Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-04-08

man-eaters had sinister designs upon
his master.
Finally they entered a wide clear
ing. In the middle OF this clearing
was village of struggling huts and
tents 1t was CHASTITY Yillage-an
ill-smelling village. Scattered about
II were skulls and bones enough to
furnish jolly Rogers to hundred pi-
rate ships. II became clear then to
Hernandez that the party on the beach
the small company of cannibals that
had surrounded him and his compan-
ion, we're merely side issue Here
was eity-here multitude. He had
little time, however, for reflection. He
was flung violently to the ground. The
leader Of the little band touched the
Brute upon the breast and made a
sign.
''Look-see," he signed. The Brute
followed, staring, mildly wondering,
possibly perhaps not wondering at all
The leader led the way to a rude
hut, larger than the rest, and gro
tesquely daubed with clay. In front
of this he paused and chanted some
weird song. A figure, huge and I'M
wieldy, appeared in the doorway. Huge
and unwieldy as he was, he was a
pygmy compared with the big Brute.
He was a chief, this man, and he
looked it, every inch. He was the
greasiest. the dirtiest, of all the
greasy, dirty crew. In his right hand
he held a bone. Now and then he
gnawed upon it-now and then he
used ii as a scepter He extended ii
and touched the approaching native
on the forehead. The latter bowed
then turned and pointed at the Brute.
This" he jabbered in his native
tongue, lis a god, and risen from the
sea. He is hungry. He would eat"
The chief in turn threw himself upon
HIS face. He called to all the multi
tude, and babe them do likewise. Then
he remembered. He rose and signed
to the Brute. g.
"He is hungry" he repeated. THE
god would eat > - s-.6 q. - -
Then he led the way to the fire.
The brute stared at ii contempla
lively. He smiled. H.. /.
The god is pleased" exclaimed the
chief, ''let us therefore eat" ~....
He cast from him the bone he had
been holding. He made another sign. |
The Brute glanced to one side. There |
upon the ground, wild eyed with fright, |
lay three human beings
Upon one OF these miserable vic |
tins a dozen men now pounced. They
lifted him, writhing, into the air, and |
started toward the flames. They were
about to fling him ahross the flames |
when something happened.
The Brute understood. With one
bound he was upon them, and with
wide. sweeps of his powerful hands |
and arms ne scattered them right |
and left
sThere Was a Wild murmur Against |
this outrage sudden handling OF |
spears and stone heads, but the Brute
never needed the outcry. Instead he
calmly stopped over each victim, one
by one, and tore the bonds of each |
apart, and set them free. He held
back the angry mob while the three
captives trotted nimbly on into the
nearby jungle.
The chief stared at him astounded.
He might, indeed, have Drained the
Brute with his club had he not felt i
the terrific grip of the Brute upon him. |
Then he reaiized-once more-that the /
Brute was not mere man after all.
There was wild clamor, but the
chief stilled it with uplifted hand.
Then the leader of the beach band
stepped forward and saluted.
tHe has his own captive he whis-
pered to the chief, see, yonder. He
brought him with him. out OF the sea.
The chief understood. He gave an
order. A dozen more braves sprang /
toward Hernandez and bore him to
the chief The chief pointed toward
the poles and the green vines lying |
torn upon the ground. In an instant.
lay prostrate-in another
instant half his clothes were torn from
his back.
Beast" he shrieked, save me,
Beast"
The Brute saved him. He charged
into their midst like q raging bull-he
tore Hernandez from their grasp.
The Brute snarled in his throat-hei
kicked and clutched and clawed at the
little nucleus of sayages. They fell
back before him as before whirlwind
they were stunned.
Again. murmurs But again the
murmurs were silenced by the chief
himself
He is his own captive" said the
chief to his followers, ''let him do as
he vii"
Hernandez. once upon his feet, was
not slow to act.
+Quick,". he said to the Brute, get
a stone - two stones, Knock these
wristlets from my hands.
He held out his manacled wrists
the Brute understood and. obeyed.
With his two hands free. Hernandez
brain was working once again. Quick
as fash he stopped and picked up q
short piece Of twisted vine. Raising
his hand high in air, he brought this
piece of vine a singing, snakelikeJ
down upon the head
and shoulders or Tie Brute Il
The Brute covered, cringed, whim-
- A. :