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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/25056-0.txt b/25056-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0e8d0a5 --- /dev/null +++ b/25056-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1048 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Brothers-In-Law: A Tale Of The +Equatorial Islands; and The Brass Gun Of The Buccaneers, by Louis Becke + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Brothers-In-Law: A Tale Of The Equatorial Islands; and The Brass Gun Of The Buccaneers + 1901 + +Author: Louis Becke + +Release Date: April 12, 2008 [EBook #25056] +Last Updated: March 8, 2018 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BROTHERS-IN-LAW *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +THE BROTHERS-IN-LAW: A TALE OF THE EQUATORIAL ISLANDS, and THE BRASS GUN OF THE BUCCANEERS + +From “The Tapu Of Banderah and Other Stories” + +By Louis Becke + +C. Arthur Pearson Ltd. + +1901 + + + + +THE BROTHERS-IN-LAW: A TALE OF THE EQUATORIAL ISLANDS + +“There,” said Tâvita the teacher, pointing with his paddle to a long, +narrow peninsula which stretched out into the shallow waters of the +lagoon, “there, that is the place where the battle was fought. In those +days a village of thirty houses or more stood there; now no one liveth +there, and only sometimes do the people come here to gather cocoanuts.” + +The White Man nodded. “'Tis a fair place to look upon. Let us land and +rest awhile, for the sun is hot.” + +The native pastor swung the bow of the canoe round towards the shore, +and presently the little craft glided gently upon the hard, white sand, +and the two men got out, walked up to the grove of cocoa-palms, and sat +down under their shade to rest and smoke until the sun lost some of its +fierce intensity and they could proceed on their journey homeward to the +principal village. + +The White Man was the one trader living in Peru,{*} the native was a +Samoan, and one of the oldest and bravest missionaries in the Pacific. +For twenty years he had dwelt among the wild, intractable, and savage +people of Peru--twenty years of almost daily peril, for in those days +the warlike people of the Gilbert Group resented the coming of the few +native teachers scattered throughout the archipelago, and only Tavita's +undaunted courage and genial disposition had preserved the lives of +himself and his family. Such influence as he now possessed was due, not +to his persistent attempts to preach Christianity, but to his reputation +for integrity of conduct and his skill as a fisherman and carpenter. + + * Francis Island, or Peru, is one of the largest atolls of + the Gilbert Group in the South Pacific, about one hundred + and twenty miles south of the Equator + +The White Man and he were firm friends, and that day they had been down +to the north end of the lagoon to collect a canoe load of the eggs of +a small species of tern which frequented the uninhabited portion of the +island in myriad swarms. + +Presently, as they sat and smoked, and lazily watched a swarm of the +silvery mullet called _kanae_ disporting themselves on the glassy +surface of the lagoon, the White Man said-- + +“Who were these white men, Tâvita, who fought in the battle?” + +“Hast never heard the story?” inquired the teacher in Samoan. + +The trader shook his head. “Only some of it--a little from one, a little +from another.” + +“Then listen,” said Tâvita, re-filling his pipe and leaning his broad +back against the bole of a cocoa-palm. + +***** + +“It was nineteen years ago, and I had been living on the island but a +year. In those days there were many white men in these islands. Some +were traders, some were but _papalagi tafea_{*} who spent their days +in idleness, drunkenness, and debauchery, casting aside all pride and +living like these savage people, with but a girdle of grass around their +naked waists, their hands ever imbued in the blood of their fellow white +men or that of the men of the land. + + * Beachcombers. + +“Here, on this island, were two traders and many beachcombers. One of +the traders was a man named Carter, the other was named West Carter +the people called 'Karta,' the other by his fore name, which was 'Simi' +(Jim). They came here together in a whaleship from the Bonin Islands +with their wives--two sisters, who were Portuguese half-castes, and both +very beautiful women. Carter's wife had no children; West, who was +the younger man, and who had married the younger sister, had two. +Both brought many thousands of dollars worth of trade with them to buy +cocoanut oil, for in those days these natives here did not make copra as +they do now--they made oil from the nuts. + +“Karta built a house on the north end of the island, where there is the +best anchorage for ships, West chose to remain on the lee side where +he had landed, and bought a house near to mine. In quite a few days we +became friends, and almost every night we would meet and talk, and his +children and mine played together. He was quite a young man, and had +been, he told me, the third mate of an English ship which was cast away +on the Bonin Islands four years before, where he had met Karta, who was +a trader there, and whose wife's sister he married. + +“One day they heard from the captain of a whaleship that there was much +money to be made on this island of Peru, for although there were many +beachcombers living here there was no trader to whom the people could +sell their oil. So that was why they came here. + +“Now, although these two men were married to two sisters, there was but +little love between them, and then as time went on came distrust, and +then hatred, born out of Karta's jealousy and wicked heart; but until +they came to live here on Peru there had been no bad blood--not even +enough to cause a bitter word, though even then the younger man did not +like Karta, who was a man of violent temper, unfaithful to his wife, +and rude and insulting in his manner to most men, white or brown. And +Serena, his wife, hated him, but made no sign. + +“As time went on, both men prospered, for there was much oil to be had, +and at the end of the first year a schooner came from Sydney and bought +it I went on board with Simi, after the oil had been rafted off to the +ship's side. Karta, too, came on board to be paid for his oil. He had +been drinking much grog and his face was flushed and angry. With him +were three beachcombers whose foul language and insolent demeanour +angered both the captain and Simi, who were quiet men. There were six or +seven of these beachcombers living on the island, and they all disliked +Simi, who would have none of their company; but in Karta's house they +were made welcome. Night after night they would gather there and drink +and gamble, for some of them had bags of dollars, for dissolute and idle +as they were for the most of their time they could make money easily +by acting as interpreters for the natives, to the captains of the +whaleships, or as pilots to the trading vessels sailing northward to the +Marshall Islands. + +“The captain paid Simi partly in money and partly in trade goods, for +the two hundred casks of oil he bought, and then Simi and I turned to go +on shore. Karta had scarce spoken ten words to Simi, who yet bore him no +ill-will, although for many months tales had come to us of the evil life +he led and the insults he put upon his wife Serena. + +“But after he had bidden farewell to the captain, Simi held out his +hand to his brother-in-law and said--'My wife Luisa sendeth love and +greetings to Serena. Is she in good health?' + +“Karta would not take the hand held out to him. + +“'What is that to thee or thy wife either?' he answered rudely. 'Look to +thy own business and meddle not with mine.' + +“Simi's face grew red with anger, but he spoke quietly and reproved his +brother-in-law for his rude speech. 'Why insult me needlessly before so +many strangers?' he said. 'What harm have I or my wife Luisa ever done +to thee?' + +“'Curse thee and Luisa, thy wife,' said Karta again; 'she and thee, aye, +and Serena too, are well matched, for ye be all cunning sneaks and fit +company for that fat-faced Samoan psalm-singer who stands beside thee.' + +“At these words the three beachcombers laughed, and when they saw that +Simi made no answer, but turned aside from Karta in contempt, one of +them called him a coward. + +“He turned upon him quickly. 'Thou liest, thou drunken, useless cumberer +of the earth,' he said, looking at him scornfully; 'no coward am I, nor +a noisy boaster like thee. This is no place for us to quarrel. But say +such a thing to me on the beach if ye dare.' + +“'He is my friend/ said Karta, speaking with drunken rage, and thrusting +his face into Simi's, 'he is as good a man as thee any day. To strike +him or any one of us thou art afraid, thou cat-hearted coward and +miser.' + +“Simi clenched his hands, but suddenly thrust them into his pockets and +looked at the captain and the officers of the ship. + +“'This is no place for me,' he again said in a low voice; 'come, Tavita, +let us go,' and without even raising his eyes to Karta and the three +other men he went out of the cabin. + +“That night he, Luisa, and I and my wife sat talking; and in the fulness +of her anger at the insults heaped upon her husband, Luisa told us of +some things. + +“'This man Karta hateth both my sister and myself, as well as my +husband. He hateth me because that it was I whom he desired to marry, +four years ago; but I feared him too much to become his wife, for +even in those days I knew him to be a drunkard and a gambler, and a +licentious man. Then although she loved him not my sister Serena became +his wife, for he was a man of good property, and promised to give over +his evil ways and be a good husband to her. And he hateth her and would +gladly see her dead, for she hath borne him no children. He is for +ever flinging cruel words at her, and hath said to her before me that a +childless man is a thing of scorn and disgrace even to the savage people +of this island. And he makes no secret of his wickedness with other +women. That is why my sister Serena is dull and heavy-minded; for she is +eaten up with grief and shame.' + +“'That is true,' said Simi, 'I have known this for a year past, for +when he is drunk he cannot conceal his thoughts. And he is full of anger +against me because I have nought in common with him. I am neither a +drinker of grog nor a gambler, and have suffered from him what I would +suffer from no other man. I am no brawler, but yet 'tis hard to bear.' + +***** + +“Just as dawn came, and I was sunk in slumber, I heard a footstep +outside my door, and then Simi called to me. 