The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1914-08-28
BY Gouverneur Morris

BY Gouverneur Morris
II was spring in the South Seas
when. for the first time. ! went
ashorc ut Batengo. which Is tho
polyneslan village. and the only one
on the big grass island Of the same
name.
There Is cable station Just up
the beach from the village. and
good young chap named
Graves had charge OF II.
He was outstanding. eleanor, fell
low.
Don, who dlshkcs anything Poly
neeian or Melanesian. took TO him
1t once.
He gave US lunch on the porch.
and because he had not seen white
man for two months. or q liv~rand.
white dog for two years. he told us
the entire story OF his young life
and plans for the future thrown In.
The future Was very simple.
There was q gfri coming out 70
him from the states BY tho next
steamer but one. the captain OF
that steamer would Join them to-
esther In holy wedlock. and sftsS
that the Lori would provide.
He led the way 70 his bedroom.
and stood IN silent rapture b fore
q large photograph that leaned
against the wall over hts dressing
table.
"The usual cable agent said.
keeps from going mad by having
3 dog or cat or some pet or other
to talk 10.
but can understand . photo
graph like this being ail-sufficlent
to any man--even II he had never
seen tho original. Allow me to
shake hands with you"
you haven't asked me my bush
meas In these parts" said. but
I'll tell you. I'm collecting grasses
for the Bronx Botanical Garden.
Then. by Jovel" said Graves.
you have certainly como 10 the
right place. Grass Tho place Ii
all grass: there are so kinds right
around my house here"
"rve noticed only 49," ! said.
sbut that isn't the point The point
IL: when do the Batengo Island
grasses begin TO 50 to seed2" And
l smiled.
You think you've got me stump
ed, don't your" he said. That
= mere cable agent wouldn't notice
such things. Well. that grass
there" and he pointed beach
nut we call it's the first TO rpco
seed. and. a. far az know. II does
II Just six weeks from now"
In that case" ! said. expect
me back
Anything I can do to help you
while you're gone? I've got loads
Of spare time"
III you knew anything about
grasses"
II don't. But I'll blow back into
the interior and look around. I've
been meaning 10 right along. Just
for fun. But ! can never get any
OF them TO go with me"
The natives?"
"Yes. Poor lot. They're com
hitting race suicide as fast as they
can. There are more wooden gods
than people In Batengo village, and
the superstition's so thick you
could cut II with a knife
They say that n you go back
there in the grass something aw-
full will happen to you
'As WHAT" ! asked.
"The last man 20 try II" said
Graves. I'm the memory Of the old
-
When they found her she was all
black and swollen--at least that's
what they say. Something had
bitten her Just above the arkle."
Nonsense" ! said. There are
no snakes in the whole Batengo
group"
They didn't say II was a snake. .
said Graves. They said the marks
OF the bite were Ike those that
would be mate by the teeth OF q
very little-child"
Five weeks later I was once more
coasting along the wavering hnis
OF Batengo Island. with a sharp eye
out for first sight OF the cable
station and Graves. And when at
last we rounded on the cable sta.
fion I let off both barrels OF my
gun.
Tho salute brought Graves out
Of his house.
Even at that distance I detected
. something irresolute In HIS man.
ner.
That's funny" I said TO Don.
Hes coming TO meet us in spite
OF the fact that he'd much rather
not. Oh, Welt"
I left the schooner while she
was still under way, and reached
the beach before Graves came up
There were too many strange
brown men to suit Don, and he
kept very close to my legs. When
Graves arrived the natives fell
away from him az IL he had been
leper. He wore a sort Of sickly
smile, and when no spoke the dog
stiffened his legs and growled me
nacingly.
my dear fellow" / said. what
the devil Is the NATTER"
Graves looked TO right and left
and the islanders shrank still fur
Their away from him.
you can see for yourself" he
raid CURLY. I'm taboo"
i've been back there In the
grass" he said, "and because
cause nothing happened TO me I'm