The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-03-23


 of savage cries. revolver >as d went off three times. and then t -SS~~@@-- was heard a loud splash Cap .SSSSsAACs= Xxx tain Hansen had sprung up sssgssEssssa JssssF xk v ] '''
 the companionway on the in -SsSssaSSasssA gzs,s stant and Berties eyes had A . txSxxtEss33 been fascinated by glimpse <&EA \ EM of him drawing his revolver as Essaz5EA ! NY he sprang Bertie went up Ss9TnAA Ws more circumspectly hesitating E#sA <eAs before he put his head above ANNx& N9ee. the companionway slide But { FaHMM#H @2M nothing happened The mate t>' ESES|&58 E@ shaking with excitement ( N~ H4EMA his revolver in his hand Once \T he started and half jumped gN around. as If danger threat AGR ened his back
 "One of the natives fell
 overheard" he saying in a queer. tense voice. "He couldn't swim"
 "who it?" the skipper demanded.
 "Auiki" was the answer.
 "But l say. you know. heard shots" Bertie said, in
 trembling eagerness, for he scented adventure, and adven- ture that happily
 with The mate whired upon
 him. snarling
 "It's a lie. There aint been a shot fred The nigger fell overheard"
 Captain Hansen regarded Bertie with unblinking lack-luster eyes.
 "I-I-thought-" Bertie beginning.
 "shots?" said Captain Hansen. dreamily. "shotsF Did you hear any shots.\ Mir Jacobs?'
 Not shot," replied Mir. Jacobs.
 The skipper looked at his guest triumphantly, and 'Evdenty an accident. Let us go down. MT. Ark wright. and finish dinner"
 Bertie slept that night in the captains cabin, tiny stateroom off the main cabin The for-ard bulk head was decorated with stand of rifles Over the bunk three rifles Under the bunk was a big drawer, which, when he pulled 1t out. he found filled with ammunition, dynamite and several boxes of detonators He elected take the settee the opposite side Lying conspcuously the small table the Arla's log Bertie did not know that it had been especially prepared for the occasion by Captain Malu. and he read therein how. September 21, two boats crew had fallen overheard and been drowned Bertie read between that line and knew better. He read how the Arld's whaleboa had been bushwhacked discovered the cook stewing human flesh the galley fre-desh purchased by the boats crew, ashore in Fui He read of how accidental discharge of dynamite while signaling, had killed another boats ;.of night attacks, ports fed from between the dawns. attacks by bushmen in mangrove swamps and One item that occurred with monotonous frequency was death by dysentery He noticed with alarm that two white had died-guests. like himself. on the ArIG.
 "I say you know,' Bertie said next day to Captain Hansen, i've been glancing through your log"
 The skipper displayed quick vexation that the log had been left lying about
 And all that dysentery. you know that's ali rot, just like the accidental drownings" Bertie continued What does dysentery really stand for?"
 The skipper openly admired his guests acumen, stiff fened himself to make indignant denial. then fully surrendered.
 You see, it's like this, Mr. Arkwright. These is- lands have got a bad enough 1t is It's getting harder evJy day to sign on white Sup pose mar Is kill The company has to pay through the nose for anotne' to take the place. But if the merely dies of sickness, it's all right The chums don't mind disease What they draw the line at its being murdered
 Besides" said MT. Jacops there's altogether too