'Bring thy wife to my house +quickly,' he said, 'evil work hath been done in the night.' + +“My wife and I followed him, and when we entered we saw Luisa his wife +kneeling beside a couch and weeping over Serena, who lay still and quiet +as if dead. + +“'Look,' he said sternly, 'look what that devil hath done!' + +“He lifted Serena's left arm--the bone was broken in two places, above +and below the elbow. + +“We set to work quickly, and fitting the broken bones in place we bound +her arm up in stiff, smooth strips of the spathe of the cocoanut tree, +and then washed and dressed her feet, which were cut and bleeding, for +she had walked barefooted, and clothed only in her night-dress, all the +way from the north end of the island, which is nearly two leagues from +my house. + +“After she had drunk some coffee and eaten a little food she became +stronger, and told us all that had befallen her. + +“'Karta and the three other white men came back from the ship when it +was long past midnight, and I knew by the noise they made that they had +all been drinking grog. I heard them talking and laughing and saying +that thou, Simi, were a paltry coward; and then one of them--he who is +called Joe--said that he would one day end thee with a bullet and take +Luisa to wife, as so fine a woman deserved a better man than a cur for +a husband. And Karta--Karta my husband--laughed and said that that could +not be, for he meant to take thee, Luisa, for himself when he had ridden +himself of me. His shameless words stung me, and I wept silently as I +lay there, and pressed my hands to my ears to shut out their foul talk +and blasphemies. + +“'Suddenly I heard my husband's voice as he rose from the table and came +towards the sleeping room. He threw open the door and bade me come out +and put food before him and his friends. + +“'I rose at his bidding, for his face terrified me--it was the face of +a devil--and began to clothe myself. He tore the dress from my hands and +cursed me, and bade me go as I stood. In my fear I sprang to the window +and tried to tear down the cane lattice-work so as to escape from the +house and the shame he sought to put upon me. He seized me by the waist +and tried to tear me away, but I was strong--strong with the strength of +a man. Then it was that he went mad, for he took up a heavy _paua_ stick +and struck me twice on the arm. And had it not been that the other +white men came in and dragged him away from me, crying shame on him, and +throwing him down upon the floor, I would now be dead. + +“'I lay quiet for a little time and then rising to my feet looked out +into the big room, where the three men were still holding my husband +down. One of them bade me run for my life, for Karta, he said, had gone +mad with grog. + +“'I feared to seek aid from any of the natives, for they, too, dread +Karta at such times; so I walked and ran, sometimes along the beach, +sometimes through the bush till I came here. That is all.' + +* * * * * + +“That morning the head man in our village caused the shell to sound,{*} +to call the people together so that they might hear from Simi the story +of the shame put upon his wife's sister and upon himself and his house. +As the people gathered around the _moniep_{**} and the head men sat down +inside, the captain of the ship came on shore, and great was his anger +when he heard the tale. + + * A conch-shell. + + ** The council house. + +“'Let this poor woman come to my ship,' he said; 'her life here is not +safe with such a man as that. For I know his utter vileness and cruelty +to her. With me she shall be safe and well cared for, and if she so +wishes she shall come with me to Fiji where my wife liveth, and her life +will be a life of peace.' + +“So Serena was put in the ship's boat, and Luisa went with her to remain +on board till the ship sailed, which would be in three days. Then Simi +and the head men talked together in the council house, and they made a +law and sent a message to Karta. This was the message they sent to him: +'Because of the evil thou hast done and of the shame thou hast put upon +the sister of the wife of our white man, come no more to this town. If +thou comest then will there be war between thy town and ours, and we +will burn the houses and harry and slay thee and the seven other white +men, and all men of thy town who side with thee, and make slaves of the +women and children. This is our last word.' + +“A swift messenger was sent. Before the sun was in mid-heaven he +returned, crying out as he ran, 'War is the answer of Karta and his +village. War and death to Simi and to us all are his words; and to +Luisa, the wife of the white man, he sendeth this message: “Prepare a +feast for thy new husband, for he cometh to take thee away from one who +cannot stand against him.”' + +“In those days there were seven hundred fighting men in our town, and +a great clamour arose. Spears and clubs and muskets and hatchets were +seized, the armour of stout cinnet which covered a man from head to foot +was put on, women filled baskets with smooth stones for the slings; and +long before sundown the warriors set out, with Simi and the head men +leading them, to meet their enemies mid-way--at this very place where we +now sit. For this narrow strip of land hath been the fighting-ground of +Peru from the old, old times long before I was born, and my years are +three score and seven. + +“The night was dark, but Simi and his people, when they reached this +place, some by land and some in canoes, lit great fires on the beach +and dug trenches in the sand very quickly, behind which all those who +carried muskets were placed, to fire into the enemy's canoes as they +paddled along the narrow passage to the landing place. Karta and his +white friends and the people of their town had more than two hundred +muskets, whilst our village had less than fifty. But they were strong of +heart and waited eagerly for the fight. + +“Just before sunrise we saw them coming. There were over one hundred +canoes, each carrying five or six men. Karta and the beachcombers were +leading in a whaleboat, which was being rowed very swiftly. When within +rifle-shot she grounded. + +“As they leapt out of the boat, rifles in hand, they were followed by +their natives, but our people fired a volley together, and two of the +white men and many of their people fell dead in the shallow water. Then +Simi and twenty of our best men leapt out of their trenches and dashed +into the water to meet them. Karta was in advance of them all, and when +he saw Simi he raised his rifle and fired. The bullet missed the white +man but killed a native behind him. Then Karta, throwing away his rifle, +took two pistols from his belt and shot twice at Simi who was now quite +close to him. These bullets, too, did Simi no harm, for taking a steady +aim at his foe he shot him through the body, and as Karta fell upon his +side one of our people leapt on him and held his head under the water +till there was no more life in his wicked heart. + +“The fight was soon ended, for seeing three of their number killed so +quickly, the rest of the white men ran back to their boat and tried to +float her again; and then Simi, taking a shot-gun loaded with slugs +from one of his men, ran up to them and shot dead the one named Joe. The +other white men he let escape, for all their followers were now paddling +off or swimming to the other side of the lagoon, and Simi was no lover +of bloodshed. + +“That day the people at the north end sent a message for peace, and +peace was made, for our people had lost but one man killed, so the thing +was ended well for us. + +“Serena came back from the ship, for now that Karta was dead she had +no fear. The three white men who were spared soon left Peru in a +whale-ship, for they feared to remain. + +“Simi and his wife and children and Serena did not long stay with us, +for he sold his house and boats to a new trader who came to the island +about a month after the fight, and they went away to live at a place in +Fiji called Yasawa. They were very good to me and mine, and I was sore +in my heart to see the ship sail away with them, and at night I felt +very lonely for a long time, knowing that I should see them no more.” + + + + + + +THE BRASS GUN OF THE BUCCANEERS + + +Challoner was a trader at Jakoits Harbour in Ponapé, one of the +loveliest of the great Caroline Archipelago in the North Pacific. He +was a quiet but determined-looking man of fifty, and at the time of +this story had been living on Ponapé for over five years. Unlike the +generality of the white men who were settled on the island, he never +carried arms and never entered into any of the disputes that too often +occurred among them and ended in bloodshed. + +Many of his neighbours were scoundrels and ruffians of the deepest +dye--deserters from whale-ships and men-of-war, or escaped criminals +from California and the Australian colonies. Some of these earned a +living by trading with the natives for turtle-shell and cocoanut oil, +others were simply beachcombers, who attached themselves to the leading +chiefs and gave their services to them in war time, receiving in return +houses and land, and spending their lives in time of peace in the +wildest dissipation and excesses. + +In those days the American whaling fleet made Jakoits and the other +three harbours on the beautiful island their rendezvous before sailing +northward to the coasts of Japan and Siberia. Sometimes there would be +as many as thirty ships arrive within a week of each other, carrying +from thirty to forty hands each; and these, when given liberty by their +captains, at once associated with the beachcombing element, and turned +an island paradise into a hell during their stay on shore. + +There was among these beachcombers a man named Larmer. He was of +Herculean stature and strength, and was, in a manner, their leader. It +was his habit in his drunken moments to vaunt of the bloody deeds +which he had perpetrated during his crime-stained career in the Pacific +Islands. For the lives of natives he had absolutely no regard, and +had committed so many murders in the Gilbert Islands that he had been +forcibly taken on board a whaler by the few white men living there, and +threatened with instant death if he returned. + +The whaleship landed him on Ponapé, and his presence soon became a +curse. Being possessed of plenty of arms and ammunition, he soon gained +the friendship of a native chief ruling over the western district of the +island, and his savage nature at once showed itself by his offering to +destroy the inhabitants of a little island named Pàkin, who had in some +way offended this chief. His offer was accepted, and, accompanied by +five ruffianly whites and some hundreds of natives, the unfortunate +people were surprised and butchered. Elated with this achievement, +Larmer returned to Ponapé, and, during the orgy which took place to +celebrate the massacre, he shot dead one of his white companions who had +displeased him over some trifling matter. + +The news was brought by a native to Challoner, who with a fellow-trader +and several local chiefs was sitting outside his house smoking and +enjoying the cool of the evening, and watching the flashing torches of +a number of canoes catching flying fish beyond the barrier reef. Neither +of them felt surprised, and Challoner remarked to the native that it was +good to know that one bad and useless man was dead, but that it would be +better still to hear that the man who slaughtered a whole community in +cold blood was dead also. + +“I wouldn't have said that if I were you,” said Dawson, the other +trader, nervously; “that fellow Larmer is bound to hear of it.” + +“I am quite prepared,” Challoner replied quietly, “as you know, Dawson. +Things cannot go on like this. I have never killed a man in my life, but +to kill such a brute as Larmer would be a good action.” + +The distance between Challoner's place and Kiti, where Larmer dwelt with +his villainous associates, was but ten miles. Yet, although Larmer had +now been living on the island for a year, Challoner had only once met +and spoken to him. + +***** + +During a visit which he (Challoner) had made to a little harbour called +Metalanim, he had explored some very ancient ruins there, which +were generally believed by the white uneducated traders to have been +constructed by the old buccaneers, though the most learned antiquarians +confess themselves puzzled to solve the mystery of their existence. But +that these ruins had been used as a _depot_ or refuge of some sort by +those who sailed the North Pacific more than two hundred years ago was +evident, for many traces of their occupancy by Europeans had been found +by the few white men who had visited them. + +It was Challoner's fortune to discover amid the mass of tangled vines +and creepers that grew all over the walls, and even down in the curious +chambers, an old brass cannon. With the aid of some of his native +friends he succeeded in dragging it forth and conveying it in his boat +to his house, where, upon cleaning it, he found it bore the Spanish +arms over the date of its casting in Manila, in the year 1716. Much +interested in this, he refused to sell the gun to several whaleship +captains, who each wanted to buy it. He would sell it, he thought, to +better advantage by sending it to Australia or Europe. + +Soon after its discovery he had set his people to work to clean and +polish it One day he saw coming towards him a man, who from his huge +figure he knew must be Larmer, the beachcomber. + +“I say, boss,” said the man roughly, “let's have a look at that cannon +you've found, will yar?” + +“There it is,” said Challoner quietly, pointing to his boat-house, but +not deigning to accompany the beachcomber and show him the weapon. + +Larmer made a brief but keen inspection, and then walked into the +trader's room and, unasked, sat down. + +“It's as good as new,” he said. “What do you want for it?” + +“I will not sell