, 1921-12-10

1AA8
poured a torrent OF native. gfbber.sh
into the attentive ears OF Tabu-Tabu
and the king He pointed several
times 70 the point Of his jaw. rubbed
the small OF his back. and once he
touched his nose; w~hereupon Afr. Glib
ney was aware that the said organ had
q slight list to port. and he 80 In
formed Captain Scragus. Neither OF
he gentlemen had the slightest trou-
Bile In arriving at the correct solution
OF the mystery. The royal messenger
had been incontinentiy kicked over
board by h. McGuney. Esquire.
Tabu-Tabu's Wild eyes glIttered and
grew wilder and wilder as the mes
, senger reported the indignity thus
heeped upon him The king scowied
at Captain scraggs. and Mr.. Glbney
was suddenly aware that ~goose-nesh
was breaking put on the backs OF his
sturdy legs. He had a haunting SEN
saticn that not only had he crawied
into q hole, but he had pulled the en-
tire aperture In AFTER him. For the
nrst time he begnn TO fear that he
had been too prdcipitate. and with the
thought It occurred to the gallant com
modore that he would be mich S>scr
back on the decks Of the Maggie II.
Always crafty and Imaginative, how
ever. Mr.. Gibney came quickly to the
front with an excuse for getting back
TO the ship. He stepped quickly to-
ward the little group around the out
ragged royal ambassador. and Inquired
the u Of the disturbance. Culver
ing with rage, Tabu-Tabu Informed
him of what had occurred.
Mr.. GIbney's rage. OF course, know
no bounds. Nevertheless, he did not
have to simulate his a for he was
truly furious. When he could control
his emotions, he requested Tabu-Tabu
- the king that he, Gibney, &C
by Captain Scraggs, would
foiti.ti,i 80 repair to the schooner and
then there fay the offending Nc
Gurey within an inch OF his life. Suit
ing the action TO the word. Mr.. Gibney
called to Captain Scraggs to follow
him, and started for the beach.
As Captain ScraRgs arose, a trife
unsteadily. from hLs seat, a black hand
reached around him from the rear and
closed over his mouth. Now. Captain
Scraggs was well versed In the rough.
end-tuFpb,e tactics of the San Fran
cisco waterfront: hence. when he felt
a long pair Of arm crossing over his
neck from the rear. he merely stopped
and whirled his opponent over his
head. In that instant his mouth was
free. and clear above the shouting and
the tumult rose his frenzied shrek for
help. Mr.. Gibney whiried with the
speed and agility Of a panther Just In
time TO dodge a blow from a war club.
His fist collided with the Jaw of Tabu.
Tabu. and down went that savage az
II poie-axed.
Pandemonium broke loose Mt once.
Captain Scraggs. after his single SHREK
for help, broke from the circle OF saw
age and fed like a frightened rabbit
for the beach. One Of the natives
hurled a rock at him. The missile took
Scraggs In the back of the head, and
he instantly curied up in a heap.
"~Scraggsy's dead." thought the hor.
rined GIbney. and sprang at the king.
In that moment It came to Mr.. Gibney
to sell out dearly. and II he could dis
pose OF the king. he felt that Scraggs'
death would be avenged. In TN instant
the c~ommodore's great arms had
closed around tho king. and with the
helpless monarch In his grizzly bear
grip Mr.. Gibney backed up against the
nearest bungalow. A fringe Of spears
threatened him in front. but for the
moment he was safe behind, and the
kings body protected him. Whenever
one Of The savages made a Jab at Mr..
Gibney. Mr.. Gibney gave the king a
boa-constrictor squeeze. and the mon
arch howled.
"T1l squeeze him to DEATH" painted
Mr.. Gibney to Tabu-Tabu when that
individual had managed to pick HIM
self up. let me go. OF I'll XIII your
king"
The answer was an earthenware pot
which crashed down on Mr.. Gibney's
head from a window in the bungalow
behind him. He sagged forward and
fell or his face with the gasping king
In his arms.