Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1911-12-26

piled. 'sThere's that Lunga crowd;
they might reach the coast right here
and. with both of us absent rush thu
plantation. Goodby. Well get back
in the morning some time It's only
twelve miles,"
When Joan started to return to the
house she was compelled to pasa
among the boat carriers, and one Of
them stepped up to her. In the dark
ness she could not make him out.
What nameT she asked sharply
What name belong your
ME ArOa.' he said.
She remembered him as one Of thu
two sick boys she had nursed IN the
hospital. The other one had died.
me take IN plenty fella medicine
too much" Aroa was saying.
well. and you all right now" she
answered.
me want m tobacco, plenty fella
tobacco: me want IN calico. me want
IN porpoise teeth: me want IN one
fella belt"
She looked at him humorously. ex'
pecting to see smile. or at least grin
on his face. The rest Of the boys had
crowded up at his back in solid wall
Some one of them gtggled. but the
remainder regarded her In morose and
intent silence.
"WellT' she asked. What for yo1
want plenty teila things?"
Me take N medicine" quoth Aroa
you pay me-"
You 60 along quarters" she said
starting 10 turn on her heel to entel
the gate.
"You pay me-" said the boy.
"Aroa. you all the same one big fool
no pay you. Now you CO."
But the black was unmoved She
felt that he was regarding her almost
insolently as be repeated:
II take m medicine. You pay me-
You pay me now."
Then it was that she lost her tenn
per and cuffed his ears 80 soundly as
to drive him back among his fellows
But they did not break up. Another
boy stepped forward.
me Gogoomy," he said. "Bawe
brother belong me-"
Bawo, she remembered, was the
| sick boy who had died.
Go on" she commanded.
"Bawo take IN medicine. Bawo nm
fish. Bawo my brother. You pay me-
Father belong me one big fella CHIEF
along Port Adams. You pay me-"
Joan laughed.
"Gogoomy, you just the same as
Aroa. one big fool. My word. who
pay me for medicinef"
She dismissed the matter by passing
through the gate and closing 1t. But
Gogoomy pressed up against 1t and
said impudently:
Father belong me one big fella
chief. You no bang m head belong
me. My word. you fright too much
me frightT she demanded. while
anger tingled all through her.
"Too much fright bang IN head be
long me-" Gogoomy said proudly.
And then she reached for him across
the gate and got him. 1t was sweep
Ing, broad handed slap. so heavy tina
he staggered sideways and nearly fell
He sprang for the gate as If to force
It open. while the crowd surged for
ward against the fence. Joan though
rapidly. Her revolver was hanging
on the wall of her grass house. Ye
one cry would bring her sailors. ant
she knew she was safe. So she dit
not cry for help. Instead. she whistlet
| for Satan. at the same time calling
him by name She knew he was shu
up In the living room, but the blacks
did not wait to see. They fed Will
wild yells through the darkness. FOL
lowed reluctantly by Gogoomy. while
she entered the bungalow, laughing al
first, but finally vexed to the verge ol
tears by what had taken place. She
had sat up a whole night with the boy
who had died, and yet his brother de
manded to be paid for his life.
ugh! The ungrateful beast!' shs
muttered, while she debated whether
or not she would confess the incident
to Sheldon.
"lnd so 1t was all settled easily
enough" Sheldon was saying. He was
on the veranda, drinking coffee. The
whaleboat was being carried into its
shed. Boucher was bit umid al
first to carry off the situation with
strong hand, but he did very well once
we got started. We made play al
holding a court. and Telepasse. the old
scoundreI. accepted the findings. He's
Port Adams chief, q filthy beggar. We
fined him ten times the value OF the
pigs and made him move on with ni'
mob. Oh, they're a sweet lot, l mus'
saw. at least sixty of them. In FIVE big
canoes, and out for trouble They've
got a dozen Sniders that ought to be
con6scated."
"Why didn't your" Joan asked
"And have, row on my hands with
the commissioner? He's terribly
touchy about his black wards, as hf
calls them. Well, we started them
| along their way. though they went II
on the beach to kai-kai several miles
back. They ought to pass here some
time today"
Two hours later the canoes arrived
No one saw them come. The house
boys were busy in the kitchen at then
own breakfast. The plantation hands
were similarly occupied in their quar-
ters. Satan lay sound asleep on his
back under the billiard table, in bis
sleep brushing at the flies that pes
tered him. Joan was rummagtng III
the storeroom. and Sheldon was taking
his siesta in q hammock on the We
randa. He awoke gently. In some
occult, subtle way warning that al
was not well had penetrated his SLEEP
and reused him. Without moving nc
glanced down and saw the ground be-
| meath covered with armed savages