Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-06-07
The Daily Story
Ananias Celebrates-By Claris sa Mackie,
Copyrighted 1918, by Associated Literary Bureau.


away in my cabin.
1T 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'
tons 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 AnGHias stopped to take breath.
The savages had gone back TO their
huts for supper. for Ananias had prom
ised them a big hullabaloo on the
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. Id 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 n
steamer to Honolulu. The monsoon
had bowed itself out, and we planned
to bid a fond farewell to King Kauri-
ri and his tribe and give them the old
Susan B. and 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 l told him the name of the is
10 a NH-hi oS
sheet and jumped Up.
"'Good Lord. captain ses he. this
is a cannibal island! | met n 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
II got up then and shook my fist at
Ananias. See here, you consumed
yarn spinner (only / spoke more
strongly. MISS. what you trying to do
stampede this here crew.
Before Ananias could answer one
OF the men ran up. Captain ses 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 or says he, edging
/ toward the boats.
/ Just then cooky called supper. The
men insisted on staying and eating the
grub. and was hungry myself. We
had forgotten all about the cannibals
when all at once there came a Kissing
! sound, and-whoosh-a big skyrocket
shot out of the jungle and took the
cook pot amidships and scattered hot
chowder over everybody.
"Of course we made for the jungle.
with our pistols ready, when there
came n redhot fire OF rockets and ro-
man candles out OF the thicket. From
overhead blazing bundles Of giant
cr0kers were tossed upon our heads.
andDombs 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!
I'VE was a mile of shore before we
was out OF range of them pesliy rock
cts After awhile they got to burning
red fire. and we could see the niggers
dancing around on the beach.
81 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
Ananins.
Then | spoke up. Patriotism q all
very well. and there amt nothing no.
bier than love OF country. but 'tain't
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.
Not bite today! | reckon the noise
has driv' all Off" he remarked az he
picked up the oars.
1t was twilight now. and the lights
Of the village were pricking ont like
faint stars on the encIrcling hills.
All at once there came splitting
rush of sound. and from the shore there
shot mp q magnificent skyrocket 1t
reached the blue zenith and poised.
then broke into myriad Of bright COL
ored stars-red. white and blue.
Captain Barnabas took of his cap
10 the national emblem OF color.
"Hurrayr' he yelled excitedly This
is the part | like best. Let's get into
port and shoot off them rockets / been
SAYING up for the last three weeks"
Maria Fish and | smiled at each
other.
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