ridden nip of trade gin.
Viaburi, the house boy, brought MIN
corrosive sublimate and water, and
he took a thorough antiseptic wash
He dosed himself with chlorodyne,
took his own pulse, smoked ther-
mometer, and lay back on the couch
with suppressed groan. 1t was mid
afternoon. and he had completed his
third round that day. He called the
house boy.
"Take um big fella look along
JESSIE" he commanded.
The boy carried the long telescope
out on the veranda and searched the
sea.
zone fella schooner long way little
bit" he announced Zone fella Jessie"
The white man gave little gasp of
delight.
you make um Jessie five sticks
tobacco along you," he said.
There was silence for a time, during
which he waited with eager impa-
tience.
Maybe Jessie, maybe other fella
schooner" came the faltering admis-
sion.
The man wormed to the edge of the
couch and slipped off to the floor on
his knees By means Of a chair he
drew himself to his feet Still clinging
to the chair, supporting most of his
weight on it. he showed it to the door
and out upon the veranda. The sweat
from the exertion streamed down his
face and showed through the under
shirt across his shoulders. He man
aged to get into the chair, where he
painted in a state of collapse. In few
minutes he reused himself. The boy
held the end of the telescope against
one of the veranda scantlings, while
the man gazed through it at the sea.
At last he picked up the white sails Of
the schooner and studied them.
mo JESSIE" he said very quietly.
That's the Maiakula."
He changed his seat for a steamer
reclining chair. Three hundred feet
away the sea broke in a small surf
upon the beach. To the left he could
see the white line of breakers that
marked the bar Of the Balesuna river
and, beyond. the rugged outline of
Savo island. Directly before him.
across the twelve mile channel, lay
Florida island, and, farther to the
right, dim In the distance. he could
make out portions Of Malaita. the saw
age island, the abode Of murder and
robbery. and man eating. the place
from which his own two hundred plan
tation hands had been recruited. Be
tween him and the beach was the cane
grass fence of the compound. The
gate was ajar, and he sent the house
boy to close it. Within the fence grew
a number OF lofty cocoanut palms. On
either side the path that led TO the
gate stood two tall fagstaffs. like
ships masts, with topmasts spliced on
in true nautical fashion, with shrouds.
ratlines, gaffs and flag halyards.
From the gan Of one two gay flags
hung Imply, one a checker board of
blue and white squares. the other a
white pennant centred with red disk.
1t was the international code signal
Of distress.
The man ordered the great bell to be
ruug as a signal for the plantation
hands TO cease work and go to their
barracks. Then be mounted his man
horse and made the last round OF the
/ day.
In the hospital were two new cases.
To these he gave castor OIL He con-
/ graduated himself. 1t had been an
easy day. Only three had died. He
inspected the copra drying that had
/ been going on. and went through the
barracks 10 see II there were any sick
I lying hidden and defying his rule Of
segregation. Returned TO the house.
be received the reports Of the boss
boys and gave instructions for next
days work. The boats. crew boss also
be had in, to give assurance. as was
the custom nightly. that the whale
boats were hauled up and padlocked.
This was a most necessary precaution.
for the blacks were in a funk. and a
whale boat left lying on the beach in
the evening meant a loss Of twenty
blacks by morning. Since the blacks
were worth $50 a piece or less. accord
Ing to how much Of their time had
been worked cut. Berande plantation
could IN affori the loss. Besides.
whale boats were not cheap in the
Solomons. and also. the deaths were
daily reducing the working capital
Seven blacks had fed into the bush
the week before. and four had drarcei
themselves hack. helpless from fever,