Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1929-08-15
Count Luckner, the Sea Devil

Is the best OF fellows, a pleasant chap
to meet, a perfect host. But In war
time you had TO admire them. They
we're on the lookout for everything.
Their brains seemed made only OF sus-
Ilclons. kirchelss. who spoke English
better than did, continued:
I'VE are Americans of Dutch birth.
few months ago we made bet al
tie Holland club In San Francisco
t1at we would sail from Honolulu In
aad open boat via the Cook islands to
Tahiti and back to Honolulu. The
wager Is for twenty-five thousand dol
lars. Would you, my dear sir. kindly
give me certificate that we have
been here In accordance with the
terms OF our bet? Also. we should
like to lay In supply OF fresh water
canned goods. and fresh fruit"
The resident yowned, looked US over
with watery eye and replied.
well, man must be hell OF
fool to go In for that kind OF sport"
Sure" Kircheiss said politely, but
Just the same. we should like to have
the certificate. Won't you give II tn
US or fell us who Wilt"
"Oh. to hell with you, don't bother
me. Pve~just had dinner and want to
take my nap"
Even his British mistrust, with
which he first regarded US, subsidized
into the indescribable something that
comes over white man who Yields
to the soft enervation of the tropics
He now looked at US merely as mad
fellows who wanted him to do some
thing too crazy to merit his consider
ation.
ANY news from the bloody WARP
he asked. "Why are they so stupid
as to carry on with this fighting bust
ness7 In the end, II will only heir
these yellow races"
He continued like this and spoke
highly OF the Germans. Naturally.
we did not express any pro-Germnn
sentiments.
I'VE simply must get this old bird
to give US that certificate" l. said TO
my comrade In Low German. pretend
Ing that II was Dutch.
"Yes." he replied In the same ola
lect, ST may come In mighty useful
later on"
The resident, as ne told us. had
served In the Beer war. and should
have known better. but he took our
Plattdeutsch for the language OF Hol
land
Presently he scribbled a note say
Ing that we had called on him In the
course of our sporting cruise.
ANY ships expected In port soon?
kircheiss asked quite casually.
FLOW In hell do known" the resi-
dent responded YEARLY. Everything
goes to the bloody war; and we don't
see anything around here but these
kanakas" He continued In this strain
and cursed his boredom on the Island
The resident was still rambling on
In his lazy monotone when along came
a man who wore cassock and had
beard down to his waist He was
French missionary priest who was
oyerjoyed when we saluled him with
few words OF EyenCh. The resident
and an English trader were the only
two white men on the island besides
himself. and neither talked any
French.
"Alons, alIuns." he shouted. by
Joe, boys. you must pay me visit"
And stralghtway he seized our arms
and took us over to his mission house
There he poured OUT glasses OF ex,
cellent wine
You are Americans" he cried. "you
fight for la France? You are Holland
ers? All. II Is too bad that your coun
try Is not In the war with France
But | can see that you love la belle
France"
What will be your next stop?
asked the jovlnI missionary In parting
81 think we will put In ut Aiiulaki,
/ replied That was the nearest island
and the next field of action In our
hunt for q ship
Fine" exclaimed the priest cordial
~. II have friend there. You must
call on him. Just mention my name
He will be delighted to see you. He
is Holander. too"
A HolraRder, too? And our knowl
edge of then Dutch language was so
strongly sailed with a German &C.
cent In that case. when we got to
Aitutaki we certainly would be any
thing but Holanders. probably Nor
wegans,
ITO BE CONTINUED