Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-01-20
CHAPTER l.
Who Is John Mort7

~lHE moonlight Streamed through
III the palms Of the Pacific island
of Lotoalofa. outlining Oh the
u beach vivid tracery of fronds
and stems Across the lagoon, soften
ed and nciiowed by the stretch OF
CLASSY water. came the sound or
mouth organ and the rhythmic beat OF
wooden drum as the crew OF the
North Star raised the chorus OF GOOD
by. Ny Fc:eni." AT Intervals there
was deeper note as some mighty
comber flung its might against the
coral and burst with fury on the sea-
ward reefs.
In all those lonely seas there Is no
lonelier Island than Lotoalofa. On
some Pacific charts 1t is called the
-four crowns OF Quiros," with Ques-
ton mark after it. On others. when
it is noticed Mt all, 1t figures variously
as "Melampus reef. p. d." "Winslow
shoals. p. d." or merely Island, e. d.
p. d. signifying position doubtful
and e. d. existence doubtful" In the
fifties its handful Of inhabitants was
carried away bodily by Peruvian slav-
ers. In later years 1t attracted the at
tcntion of Bully Hayes. who had had
the intention. never to be carried out,
of making it into sort OF pirate
stronghold. and to this day there stands
his battery of six small. rusty iron can
non. commanding the anchorage.
Here. leaning against one Of these
venerable guns, were two men In close
and earnest conversation. One Of them
was about forty-hve. tall and thin,
with high cheek bones and a narrow.
ugly, withered face. whose usual ex-'
preston was one of sardonic melan-
choly. But 1t was not a commonplace
face nor a weak one. The pale blue
eyes were masterful, the nose pro-
nounced and the general air distn-
guished Whatever else he had been
In the past John Mort, as he called
himself. was ineradicably cavalry
officer. with an underlying military
harshncss that on occasions could
fame up like volcano.
His companion was Matthew Brough-
ton. q man of thirty one, sobered. hard
ened and somewhat worn by eleven
years on the outposts Of civilization.
He was an American. alone In the
world. He had had two years at An
napolis. from which he had been dis
charged for hazing Later he had
drifted to the Pacific. He had thrown
himself wholeheartedly into the life OF
danger, daring and romance OF the
south sea Islands. and all be had to
show for 1t were few scars, smat-
tering Of half dozen outlandish dia-
lects and the memory of some desper-
ute chances taken and lost. At thirty
one he had achieved nothing more
tangible than 500 a month and the
command Of John Mort's schooner,
and even these he was now abandon
ing. to begin again with nothing.
But. my friend, Is there anything
you complain Oft" Mort was asking,
his slight foreign accent more marked
than usual as the result Of his concern.
"Oh. NO. sirr'
Money? Shall l double your salary
treble it, That is simple"
Matt shook his head.
ut is here" he said, laying his hand
to his heart. II don't know what's the
matter with me; but I'm tired Of It all;
homesick. perhaps. dissatisfied, de-
pressed"
"And you are determined to leave
me?"
do not reproach me. sir. / told you
this before my last trip. not wishing
to take you unawares."
I'm sorry" said John Mort with
emotion. Sorry for myself Mt losing
one 1 liked and admire. who for six
years has always been so faithful. so
loyal. Sorry. too. for you. my friend
that YOU should choose to 60 back
among strangers-back to that ac'
cursed civilization where none fares so
well as the greedy and unprincipled'
| Is 1t that YOU prefer1 So. is 1t that
for which you will surrender thisT''
Mort raised his hand to the tropic
moon. What a chOicer he mur-
INJURED. What a choice"
ut is an impulse stronger than
| am" returned Matt after a silence.
AFTER all, am white man. and
] those are my people. Have you never