The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-08-10
The Harvard
Touch
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
By MORRIS SCHULTZ
t@. Isss. western Nswsp.psr union.)

I tiers, looking at Jones with sud-
den horror In his eyes.
Jones would not say the word that
was In both their minds. Those days
are gone" he answered evasively.
Nothing Of that sort on these islands"
Then what are they keeping rs
here for2"
"Oh. ransom, I guess" replied the
other.
II don't believe the ransom custom
ever got to this archipelago" said his
friend. "And"-his eyes dilated-"why
are they feeding US on manioc gruelY'
"Why, that's their staple diet"
But each knew that 1t was not so.
The yelling, naked savages who had
captured the only two survivors Of the
schooner, wrecked on the South Seas
island. were keeping them. they knew,
for purpose which they dared not
admit even to each other.
For two weeks they had been con-
fined In q small hut, closely guarded
by warriors with spears. They had
been given no water, nothing but ma
nioc Cruel. And In their thirst they
had to have recourse to the thin, oily
fluid constantly.
They were growing bloated on that
food. Each had put on pounds Of
weight In that short time. Outside
was constantly increasing stream Of
visitors from other villages. Among
them was copper-colored chief,
clothed only In loin cloth Of palm
bark and an opera hat.
'"That's the fellow to appeal to, II
we could speak his lingo" said Jones
to Walters. "See how the gang kow-
tows to him. Know whom he reminds
me Of? Borrioboola, that tribal chief
from the Philippines whom the gov
ernment educated at Harvard. Re
member old Borrioboola, Walters? Re-
member that night we got him drunk
on squirrel whisky and he gave a war
dance for US on the restaurant table?
He was a good sort. old Borrioboola,
though they plvcked him In mathemat-
les and biology"
"Yes, remember him. But that's
not Borrioboola," answered Walters.
"Borrioboola never went home. He got
job with a life insurance firm as
statistician."
'T wish 1t was," sighed his friend.
"Oh, my God, look, look!"
A large pot had suddenly made Its
appearance over the fire that had been
kindled, and a succession of native
women was coming up from the river
with gourds or their heads and emp
tying them into II. And around the
fire a fantastic war-dance was in evi
dence.
Round and round went the line Of
savages, welding their spears ant
uttering grotesque shrieks. More anC
more furious grew the dance as the
tomtoms, hidden in the jungle, boomet
out their dull undertone.
"They're-they're going to boil US +
whispered Jones to Walters.
II always knew that"
ESQ did l."
"These are the most ferocious can
nibals Of the South Seas. Oh, II only
we knew some way Of appealing to
that savage chiefs heart! There must
be some way. Look! The dance Ii
ended!"
The dance certainly was ended, and
couple of native women were push
ing forward grotesQuely carved
chair, into which the plump chief de
posted himself, his war club In his
hand and his opera hat tilted over his
face.
He made a sign and instantly two
warriors dashed into the hut, seized
Jones and Walters, and dragged them
into the chiefs presence. The chief
raised his club meditatively.
"Bonga walla walla," he remarked
gazing in contemplation at the pot
and rubbing his stomach.
"Say. we're-we're kind OF tough"
babbled Jones hopelessly. "My friend
here had hardening of the tissues las,
year, and me-the Doc said was poi
! sonous."
The chief smiled, a meditative smile
1--WE only eat the tenderest portions,
he answered, "and boiling takes all
the bad qualities out Of them" And
he raised the club on high.
"Merciful heavens |" muttered Jones
"It is, 1t is BorriobooIal Say, don't
you know me, old man? Don't you
remember the. war-dance in the res
taurant that nightT'
The chief let the club fall. Jones
Of Harvardl" he yelled.
"And Walters"
"You won't eat us now, chief?"
EAT you? Why, / guess notl Il
I'd realized you were Harvard mer
you should never have been subjected
| to this little unYleasantness. for which
I offer a thousand apologies. You
must be my guests Instead. I'm goini
to pick out the, tenderest, Juiciest
| .-o,.r~ ccuou- In xha x-tlto no <or 90