Phoenix tribune., 1922-05-13
McGuffey Contented Himself by Pa
rading Backward and Forward
Across the Fo' Castle Head.

Across the Fo' Castle Head.
from the conference with Mr.. Gibney
and Scraggs and went over the side
to his waiting canoe.
well, what's in the wind this
time?" inquired McGuffey.
''We're invited to big feed with
the king of Kandavu," replied Captain
Scraggs, as happy as boy. Hop into
a clean suit of ducks, Mac, and come
along. GIBBS goin to broach a little
keg of liquor and we'll make a night
of it."
"Good lord" groaned McGuffey,
"does the man think I'm low enough
to eat with niggers?"
Leave him to his own Devices
said Mr.. Gibney, indulgently. MACS
just as Irish as if he'd been born in
Dublin, instead of his old man. No
body yet overcome the prejudice of
an Irishman so Wen do the honors
ourself, Scraggsy, old skittles, and
leave Mac in charge of the ship"
Mind you're both backs at a season.
able hour" warned McGuffey. "If you
amt, I'll suspect mischief and--say!
Glib! Well, what's the use of talkin'
to man with an Imagination? Only
If / have to go ashore after you two,
those islanders'l date time from my
visit, and don't you forget it,"
Upon arrival at the beach the two
adventurers were met by contingent
of frightful-looking savages bearing
long spears. AS the procession formed
around the guests of honor and
plunged into the bush, bound for the
kings wari, two island maidens
marched behind the two sea-dogs, way
ing huge palm-leaf fans, the better to
make the passage a cool and comfort
able one.
'By the gods of war, Glib, my dear
boy" said the delighted Captain
Scraggs ''but this is class, eh, Gib?"
Every time," responded the commo-
( dore. IF that chuckle-headed McGuf-
fey only had the sense to come along
he might be enjoyin' himself, too. You
must be dignifed, Scraggsy, old sala-
mander. Remember that you're big
ger an better'n any king, because
you're an American citizen. BE digni-
fed, by all means. These people are
sensitive and peculiar, and that's why
we haven't taken any weapons with
US. If they thought we doubted their
hospitality they'd have the court
bOuncer heave us out of town before
you could say Jack Robinson"
I'D love to see them giving the
bounce to McGuffey," said Captain
Scraggs, musingly. Mr.. Gibney had a
swift mental picture of such proceed
ing and chuckled happily. Had he been
permitted a glance at McGuffey at
that moment he might have observed
that worthy sweltering in the heat of
the forward hold Of the Maggie II,
for he was busy getting his guns on
deck. From which it will readily be
deduced that B. McGuffey, Esquire,
was following the advice of his pa
ternal ancestor and getting an anchor
out to windward.
One might go on at great length and
describe the triumphal entry of Com
modore Gibney and Captain Scraggs
into the capitol Of Kandavu; of how
the king, an understood, shriveled old
savage, stuck his bushy head out the
window of his bungalow when he saw
the procession coming; of how a min
ute later he advanced into the space
in the center of his wari, where in the
clden days the populace was wont to
gather for its cannibal orgies; how
he greeted his distinguished visitors
with the most prodigious rubbing of
noses seen in those parts for many
a day; of the feast that followed; of
the fowls and pigs that garnished the
festive board. not omitting the keg Of
Three Star thoughtfully provided by
Mr.. Gibney.
Tabu-Tabu acted as interpreter and
everything went swimmingly until
Tabu-Tabu, his hospitality doubtless
strengthened by frequent libations of
the Elixir of Life. begged Mr.. Gibney
to invite the remainder of his crew