it,” replied the trader coldly, eyeing the beachcomber +steadily, “at least to no one in Ponapé. There is too free a display of +and use of arms here as it is,” and he looked pointedly at the brace of +heavy Colt's revolvers in his visitor's belt. + +A scowl darkened Larmer's face. “I'll give you a hundred dollars for +the thing,” he said. “I want it, and I mean to have it” And he rose and +dashed his huge hand down upon the table. + +Challoner was unarmed, but his face betrayed neither fear nor any other +emotion. He was standing with his back to the doorway of his bedroom. +A thick curtain of navy blue calico concealed the interior of this room +from the view of any one in the living room, and Larmer had seen no one +but the trader about. + +For some few seconds there was silence; the beachcomber, with his +clenched fist still on the table, was trying to discover whether the man +before him was intimidated. Challoner stood unmoved. + +“Yes,” began Larmer again, “I want that cannon. Sru, the chief of Kiti, +an' me is going on a little war-party again. But I'll pay you for it.” + +“And I tell you that I won't sell it. Least of all to a man like you, +who would use it for murder.” + +The beachcomber's hand went to his belt--and stayed there, as the trader +stepped aside from the doorway and he saw a rifle pointed at his heart. +It was held by the trader's wife. + +“Put up your hands,” said Challoner, with a contemptuous laugh. “And +now listen to me. I want no quarrel with you--don't force one on me. Now +clear out.” + +Without a word the baffled man turned away. But the look of savage +hatred that gleamed in his fierce eyes told Challoner that he had made +a dangerous enemy. And only a few days passed before he heard from the +natives that Larmer said he would have his revenge--and the brass gun as +well--before many months were over. + +But the trader, though apparently taking no heed, was yet watchful. His +influence with the natives of the Jakoits district was great, for they +both liked and trusted him as a just and honourable man, and he knew +that they would rally round him if Larmer attempted either to carry off +the gun or do harm to him. + +For some months matters went on at Jakoits very quietly, and the last of +the whaling fleet having sailed, Challoner and Dawson went about their +usual work again, such as trading along the coast in their whaleboats +and storing their cocoanut oil in readiness for the _Mocassin_, the +trading ship which visited them once a year, and was now due. + +Although living only a few miles apart from each other, the two did not +very often meet, but Challoner was one day surprised to see Dawson's +boat pulling into the beach, for he had had a visit from his friend only +the previous evening. The moment the boat touched the sand Dawson jumped +out, and Challoner at once saw by the anxious expression on his face +that something was wrong. + +He soon learnt Dawson's news, which was bad enough. The _Mocassin_ +had run ashore in the night at a place five miles away from Dawson's +village, and it was feared she would become a total wreck unless she +could be lightened and floated over the reef into smooth water. The +captain had sent an urgent message for aid, and in less than half an +hour the two men were on their way to the wreck, accompanied by nearly +every male native in Challoner's village. + +Towards sunset on the following day, just as the boats were in sight, +returning from the wreck, Tiaru, the trader's wife, with her one child +and some of her female relatives, were coming from their bathe in +the sea, when they heard screams from the village, and presently some +terrified women fled past them, calling out that Larmer and another +white man and a number of their native allies were carrying away the +brass gun. In an instant the young wife gave the babe to a woman near +her, and darted towards her husband's house. A number of women and +children, encouraged by her presence, ran to alarm the approaching +boats. + +In front of the trader's house Larmer and another beachcomber were +directing a score of Kiti natives how to sling the heavy gun between two +stout poles. A sentry stood on guard at the gate of Challoner's fence, +but Tiaru dashed his crossed musket aside, and then sprang into the +midst of her husband's enemies. + +“Set down the gun,” she panted indignantly, “ye coward men of Rôan Kiti, +and ye white men thieves, who only dare to come and steal when there are +but women to meet and fight with thee.” + +Larmer laughed. + +“Get out o' this, you meddling fool,” he said in English, and then, +calling to the natives to hasten ere it grew dark, he took no further +notice of the woman before him. Then, as they prepared to raise their +burden by a united effort upon their naked shoulders, Tiaru sprang +into the house and quickly reappeared with a heavy knife in her hand. +Twisting her lithe body from the grasp of one of the beachcombers, with +flaming eyes she burst in amongst the gun carriers and began slashing at +the strips of green bark with which the cannon was lashed to the poles. + +“Curse you!” said Larmer fiercely, striding forward and seizing her by +her long hair. “Take away her knife, Watty, quick!” And he dragged her +head back with brutal strength--to release his hold with a cry of savage +fury as the woman turned upon him and with a swift stroke severed the +fingers of his left hand. Again she raised her hand as Larmer drew a +pistol and shot her through the body. She fell without a cry upon the +gun beneath. + +“By ------, you've done it now!” said the man + +Watty. “Look there! There's all our natives running away. We're as good +as dead men if we stay here five minutes longer. I'm off anyway”; and +then, hurriedly binding up his companion's bleeding hand, he disappeared +into the surrounding forest after his native allies. + +For a few moments Larmer stood irresolute, looking first at the body of +the woman lying across the gun, then at his wounded hand. Already the +shouts of Challoner's natives sounded near, and he knew that the boats +had reached the beach. The gun, which had cost him so dear, must be +abandoned, but he would take a further revenge upon its owner. He ran +quickly to a fire which burned dimly in Challoner's cooking-house, lit +a bunch of dried palm leaves, and thrust it into the thatch of the +dwelling-house. Then he struck into the jungle. + +As Challoner, followed by Dawson and the men of Jakoits village, rushed +along the narrow path that led to his house, they heard the roar and +crackle of the flames; when they gained the open they saw the bright +light shining on the old cannon, whose polished brass was stained and +streaked with red. Tiaru lay across the breech, dead. + +***** + +For nearly two days Challoner and his natives followed the tracks of +the murderer into the heart of the mountain forest of Ponapé. Dawson +and another party had left early the same night for the Rôan Kiti coast, +where they landed and formed a cordon, which it would be impossible for +Larmer to pass. + +Watty, his fellow-scoundrel, was captured early next morning. He had +lost his way and was lying asleep beside a fire on the banks of a small +stream. + +He was promptly shot by Dawson. Larmer was to be taken alive. + +Meanwhile Challoner and his men pressed steadily on, driving their prey +before them. At noon on the second day they caught sight of his huge +figure ascending a rocky spur, and a party of natives ran swiftly to its +base and hid at the margin of a small, deep pool. Challoner knew that +his man wanted a drink, and would soon descend the spur to get it. + +For some hours not a sound broke the silence, then a stone rolled +down, and presently Larmer's head appeared above a boulder. He looked +carefully round, and then, finding all quiet, began the descent. On the +very edge of the pool he again stopped and listened, holding his pistol +at full cock. His left hand was slung to his chest by a piece of green +hibiscus bark, which was passed round his neck and roughly tied. + +The silence all around him was reassuring, but he still held out the +pistol as he bent his knees to drink. Ere his lips could touch the water +two half-naked figures sprang upon him and bore him down. He was too +weak to resist. + +“Do not bind him,” said Challoner, “but tie his right hand behind his +back.” + +Larmer turned his bloodshot eyes upon the trader, but said nothing. + +“Give him a drink.” + +A native placed a gourd of water to his lips. He drank greedily. Then, +in silence, Challoner and his men began their march back. + +***** + +At sunset the people of Jakoits gathered together in front of the +blackened space whereon the trader's house had stood. Raised on four +heavy blocks of stone was the still blood-stained cannon, and bound with +his back to its muzzle was Larmer. + +Challoner made a sign, the brown-skinned men and women moved quickly +apart in two parties, one on each side of the gun. Then Rul, the chief +of the Jakoits* village, advanced with a lighted stick, touched the +priming, and sprang aside. A sheet of flame leaped out, a bursting roar +pealed through the leafy forest aisles, and Challoner had avenged his +murdered wife. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Brothers-In-Law: A Tale Of The +Equatorial Islands; and The Brass Gun Of The Buccaneers, by Louis Becke + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BROTHERS-IN-LAW *** + +***** This file should be named 25056-0.txt or 25056-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/5/0/5/25056/ + +Produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/25056-0.zip b/25056-0.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..20f0239 --- /dev/null +++ b/25056-0.zip diff --git a/25056-8.txt b/25056-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..db19bc4 --- /dev/null +++ b/25056-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1047 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Brothers-In-Law: A Tale Of The +Equatorial Islands; and The Brass Gun Of The Buccaneers, by Louis Becke + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Brothers-In-Law: A Tale Of The Equatorial Islands; and The Brass Gun Of The Buccaneers + 1901 + +Author: Louis Becke + +Release Date: April 12, 2008 [EBook #25056] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BROTHERS-IN-LAW *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +THE BROTHERS-IN-LAW: A TALE OF THE EQUATORIAL ISLANDS, and THE BRASS GUN OF THE BUCCANEERS + +From "The Tapu Of Banderah and Other Stories" + +By Louis Becke + +C. Arthur Pearson Ltd. + +1901 + + + + +THE BROTHERS-IN-LAW: A TALE OF THE EQUATORIAL ISLANDS + +"There," said Tvita the teacher, pointing with his paddle to a long, +narrow peninsula which stretched out into the shallow waters of the +lagoon, "there, that is the place where the battle was fought. In those +days a village of thirty houses or more stood there; now no one liveth +there, and only sometimes do the people come here to gather cocoanuts." + +The White Man nodded. "'Tis a fair place to look upon. Let us land and +rest awhile, for the sun is hot." + +The native pastor swung the bow of the canoe round towards the shore, +and presently the little craft glided gently upon the hard, white sand, +and the two men got out, walked up to the grove of cocoa-palms, and sat +down under their shade to rest and smoke until the sun lost some of its +fierce intensity and they could proceed on their journey homeward to the +principal village. + +The White Man was the one trader living in Peru,{*} the native was a +Samoan, and one of the oldest and bravest missionaries in the Pacific. +For twenty years he had dwelt among the wild, intractable, and savage +people of Peru--twenty years of almost daily peril, for in those days +the warlike people of the Gilbert Group resented the coming of the few +native teachers scattered throughout the archipelago, and only Tavita's +undaunted courage and genial disposition had preserved the lives of +himself and his family. Such influence as he now possessed was due, not +to his persistent attempts to preach Christianity, but to his reputation +for integrity of conduct and his skill as a fisherman and carpenter. + + * Francis Island, or Peru, is one of the largest atolls of + the Gilbert Group in the South Pacific, about one hundred + and