Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-11-02


flm-roll, and he was busy explain
u ing to the circle of round-eyed
natives that the spool was the
heart of the wonderful rolls upon which Ford, the
tall New Englander printed the pictures of the big
orang-outangs and scaly crocodes.
Ford, who was watching the group from the
shadow of tapang tree, drew Hochdorf's attention
to the little comedy and in silence the two natural
lists watched the fear-washed faces of the Dyaks
the fertile brain of fora told of the miracles which
could be accomplished by the aid of the wooden
spool which hung upon his oiled bosom. He ex-
planned to his friends that each bundle of the picture
papers. had heart, and that the tall tuam who
owned the machine had given him the heart he wore
as a special mark of appreciation.
"Gee!' muttered Ford, cts wonderful how
little thing that is new to them will get those poor
devils excited Look at them They're afraid to
touch the spool when he pushes it toward them!"
Hochdorf smiled as he lifted himself from the
grass and leaned his huge bulk against of the
curious buttresses OF the tapang tree under which
they resting 1t was too hot for work or Sleep
and the little performance in the sunlight bel ped to
pass the time till the afternoon breeze would
prowling over the tree tops, bringing relief to the
sun-smltten land
Presently Hochdorf spoke.
"That business reminds me of something that
happened long ago" he said quietly. II do not
think have told it to you. 1t is the story of
some happenings that took place on board the
Donna Isabella while she was going from Mojanga,
in Madagascar, to Dar-es- Salam in German East
Africa. They mighty lively happenings, my
friend. That fool, Jora, sitting there in the
light brings back the whole business to my mind.
1t seems as if it happened but yesterday, and
l can shut my eyes this moment and again
the chrome-colored water of the Mozambique
Channel fattened out under a sky of brass. ia, it
all comes back to as if the actions of that fool
had opened storeroom in my mind that has been
closed for years" 4,
Jora took the wooden spool from his neck and
attempted to touch the arm of a wizened Dyak with
the charm, but the frightened Methusaleh fled in
terror across the clearing Ford laughed, and the
lines at the corners of the German naturalist's
mouth relaxed little as he watched the thin legs of
the old man threshing the sand in his mad efforts
to get out of range of Jora's charm.
''You and are inclined to think that old man
a fool" said Hochdorf but in this business of the
Donna Isabella saw foolishness of that kind fall
on white men. did so. 1t is too hot to work, so
if you like will tell it to you. When it comes to
things that I'VE do not understand there is not much
difference between the brown and the white people,
my friend. Our imaginations get hold of the rens
and we cannot put on the brakes.
"This business happened when | was coming back
from Madagascar with some specimens that had
collected to the north of Mojanga. | was shipping
them up to Dar-es-Saam, SO hired Lopez the Shark
and his schooner, the Donna Isabella If was trans
porting anything that could be turned into money
would not have hired Lopez. Not much! But he