The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-03-16
Chapter q


Chapter e
Conversation In The Dark
I HAD to 90 up there, Of course.
i The rebelIious tribe was the
toughest on the Palowit river, and
the whole PaloWit district was a
nest Of the worst pirates on the
coast. That they existed so close
to the Siderong river was proof Of
what everybody knew-that the
Palowit pirates had for a long time
been working with the MaIays.
The Malays had found that a
good vigorous development Of
piracy among the Dyaks made
their eztortion and taxation a
great deal more profitable by pro-
Viding the Dyaks with something
worth taking. We knew, however,
that the Malays did not stop with
mere encouragement; fWo-fhirds
Of all the piratical expeditions that
ever came out Of the Palowit were
led by Malays, who drew upon the
Palowit villages for their forces
Of war canoes
Because that little party Of
Tenyalang rifemen were on gov
ernzaenf duty when attacked, a
strong show OF punishment was
essential. Yet Clyde had plenty Of
arguments with Christine during
the II hours il took me 10 get
ready. ! did not hear them dis
putting, but I know what their
point Of disagreement was. Clyde
wished to attack the Palowit him.
self.
He was all wrong about this, Of
course. Definitely, the rajah must
stay IN B2lingong, a guarded and
supposedly mighty figure in re-
serve. Yet felt sorry for my uncle
II knew exactly how he felt. He
was 10 man to send out another to
fight his battles, and the absolute
necessity for letting me 60 IN his
place was very hard on him.
! had set my departure for an
hour before dawn, and until mid
night / worked like a coolie. TO
make sure that my equipment was
ready. The strategy OF campaign
is one thing. and generals get
great credit for laying plans, but
ultimate success in anything milf
sary depends mostly upon details.
Every percussion cap must be
looked at 20 see that Il is dry, and
slowed so that it viii stay that
way: every paddle must be
checked to see that Il Is not get
ing ready TO split. II you don't
think about things like that all the
time, some day your tools win fail
you. just when you need them
most.
When all this was done I lay
down for while IN my own stuffy
blk, and tried to catch an hour 5
sleep-but found that ] could not.
] gave il up finally, ana went out
20 the ruai. Out here there was a
big mosquito net which Clyde had
hung up to keep The insects from
swarming al over him when he
worked BY lamplight. II was hot
under the mosquito netting, but
stiIl not so hot as in my own blk.
/ sat there a long time. my
nerves drawing tighter every
minute, which IS the effect that
waiting for morning always had.
And then at last Christine came
out and sat beside me on the floor,
under the mosquito net. and the
night took on different mean
ing.
Christine AndI
CHE said. Il can't sleep either:
- there simply isn't any sleep in
this night"
Are you sure you aren't get
ting a fever2n / asked her. Today
/ thought you looked as II you
were. II you come down with one
Of these fevers I'm going 10 tear up
Summarizing.
There's nothinr the matter
With me, except that / can't bear
to think Of your going up that
river"
One OF the contradictions abo1t
this girl was that while she was
infexible IN her determination 10
carry out her fathers ambitious
plans. she was always terribly
shaken BY the actual means which
had 70 be employed She was
easily stricken BY the sight Of
blood, or any kind Of violence. and
even hated the sounC Of the guns.
She must often have lived in q
nightmare Of horror. caught be-
tween actually and her own VIII.
said. = don't expect any fight
Ing. The Palowit people don't
realize that they're going againSt
white men. When they ind that
cut they'll probably take 70 the
jungle. I'll burn a few houses q
make them more careful next
time. and come home
They're going 20 fight, Chris
tinD g<isfn,l Ard i the jungle
ffzET = hare every adv1ntaee- It's.
only On the sea that fl1Ny fear the
- - 49, - 49, l.asuss e