twenty miles south of the Equator + +The White Man and he were firm friends, and that day they had been down +to the north end of the lagoon to collect a canoe load of the eggs of +a small species of tern which frequented the uninhabited portion of the +island in myriad swarms. + +Presently, as they sat and smoked, and lazily watched a swarm of the +silvery mullet called _kanae_ disporting themselves on the glassy +surface of the lagoon, the White Man said-- + +"Who were these white men, Tvita, who fought in the battle?" + +"Hast never heard the story?" inquired the teacher in Samoan. + +The trader shook his head. "Only some of it--a little from one, a little +from another." + +"Then listen," said Tvita, re-filling his pipe and leaning his broad +back against the bole of a cocoa-palm. + +***** + +"It was nineteen years ago, and I had been living on the island but a +year. In those days there were many white men in these islands. Some +were traders, some were but _papalagi tafea_{*} who spent their days +in idleness, drunkenness, and debauchery, casting aside all pride and +living like these savage people, with but a girdle of grass around their +naked waists, their hands ever imbued in the blood of their fellow white +men or that of the men of the land. + + * Beachcombers. + +"Here, on this island, were two traders and many beachcombers. One of +the traders was a man named Carter, the other was named West Carter +the people called 'Karta,' the other by his fore name, which was 'Simi' +(Jim). They came here together in a whaleship from the Bonin Islands +with their wives--two sisters, who were Portuguese half-castes, and both +very beautiful women. Carter's wife had no children; West, who was +the younger man, and who had married the younger sister, had two. +Both brought many thousands of dollars worth of trade with them to buy +cocoanut oil, for in those days these natives here did not make copra as +they do now--they made oil from the nuts. + +"Karta built a house on the north end of the island, where there is the +best anchorage for ships, West chose to remain on the lee side where +he had landed, and bought a house near to mine. In quite a few days we +became friends, and almost every night we would meet and talk, and his +children and mine played together. He was quite a young man, and had +been, he told me, the third mate of an English ship which was cast away +on the Bonin Islands four years before, where he had met Karta, who was +a trader there, and whose wife's sister he married. + +"One day they heard from the captain of a whaleship that there was much +money to be made on this island of Peru, for although there were many +beachcombers living here there was no trader to whom the people could +sell their oil. So that was why they came here. + +"Now, although these two men were married to two sisters, there was but +little love between them, and then as time went on came distrust, and +then hatred, born out of Karta's jealousy and wicked heart; but until +they came to live here on Peru there had been no bad blood--not even +enough to cause a bitter word, though even then the younger man did not +like Karta, who was a man of violent temper, unfaithful to his wife, +and rude and insulting in his manner to most men, white or brown. And +Serena, his wife, hated him, but made no sign. + +"As time went on, both men prospered, for there was much oil to be had, +and at the end of the first year a schooner came from Sydney and bought +it I went on board with Simi, after the oil had been rafted off to the +ship's side. Karta, too, came on board to be paid for his oil. He had +been drinking much grog and his face was flushed and angry. With him +were three beachcombers whose foul language and insolent demeanour +angered both the captain and Simi, who were quiet men. There were six or +seven of these beachcombers living on the island, and they all disliked +Simi, who would have none of their company; but in Karta's house they +were made welcome. Night after night they would gather there and drink +and gamble, for some of them had bags of dollars, for dissolute and idle +as they were for the most of their time they could make money easily +by acting as interpreters for the natives, to the captains of the +whaleships, or as pilots to the trading vessels sailing northward to the +Marshall Islands. + +"The captain paid Simi partly in money and partly in trade goods, for +the two hundred casks of oil he bought, and then Simi and I turned to go +on shore. Karta had scarce spoken ten words to Simi, who yet bore him no +ill-will, although for many months tales had come to us of the evil life +he led and the insults he put upon his wife Serena. + +"But after he had bidden farewell to the captain, Simi held out his +hand to his brother-in-law and said--'My wife Luisa sendeth love and +greetings to Serena. Is she in good health?' + +"Karta would not take the hand held out to him. + +"'What is that to thee or thy wife either?' he answered rudely. 'Look to +thy own business and meddle not with mine.' + +"Simi's face grew red with anger, but he spoke quietly and reproved his +brother-in-law for his rude speech. 'Why insult me needlessly before so +many strangers?' he said. 'What harm have I or my wife Luisa ever done +to thee?' + +"'Curse thee and Luisa, thy wife,' said Karta again; 'she and thee, aye, +and Serena too, are well matched, for ye be all cunning sneaks and fit +company for that fat-faced Samoan psalm-singer who stands beside thee.' + +"At these words the three beachcombers laughed, and when they saw that +Simi made no answer, but turned aside from Karta in contempt, one of +them called him a coward. + +"He turned upon him quickly. 'Thou liest, thou drunken, useless cumberer +of the earth,' he said, looking at him scornfully; 'no coward am I, nor +a noisy boaster like thee. This is no place for us to quarrel. But say +such a thing to me on the beach if ye dare.' + +"'He is my friend/ said Karta, speaking with drunken rage, and thrusting +his face into Simi's, 'he is as good a man as thee any day. To strike +him or any one of us thou art afraid, thou cat-hearted coward and +miser.' + +"Simi clenched his hands, but suddenly thrust them into his pockets and +looked at the captain and the officers of the ship. + +"'This is no place for me,' he again said in a low voice; 'come, Tavita, +let us go,' and without even raising his eyes to Karta and the three +other men he went out of the cabin. + +"That night he, Luisa, and I and my wife sat talking; and in the fulness +of her anger at the insults heaped upon her husband, Luisa told us of +some things. + +"'This man Karta hateth both my sister and myself, as well as my +husband. He hateth me because that it was I whom he desired to marry, +four years ago; but I feared him too much to become his wife, for +even in those days I knew him to be a drunkard and a gambler, and a +licentious man. Then although she loved him not my sister Serena became +his wife, for he was a man of good property, and promised to give over +his evil ways and be a good husband to her. And he hateth her and would +gladly see her dead, for she hath borne him no children. He is for +ever flinging cruel words at her, and hath said to her before me that a +childless man is a thing of scorn and disgrace even to the savage people +of this island. And he makes no secret of his wickedness with other +women. That is why my sister Serena is dull and heavy-minded; for she is +eaten up with grief and shame.' + +"'That is true,' said Simi, 'I have known this for a year past, for +when he is drunk he cannot conceal his thoughts. And he is full of anger +against me because I have nought in common with him. I am neither a +drinker of grog nor a gambler, and have suffered from him what I would +suffer from no other man. I am no brawler, but yet 'tis hard to bear.' + +***** + +"Just as dawn came, and I was sunk in slumber, I heard a footstep +outside my door, and then Simi called to me. 'Bring thy wife to my house +quickly,' he said, 'evil work hath been done in the night.' + +"My wife and I followed him, and when we entered we saw Luisa his wife +kneeling beside a couch and weeping over Serena, who lay still and quiet +as if dead. + +"'Look,' he said sternly, 'look what that devil hath done!' + +"He lifted Serena's left arm--the bone was broken in two places, above +and below the elbow. + +"We set to work quickly, and fitting the broken bones in place we bound +her arm up in stiff, smooth strips of the spathe of the cocoanut tree, +and then washed and dressed her feet, which were cut and bleeding, for +she had walked barefooted, and clothed only in her night-dress, all the +way from the north end of the island, which is nearly two leagues from +my house. + +"After she had drunk some coffee and eaten a little food she became +stronger, and told us all that had befallen her. + +"'Karta and the three other white men came back from the ship when it +was long past midnight, and I knew by the noise they made that they had +all been drinking grog. I heard them talking and laughing and saying +that thou, Simi, were a paltry coward; and then one of them--he who is +called Joe--said that he would one day end thee with a bullet and take +Luisa to wife, as so fine a woman deserved a better man than a cur for +a husband. And Karta--Karta my husband--laughed and said that that could +not be, for he meant to take thee, Luisa, for himself when he had ridden +himself of me. His shameless words stung me, and I wept silently as I +lay there, and pressed my hands to my ears to shut out their foul talk +and blasphemies. + +"'Suddenly I heard my husband's voice as he rose from the table and came +towards the sleeping room. He threw open the door and bade me come out +and put food before him and his friends. + +"'I rose at his bidding, for his face terrified me--it was the face of +a devil--and began to clothe myself. He tore the dress from my hands and +cursed me, and bade me go as I stood. In my fear I sprang to the window +and tried to tear down the cane lattice-work so as to escape from the +house and the shame he sought to put upon me. He seized me by the waist +and tried to tear me away, but I was strong--strong with the strength of +a man. Then it was that he went mad, for he took up a heavy _paua_ stick +and struck me twice on the arm. And had it not been that the other +white men came in and dragged him away from me, crying shame on him, and +throwing him down upon the floor, I would now be dead. + +"'I lay quiet for a little time and then rising to my feet looked out +into the big room, where the three men were still holding my husband +down. One of them bade me run for my life, for Karta, he said, had gone +mad with grog. + +"'I feared to seek aid from any of the natives, for they, too, dread +Karta at such times; so I walked and ran, sometimes along the beach, +sometimes through the bush till I came here. That is all.' + +* * * * * + +"That morning the head man in our village caused the shell to sound,{*} +to call the people together so that they might hear from Simi the story +of the shame put upon his wife's sister and upon himself and his house. +As the people gathered around the _moniep_{**} and the head men sat down +inside, the captain of the ship came on shore, and great was his anger +when he heard the tale. + + * A conch-shell. + + ** The council house. + +"'Let this poor woman come to my ship,' he said; 'her life here is not +safe with such a man as that. For I know his utter vileness and cruelty +to her. With me she shall be safe and well cared for, and if she so +wishes she shall come with me to Fiji where my wife liveth, and her life +will be a life of peace.' + +"So Serena was put in the ship's boat, and Luisa went with her to remain +on board till the ship sailed, which would be in three days. Then Simi +and the head men talked together in the council house, and they made a +law and sent a message to Karta. This was the message they sent to him: +'Because of the evil thou hast done and of the shame thou hast put upon +the sister of the wife of our white man, come no more to this town. If +thou comest then will there be war between thy town and ours, and we +will burn the houses and harry and slay thee and the seven other white +men, and all men of thy town who side with thee, and make slaves of the +women and children. This is our last word.' + +"A swift messenger was sent. Before the sun was in mid-heaven he +returned, crying out as he ran, 'War is the answer of Karta and his +village. War and death to Simi and to us all are his words; and to +Luisa, the wife of the white man, he sendeth this message: "Prepare a +feast for thy new husband, for he cometh to take thee away from one who +cannot stand against him."' + +"In those days there were seven hundred fighting men in our town, and +a great clamour arose. Spears and clubs and muskets and hatchets were +seized, the armour of stout cinnet which covered a man from head to foot +was put on, women filled baskets with smooth stones for the slings; and +long before sundown the warriors set out, with Simi and the head men +leading them, to meet their enemies mid-way--at this very place where we +now sit. For this narrow strip of land hath been the fighting-ground of +Peru from the old, old times long before I was born, and my years are +three score and seven. + +"The night was dark, but Simi and his people, when they reached this +place, some by land and some in canoes, lit great fires on the beach +and dug trenches in the sand very quickly, behind which all those who +carried muskets were placed, to fire into the enemy's canoes as they +paddled along the narrow passage to the landing place. Karta and his +white friends and the people of their town had more than two hundred +muskets, whilst our village had less than fifty. But they were strong of +heart and waited eagerly for the fight. + +"Just before sunrise we saw them coming. There were over one hundred +canoes, each carrying five or six men. Karta and the beachcombers were +leading in a whaleboat, which was being rowed very swiftly. When within +rifle-shot she grounded. + +"As they leapt out of the boat, rifles in hand, they were followed by +their natives, but our people fired a volley together, and two of the +white men and many of their people fell dead in the shallow water. Then +Simi and twenty of our best men leapt out of their trenches and dashed +into the water to meet them. Karta was in advance of them all, and when +he saw Simi he raised his rifle and fired. The bullet missed the white +man but killed a native behind him. Then Karta, throwing away his rifle, +took two pistols from his belt and shot twice at Simi who was now quite +close to him. These bullets, too, did Simi no harm, for taking a steady +aim at his foe he shot him through the body, and as Karta fell upon his +side one of our people leapt on him and held his head under the water +till there was no more life in his wicked heart. + +"The fight was soon ended, for seeing three of their number killed so +quickly, the rest of the white men ran back to their boat and tried to +float her again; and then Simi, taking a shot-gun loaded with slugs +from one of his men, ran up to them and shot dead the one named Joe. The +other white men he let escape, for all their followers were now paddling +off or swimming to the other side of the lagoon, and Simi was no lover +of bloodshed. + +"That day the people at the north end sent a message for peace, and +peace was made, for our people had lost but one man killed, so the thing +was ended well for us. + +"Serena came back from the ship, for now that Karta was dead she had +no fear. The three white men who were spared soon left Peru in a +whale-ship, for they feared to remain. + +"Simi and his wife and children and Serena did not long stay with us, +for he sold his house and boats to a new trader who came to the island +about a month after the fight, and they went away to live at a place in +Fiji called Yasawa. They were very good to me and mine, and I was sore +in my heart to see the ship sail away with them, and at night I felt +very lonely for a long time, knowing that I should see them no more." + + + + + + +THE BRASS GUN OF THE BUCCANEERS + + +Challoner was a trader at Jakoits Harbour in Ponap, one of the +loveliest of the great Caroline Archipelago in the North Pacific. He +was a quiet but determined-looking man of fifty, and at the time of +this story had been living on Ponap for over five years. Unlike the +generality of the white men who were settled on the island, he never +carried arms and never entered into any of the disputes that too often +occurred among them and ended in bloodshed. + +Many of his neighbours were scoundrels and ruffians of the deepest +dye--deserters from whale-ships and men-of-war, or escaped criminals +from California and the Australian colonies. Some of these earned a +living by trading with the natives for turtle-shell and cocoanut oil, +others were simply beachcombers, who attached themselves to the leading +chiefs and gave their services to them in war time, receiving in return +houses and land, and spending their lives in time of peace in the +wildest dissipation and excesses. + +In those days the American whaling fleet made Jakoits and the other +three harbours on the beautiful island their rendezvous before sailing +northward to the coasts of Japan and Siberia. Sometimes there would be +as many as thirty ships arrive within a week of each other, carrying +from thirty to forty hands each; and these, when given liberty by their +captains, at once associated with the beachcombing element, and turned +an island paradise into a hell during their stay on shore. + +There was among these beachcombers a man named Larmer. He was of +Herculean stature and strength, and was, in a manner, their leader. It +was his habit in his drunken moments to vaunt of the bloody deeds +which he had perpetrated during his crime-stained career in the Pacific +Islands. For the lives of natives he had absolutely no regard, and +had committed so many murders in the Gilbert Islands that he had been +forcibly taken on board a whaler by the few white men living there, and +threatened with instant death if he returned. + +The whaleship landed him on Ponap, and his presence soon became a +curse. Being possessed of plenty of arms and ammunition, he soon gained +the friendship of a native chief ruling over the western district of the +island, and his savage nature at once showed itself by his offering to +destroy the inhabitants of a little island named Pkin, who had in some +way offended this chief. His offer was accepted, and, accompanied by +five ruffianly whites and some hundreds of natives, the unfortunate +people were surprised and butchered. Elated with this achievement, +Larmer returned to Ponap, and, during the orgy which took place to +celebrate the massacre, he shot dead one of his white companions who had +displeased him over some trifling matter. + +The news was brought by a native to Challoner, who with a fellow-trader +and several local chiefs was sitting outside his house smoking and +enjoying the cool of the evening, and watching the flashing torches of +a number of canoes catching flying fish beyond the barrier reef. Neither +of them felt surprised, and Challoner remarked to the native that it was +good to know that one bad and useless man was dead, but that it would be +better still to hear that the man who slaughtered a whole community in +cold blood was dead also. + +"I wouldn't have said that if I were you," said Dawson, the other +trader, nervously; "that fellow Larmer is bound to hear of it." + +"I am quite prepared," Challoner replied quietly, "as you know, Dawson. +Things cannot go on like this. I have never killed a man in my life, but +to kill such a brute as Larmer would be a good action." + +The distance between Challoner's place and Kiti, where Larmer dwelt with +his villainous associates, was but ten miles. Yet, although Larmer had +now been living on the island for a year, Challoner had only once met +and spoken to him. + +***** + +During a visit which he (Challoner) had made to a little harbour called +Metalanim, he had explored some very ancient ruins there, which +were generally believed by the white uneducated traders to have been +constructed by the old buccaneers, though the most learned antiquarians +confess themselves puzzled to solve the mystery of their existence. But +that these ruins had been used as a _depot_ or refuge of some sort by +those who sailed the North Pacific more than two hundred years ago was +evident, for many traces of their occupancy by Europeans had been found +by the few white men who had visited them. + +It was Challoner's fortune to discover amid the mass of tangled vines +and creepers that grew all over the walls, and even down in the curious +chambers, an old brass cannon. With the aid of some of his native +friends he succeeded in dragging it forth and conveying it in his boat +to his house, where, upon cleaning it, he found it bore the Spanish +arms over the date of its casting in Manila, in the year 1716. Much +interested in this, he refused to sell the gun to several whaleship +captains, who each wanted to buy it. He would sell it, he thought, to +better advantage by sending it to Australia or Europe. + +Soon after its discovery he had set his people to work to clean and +polish it One day he saw coming towards him a man, who from his huge +figure he knew must be Larmer, the beachcomber. + +"I say, boss," said the man roughly, "let's have a look at that cannon +you've found, will yar?" + +"There it is," said Challoner quietly, pointing to his boat-house, but +not deigning to accompany the beachcomber and show him the weapon. + +Larmer made a brief but keen inspection, and then walked into the +trader's room and, unasked, sat down. + +"It's as good as new," he said. "What do you want for it?" + +"I will not sell it," replied the trader coldly, eyeing the beachcomber +steadily, "at least to no one in Ponap. There is too free a display of +and use of arms here as it is," and he looked pointedly at the brace of +heavy Colt's revolvers in his visitor's belt. + +A scowl darkened Larmer's face. "I'll give you a hundred dollars for +the thing," he said. "I want it, and I mean to have it" And he rose and +dashed his huge hand down upon the table. + +Challoner was unarmed, but his face betrayed neither fear nor any other +emotion. He was standing with his back to the doorway of his bedroom. +A thick curtain of navy blue calico concealed the interior of this room +from the view of any one in the living room, and Larmer had seen no one +but the trader about. + +For some few seconds there was silence; the beachcomber, with his +clenched fist still on the table, was trying to discover whether the man +before him was intimidated. Challoner stood unmoved. + +"Yes," began Larmer again, "I want that cannon. Sru, the chief of Kiti, +an' me is going on a little war-party again. But I'll pay you for it." + +"And I tell you that I won't sell it. Least of all to a man like you, +who would use it for murder." + +The beachcomber's hand went to his belt--and stayed there, as the trader +stepped aside from the doorway and he saw a rifle pointed at his heart. +It was held by the trader's wife. + +"Put up your hands," said Challoner, with a contemptuous laugh. "And +now listen to me. I want no quarrel with you--don't force one on me. Now +clear out." + +Without a word the baffled man turned away. But the look of savage +hatred that gleamed in his fierce eyes told Challoner that he had made +a dangerous enemy. And only a few days passed before he heard from the +natives that Larmer said he would have his revenge--and the brass gun as +well--before many months were over. + +But the trader, though apparently taking no heed, was yet watchful. His +influence with the natives of the Jakoits district was great, for they +both liked and trusted him as a just and honourable man, and he knew +that they would rally round him if Larmer attempted either to carry off +the gun or do harm to him. + +For some months matters went on at Jakoits very quietly, and the last of +the whaling fleet having sailed, Challoner and Dawson went about their +usual work again, such as trading along the coast in their whaleboats +and storing their cocoanut oil in readiness for the _Mocassin_, the +trading ship which visited them once a year, and was now due. + +Although living only a few miles apart from each other, the two did not +very often meet, but Challoner was one day surprised to see Dawson's +boat pulling into the beach, for he had had a visit from his friend only +the