Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1911-02-16


noticed Them on to the starboard.
two hulks. red with rust. awash under
the branches Of the big trees that grew
IN a dense forest far out into the shat.
low water OF the lagoon One steamer
was wedged 10 between great boles.
the tops OF It's masts showing oddly
above the overhanging greenery. The
other lay well over upon It's side. like
sOme poruy marine monster that had
taken shelter there from the tropic
sun. How any person not a positive
idiot could have Numbered into such
n place passed my comprehension.
The repeated blasts from our whistle
had reused the owner OF the cocoanut
grove that was to furnish us our car.
go. and presently the white drill suit
and pith helmet which we always asso-
ciate with the white man In the trOp-
les appeared I'm the stern OF boat
which glided out from under the trees.
Before our gangplank was fairly low
cred a tall. rawboned young English
man. distinctly of the gentleman"
type. came over the ships side and
introduced himself as Shackleford. the
man with whom | had contracted to
carry load OF nuts TO Liverpool
mo. ! haven't a black on the place."
he explained In response to an inquiry
OF mine as we took our places in his
fat bottomed boat. manned wholly by
Cinnamon, and started for his bunga-
low, whose corrugated roof blazed In
the intense sunlight through rift IN
the cocoanut grove. 1T costs three
times as much for Chinese labor. but
for some reason can't get niger to
come near the plantation"
That's strange"
Wait TIL tonight and you'll hear as
horrible row as you ever heard. , hen
you'll know The mountains back
there are alive with apes. That is
why put up a twenty-five foot high
barbed wire fence"
That evening we were sitting In the
bungalow. slipping whisky and soda
and swapping yarns about Penang.
when volley OF banks. sharp as the
rattle Of musketry. made me spring up
In alarm.
Shackleford put down his glass and
ha W. hawed. Its only those blasted
apes" he explained when he had man.
aged to control his mirth. Take down
that rifle and come along"
Armed with Winchesters. we made
our way to the edge of the grove near
est the spur OF the mountain As we
approached chorus of snars greeted
US, and In the clear starlight | saw
host Of Infatuated apes hurllng them.
selves against the barbed wire fence.
For time the brutes paid little heed
% our fusillade. Then. under the lead |
srship OF 4 huge gray ape, they broke
Ind made for cover.
The great grlzzled brute was the last |
% retire, and at the edge of the jungle |
I turned and gibbered at us in way
hat made my flesh creep. 1t seemed
% voice he fathomless hatred of the
whole jungle world for the usurper
nan.
The next morning on our way back
o the steamer asked Shackleford
bout the two wrecks
"Oh. ! fancy the fool captains could
lot steer straight" he replied lightly.
Longstreth that's the chap | bought
he grove from-sald that both ships
we're loaded with cocoanuts. He would
ot talk much about IL, though-toO
our TO talk about anything"
Later, TO satisfy my curiosity, |
owed over and had a look at the
ulks. and as examined them | noted
wo facts that kept me Specializing for
avs Before either steamer went into
S present position the boats had been
astIly slashed away. and there wasn't
single coCoanut to be seen In either
old.
That night I spent ashore again with
hacklcfurd. and when | returned to
~ ship the following morning | found
IN an ominouS state of excitement.
'sually the Chinese portion OF IL oc-
upied the forward part OF the main ,
rex. eating and sleeping in the cor. ,
CrS among the steam winches The
isCars had always claimed the fore {
lstle head where their tail, gauut
odies and Swaihed heads seemed an
lSepaNhlc part Of the ship Now. how /
ger race aud caste were forgotten. s
nd turhaus and pigtailS mingled pro /
ilScuouSly IN groups that whispered 4
igerly In u dazrn corners. In
At sight ~ me they quickly dis d
,rScd but with those two rusty hulks {
Oming up ynnGer as object lessons | t
ok prompt measures TO foreStall a r
,ssibIe mutiny, Summonlng the first
ate--a half caste from Calcutta that c
had picked up 10 Penang when {
acPhcrSon died OF cholera Il locked /
e door behind him. left my revolver (
! the table. where he could mediate c
ron its use as we talked, and then 81
iked him a few pointed questions Q
G turned white under his dinky skin h
It soon pulled himself together and u
gan TO lie TO me ! knew Il by the Q
az his eyelidS flckered The bay n
l. T.. e.