Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-11-28

new cases tnan recOverleS. lne OiackS
were in funk. Each one. when taken
sick. seemed to make every effort to
die. They believed they were going
to die. and vet. believing this with
absolute conviction. they somehow
lacked the nerve to rush the frail
wrath OF man with the white skin
and escape from the charnel house by
the whale boats. They chose the lin.
gering death they were sure awaited
them rather than the immediate death
they were very sure would pounce
upon them II they went up against
the master. That he never slept they
knew That he could not be cOnjured
to death they were equally sure-they
had tried IT, And even the sickness
that was sweeping them Off could not
kill him.
With the whipping in the compound
discipline had improved. They cringed
under the iron hand of the white man.
They gave their scowls or malignant
looks with nverted faces or when his
back was turned They saved their
mutterings for the barracks. at night.
where he could not hear. Aud there
were no more runaways and no more
night prowiers on the veranda.
Dawn Of the third day after the
whipping brought the Jessie's white
sails in sight. His partner was on
board. vigorous and hearty from six
weeks recruiting in Malaita. He could
take charge now and all would be well
with Berande.
Sheldon lay in the steamer chair and
watched the Jessie's whaleboat pull In
for the beach. He wondered why only
three sweeps were pulling. and he
wondered still more when. beached.
there was so much delay In getting out
of the boat. Then lie understood. The
three blacks who had been pulling
started up the beach with stretcher
on their shoulders. A white man.
whom he recognized as the Jessie's
captain. walked in front and opened
the gate. then dropped behind to close
1t. Sheldon knew that 1t was Hughie
Drummond who lay in the stretcher.
and u mist came before his eyes. He
felt an overwhelming desire to die.
The disappointment was too great. In
his own state of terrible weakness he
felt that 1t was impossible to 90 on
with his task Of holding Berande
plantation tight gripped in his hst.
Then the will of him famed up again.
and he directed the blacks to lay the
stretcher beside him on the floor.
Hughie Drummond, whom he had last
seen In health. was an emaciated
skeleton.
BLACK water fever" the captain
said. He's been like this for six days.
unconscious. And we've got dysentery
on board. What's the matter with
you?"
I'm burying four a day." Sheldon
answered, as he bent over from the
steamer chair and inserted a ther-
mometer under his partners tongue.
Captain Oleson swore blasphemously
and sent house boy to bring whiskey
and soda. Sheldon glanced ut the ther-
mometer.
zone hundred and seven," he said.
"Poor Hughle."
Captain Oleson offered him some
whiskey.
Couldn't think Of it-perforation.
you know" Sheldon said
He sent for a boss boy and ordered
q grave to be dug; also, some OF the
packing cases to be knocked together
into coffin. Having given the orders
Sheldon lay back In his chair with
closed eyes.
Its been fair hell. SIR" Captain
Oleson began. then broke or to help
himself to more whisky. Contrary
winds and calms. We've been driftin
oil about the shop for ten days
There's ten thousand sharks following
US for the tucker we've ben THROWN
over to them. They was snnppin' at
the oars when we started to come
ashore. We got 1t from the water
water from Owga creek. Filled my
casks with 1t. How was we to know?
I've filed there before an 1t was all
right. We had sixty recruits-full up.
and nv crew of fifteen. We've been
buryin' them day an night. The beg.
gars won't live. dash them! They die
out of spite Only three Of my crew
left on its legs. Five more down.
Seven dead. Oh. HI What's the
good Of talkin'T
How many recruits leftY' Sheldon
asked.
Lost half. Thirty left Twenty
down, and ten tottering around"
Sheldon sighed.
THAT means another addition to the
hospital. We've got to get them ashore
somehow. viaburi! Hey. you. viaburi.
ring big fella bell strong fella too
much"
The hands. called in from the fields
at that unwonted hour. were split
into detachments. Some were sent
into the woods to cut timber for house
beams. Others to cutting cane grass
for thatching and forty Of them lift
ed whale boat above their heads and
carried It down to the sea. Sheldon
had gritted his teeth. pulled his COL
lapsing soul together and taken Be-
rande plantation into bis fist once
more.
"Have you seen the barometer~ Cap
tain Oleson asked. pausing at the bot
tom OF the steps on his way to oversee
the Decentralization Of the sick.
"No." Sheldon answered. lis It
DOWN.
ITS going down."
"Then you'd better sleep aboard to-
night" was Sheidon's Judgment
"Never mind the funeral Iii see to
poor Hughie. II you can see your way
to II. come ashore tomorrow and lend
me hand. II you can't. send the
mate"
.Rieht o. III coms mysalt NJ