previous evening. The moment the boat touched the sand Dawson jumped +out, and Challoner at once saw by the anxious expression on his face +that something was wrong. + +He soon learnt Dawson's news, which was bad enough. The _Mocassin_ +had run ashore in the night at a place five miles away from Dawson's +village, and it was feared she would become a total wreck unless she +could be lightened and floated over the reef into smooth water. The +captain had sent an urgent message for aid, and in less than half an +hour the two men were on their way to the wreck, accompanied by nearly +every male native in Challoner's village. + +Towards sunset on the following day, just as the boats were in sight, +returning from the wreck, Tiaru, the trader's wife, with her one child +and some of her female relatives, were coming from their bathe in +the sea, when they heard screams from the village, and presently some +terrified women fled past them, calling out that Larmer and another +white man and a number of their native allies were carrying away the +brass gun. In an instant the young wife gave the babe to a woman near +her, and darted towards her husband's house. A number of women and +children, encouraged by her presence, ran to alarm the approaching +boats. + +In front of the trader's house Larmer and another beachcomber were +directing a score of Kiti natives how to sling the heavy gun between two +stout poles. A sentry stood on guard at the gate of Challoner's fence, +but Tiaru dashed his crossed musket aside, and then sprang into the +midst of her husband's enemies. + +"Set down the gun," she panted indignantly, "ye coward men of Ran Kiti, +and ye white men thieves, who only dare to come and steal when there are +but women to meet and fight with thee." + +Larmer laughed. + +"Get out o' this, you meddling fool," he said in English, and then, +calling to the natives to hasten ere it grew dark, he took no further +notice of the woman before him. Then, as they prepared to raise their +burden by a united effort upon their naked shoulders, Tiaru sprang +into the house and quickly reappeared with a heavy knife in her hand. +Twisting her lithe body from the grasp of one of the beachcombers, with +flaming eyes she burst in amongst the gun carriers and began slashing at +the strips of green bark with which the cannon was lashed to the poles. + +"Curse you!" said Larmer fiercely, striding forward and seizing her by +her long hair. "Take away her knife, Watty, quick!" And he dragged her +head back with brutal strength--to release his hold with a cry of savage +fury as the woman turned upon him and with a swift stroke severed the +fingers of his left hand. Again she raised her hand as Larmer drew a +pistol and shot her through the body. She fell without a cry upon the +gun beneath. + +"By ------, you've done it now!" said the man + +Watty. "Look there! There's all our natives running away. We're as good +as dead men if we stay here five minutes longer. I'm off anyway"; and +then, hurriedly binding up his companion's bleeding hand, he disappeared +into the surrounding forest after his native allies. + +For a few moments Larmer stood irresolute, looking first at the body of +the woman lying across the gun, then at his wounded hand. Already the +shouts of Challoner's natives sounded near, and he knew that the boats +had reached the beach. The gun, which had cost him so dear, must be +abandoned, but he would take a further revenge upon its owner. He ran +quickly to a fire which burned dimly in Challoner's cooking-house, lit +a bunch of dried palm leaves, and thrust it into the thatch of the +dwelling-house. Then he struck into the jungle. + +As Challoner, followed by Dawson and the men of Jakoits village, rushed +along the narrow path that led to his house, they heard the roar and +crackle of the flames; when they gained the open they saw the bright +light shining on the old cannon, whose polished brass was stained and +streaked with red. Tiaru lay across the breech, dead. + +***** + +For nearly two days Challoner and his natives followed the tracks of +the murderer into the heart of the mountain forest of Ponap. Dawson +and another party had left early the same night for the Ran Kiti coast, +where they landed and formed a cordon, which it would be impossible for +Larmer to pass. + +Watty, his fellow-scoundrel, was captured early next morning. He had +lost his way and was lying asleep beside a fire on the banks of a small +stream. + +He was promptly shot by Dawson. Larmer was to be taken alive. + +Meanwhile Challoner and his men pressed steadily on, driving their prey +before them. At noon on the second day they caught sight of his huge +figure ascending a rocky spur, and a party of natives ran swiftly to its +base and hid at the margin of a small, deep pool. Challoner knew that +his man wanted a drink, and would soon descend the spur to get it. + +For some hours not a sound broke the silence, then a stone rolled +down, and presently Larmer's head appeared above a boulder. He looked +carefully round, and then, finding all quiet, began the descent. On the +very edge of the pool he again stopped and listened, holding his pistol +at full cock. His left hand was slung to his chest by a piece of green +hibiscus bark, which was passed round his neck and roughly tied. + +The silence all around him was reassuring, but he still held out the +pistol as he bent his knees to drink. Ere his lips could touch the water +two half-naked figures sprang upon him and bore him down. He was too +weak to resist. + +"Do not bind him," said Challoner, "but tie his right hand behind his +back." + +Larmer turned his bloodshot eyes upon the trader, but said nothing. + +"Give him a drink." + +A native placed a gourd of water to his lips. He drank greedily. Then, +in silence, Challoner and his men began their march back. + +***** + +At sunset the people of Jakoits gathered together in front of the +blackened space whereon the trader's house had stood. Raised on four +heavy blocks of stone was the still blood-stained cannon, and bound with +his back to its muzzle was Larmer. + +Challoner made a sign, the brown-skinned men and women moved quickly +apart in two parties, one on each side of the gun. Then Rul, the chief +of the Jakoits* village, advanced with a lighted stick, touched the +priming, and sprang aside. A sheet of flame leaped out, a bursting roar +pealed through the leafy forest aisles, and Challoner had avenged his +murdered wife. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Brothers-In-Law: A Tale Of The +Equatorial Islands; and The Brass Gun Of The Buccaneers, by Louis Becke + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BROTHERS-IN-LAW *** + +***** This file should be named 25056-8.txt or 25056-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/5/0/5/25056/ + +Produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Brothers-In-Law: A Tale Of The Equatorial Islands; and The Brass Gun Of The Buccaneers + 1901 + +Author: Louis Becke + +Release Date: April 12, 2008 [EBook #25056] +Last Updated: March 8, 2018 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BROTHERS-IN-LAW *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <div style="height: 8em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h1> + THE BROTHERS-IN-LAW: <br /> A TALE OF THE EQUATORIAL ISLANDS, <br /> <br /> + and THE BRASS GUN OF THE BUCCANEERS + </h1> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + From “The Tapu Of Banderah and Other Stories” + </h3> + <h2> + By Louis Becke + </h2> + <h5> + C. Arthur Pearson Ltd. <br /> <br /> 1901 + </h5> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + Contents + </h2> + <table summary="" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto"> + <tr> + <td> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> THE BROTHERS-IN-LAW: A TALE OF THE + EQUATORIAL ISLANDS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0002"> THE BRASS GUN OF THE BUCCANEERS </a> + </p> + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE BROTHERS-IN-LAW: <br /> A TALE OF THE EQUATORIAL ISLANDS + </h2> + <p> + “There,” said Tâvita the teacher, pointing with his paddle to a long, + narrow peninsula which stretched out into the shallow waters of the + lagoon, “there, that is the place where the battle was fought. In those + days a village of thirty houses or more stood there; now no one liveth + there, and only sometimes do the people come here to gather cocoanuts.” + </p> + <p> + The White Man nodded. “'Tis a fair place to look upon. Let us land and + rest awhile, for the sun is hot.” + </p> + <p> + The native pastor swung the bow of the canoe round towards the shore, and + presently the little craft glided gently upon the hard, white sand, and + the two men got out, walked up to the grove of cocoa-palms, and sat down + under their shade to rest and smoke until the sun lost some of its fierce + intensity and they could proceed on their journey homeward to the + principal village. + </p> + <p> + The White Man was the one trader living in Peru,{*} the native was a + Samoan, and one of the oldest and bravest missionaries in the Pacific. For + twenty years he had dwelt among the wild, intractable, and savage people + of Peru—twenty years of almost daily peril, for in those days the + warlike people of the Gilbert Group resented the coming of the few native + teachers scattered throughout the archipelago, and only Tavita's undaunted + courage and genial disposition had preserved the lives of himself and his + family. Such influence as he now possessed was due, not to his persistent + attempts to preach Christianity, but to his reputation for integrity of + conduct and his skill as a fisherman and carpenter. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Francis Island, or Peru, is one of the largest atolls of + the Gilbert Group in the South Pacific, about one hundred + and twenty miles south of the Equator +</pre> + <p> + The White Man and he were firm friends, and that day they had been down to + the north end of the lagoon to collect a canoe load of the eggs of a small + species of tern which frequented the uninhabited portion of the island in + myriad swarms. + </p> + <p> + Presently, as they sat and smoked, and lazily watched a swarm of the + silvery mullet called <i>kanae</i> disporting themselves on the glassy + surface of the lagoon, the White Man said— + </p> + <p> + “Who were these white men, Tâvita, who fought in the battle?” + </p> + <p> + “Hast never heard the story?” inquired the teacher in Samoan. + </p> + <p> + The trader shook his head. “Only some of it—a little from one, a + little from another.” + </p> + <p> + “Then listen,” said Tâvita, re-filling his pipe and leaning his broad back + against the bole of a cocoa-palm. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + “It was nineteen years ago, and I had been living on the island but a + year. In those days there were many white men in these islands. Some were + traders, some were but <i>papalagi tafea</i>{*} who spent their days in + idleness, drunkenness, and debauchery, casting aside all pride and living + like these savage people, with but a girdle of grass around their naked + waists, their hands ever imbued in the blood of their fellow white men or + that of the men of the land. