The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-12-25

In the huis beside the waving palms
They also were shattered by the smoke
and its bali-devlls. My warriors lay
dead. bleeding on the ground. Our
women also our little ones. they
spared not ~ He paused. overcome.
for n moment
Croft SAT listening intently. with
dawning comprehension.
How did they come?' he asked.
"The lagoon was black with strange
canoes Grea Chief Beyond. near TN
big gap In the reef tloated an island
A-:a strange sight. film.
the bravest with fear" He stopped
again overcome and turned away.
Hastily Croft interpreted this con
versation to ths girl
'Didst thou attack these white men
first?" he asked.
The old man shook his head 1--WE
feared their arrival, We bur gathered
together. oul side our houses. to see the
wondrouS sight. The hand Of Dpatl'
has been heavy upon us. and we were
small in number, even then. That day
less than half were left alive.
NV sons wer,. all slain.
"The d-d murderers ~
Chimabahoi looked up. startled by
this burst NJ vehement English. Croft
controlled his Indignation. making fur
ther inquiries. which elected the an
swers he eNpected.
"They were all men," the native told
him. after they had killed. they fled
away to their canoes. They were coy
cred with dark clothing, each like unto
each. When they spoke. they spoke
strangely he stroked his
throat. "and their words were like the
sounds made by one whose stomach
is too full and who must return some
what lying therein"
This vivid description of the Teu-
tonic tongue convinced his listener.
"Ha, The id Hunsl l thought
as much" lie again interpreted for
the girl at his side "Now let me
think. We must turn this to our adj
vantage II proves what we talked
about that evening by the river; doesn't
lit? The effects of our civilized war
were felt even herer' He ran his fin
gers through his hair, watching Chin
abnhoi th"uglhfully
"And thy Vow was of vengeance
upon all white men?"
Even 80. Great Chief"
HIN !" His fertile brain
speedily ccno ,rd II plan which. if
wild. was yer .uunded on fact.
"Chief' Ire hegln confidently. those
white men who murdered thy sons
were an enemy tribe wuging war
against my tribe. And their ways were
treacherous. tlieir weapons TERRIBLE"
Chimabahoi was unusually Intelligent
for native. Quick 10 grasp the mean.
ing of this stranger. who spoke dia-
lect so much resembling his own.
flash Of comprehension leapt into his
eyes
And they came hither thinking To
find thee here. Great Chief. So that
they might slay thee?"
A smile lit up Croft's face. II not
strictly accurate. this surmise would
suit his purpose admirably.
Even so, And. seeing thy tribe Of
different hne. they were filed with
fear and cried. saying Let us slay
them he had vague impression
of Biblical eloquence, but 1t translated
very welI-"And they slew all thy sons
in their fear then ran to their boats.
For their hearts are as the fermented
breadfruit long stored in pit"
Pausing TO refresh his oratory. he
proceeded to picture their mutual
enemy In hrid cOlors. assuring the
chief of their downfall This gave him
another Inspiration.
"The gods sent us hither to tell thee
that thy Vow of Vengeance had al
ready oVertaken the tribe" he an
nounceo co"Ily. "But. because thou
camest assinst us, we could not carry
out our mission. The gods were an
gered. therefore. and visited thy tribe
%hhEl.