The Mena weekly star., 1912-01-18

on the veranda, drinking coffee The whaleboat was being carried into it's shed. Boucher was a bit timId at first to carry off the situation with a strong hand. but he did very well once we got started. We made a play at holding a court, and Telepasse, the old scoundrel, accepted the findings He's a Port Adams chief, filthy beggar. We fined him ten times the value of the pigs and made him move on with his mob. Oh, they're q sweet lot, I must say, at least sixty of them, in five big canoes, and out for trouble. They've got dozen Sniders that ought to be coniscated."
 "Why didn't you ?" Joan asked.
 And have row on ny hands with the commissioner? He's terribly touchy about his black wards, as he calls them. Well, we started them along their way, though they went in 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 their own breakfast. The plantation hands were similarly occupied in their quar ters. Satan lay sound asleep on his back under the billiard table, in his sleep brushing at the flies that pes tered him. Joan was rummaging in the storeroom. and Sheldon was taking his siesta in q hammock on the ve- randa. He awoke gently. In some occult, subtle way a warning that all was not we'll had penetrated his sleep and reused him. Without moving he glanced down and saw the ground be heath covered with armed savages. They were the same ones be had parted with that morning, though he noted an accession in numbers. There were meI he had not seen before.
 He slipped from the hammock and with deliberate slowness .sauntered to the railing. where he yawned sleepily and looked down on them. It came to him curiously that it was the destiny ever to stand on this high place look ing down on intending hordes of black trouble that required control, bullying and cajolery. But while he glanced carelessly over them he was keenIy taking stock. The new men were all armed with modern rifles. An, he had thought so. There were fifteen of them, undoubtedly the Lunga runa. ways. In addition a dozen old Sniders were in the hands of the original crowd These were the very same men who had killed his trader, Oscar, at Ugi.
 What name you walk about this placer he demanded.
 At the same time he stole a glance seaward to where the Flibberty Gibbet reflected herself in the glassy calm Of the sea. Not q soul was visible under her awnings and he saw the whale boat was missing from alongside The Tahitians had evidently gone shooting fish up the Balesuna. He was all alone in bis high place above this trouble. while his world slumbered peacefully
 
 Nobody replied, and he repeated his demand. more of mastery in his voice this time and hint of growing anger. The blacks moved uneasily, ike neru of cattle, at the sound of his voice But not one spoke. Directly beneath him he caught sight of the muzzle of Il rife, barely projecting between two black bodies, that was slowly ele- vating toward him. It was held at the hip by a man in the second row.
 What name you?7 Sheldon suddenly shouted, pointing directly at the man who held the gun.
 Sheldon still held the whip hand. and be intended to keep it.
 Clear out. all you fella boysr' he or. dered. "Clear out and walk along salt water. Savveey'
 Me talk" spoke up a fat and filthy savage. whose hairy chest was caked with the nnwashad dirt of years
 "Oh, is that you, Telepasse?" the white man querled genially. You tell m boys clear out, and you stop and talk along me-"
 "Him good fella boy" was the reply "Him stop along
 Well. what do you wantT Sheldon asked, striving to hide under assumed carelessness the weakness of conces- sion.
 That fella boy belong along me-" The old chief pointed out Gogoomy, whom Sheldon recognized
 White Mary belong you too much no good" Telepasse went on. Bang m head belong Gogoomy. Gogoomy. all the same chief. Bime by me finish Gogoomy big fella chief. White Mary bang m head. No good. You pay me plenty tobacco, plenty powder, plenty calico"
 You old scoundrel," was Sheldon's comment. An hour before he had been chucklIng over Joan's recital of the episode, and here. an hour later, was Telepasse himself come to collect dam ages
 "Gogoomy." Sheldon ordered. "what name you walk about here? You get along quarters plenty quick.
 "Me stop" was the defiant answer.
 White Mary belong you bang m head" old TeIepasse began again. My word. plenty big fella trouble you no pay"
 "You talk along boys" Sheldon said with increasing irritation. "You tell m get to h. along beach. Then | talk with you"
 Sheldon felt a slight vihratlon Of the veranda and knew that Joan had come out and was standing by his side. But