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Beachcombers. +</pre> + <p> + “Here, on this island, were two traders and many beachcombers. One of the + traders was a man named Carter, the other was named West Carter the people + called 'Karta,' the other by his fore name, which was 'Simi' (Jim). They + came here together in a whaleship from the Bonin Islands with their wives—two + sisters, who were Portuguese half-castes, and both very beautiful women. + Carter's wife had no children; West, who was the younger man, and who had + married the younger sister, had two. Both brought many thousands of + dollars worth of trade with them to buy cocoanut oil, for in those days + these natives here did not make copra as they do now—they made oil + from the nuts. + </p> + <p> + “Karta built a house on the north end of the island, where there is the + best anchorage for ships, West chose to remain on the lee side where he + had landed, and bought a house near to mine. In quite a few days we became + friends, and almost every night we would meet and talk, and his children + and mine played together. He was quite a young man, and had been, he told + me, the third mate of an English ship which was cast away on the Bonin + Islands four years before, where he had met Karta, who was a trader there, + and whose wife's sister he married. + </p> + <p> + “One day they heard from the captain of a whaleship that there was much + money to be made on this island of Peru, for although there were many + beachcombers living here there was no trader to whom the people could sell + their oil. So that was why they came here. + </p> + <p> + “Now, although these two men were married to two sisters, there was but + little love between them, and then as time went on came distrust, and then + hatred, born out of Karta's jealousy and wicked heart; but until they came + to live here on Peru there had been no bad blood—not even enough to + cause a bitter word, though even then the younger man did not like Karta, + who was a man of violent temper, unfaithful to his wife, and rude and + insulting in his manner to most men, white or brown. And Serena, his wife, + hated him, but made no sign. + </p> + <p> + “As time went on, both men prospered, for there was much oil to be had, + and at the end of the first year a schooner came from Sydney and bought it + I went on board with Simi, after the oil had been rafted off to the ship's + side. Karta, too, came on board to be paid for his oil. He had been + drinking much grog and his face was flushed and angry. With him were three + beachcombers whose foul language and insolent demeanour angered both the + captain and Simi, who were quiet men. There were six or seven of these + beachcombers living on the island, and they all disliked Simi, who would + have none of their company; but in Karta's house they were made welcome. + Night after night they would gather there and drink and gamble, for some + of them had bags of dollars, for dissolute and idle as they were for the + most of their time they could make money easily by acting as interpreters + for the natives, to the captains of the whaleships, or as pilots to the + trading vessels sailing northward to the Marshall Islands. + </p> + <p> + “The captain paid Simi partly in money and partly in trade goods, for the + two hundred casks of oil he bought, and then Simi and I turned to go on + shore. Karta had scarce spoken ten words to Simi, who yet bore him no + ill-will, although for many months tales had come to us of the evil life + he led and the insults he put upon his wife Serena. + </p> + <p> + “But after he had bidden farewell to the captain, Simi held out his hand + to his brother-in-law and said—'My wife Luisa sendeth love and + greetings to Serena. Is she in good health?' + </p> + <p> + “Karta would not take the hand held out to him. + </p> + <p> + “'What is that to thee or thy wife either?' he answered rudely. 'Look to + thy own business and meddle not with mine.' + </p> + <p> + “Simi's face grew red with anger, but he spoke quietly and reproved his + brother-in-law for his rude speech. 'Why insult me needlessly before so + many strangers?' he said. 'What harm have I or my wife Luisa ever done to + thee?' + </p> + <p> + “'Curse thee and Luisa, thy wife,' said Karta again; 'she and thee, aye, + and Serena too, are well matched, for ye be all cunning sneaks and fit + company for that fat-faced Samoan psalm-singer who stands beside thee.' + </p> + <p> + “At these words the three beachcombers laughed, and when they saw that + Simi made no answer, but turned aside from Karta in contempt, one of them + called him a coward. + </p> + <p> + “He turned upon him quickly. 'Thou liest, thou drunken, useless cumberer + of the earth,' he said, looking at him scornfully; 'no coward am I, nor a + noisy boaster like thee. This is no place for us to quarrel. But say such + a thing to me on the beach if ye dare.' + </p> + <p> + “'He is my friend/ said Karta, speaking with drunken rage, and thrusting + his face into Simi's, 'he is as good a man as thee any day. To strike him + or any one of us thou art afraid, thou cat-hearted coward and miser.' + </p> + <p> + “Simi clenched his hands, but suddenly thrust them into his pockets and + looked at the captain and the officers of the ship. + </p> + <p> + “'This is no place for me,' he again said in a low voice; 'come, Tavita, + let us go,' and without even raising his eyes to Karta and the three other + men he went out of the cabin. + </p> + <p> + “That night he, Luisa, and I and my wife sat talking; and in the fulness + of her anger at the insults heaped upon her husband, Luisa told us of some + things. + </p> + <p> + “'This man Karta hateth both my sister and myself, as well as my husband. + He hateth me because that it was I whom he desired to marry, four years + ago; but I feared him too much to become his wife, for even in those days + I knew him to be a drunkard and a gambler, and a licentious man. Then + although she loved him not my sister Serena became his wife, for he was a + man of good property, and promised to give over his evil ways and be a + good husband to her. And he hateth her and would gladly see her dead, for + she hath borne him no children. He is for ever flinging cruel words at + her, and hath said to her before me that a childless man is a thing of + scorn and disgrace even to the savage people of this island. And he makes + no secret of his wickedness with other women. That is why my sister Serena + is dull and heavy-minded; for she is eaten up with grief and shame.' + </p> + <p> + “'That is true,' said Simi, 'I have known this for a year past, for when + he is drunk he cannot conceal his thoughts. And he is full of anger + against me because I have nought in common with him. I am neither a + drinker of grog nor a gambler, and have suffered from him what I would + suffer from no other man. I am no brawler, but yet 'tis hard to bear.' + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + “Just as dawn came, and I was sunk in slumber, I heard a footstep outside + my door, and then Simi called to me. 'Bring thy wife to my house quickly,' + he said, 'evil work hath been done in the night.' + </p> + <p> + “My wife and I followed him, and when we entered we saw Luisa his wife + kneeling beside a couch and weeping over Serena, who lay still and quiet + as if dead. + </p> + <p> + “'Look,' he said sternly, 'look what that devil hath done!' + </p> + <p> + “He lifted Serena's left arm—the bone was broken in two places, + above and below the elbow. + </p> + <p> + “We set to work quickly, and fitting the broken bones in place we bound + her arm up in stiff, smooth strips of the spathe of the cocoanut tree, and + then washed and dressed her feet, which were cut and bleeding, for she had + walked barefooted, and clothed only in her night-dress, all the way from + the north end of the island, which is nearly two leagues from my house. + </p> + <p> + “After she had drunk some coffee and eaten a little food she became + stronger, and told us all that had befallen her. + </p> + <p> + “'Karta and the three other white men came back from the ship when it was + long past midnight, and I knew by the noise they made that they had all + been drinking grog. I heard them talking and laughing and saying that + thou, Simi, were a paltry coward; and then one of them—he who is + called Joe—said that he would one day end thee with a bullet and + take Luisa to wife, as so fine a woman deserved a better man than a cur + for a husband. And Karta—Karta my husband—laughed and said + that that could not be, for he meant to take thee, Luisa, for himself when + he had ridden himself of me. His shameless words stung me, and I wept + silently as I lay there, and pressed my hands to my ears to shut out their + foul talk and blasphemies. + </p> + <p> + “'Suddenly I heard my husband's voice as he rose from the table and came + towards the sleeping room. He threw open the door and bade me come out and + put food before him and his friends. + </p> + <p> + “'I rose at his bidding, for his face terrified me—it was the face + of a devil—and began to clothe myself. He tore the dress from my + hands and cursed me, and bade me go as I stood. In my fear I sprang to the + window and tried to tear down the cane lattice-work so as to escape from + the house and the shame he sought to put upon me. He seized me by the + waist and tried to tear me away, but I was strong—strong with the + strength of a man. Then it was that he went mad, for he took up a heavy <i>paua</i> + stick and struck me twice on the arm. And had it not been that the other + white men came in and dragged him away from me, crying shame on him, and + throwing him down upon the floor, I would now be dead. + </p> + <p> + “'I lay quiet for a little time and then rising to my feet looked out into + the big room, where the three men were still holding my husband down. One + of them bade me run for my life, for Karta, he said, had gone mad with + grog. + </p> + <p> + “'I feared to seek aid from any of the natives, for they, too, dread Karta + at such times; so I walked and ran, sometimes along the beach, sometimes + through the bush till I came here. That is all.' + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + “That morning the head man in our village caused the shell to sound,{*} to + call the people together so that they might hear from Simi the story of + the shame put upon his wife's sister and upon himself and his house. As + the people gathered around the <i>moniep</i>{**} and the head men sat down + inside, the captain of the ship came on shore, and great was his anger + when he heard the tale. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * A conch-shell. + + ** The council house. +</pre> + <p> + “'Let this poor woman come to my ship,' he said; 'her life here is not + safe with such a man as that. For I know his utter vileness and cruelty to + her. With me she shall be safe and well cared for, and if she so wishes + she shall come with me to Fiji where my wife liveth, and her life will be + a life of peace.' + </p> + <p> + “So Serena was put in the ship's boat, and Luisa went with her to remain + on board till the ship sailed, which would be in three days. Then Simi and + the head men talked together in the council house, and they made a law and + sent a message to Karta. This was the message they sent to him: 'Because + of the evil thou hast done and of the shame thou hast put upon the sister + of the wife of our white man, come no more to this town. If thou comest + then will there be war between thy town and ours, and we will burn the + houses and harry and slay thee and the seven other white men, and all men + of thy town who side with thee, and make slaves of the women and children. + This is our last word.' + </p> + <p> + “A swift messenger was sent. Before the sun was in mid-heaven he returned, + crying out as he ran, 'War is the answer of Karta and his village. War and + death to Simi and to us all are his words; and to Luisa, the wife of the + white man, he sendeth this message: “Prepare a feast for thy new husband, + for he cometh to take thee away from one who cannot stand against him.”' + </p> + <p> + “In those days there were seven hundred fighting men in our town, and a + great clamour arose. Spears and clubs and muskets and hatchets were + seized, the armour of stout cinnet which covered a man from head to foot + was put on, women filled baskets with smooth stones for the slings; and + long before sundown the warriors set out, with Simi and the head men + leading them, to meet their enemies mid-way—at this very place where + we now sit. For this narrow strip of land hath been the fighting-ground of + Peru from the old, old times long before I was born, and my years are + three score and seven. + </p> + <p> + “The night was dark, but Simi and his people, when they reached this + place, some by land and some in canoes, lit great fires on the beach and + dug trenches in the sand very quickly, behind which all those who carried + muskets were placed, to fire into the enemy's canoes as they paddled along + the narrow passage to the landing place. Karta and his white friends and + the people of their town had more than two hundred muskets, whilst our + village had less than fifty. But they were strong of heart and waited + eagerly for the fight. + </p> + <p> + “Just before sunrise we saw them coming. There were