, 1913-04-03

ooorKnob was suspended. on the chcs,
OF another the brass wheel of an alarm
clock.
racing them. ~clinging to the railing
VI the veranda for support, stood the
sick white man. Any one of them
could have knocked him over with
inc dow OF a little finger. Despite his
nrearms, the gang could have rushed
MIN n delivered that blow, when his
mead and the plantation would ia va
beer theirs. Hatred and murder and
lust for revenge they possessed to
overhowfng. But one thing they
lacked. the thing that he possessed
the flame of mastery that would not
quench. that burned iiercely as ever
In the disease wasted body.
"Narada! Billyf" Sheldon called
sharply.
Two men SUNK unwiTlingly forward
and waited
ED gave the keys Of the hand
cuffs to a house boy. who went under
the house and loosed the prisoner.
You fella Narada. you fella Billy.
6ke UNI this fella boy along tree and
make fast, hands high up was Shell
don's command.
While this was being done one Of
the house boys fetched a heavy han
died. heavy lashed whip. Sheldon be-
gan a speech.
This fella Arunga, me cross along
him too much. no steal this feila
A r1InOn M 1ornrpo- .An
right. you come along me Berande.
work three fella year. He say. All
right, me come along you work three
fella year. He come. He catch plenty
good fella kai kai food plenty good
fella money. What name be run
away? Me too much cross along him.
l knock what name outa him fella. |
pay Seelee, big fella master along
Balesuna. one case tobacco catch that
fella Arunga. All right. Arunga pay
that fella case tobacco. Six pounds
that leila Arunga pay. ALE same one
year more that fella Arunga work
Berande. All right. Now he catch ten
fella whip three times. You fella Billy
catch whip. give that fella Arunga ten
ACild thItt tlIltS. All ttlld DONS IOOh
see, all fella Marys (women, look see:
bime bye. they like run away they
think strong fella too much. no run
away. Billy. strong fella too much
ten fella three times"
The house boy extended the whip
to him, but Billy did not take 1t. Shell
don waited quietly. The eyes of all
tha aarnth,I D., ron a-al rnNn ht-, L.
doubt and fear and eagerness. 1t
was the moment of test. whereby the
lone white man was to live or be lost.
'Ten fella three times. Billy" Shell
don said encouragingly. though there
was a certain metallic rasp In his
voice.
Billy scowled, looked up and looked
down. but did o move.
Billy
sheldon's voice exploded like a pistol
shot. The savage startled physically.
Grins overspread the grotesque feat
ures of the audience, and there was a
sound of tittering.
"S'pose you like too much lash that
fella Arunga. you take him fella Tul-
agi." Billy said. zone fella govern
ment agent make plenty lash. That
UNI fella law. Me savvee um fella
law"
It was the law. and Sheldon knew
1t. But be wanted I live this day
ind the next day ana not TO u1e war;
ing for the law to operate the next
week or the week after.
"To much talk along you!" he cried
ingri,y. What name. eh7 What
manner"
Me savvee law" the savage repeat
ed stubbornly.
"Astoa"
Another man stepped forwsld in al
most a sprightly way and glanced In
solently up. Sheldon was selecting the
worst characters for the lesson.
"You fella Astoa. you fella Narada.
tie up that fella Billy alongside other
fella same fella way.
"Strong fella tie" he cautioned them.
.You fella Astoa take that fella whip.
Plenty strong big fella too much ten
fella three times. SAWYER"
NO" Astoa grunted.
Sheldon picked up the rife that had
leaned against the rail. and locked 1t.
~ know you. Astoa," he said calmly.
"You work along Queensland six
years"
"Me fella missionary" the black In
terrupted with deliberate insolence.
Queensland you stop Jail one fella
year. White fella master fool no han
you. You too much bad<ella. Queens
land you stop jail six months two fella
time. Two fella time you steal. All
right, you missionary. You savvee n
fella prayer"
"Yes. me savvee prayer" was the
reply.
"An right. then you pray now. short
time little bit You say one felia
prayer quick. then me kill you"
Sheldon held the rifle on him and
waited. The black glanced around at