White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1929-09-13

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By LOWELL THOMAS

resident talked lot, although he did
not seem to be naturally laxative
kind. He asked me many questions,
which | answered cautiously. A ma
tive servant brought him note, and
he scrubbed note In return. After a
few minutes, the servant brought him
another message. and again he an
swered It. This happened several
times.
"Important messages" asked.
ooh, no." he replied hastily, they
are from my friend Low. He wants to
arrange to have us all take coffee at
his bungalow"
It was very queer. I was prepared,
though, and thanked my stars for the
pistol and hand grenade in my pockets.
l learned later that their scheme was,
in fact, to question Kircheiss and me
separately. The purpose of the notes
was to arrange questions to be asked
of US. so that they might check up
our separate answers to the same
questions. These answers, It hap.
pened, had jibed fairly well, although
not well enough to disarm suspicion
altogether.
When the time for leaving came, the
resident told me that, If we would re-
turn on the following day, he would
| give us the certificate we desired, Ger
| tifying that in the course of our sport
ing voyage we had called at the
island of Aitutaki. The delay about
the certificate was, Of course, to de-
tain US a day longer.
Away from this unsatisfactory inter.
| view, we encountered the Norwegian
carpenter who informed Kircheiss that
the natives believed we were Ger
mans. The British had been recruit
ing soldiery among them for service
in France. and for the purpose Of get
ting recruits had stirred them up with
bit Of war fever. The islanders.
therefore, hoped that we were enc
mics so they could seize us. They
planned to get our boat ashore and
capture it. Upon hearing of this, l
ordered that two men be on watch all
the time, ready to repel any attack.
The following day provided US with
plenty of thrills. When Kircheiss and
went to the residents house, crowds
of natives followed us. The resident
greeted us with worried expression
but came straight to the point.
81 shall have to examine your boat
and papers," he said sternly.
allow sol" said l.
"The natives think you are Ger
mans. know you are not, but must
inspect your boat to satisfy them"
He vacillated between the desire OF
not letting us get away and the fear
Of fight.
Outside, the Polyneslans were gath
ering from all quarters. They made a
menacing, ugly-lookihg mob. Left
hand in pocket, attached carbine
hook to the fuse of the grenade. With
that mob of heathens on the rampage.
there was no use in trying to carry
the deception any further.
at Is true" said to the resident
I've are Germans. But don't you think
it would be better If we remained
friends? We are white men. ! ain
with you in front OF these natives
Act the part that will impress them.
Come and examine our boat"
every WE'LL" he replied. growing
pale, "but you won't take me with
your"
"N0, upon my word, no..
When we stepped out on the porch
the islanders raised howl never
thought there were so many Polyne
slams In the world. | had never before
stood in the face of a mob. Sailors
or soldiers would not have made me
so afraid.
"Don't be coward" said to my
self. ION, by Joe, on"
Kircheiss and | stayed close to
gether. The resident led us through