Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1920-07-30
CHAPTER III.
On the Road to Pobi.

mon" eXpOstulated the Scotch
trader. 'but you're fair daft! You're
out out of the jaws of death, and I'd
10 say you're all the way out at that.
Side a bit, there'Il be anither in a
MONITOR in two, anyhow"
Wallen standing in the center of
he little acknowledgements store
rOuSe, his eyes on the native who had
ntered a moment before, shook his
cad.
1--WE got to get away, MacKnight,"
e said earnestly. There's no use
alking about it. What kind of a ship
lOes he say it ISL"
MacKnight flung out a question in
he native tongue.
''He says it is a big smoke-bOat,"
translated the trader, (which will be
by way of saying it's some measly
steam coaster that's so small it's no
able to accommodate its own cock
reaches, dye mind Mon. nav no at
tentiOn to it. What's anti = month
or sO-and you'll be strong t..uAannd-
ah, mon, but | hate to have yC 60.
Wallen, gaunt and thin from his
illness, shook his head decisively
again, though the others words had
brought quick responsive smile to
his lips.
Six weeks ago a prOa from the vii
lage here had picked him up at sea
and brought him, as it were, to this
big-hearted mans door. He owed his
life to MacKnight.
cts no use, MacKnight," he an
swered. 'T've got to go"
It'll be that black devil in Sfnga-
pOra" calculated the trader, screw
ing up his wizened face and pulling
viciOusly at his beard You'll no play
the fool, Wallen. It's not fit you are
to go Listen to me, mon: it's mat
ter o. twenty miles across the island,
as We know we'll, and no conveyance
We mind And it's no regular trader
that's called, for none is due-she'u
have put in for water or the like, and
will be- sailing again at daybreak."
81 can make it by daybreak, Mac
Knight" Wallen stated quietly.
For n moment MacKnight stared at
Wallen, then his hands dropped from
Wallcn's shoulders.
'Well, go, and be damned to you,
Them he said grutly, deep down in
his throat to hide his emOtiOn--and,
turning, stepped abruptly outside.
There were not many preparations
to make-very few.
Wallen's worldly possessions were
his only through the generosity of the
trader. But MacKnight did not stop
at that now, for, five minutes later,
as Wallen started for the nights
tramp across the island, a Malay
guide, we'll loaded with supplies, start
ed with him, while MacKnight cursed
with earnest profanity as they wrung
each others hand.
At the edge Of the clearing Wallen
looked back. On the great bearded
figure that leaned against the door
frame of the solitary trading station
Wallen's eyes fingered.
The man waved his hand and
shouted:
Mon, yen no forget MacKnight o.
Arru! Yen no forget MacKnight,
mOn!'
And then suddenly mist dimmed
Wallen's eyes. He tried to shout
baclz-and could only wave his own
hand in return. And then the trees
hid the trader from view.
Forget mcknight The man who
had nursed him back to life as a
mother would nurse her child! For
civilizatiOn-a man with an iron fist,
q barbed-wire tongue and heart as
tender as a wOman's! No; he would
not forget Mcknight!
He forced q smile to his lips. One
made strange friendships in these far
parts of the world, and made them
under strange circumstances. The
chances were a thousand to one that
he and MacKnight would never meet
again-but, for all that, it was q
! friendship that would last.
Twenty miles across the island be-
fore daybreaki
Wallen fell to wondering what sort
Of a ship and, more pertinent still
what sort of skipper was on the ship
that had put into Pobi. He had re-
fused MacKnights offer Of an advance
of money, and he hadn't a penny-but
he was satisfied that he would not be
refused passage in any case. He could
work his way