Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1912-04-12

or so. We was nearest that island
which wasn't much more than a coral
reef covered with sand and with trees
growing on it and springs OF water
from somewhere down below. Captain
Fish said it was an old island and
had been much bigger, only an earth
quake had swallowed most of it into
the water. and what was left of 1t
wasn't enough to support human ex
istence. all Of which I didn't believe Il
mite Of.
"'Ananias.' says the captain to me
you go ashore and get the water,
and he gave me a couple of men and
some kegs to fill the big butts which
he had emptied as soon as he entered
the little harbor.
''As soon as we got ashore set out
to look for spring. and found it not
far from the white beach. set the
men to filing the butts while looked
around for more springs and also to
see if there was any fruit on the is
land. I'm kinder partial to cocoanuts.
while was looking l pushed fur
Their into the jungly growth until
finally came out on the other side OF
the island. and there above me was
tall cocoanut palm. On it conld see
Just one cocoanut. Dark brown it
was and peeping down at me through
| the palm branches kind Of saucy and
tempting.
"'Oh. no. Mr.. Cocoanut,' l says, y
guess I'll get you!
$50 I picked up big stone from
the beach and hove it at the brown CO.
coanut. Well, sir, / hit it! And 1t
come down. and behind it was a big
hairy body and two arms and two legs.
and the whole combination came at me
in great long leaps.
81 run fast, Jabez Honey. but that
there monkey man could run faster.
sir, and it wasn't long before he caught
up with me, and instead of jumping on
me and tearing out my eyes and hair
by handfuls, as I've heard tell they
did. he doubled up a great hairy fist
and struck me between the eyes.
didn't see him for awhile after that
because my head ached and l was ly-
ing down on the sand and it was very
dark.
when l opened my eyes this mon
with sly grin on his homely face.
"'Well. matey, l guess you'll look
twice before you heave another stone
at me- he muttered in English.
81 thought it was cocoanut.' l ex
planned.
That's a poor excuse for attacking
an innocent man. he said, with an ugly
look coming into his little eyes.
IA man? | asked.
"'Why not? he growled. doubling
his fist again.
"'Excuse me. mister. but l guess
you'll have to tell me about it, l said
as humble as l could muster, for
could see he was easily riled, and
wanted to hear the story.
"'Got any 'baccy. mater he asked
coolly.
eyes, and a pipe l says, and gave
him all had. AS soon as he wa:
smoking a more peaceful look came
into his face, and he seemed almos
civilized.
"'Tm the last inhabitant,' he said a
: last.
"'Last one Of where? asked.
""This here island. l was born ant
raised here, and twenty years ago al
earthquake came, and most Of the is
land was dumped into the sea, and
4 was the only human being saved. "
5 lived here all alone ever since, and
expect to die right here He put hi
head down on his knees and wep
s real tears.
t "'My friend says 1, for 1 wa
I moved by his emotion, why spend tn
: rest of your days in this forelorn is
land in the sea? Why can't you leav
it and go into the worldF
"My yacht is out of commission
he says, very sarcastic like.
"There's other vessels I limited.
: "'But they don't put in here h
said.
"'What's the matter with the on
that's in here now? asked, and 6
e that he jumped up and gave me
queer look.
l. "'In here? Oh, Lord! he yelleC
c and began to leap toward that coco'
= nut palm. He was up it like streal
l. and once more saw his brown fac
J. looking like a ripe cocoanut as h
II peered out. But the Indus was lyin
J. behind him, and he didn't see her {
first
IL when he did he gave vent to or
r whoop and came down the tree an
e made for the Indus, where the me
were going back and forth carryir
e water on board without so much {
~ looking to see what had become {
a me. / expect any one Of 'em wou
y have been glad If I'd never gone bac
'G for some one would have liked n
D. berth
At "Well, sir, that man-monkey wel