The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-02-24
CHAPTER xI-Continued.

"Well, what's in the wind this
timer" inquired McGuffey.
Were invited to a 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 breach little
keg of liquor and We'll make a night
of it,
Good lord" groaned McGuffey,
docs 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 We'll do the honors
Ourself, Scraggsy. old skittles, and
leave Mac in charge of the ship"
Mind you're both back 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 a man with an Imagination? Only
If have to go ashore after you two,
those islanders'n date time from my
visit, and don't you forget it,"
Upon arrival ar the beach the two
adventures were met by a 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 war;, two island maidens
marched behind the two sea-dogs, wav-
In 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. eff that chuckle-headed McGuf-
fey only had the sense TO come along
he might be enjOyin' himself, too. You
must be dignified 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
yeu 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 III,
for he was busy getting his guns OIL
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
olden days the populace was wont to
gather for it's cannibal orgies; how
he greeted his distinguished visitors
with the most prodigious rubbing of
noses seen in those parts for many
day; of the feast that followed; Of
the fowls and pigs that garnished the
festive board, not emitting the keg of
Three Star thoughtfully provided by
Mr.. Gibney.
Tabu-Tabu acted as interpreter and
everything went swimmingly until
1abu-Tabu, his hospitality doubtless
strengthened by frequent libations of
the Elixir of Life, begged Mr. Gibney
to invite the remainder of his crew
ashore for the feast. Mr.. Gibney, him
self rather Illuminated by this time,
thought it might not be bad idea
ITS rotten shame, Scraggsy," he
said, ito think Of that fool McGuffey
not bein' here to enjoy himself. I'm
goin' TO send a note out by one OF
Tabu-Tabu's boys, askin' him once
more to come ashore, or to let the
first mate and one or two of the sea-
men come if Mac still refuses to be
civil"
Good idea, Glib" said Captain
Scraggs, his mouth full of roast chick
en- and yams. So Mr.. Gibney tore
leaf out of his pocket memorandum
book, scrawled a note to McGuffey, and
handed it to Tabu-Tabu, who at once
dispatched a messenger with it to
the Maggie II.
Within half an hour the messenger
returned. He was wildly excited and
poured torrent of native gibberish
into the attentive ears of Tabu-Tabu
and the king. He pointed several
times TO the point of his jaw, rubbed
the small of his back. and once he
touched his nose; whereupon Mr.. Glib
ney, was aware that the said organ had
a slight list to port, and he so in
formed Captain Scraggs. Neither of
the gentlemen had the slightest trou-
BILE In arriving at the correct solution
of the mystery. The royal messenger
mad been fncontinently kicked over
board by B. McGuffey Esquire.
Tabu-Tabu's wiiG eyes glittered and
grew wilder and wilder as the mes.
senger reported the indignity thus
heaped upon him. The king scowled
at Captain Scraggs. and Mr.. Gibney
was suddenly aware that goose-fesh
was breaking out on the backs of his
sturdy legs. He had a haunting SEN
sation that not only had he crawled
into hole, but he had pulled the en-
tire aperture in after him. For the