The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1916-04-27

point of land at one end of the lagoon and
headed for the yacht. We climbed aboard
and had our boat hauled on deck in about
two shakes of rabbits tail. Then we got
ready for action.
The girls were hustled into the cabin and
the door locked on them, while Wallace
got up some ammunition for the quick-hrer.
The rest of us fellows scattered along the
rifle. The canoes were approaching at a good
speed; one was some distance in the lead,
then there were TWO running almost abreast
while the fourth canoe was quite way in
the rear. Wallace had swung his gun, and
was training it on the leading canoe, but
called to him and told him to take the two
following, and let us handle the first one.
This he did, and when the leading canoe
was about one hundred yards away, Jackson
opened the ball with shot from his rifle.
One of the natives dropped his paddle and
the first shot was just little high, but the
second one put one of the canoes out OF
business. Wallace hogged two canoes,
while the rest of US were sending bouquets
into the leading one. We soon had it in such
condition and the natives who were able to
row turned and headed for the beach. The
fourth canoe had turned back as soon as
the first one sank. The natives in the frsk
canoe were armed with guns of some kind,
and at least one of them knew how to shoot;
for he managed to put a bullet through
was not serious one, and healed up in
few weeks. After our little ARRAY with the
natives, Smith and Jackson set to work to
finish repairing the engine; this took until
six o'clock in the evening, OF four bells in
the dogwatch, as the sailors say. We had
been blown south of our course, and as
| there were a great many reefs and small
islands between US and Papeete, we decided
to wait until the following morning before
continuing our journey. The anchors were
! broken out early the next morning and we
resumed our journey towards Papeete,
which port we reached two and half days
later.
AT the entrance to Papeete Pass we were
signaled by pilot who wanted to take us
into the harbor, but we had an excep-
tionally good chart of the harbor, we de-
cided to risk going in alone. The en-
and the channel which is but seven fathoms
deep, is bordered on both sides by coral
reefs, and is but $50 yards wide. As there
is very strong current running out of the
harbor, it is sometimes difficult to take
vessel through the entrance. The day we
entered the weather was clear, and we were
able 10 pick up the buoys and other chan
mel markers without trouble. We run in
and dropped our anchor near the customs
house. and but short distance from a
French man-of-war After the usual forma-
lities that all vessels must go through on
entering port, we were permitted to go
ashore. The yacht was put in charge of a
shpkeeper, and we all took advantage of
the opportunity to get ashore and stretch
our legs. As we were flying the British
flag, and all of the men of our party were
British subjects, we went to call on the
British consul before starting out to see
the sights. We almost took the consul'S
breath away, when we told him two of US
were Scotch and three of US English.
"What,' says he, "two Scotchmen and
three Englishmen and all from the port
of Boston,
'And what might be the nationality of
the ladies?''
"They were American before they were
married." replied Smith, but now they
are British
"Mrs. Gordon is still in the future"
replied, ''and hope she continues in the
future.
'tNever you mind, Mr.. Gordon,'' said
Mrs. Smith, eve will find you a girl and
marry you off when you least expect it,"
Thanks for your warning. will build
a barbwire fence around my quarters when
we reach our destination, and | will forget
to put gate in the fence"
We spent five days in Papeete, during
which we took on supplies and gave our
boat an overhauling. The ladies were in
vited too, and attended dinner given by the
wife of the consul. The men in our
party were given dinner by the officers of
the French man-of-war anchored in the
harbor. The day before our departure, we
endeavored to return the kindness shown
US by giving dinner aboard the yacht,
after which we took our guests for cruise
around the harbor. We had photograph
on board and this helped to liven up
the party. Mrs. Jackson had purchased a
record called Crooked in the Cradle of the
Deep which she had played quite fire.