Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-13

poisoned with importance My trial, for such
It was. opened Immediately.
Christian gave his testimony In fluent
SpanAsh, Of which understood only q few
wurdR His statement was heard attentively
and carefully noted down. Even this marked
regard with which my accuseris evidence was
received failed to tighten my heavy spirits.
felt out Of place, q death's-head Mt the feast
unable to join the members Of the court in
laughing at the witticisms Of one Of their
number.
THAT evening I pondered long and sadly.
What evidence had been given? Would
be convicted without q hearing? Would the
West Indians word alone damn me? What
would be my punishment? Prison? More likely
death. Well, thought with pardonable sigh
II faced that I had no time to waste; 50 I
sat up most of the night writing letters, which
intrusted to one of the crew.
In the morning, prompt as tax-collectors,
my escort again appeared, armed as usual, but
much more friendly. Nor did they hurry me
as they had done. All this made me wonder
what their affability portended. Prison guards
had been known to display tender kindness to
condemned men: it was customary, too for q
doomed individual to breakfast on the fat of
the land before a taut rope ended, among
other desires, all craving for food. And my
mind was tormented by bizarre notion that
heads who sent Charles to the scaffold. Both
of us were Highland Scots; he had been King
of England and Scotland, and at least regent
of the midway.
In the boat the good nature of my guards
gave way to grim alertness, for we were about
to pass under the eyes Of the officers on the
San Juan de Ulloa. I was marched briskly
to the courtroom, and again faced my judges.
Much In evidence remained my dusky field Of
an accuser. If could only have had him on
blue water for five minutes! Or in some
remote and formerly peaceful mountain gladeI
But in that room his internal carcass filled
the world; he was tall as Everett and broad
as Mauna LOa.
AT this hearing was Intercepted for an
interminable time since 1t was q slow process
to ask q question. interpret 1t to me, interpret
my reply. and note it down. My examination
ran somewhat as follows:
@. Do you carry arms and ammunition for
trading purposes? A. Not In the Eastern
Carolines.
O. Elsewhere? A. Yes. in the MarshalIs and
Gilberts.
O. why not in the Eastern Carolines2 A.
Because the Spanish government prohibits the
sale of weapons to the natives; so does our
company when am trading in Spanish ter
ritory.
O. Have you carried arms on this voyage?
A. Yes. but for protection only.
q. Describe them. A. They ware seized
aboard my vessel; there they lie on the table.
O. They are your own property? A. Ger
tainly.
O. Where did you get themP A. bought
the rifie and cartridges at an auction of the
effects Of q German captain who died at
Jaluit The revolver I got from Gilbert
Island native in exchange for an old shirt.
His cartridges had been exhausted.
O. But you have cartridges for it now2
A. OF course have bought them in our
store at Jaluit Reviewers are useless. even as
defensive weapons without cartridges.
@. Then you use the weapon for defense
only? A. Internationally The master OF
trading vessel must always be prepared to de-
fend himself.
THAT is all Be seated" said the naval
officer who had questioned me. As / learned
afterward, he was my counsel.