The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-11-27
FIVE UMP OF
SUGAR
By ALBERT W. ToLMAN

) the northern horizon up toward MIL
. doro, as if misty fingers were sponginl
the color from the fringe of the coppeI
sky. The five castaways in th'
typhoon-battered dinghy looked at th'
bronze splotch thirstily, p%icturinG
heaven beyond those low clouds hover
ing vigorously and benignantly over
the unseen land where men had fooC
to eat and water to drink and trees tc
shade them from the sun.
All Sing, the Malay steward, was
busy with turned back in the bow
the four whites gave him no heed.
Soon he faced them, a small sack in
his hand, his black eyes glittering
snakily under his low yellow forehead.
at is better that n should die than
five. Meat and drink are ours, il we
will. In my country we gamble with
Jumps of sugar, that man winning or
losing on whose lump a fly shall first
alight. 1t is a fair game, wen though
used by dogs like myself, unworthy to
lick up the crumbs from white mems
tables"
His thin lips sneered venomously.
His eyes shot glances of baleful fire.
From the sack he shook into his fiat
palm five sugar cubes, the last of their
dwindled rations. =
"Let us play this game, each stalk
ing his life on the lump he chooses.
Allah will send a fly, and the man
on whose piece it first sets foot shall
yield his body as food for the rest
The whites shrank from him in dis
gust and horror, but the tempting
Malay voice purred on:
ut is free ana fair no man shares,
unless he risks no man risks unless
ne wishes to share. His risk is one
to four; his chances of sharing are
four to one
Dead silence brooded over the boat.
lie brains Of the men were boiling in
cir skulls, their throats were
arched, their blood was thick. For
days no food or drink had passed
their lips. They stared duly out
across the pale blue sea. Behind the
dinghy trailed a patient black fin,
waiting, waiting.
All Sings eyes cleaned furtively, as
be watched them pondering. With a
swift gesture he plucked a cube from
his open palm.
Il will take the first"
He extended his lean hand to the
others, his voice vibrant and master
full.
Choose"
Cracked lips growing assent, they
chose mechanically with averted faces.
All Sings steady fingers placed his
lump on the thwart, and each white
followed with him with tremulous
hand, knowing that he might be seal
ing his own death warrant. They they
%intently, hungrily, jealousy,
fearfully, fercely, feeling their lives
shrink to the compass of the brittle
cubes they watched.
Out of nowhere appeared a fly, and
on the gunwale. Its wings
we're FURNISHED, its body bottle green,
It's eyes like points of fire. To one of
he five it was the angel Of death, sent
by Allah or the devil.
Abruptly 1t sprang into the air, and
hung above the thwart with tanning
wings. No one breathed. For a mo.
nent 1t lowered over the stewards
Jump, and his yellow face blanched
lshen. Then it darted down Upon the :
,aptain's.
The others turned sickly, but the
'falay, uttering a cry of savage joy,
rev his needle-pointed knife, and
with teeth barred crouched for the
pring on his chief. Suddenly the
nate regained his voice.
"Seize that man !" croaked he; and !,
sailor wrapped his gaunt arms about '
III Sing, and held him, struggling and s
I
The mate picked up the stewards s
imp; on the thwart beneath lay a +
ark moist spot. He smelled the cube, Y
hen turned in wrath on the writing f
falay.
'This lump has been soaked in h
No fly would alight on 1t, n
ven if he were starving" 4
With cries of rage the others threw :
lemselves on the traitor. But he flung o
lCiu Olt DuCldIluS Will Ills htCn III
lade, and went headlong overheard. n
he black fin astern slid up alongside =
nd disappeared in a furry of foam, d
,aving a slowly spreading stain OF
God.
The four, breathing hard, questioned
he another with their eyes. The mate
nswered for all: q
mo; we'll die like white men," %
He flung the Jumps into the sea. u
he hours dragged by, silent, hot and o.
aden, each bringing nearer insensl- &C
lily and death. ~
It was raining again at sunset up -
ward Mindoro, but the men in the -
nghy did not heed 1t. A short, fat ~
Gamer, throwing black smoke, was :,
allowing toward them; and that was -,
enough. ~