Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1911-12-26
~ KH5w. one OF those

0OCon Mti tSuin K(1tn'.
goin'-las; for ~ soy.
ereigns-go. ;,o,. Miss
--er-what name .,le..
Joan Lackiand. say 81
Smile to me, and that how she
the Martha"
Sheldon experienced sudden thrill.
The Martha. a finer schooner than
the Malakua and. for that matter, the
finest in the Solomons-she was Just
the thing for recruits. and she was
right on the spot. Then he realized
that for such craft to sell at auction
for f55 meant that there was small
chance for saving her.
But how did it happen?' he asked.
Weren't they rather quick in selling
the Martha?"
Had TO. You know the reef at
Poonga-Poonga. She's not worth tup-
pence on it If any kind of sea kicks
up. and it's ripe for a norwester any
moment now. The crowd abandoned
her completely. You know Malaita.
and you know Poonga-P Poonga. That's
where they cut off the Scottish Chiefs
and killed all hands. There was moth
ing to do but take to the boats. The
Martha missed stays going in, and in
side five minutes she was on the reef
and in possession. The niggers swarm
ed over her, and they just threw the
crew into the boats. | talked with
some of the men. They swear there
were 200 canoes around her inside half
an hour and 5000 bushmen on the
beach. Said you couldn't see Malaita
for the smoke Of the signal fires. Any
way, they cleared out for Tulagi."
"But why didn't they tight? Shel-
don asked.
1T was funny they didn't. but they
got separated. You see. two.thirds of
them were in the boats. without weap-
ons, running anchors and never dream
ing the natives would attack. They
found out their mistake too late"
But what is Miss Lakeland intend
ing to do"
Captain Auckland grinned.
"She's going to try to get the Mar.
tha off. should say. or else why did
she pay 55 quid for her? And If
she fails she'll try to get her money
back by saving the gear spars. you
know, and patent steering gear and
winches, such things. AT least that's
what I'd do If was in her place.
When | sailed the little girl had char
tered the Emily. I'm going recruit
ing says Munster. He's the skipper
and owner now. And how much will
you net on the cruiser asks she: oh.
so quid.' says he. Good. says she.
You bring your Emily along with
me and you'll get 75. You know
that big ships anchor and chain
piled up behind the coal sheds? She
was just buying that when | left.
She's certainly hustler, that little
girl of yours"
"She is my partner" Sheldon cor
rected. III
"Well. she's a good one. that's all.
and cool one. My word: A white
woman on Malaita and at POonga-
Poonga of all places! Oh. | forgot to
tell you. She palavered Burnett into
lending her eight rifles for her men
and three cases of dynamite. You'd
laugh to see the way she makes that
Guvutu gang stand around. And to
see them being polite and trying to
give advice. Lord. Lord. man. that
little girls a wonder. marvel, a-a-a
catastrophe. That's what she is-a
catastrophe. She's gone through Gu
vutu and Tulagi like a hurricane.
Every last swine Of them in love with
her. except Raff. He's sore over the
auction. and be sprang his recruiting
contract with Munster on her. And
what does she do but thank him and
read it over and point out that. while
Munster was pledged to deliver all re-
cruits to Morgan and Ran. there was
no clause in the document forbidding
him from chartering the Emily.
There's your contract says she.
passing it back. And very good con-
tract it is. The next time you draw
one up insert a clause that will ht
emergencies like the present one Ana
Lord, Lord. she had him too!
But there's the breeze. and I'm OF.
Goodby. old man. Hope the little girl
succeeds. The Martha's whacking fine
boat, and she'd take the place of the
Jessie"
The next morning Sheldon came IN
from the plantation to breakfast TO fnd
the mission ketch Apostle at anchor.
her crew swimming two mares and
flly ashore.
Miss Lakeland sent them" said
Welshmere. the missionary doctor.
stepping ashore and shaking hands
with him. There's also box OF sad
dies on board. And this letter from
her And the skipper Of the Flibberty
Gibbet"
The next moment and before be coulo
greet him Oleson stepped from the boat
and began
"she's stolen the Flibberty. Mr. Shel-
don. Run clean away with her. She's
n wild one. She gave me the fever.
Brought IL on by shock. And got me
drunk as we'll"