The Mena weekly star., 1912-01-18
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Continued from last issue)
CHAPTER X.

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 You weren't listening to a word. knew it," she chided. q was saving that the condition of the Flibberty Gibbet was disgracefuI, and that to- morrow, when you've told the skipper and not hurt his feelings l am going to take my men out and give her an overhauling. We'll scrub her bottom too. Why, there's whiskers on her copper four inches long. 1 saw it when she rolled. Don't forget. I'm going cruising on the Flibberty some day. even if 1 have 10 run away with her"
 While at their coffee on the veranda Satan raised commotion in the com pound near the beach gate, and Shel- don finally rescued a 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 1t over. Sheldon scanned it hurriedly
 "It's from Boucher" he explained. 'the fellow who took Paekard's place. Packard was the one 1 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 a dozen of his pigs already and seem to be looking for trouble. And he's afraid they may connect with the fif- teen runaways from Lunga."
 "In which casey" she querled.
 "In which case Billy Pape wil! be compelled to send Bouchers successor. It's Pape's station, you know. wish knew what to do. don't like to leave you here alone.''
 Take me along. then"
 He smiled and shook bis 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. 1 wish could go with you" Joan said wistfully as the boat showed of. ''I'm as good as 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. We'll 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 name?' she asked sharply. What name belong youT'
 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 fela medicine too much." Aroa was saying.
 Well. and you all right now" she answered
 "Me want Tn tobacco. plenty fela Tn porpoise teeth: me want m one fella belt"
 She looked at him humorously. ex- pecting to see a smile. or at least a grin. on his face. The rest of the boys had crowded up at his back in a solid wall Some one of them gigged. but the remainder regarded her in morose and Intent silence.
 "WelIT she asked. What for you want plenty teIla thingsT
 Me take m medicine" quoth Aroa. You pay me-"
 You go along quarters" she said. starting to turn on her heel to entel the gate.
 lou pay me" said the boy
 "Aroa, you all the same one big fool. no pay you. Now you go."
 But the black was unmoved. Sht felt that he was regarding her almost insoently as he repeated:
 T take m medicine. You pay me. You pay me now"
 Then 1t was that she lost her tenn per and cuffed his ears so soundly as to drive him back among his fellows. But they did not break up. Another boy stepped forward.
 Me Gogoomy," he said. "Bawd brother belong me"
 Da cf sick boy who had died.
 'Go on," she commanded.
 "Bawo take m medicine. Bawo i'm ish. 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 medicineT
 She dismissed the matter by passing through the gate and closing it. But Gogoomy pressed up against it and said impudently:
 Father belong me one big feiia chief You no bang m head belong me My word. you fright too much
 "Me frightr she demanded. while anger tingled al through her
 .'roo much fright bang m head be long me-" Cogoomy said proudly
 And then she reached for him across fhe gate and got him IL was sverp