, 1913-05-08
TOO much fright bang IN mead be.

And then she reached for him across
me gate and got him 1t was a sweep
ng.i broad handed slap. SO heavy that
No staggered sideways and nearly fell
ne sprang for the gate as II to force
II open, while the crowd surged for.
ward against the fence Joan thought
rapidly. Her revolver was hanging
on the wall Of her grass house. Yet
one CRY would bring her sailors, and
knew she was safe. So she did
mo cry for help. Instead. she whistled
Tor Satan, at the same time calling
MIN by name. She knew he was shut
up In the living room, but the blacks
Old not wait to see. They fed with
wild yells through the darkness, fol-
lowed reluctantly by Gogoomy, while
she entered the bungalow, laughing at
hrst, but finally vexed to the verge of
tears by what had taken place. She
had sat up a whole night with the boy
who had died. and yet his brother de-
manded to be paid for his life.
ugh! The ungrateful beastf' she
muttered, while she debated whether
or not she would confess the incident
to Sheldon.
"And SO It was all settled easily
enough" Sheldon was saying. He,was
on the veranda, drinking coffee. The
whaleboat was being carried into its
shed. Boucher was q bit timid at
first to carry Off the situation with a
strong hand. but lie did very well ono
we got started. We made a0play at
holding a court, and Telepasse, the Did
scoundrel. accepted the findings. He's a
Port Adams chief, a filthy beggar. We
fined him ten times the value of the
pigs and made him move on with his
mob. oh, they're a sweet lot, Il must
say, at least sixty of them, In five big
canoes, and out for trouble. They've
got a dozen Sniders that ought to be
confiscated."
"Why didn't your" Joan asked.
"And have a row on my 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 wen 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 saw them come. The house
boys were busy in the kitchen at their
own breakfast. The plantation hands
were similarly occupied in their quar-
tiers. Satan lay sound asleep on his
back under the billiard table. in his
sleep brushing at the files that pes
A-.-l ILL., - - l..
the storeroom, and Sheldon was taking
his siesta in a hammock on the We
randa. He awoke gently. In some
occult, subtle way n warning that all
was not well had penetrated his sleep
and reused him Without moving he
glanced down and saw the ground be-
meath covered with armed savages.
They were the same ones he had
parted with that morning, though he
noted an accession in numbers. There
were men 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. 1t came to
him ~curiously that 1t was the destiny
eve to stand on this high place look
ing down on intending hordes Of black
trouble that required control, bullying
and oajolery. But while he glanced
carelessly them he was keenly
taking stock. The new men were all
armed with modern.rifes. All, he had
thought SO. There were fifteen of
them, undoubtedly the Lunga runa-
ways. In. addition aSdozen old. Sniders
were in the hands of the original
crowd. These were the very same
men who had. killed his trader, Oscar.
at Ugi.
'sWhat 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 CLASSY calm OF
the sea. Not a 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 his high place above this trouble,
while his world slumbered peacefully
under the breathless tropic noon.
Nobody replied. and he repeated his
demand. more of mastery in his voice
this TINA and 3 hint Of growing anger.
The blacks moved uneasily. like a herd
Of cattle, at the sound Of his voice
But not one spoke. Directly beneath
him she caught sight Of the muzzle
of Q rifle. barely projecting between
two black bodies. that was slowly ele-
waiting toward him. 1t was held at the
hip by a la in the second row
"What name your" Sheldon suddenly
shouted, pointing directly at the mar
who held the gun.
Sheldon still held the whip hand, and
he intended to keep II.
"Clear out, all you fella boys?' he or
dered- "Clear u and walk along salt
water. Sawed"
"Me talk" smoke up a fat int filthy