The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1925-04-01


the rope he was splicing. Then, with
sudden, quick sweep Of his hand,
he drove the marlln-spike he had been
using deep into the heavy oak plank
of the bench on which he sat.
Say, but you're strong" blurted
out Tommy In open admiration. The
other nine boys who made up the
club, nodded their heads in assent to
this
about that black pearl" began
Bobby, who. as you may know, Is
Tomny's twin brother. WAS 1t a
real pearl, and how did 1t grow that
way, and please tell us why the
East Indian gave 1t to your"
Captain Ira glanced out through the
window port on the starboard side OF
his houseboat. He thought. Then he
asked: DO you see that new yacht
over there? It's the one with the
rwinkling brass trimmings. Well, l
was cabin boy on bark near about
her tonnage. The way l came to be
there was that her captain picked me
off the sampan dock In Hongkong.
lie took pity on me, believe, because
! was such little chap to be so near
starved. and showing it.
I'm all my life the world never
looked better and brighter than 1t did
on the morning we set sail.
1.-THE captain of tie barque was q
tall, square-jawed Scot named Nc
Arthur. He was the kindliest. and
withall the fairest-minded, Of any
skipper under whom l ever sailed. He
WAS known all about the Southern is
lands for these same qualities and
whatever trading business was in hand,
Captain Macarthur would be certain
to win q goodly share Of It,
1T was under these conditions that
we worked back and forth in the sea-
ward islands Of an archipelago to the
south and east Of Borneo.
There was one of these islands.
called by the natives 'Tahipeet,' on
which town of some size was set,
and about the coral reefs Of which
many of the finest pearls in the South
seas were taken. There also was fresh
water handy to the anchorage.
at was during one of our frequent
visits here that went along with the
captain and a party Of sailors to one
of the pearl-shell beds where the ma
tive divers were at work.
1--WE stayed for a time and were
watching copper-skinned boy Of
about my own age, who was one OF
tbs most expert divers In the group.
Usual this time. Just as he started
his upward shove a sharp fin cut the
surface of the water near us. 1t WAS
a shark. On he came. Up rose the
boy. Closer Closer A shout went up
from the natives. II looked like Ger.
tain death for the boy. Then / thought
OF my boat hook. GraspIng 1t firmly
in both hands, I lunged. The point
of 1t jabbed the shark full In the mid
die of the throat. AS his teeth snapped
shut he was so near the native boy
that the toes of the boys right foot
were caught and crushed.
"In the meantime had been tum-
bled overheard by the force OF my
own blow.
1.-THE sailors hove both of US
aboard the yawl and. shortly after,
rowed back to the ship with us.
Once there. got into some dry clothes.
As to the native boy, our ship doctor
treated his lascerated foot and we put
him TO bed IN spare berth In the
after-cuddy. He was with us for three
days before the doctor would let him
70 home. 1t was about four bells on
the forward watch Of the third night
that ! was awakened by n soft native |
voice whispering words which did
not understand into my ear. Then
small packet was thrust into my
hand and the native boy left me-
Never again did / see him, for short
ly after. we set sail from the island |
and a little later left those waters
TO return no more.
"As you may have guessed. in the
packet which the native boy gave me /
was the black pearl. l carried ii for |
some years hung in parchment bag I
about my neck. When ! came TO be !
man, / sold 1t for many thousand |
rupees to an East Indian prince. II
is still In the possession of his family
today and is called the Rainbow Pearl,
on account Of its unusual life and
brlllancy.
with the money that pearl brought
me | bought my first boat. The Mer-
nv Aun. Some other time | may tell
YOU how came to lose her and along
with her, very nearly, my life.
And superstitious sailor men have
as much as told me that could ex'
pect nothing better Of boat which
had been bought with money got from
the sale Of q gift-but that's all AZ
may be, and az In . way Vt thinking.