The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1914-05-11

creature with an absolutely inexpres-
sivs face.
whats he saying" I asked our
interpreter. koppi Koko.
The natives face grew blank and
DUH.
"Savvy little bit. That fellow man.
him telling Mo some one make gam
mon along him. he no like. 1 That
fellow. he brother along Mo. Fore
God. Taubada (master). I no more !
savvy."
He seemed a good deal scared
about something, and when a Papuan
Is thoroughly scared you may leave
him alone for all you will get out Of
him. said no more. and the turi-
Gus little man. after a Anal jump and
yell. showed something into Mos
hand and bolted away under the
house like AT. The sorcerer put
his hand into his string bag for q
moment, drew it out empty and
mounted the ladder once more.
You could not tell what he thought
or II he thought anything. so COM
plete was the veil Of Indifference he
had drawn over his face. He had, of
course, head OF our arrival In the
village. NO l was not surprised at
his taking our visit az calmly as he
did. But did not-Quite-like
the way he had accepted tho plant
Of the bat-eared little man.
The rickety floor Of sage sheath
creaked and dipped as Mo strobe up
the building. lie went straight to
where the Marquis and | were stand
ing. folded his arms over his breast
and uttered something in native that
was evidently n greeting. The Mar
quis bowed. took his hand and shook
II. nodded at him. Mo turned aside
a minute to hang up the hollow barh-
boo he carried so carefully 1--WE could
see It was plugged at one end with
wood, and then swept koppi koko
10 him with gesture Of one hand.
We were great chiefs. no doubt, he
said: he was glad we had come to see
his village. Did we belong TO the
Government?
We assured him we did not-know-
Ing that kata- Kata had probably
been saving up good long score TO
settle with His Majesty's representa-
tivcs. since the last punitive expcdt-
ton. This great chief, ! said throuEh
Koppi Koko). had come a very long
way from his village. which was
many. many moons away, to see Mo
and hear about his wonderful doings.
II Mo would show him any sorcery he
would give much tobacco and salt
and beads and other treasures. And
(since sorcery is illegaD he would
promise not to tell tho Government
anything about II.
While / talked ! could hear q
dance getting ready in the village;
feet were stamping; drums were
throbbing with the intoxicating triple
beat that all Papuan travellers know;
loud. brassy voices were rising and
nh
was glad to hear them. for ] know
the difference between songs OF peace
and songs of war. and this was moi
onaof the latter.
Still--many years In New Guinea
|, have given me an instinct for danger
that has nothing Mt all to do witt
|, sight or hearing: and II was stirring
!, ever 30 slightly. now. ! watched thu
sorcerer's face as talked.
II was still n blank: you could ne
more have read il than you coul'
/ read n stone wall. Mo replied to my
/ address that ne had been making
magic all day and was tired. An
= other day, he said, he would SHOW
!, us some. o-night we could Civ
a him that tobacco and salt he saw. an
he would think and prepare himself
Magic, he explained, took much prep
aration.
| swallowed my feelings and toll
Mo we should be glad to see his per
Torrance tomorrow. tf that woul
|, suit him. and in the mean time h
! might have the tobacco-not the salt
! that would come when he had don
something to earn IT, Salt Is pre-
cious in the interior OF New Guine'
y, and ! was not minded TO throw an
: of ii away.
! The Marquis was almost ready I
I cry--he had been looking forward 7
an immediate satisfaction OF his GU
= riosity. ami he was like child whe
y disappointed.
ASK him something" he demande
ASK him at least what 1t Ii that !
J. has in his bamboo, and why he car
= ries a human hand around his necl
! and what Is In that string bag @
9 his. Not to hear anything. to-nigh
my Flint, that would indeed be the lon
? lane that breaks the camel's bacl
!, I'm not made Of patience!"
you need not worry" ! said.