Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1912-01-02
CHAPTER XVII.
AT OFFER OF MARRIAGE.

L0efe as IL was COulluS bOl
and laid there the whole week ant
traded for grub with the niggers
When we got to Tulagi there she wa
waiting for us and scrapping witt
Burnett. / tell you. Mr. Sheldon. shes
wonder, that girl. perfect won
der"
Munster refiled his glass. and while
Sheldon glanced across at Joan'S
house. anxious for her coming, Spar
rowhawk took up the tale.
Gritty! She's the grittiest thing
man or woman, that ever blew into
the Solomons You should have seen
Poonga -Poonga the morning we arriv.
ed-Sniders popping on the beach and
in the mangroves. war drums booming
in the bush and signal smokes raising
everywhere. It's all up, says Cap
tain Munster. up your granny she
says to him." Sparrowhawk went on.
"'Why. we haven't arrived yet, much
less got started Wait till the an
chor's down before you get afraid"
THAT'S what she said to me-" Nun
ster proclaimed. And of course it
made me mad. so that l didn't care
what happened. We tried to send
boat ashore for powwow. but it was
fred upon. What we want says
Miss Lakeland, is a hostage. I'm 60
ing ashore tonight to fetch Kina- Kina
himself on board, and I'm not asking
who's game to go with me. for I've
got every mans work arranged for
him. I'm taking my sailors with me
and one white man. OF course I'm
that white man, | said, for by that
time | was mad. OF course you're
not says she. You'll have charge of
the covering boat. Curtis stands by
the landing boat. Fowler goes with
me. Brahms takes charge of the Flib-
berty and Sparrowhawk of the Emily.
And we start at O'clock.
my word. 1t was a tough job lying
there in the covering boat. never
thought doing nothing could be such
hard work. We stopped about fifty
fathoms off and watched the other
boat go in.
"Of course there was a row. II had |
to come, and | knew it, but ii startled |
me just the same. never heard such
screeching and yelling in my life. The
niggers must have just dived for the
bush without looking to see what was
up. while her Tahitians let loose. shoot.
ing in the air and yelling TO hurry 'em
on. And then | heard them coming
through the mangroves and an oar
strike on Il gunwale and Miss Lack
land laugh. and ! knew everything
was all right. We pulled on board
without a shot being fred. And there
was old -Kinn himself, being
hoisted over the rail. shlvering and
like an ape The rest was
easy. Kina-Kina's word was law.
and he was scared to death. And we
kept him on board issuing proclama.
lions all the time we were in Poonga
Poonga
III was a good move. TOO. in other
ways. She made kina Klna order his
people to return all the gear they'd
stripped from the Martha. She-here
she comes now"
Sheldon greeted her appearances. The
ready made clothes from Sydney had
her. A simple skirt and
shirt waist of some sort of wash goods
set off her trim figure with a hint of
elegant womanhood that was new to !
him. Brown slippers peeped out as I
The crossed the compound. and he {
'nce caught glimpse to the ankle of ,
,rown openwOrk stockings. Some {
low she had been made many times
he woman by these mere extraneous .
rappings.
1--we opened up a new field" she
aid as she began pouring the coffee. I
Old kina-kina will never forget me. '
m sure. and can recruit there when. 3
ver want saw Morgan at Guvutu
les willing TO contract for thousand !
oyS at 40 shillings per head. Did / 4
ell you that I'D taken out a recruiting
cense for the Martha. ! did. and the '
lartha can sign eighty boys every b
rip"
sheldon smiled a tri1e bitterly to -
imself. The wonderful woman who a
ad tripped across the compound in 4
er Sydney clothes was gone. ana be
Tas listening to the boy come back v
gain. B
G
"well." Joan said. with a sigh. "I've II
nown you hustling American meth e
ts that succeed and get somewhere. 8
nd here you are beginning your mud n
ling again. b
Joan stood beside Sheldon and sigh. q
! as she watched the Martha beating
lt 70 sea. old kinross. brought over
ON Savo. In command D
MY, but she is a witch! Look at d
r. eating up the water. and there's no
IND TO speak OF Honestly. II I'd v
reamed Of the chance waiting for me b
Guvutu when bought her for less 81
ian 500 I'd never have gone partners e'
ith you And IN that case ia be sail- b.
g her right now" n
The justice Of her contention came -
,ruptly home TO Sheidon. b