Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1911-11-28

her"
While at their coffee on the veranda
| Satan raised cOmmotion in the com
pound near the beach gate, and Shell
don finally rescued mauled and
frightened black and dragged him on
the porch for Interrogation.
The black drew scrap of note
paper from under his belt and passed
it over. Sheldon scanned it hurriedly.
ITS from Boucher" he explained
1.-The fellow who took PackardS place.
Packard was the one l told you about
who was killed by his boats crew. He
says that Port Adams crowd is out
| fifty of them, in big canoes-and camp
ing on his beach. They've killed half
dozen Of his pigs already and seem
to be looking for trouble. And he's
afraid they may connect with the tif-
teen runaways from Lunga.''
I'm which caseT' she queried
"In which case Billy Pape will be
compelled to send Boucher's successor.
It's Pape's station, you know. / wish
you here alone"
Take me along, then"
He smiled and shook his head.
Then you'd better take my men
along" she advised They're good
shots, and they're not afraid of any
thing-except Utami, and he's afraid
Of ghosts"
The big bell was rung. and fifty black
boys carried the whaleboat down to
the water. The regular boats crew
manned her. and Matauare and three
other Tahitians. belted with cartridges
and armed with rifles. sat in the stern
sheets, where Sheldon stood at the
steering oar.
MY, wish I could 20 with yOu."
Joan said wistfully as the boat showed
off.
Pm as good as a man." she urged.
you really are needed here" he re-
piled There's that Lunga crowd;
they might reach the coast right here
and. with both of us absent, rush the
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 pass
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 you?"
Me ArOa." he said.
She remembered him as one OF the
two sick boys she had nursed in the
hospital. The other one had died.
me take m plenty fella medicine
too much" Aroa was saying.
well. and you all right now" she
answered.
"Me want IN tobacco. plenty fella
tobacco: me want IN calico, me want
IN porpoise teeth; me want IN one
fela belt"
She looked at him humOrously. ex-
pecting 10 see r smile. or at least grin.
on his face. The rest of the boys had
crowded mp at his back in a solid wall.
Some one Of them giggIPd. but the
remainder regarded her in morOse ana
intent silence.
"Well7" she asked. What for yon
want plenty lena thingsy"
Me take M medicine" quoth Aroa
You pay me
"Y0u 20 aiong quarters" she said. /
starting 80 turn on her heel to enter
the gate.
"lOu pay me-" said the boy.
"Aroa. you all the same one big fool /
] no pa, sou. Now you 60"
But the black, was unmoyed She
fe,t nat be was regarding her almost
insOiently as be repeated:
Il take IN medicine. You pay me.
You pay me now"
Then it was that she lost her TEN
per and cufIed his ears 50 soundly as
10 drive him back among his fellows.
But they did not break up. Another
boy stepped forward,
~Me Gogoomy." he said. "Bawo
brother belong me-"
Bawo. she remembered was the
,ick boy who had died
Go on" she commanded
"Bawo take IN medicine. Bawo nm
sh. Bawo my brother. You pay me.
Father belong me one big fella chief
llong Port Adams. You pay me-"
Joan laughed.
-Gogoomy. you just the same az
Aroa. one big fool Ny word, who
az me for medicineT' II
She dismissed the matter By passing |
Trough. the gate and closing IL But b
iogoomy pressed up against IL and /
aid impudently: II
Father belong ne one big feila
hieL You no bang m head belong
ne. NJ word. you fright too much
NE frightL- she demanded while