Evening star., 1924-04-06
JONAH 88 BY John Russell 9saf
Vilainv VENGEANCE and Adventure in the South Seas

have nobody else touch his old man
not him. Bat he needn't a worried.
His old man was dead.
II think he must a gone or his
chump a bit after that. Toys he
wouldn't look at no more; nor yet
games didn't hold his sick-boy fancy.
But stories, now"
Stories" echoed Colhoun, for the
other had checked on a sound like a
stified oath. What kind of stories"
What kind would you Think
came the harsh response. 1T seems
a tramp missionary passing by Vatu
had once preached from the white
mans Book. That was the only kind
OF story he'd ever heard, and that
was the only kind he wanted. He re-
membered the book bein' full of most
wonderful matters. He remembered
Bible stories, d y see. mister? He
called for 'em. There he lay in the
light of the lamp with the red flush
on his sunken cheek and his eyes SO
bright and eager. He was dyin' ana
he wanted Bible stories. And me
me, didn't know any"
Not the. few that count" whis-
pered CoIhoun.
How should l know, mister, what
counts? Who was ! to know? he
asked for Bible talk, and the only
single blame thing | could tell
him--"
"weH?"
"D'y' want TO know? Jonah Aye,
it sounds like 4 poor sort of jest,
nor yet to me-worse luck-nor TO
me. 1 told him the story of Jonah.
Not as you would likely tell 1t, and
how far off from whats writ in the
Book I'd be afraid tI, think. But he
liked il. He made me tell him over
him again one night as he dozed.
Now the word OF the Lord come
unto JONAH l says-recallin' that
part quite pat as / heard it the once
from Navy chaplain-'Now the
word of the Lord come unto JONAH
says. and the rest in beche de mer
lingo, and when looked at him where
he lay on my arnl-why-he was
gone, mister"
Well got back. Too late; and
when l seen the whalehoat would
never come, / managed to fit out
half built proa from the canoe house,
and with that i worked my way back
to Mele.
1T was like ! said. Those strange
white men had simply jumped my
crew in the dark and murdered them
and made off. and what else about it
none could say, or ever will. A clean
sweep and a finished job. It's done,
and I'm done. and that's all
Never think it, said the Rev.
David standing and swaying in
rapt renewal of faith. Never believe
it. Heavens purpose does not fail us
so. Is yon little brave brown child to
have died in vain? Shall they not an
swer? Yea. whatsoever and whereso-
ever they be--eyen as that man be-
low whom l fear no longer for "a his
wicked triumph--even as he must
answer I'm due time-even as Cap'n
J. Jeffrey o the Galloway Lass"
4 = \
MEANWHILE the pearl-poaching
skipper of the Galloway Lass
was doing his own waiting, by his
own beliefs, and packing the schoon-
er's deck like big Gagged cat He
wanted to be gone, he had all a high
wayman's furious eagerness to be
gone. and delays still clogged his
purpose.
And besides there's somethin'
making" observed for perhaps the
tenth time the lank youth who had
served as mate. "Somethin' making
and you can take your colonial oath
Feel that air?" He wet a bony fore
finger and snapped it nervously
Like gum. it Is. We won't be leaving
this tide"
You mean you hope We won't"
corrected his chief, never so amiable
as when he was raging. II can't
blame you. Gunny, my lad. If we get
a breeze you'll have to sweat sail on
HeI dit py souT sell.
He moved a pad-foot nearer and
Gunny WINGED and shrank.
"Oh, you needn't get your monkey
up. ] amt said no-'ave /? Didn't i
take your side when the rest was
clamoring to be off the cruise two
days ago? I wouldn't stand iE when
they wanted to cross you
"Ah? And why?"
Jump the only man We got that
knows 'ow TO navigate protested
Gunny, eagerly. Not me! Leave 1t
to him. / told 'em. E ain't no ways
more anxious than us to swing; and
amt e due to swing the first OF all
If once We get shopped? Just put 1t
to i'm respectful like, that we won't
take no more risks, and leave i'm to
a AIpp