The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1913-07-11


"Mebbe he was. in his own way.
Come dinner time, and we went
down to the Susan b. and ate salt
horse and bread and coffee and looked
over the wreck to see If we couldn't
get away.
"Sure enough. we found that two of
the boats was dry and sound, and we
made ready to get away. While the
men loaded water and stores aboard
I pored over the charts l had stored
away In my cabin.
ut was twilight by the time the
boats was ready, and everybody ex-
cept Ananias was dog tired and ready
for bed. But Ananias had spent the
afternoon In rigging up frameworks
for the set pieces and giving instruc-
lions In q tickled sort Of way to the
| chief and his head man. They watch
| ed him like cats after a rat, and I'll
guarantee there wasn't anything about
them fireworks that they didn't know
when Ananias stopped to take breath.
| "The savages had gone back to their
huts for supper, for Ananias had prom
beach in the evening. The two boats
with provisions and water and all our
most precious belongings was hauled
| UP on the sand. and the crew was ly-
ing around shifting at the chowder the
cOOky was making over the fire.
I'D been pricking out our course on
| the chart. I'd taken the sun and To-
| Gated our island at noon. and it was
only two days sail to the Friendly
| islands. where we could catch q
steamer to Honolulu. The monsoon
had bowed itself out, and we planned
to bid "a fond farewell to King Kauri-
I'll and his tribe and give them the old
Susan b. aud what was left of her
stores in return for the gifts of fruit
and fish they had brought us.
"Ananias had been DOING near by
when 1 told him the name Of the is
land we was on. He got white. as
sheet and jumped up.
"'Good Lord, captain SEES he. this
is cannibal island! I met a Teller In
Singapore who was wrecked here. and
he said that the chief was for cooking
him on the spot But he swum away
and
81 got up then and shook my fist at
Ananias. See here, you consumed
yarn spinner (only spoke more
stampede this here crew.
Before Ananias could answer one
Of the men ran Up. Captain SEES he,
them niggers has run off with the
box of fireworks
"Ananias got white around the gills.
as he always does when he has over.
did himself.
1--WE better be on says he. edging
toward the boats.
"Just then cooky called supper. The
men insisted on staying and eating the
grub. and l was hungry myself. We
had forgotten all about the cannibals
when all at once there came a kissing
sound, rand-whoosh-a big skyrocket
shot out Of the jungle and took the
cook pot amidships and scattered hot
chowdcr over everybody.
"Of course we made for the jungle.
with our pistols ready. when there
came a redhot fire Of rockets and rO.
man candles out Of the thicket. From
overhead blazing bundles Of giant
crackers were tossed upon our heads,
and bombs were busting all around.
All them fourteen cannibals was busy.
let me tell you!
1T was SO dark between shots that
we could not see the savages who
were up in the trees and behind rocks,
and SO we did the only thing we could
do-because we all concluded we want
ed to fight another day. Mebbe we
wasn't glad the boats were ready!
1--WE was a mile off shore before we
was out Of range Of them pesky rock
cts. After awhile they got to burning
red fire, and we could see the niggers
dancing around on the beach.
"T Just wish our Uncle Sam could
clap his eyes on them new citizens,
sputtered Bill Smith morosely. i ex-
pect he'd be so proud and grateful to
Ananias here that he'd make him next
president OF the United States
"'More likely give him ten years at
hard labor muttered another darkly.
"Ananias growled from his place for
ard His face was full Of powder from
when he'd picked up simmering bomb
to throw in King Kauriru's face.
"'There amt none Of you got any
love Of country or patriotism says
Ananias.
"Then I spoke up Patriotism Is all
very well, and there amt nothing no.
bier than love Of country, but faint
born overnight, Ananias. You've got
to sort of spread your patriotism over
SOS to do the most good to the most
number Of people. and it don't consist
in making big loud noise and moth
ing else"
Captain Barnabas took the line from
my grasp and drew in the empty line
mot bite today! reckon the noise
has drjv' all Off" he remarked as he
picked up the oars.
1t was twilight now and the lights
of the village were pricking out like
faint stars on the encircling hills.
All at onca fhera On mo a shifting