over one hundred + canoes, each carrying five or six men. Karta and the beachcombers were + leading in a whaleboat, which was being rowed very swiftly. When within + rifle-shot she grounded. + </p> + <p> + “As they leapt out of the boat, rifles in hand, they were followed by + their natives, but our people fired a volley together, and two of the + white men and many of their people fell dead in the shallow water. Then + Simi and twenty of our best men leapt out of their trenches and dashed + into the water to meet them. Karta was in advance of them all, and when he + saw Simi he raised his rifle and fired. The bullet missed the white man + but killed a native behind him. Then Karta, throwing away his rifle, took + two pistols from his belt and shot twice at Simi who was now quite close + to him. These bullets, too, did Simi no harm, for taking a steady aim at + his foe he shot him through the body, and as Karta fell upon his side one + of our people leapt on him and held his head under the water till there + was no more life in his wicked heart. + </p> + <p> + “The fight was soon ended, for seeing three of their number killed so + quickly, the rest of the white men ran back to their boat and tried to + float her again; and then Simi, taking a shot-gun loaded with slugs from + one of his men, ran up to them and shot dead the one named Joe. The other + white men he let escape, for all their followers were now paddling off or + swimming to the other side of the lagoon, and Simi was no lover of + bloodshed. + </p> + <p> + “That day the people at the north end sent a message for peace, and peace + was made, for our people had lost but one man killed, so the thing was + ended well for us. + </p> + <p> + “Serena came back from the ship, for now that Karta was dead she had no + fear. The three white men who were spared soon left Peru in a whale-ship, + for they feared to remain. + </p> + <p> + “Simi and his wife and children and Serena did not long stay with us, for + he sold his house and boats to a new trader who came to the island about a + month after the fight, and they went away to live at a place in Fiji + called Yasawa. They were very good to me and mine, and I was sore in my + heart to see the ship sail away with them, and at night I felt very lonely + for a long time, knowing that I should see them no more.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE BRASS GUN OF THE BUCCANEERS + </h2> + <p> + Challoner was a trader at Jakoits Harbour in Ponapé, one of the loveliest + of the great Caroline Archipelago in the North Pacific. He was a quiet but + determined-looking man of fifty, and at the time of this story had been + living on Ponapé for over five years. Unlike the generality of the white + men who were settled on the island, he never carried arms and never + entered into any of the disputes that too often occurred among them and + ended in bloodshed. + </p> + <p> + Many of his neighbours were scoundrels and ruffians of the deepest dye—deserters + from whale-ships and men-of-war, or escaped criminals from California and + the Australian colonies. Some of these earned a living by trading with the + natives for turtle-shell and cocoanut oil, others were simply + beachcombers, who attached themselves to the leading chiefs and gave their + services to them in war time, receiving in return houses and land, and + spending their lives in time of peace in the wildest dissipation and + excesses. + </p> + <p> + In those days the American whaling fleet made Jakoits and the other three + harbours on the beautiful island their rendezvous before sailing northward + to the coasts of Japan and Siberia. Sometimes there would be as many as + thirty ships arrive within a week of each other, carrying from thirty to + forty hands each; and these, when given liberty by their captains, at once + associated with the beachcombing element, and turned an island paradise + into a hell during their stay on shore. + </p> + <p> + There was among these beachcombers a man named Larmer. He was of Herculean + stature and strength, and was, in a manner, their leader. It was his habit + in his drunken moments to vaunt of the bloody deeds which he had + perpetrated during his crime-stained career in the Pacific Islands. For + the lives of natives he had absolutely no regard, and had committed so + many murders in the Gilbert Islands that he had been forcibly taken on + board a whaler by the few white men living there, and threatened with + instant death if he returned. + </p> + <p> + The whaleship landed him on Ponapé, and his presence soon became a curse. + Being possessed of plenty of arms and ammunition, he soon gained the + friendship of a native chief ruling over the western district of the + island, and his savage nature at once showed itself by his offering to + destroy the inhabitants of a little island named Pàkin, who had in some + way offended this chief. His offer was accepted, and, accompanied by five + ruffianly whites and some hundreds of natives, the unfortunate people were + surprised and butchered. Elated with this achievement, Larmer returned to + Ponapé, and, during the orgy which took place to celebrate the massacre, + he shot dead one of his white companions who had displeased him over some + trifling matter. + </p> + <p> + The news was brought by a native to Challoner, who with a fellow-trader + and several local chiefs was sitting outside his house smoking and + enjoying the cool of the evening, and watching the flashing torches of a + number of canoes catching flying fish beyond the barrier reef. Neither of + them felt surprised, and Challoner remarked to the native that it was good + to know that one bad and useless man was dead, but that it would be better + still to hear that the man who slaughtered a whole community in cold blood + was dead also. + </p> + <p> + “I wouldn't have said that if I were you,” said Dawson, the other trader, + nervously; “that fellow Larmer is bound to hear of it.” + </p> + <p> + “I am quite prepared,” Challoner replied quietly, “as you know, Dawson. + Things cannot go on like this. I have never killed a man in my life, but + to kill such a brute as Larmer would be a good action.” + </p> + <p> + The distance between Challoner's place and Kiti, where Larmer dwelt with + his villainous associates, was but ten miles. Yet, although Larmer had now + been living on the island for a year, Challoner had only once met and + spoken to him. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + During a visit which he (Challoner) had made to a little harbour called + Metalanim, he had explored some very ancient ruins there, which were + generally believed by the white uneducated traders to have been + constructed by the old buccaneers, though the most learned antiquarians + confess themselves puzzled to solve the mystery of their existence. But + that these ruins had been used as a <i>depot</i> or refuge of some sort by + those who sailed the North Pacific more than two hundred years ago was + evident, for many traces of their occupancy by Europeans had been found by + the few white men who had visited them. + </p> + <p> + It was Challoner's fortune to discover amid the mass of tangled vines and + creepers that grew all over the walls, and even down in the curious + chambers, an old brass cannon. With the aid of some of his native friends + he succeeded in dragging it forth and conveying it in his boat to his + house, where, upon cleaning it, he found it bore the Spanish arms over the + date of its casting in Manila, in the year 1716. Much interested in this, + he refused to sell the gun to several whaleship captains, who each wanted + to buy it. He would sell it, he thought, to better advantage by sending it + to Australia or Europe. + </p> + <p> + Soon after its discovery he had set his people to work to clean and polish + it One day he saw coming towards him a man, who from his huge figure he + knew must be Larmer, the beachcomber. + </p> + <p> + “I say, boss,” said the man roughly, “let's have a look at that cannon + you've found, will yar?” + </p> + <p> + “There it is,” said Challoner quietly, pointing to his boat-house, but not + deigning to accompany the beachcomber and show him the weapon. + </p> + <p> + Larmer made a brief but keen inspection, and then walked into the trader's + room and, unasked, sat down. + </p> + <p> + “It's as good as new,” he said. “What do you want for it?” + </p> + <p> + “I will not sell it,” replied the trader coldly, eyeing the beachcomber + steadily, “at least to no one in Ponapé. There is too free a display of + and use of arms here as it is,” and he looked pointedly at the brace of + heavy Colt's revolvers in his visitor's belt. + </p> + <p> + A scowl darkened Larmer's face. “I'll give you a hundred dollars for the + thing,” he said. “I want it, and I mean to have it” And he rose and dashed + his huge hand down upon the table. + </p> + <p> + Challoner was unarmed, but his face betrayed neither fear nor any other + emotion. He was standing with his back to the doorway of his bedroom. A + thick curtain of navy blue calico concealed the interior of this room from + the view of any one in the living room, and Larmer had seen no one but the + trader about. + </p> + <p> + For some few seconds there was silence; the beachcomber, with his clenched + fist still on the table, was trying to discover whether the man before him + was intimidated. Challoner stood unmoved. + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” began Larmer again, “I want that cannon. Sru, the chief of Kiti, + an' me is going on a little war-party again. But I'll pay you for it.” + </p> + <p> + “And I tell you that I won't sell it. Least of all to a man like you, who + would use it for murder.” + </p> + <p> + The beachcomber's hand went to his belt—and stayed there, as the + trader stepped aside from the doorway and he saw a rifle pointed at his + heart. It was held by the trader's wife. + </p> + <p> + “Put up your hands,” said Challoner, with a contemptuous laugh. “And now + listen to me. I want no quarrel with you—don't force one on me. Now + clear out.” + </p> + <p> + Without a word the baffled man turned away. But the look of savage hatred + that gleamed in his fierce eyes told Challoner that he had made a + dangerous enemy. And only a few days passed before he heard from the + natives that Larmer said he would have his revenge—and the brass gun + as well—before many months were over. + </p> + <p> + But the trader, though apparently taking no heed, was yet watchful. His + influence with the natives of the Jakoits district was great, for they + both liked and trusted him as a just and honourable man, and he knew that + they would rally round him if Larmer attempted either to carry off the gun + or do harm to him. + </p> + <p> + For some months matters went on at Jakoits very quietly, and the last of + the whaling fleet having sailed, Challoner and Dawson went about their + usual work again, such as trading along the coast in their whaleboats and + storing their cocoanut oil in readiness for the <i>Mocassin</i>, the + trading ship which visited them once a year, and was now due. + </p> + <p> + Although living only a few miles apart from each other, the two did not + very often meet, but Challoner was one day surprised to see Dawson's boat + pulling into the beach, for he had had a visit from his friend only the + previous evening. The moment the boat touched the sand Dawson jumped out, + and Challoner at once saw by the anxious expression on his face that + something was wrong. + </p> + <p> + He soon learnt Dawson's news, which was bad enough. The <i>Mocassin</i> + had run ashore in the night at a place five miles away from Dawson's + village, and it was feared she would become a total wreck unless she could + be lightened and floated over the reef into smooth water. The captain had + sent an urgent message for aid, and in less than half an hour the two men + were on their way to the wreck, accompanied by nearly every male native in + Challoner's village. + </p> + <p> + Towards sunset on the following day, just as the boats were in sight, + returning from the wreck, Tiaru, the trader's wife, with her one child and + some of her female relatives, were coming from their bathe in the sea, + when they heard screams from the village, and presently some terrified + women fled past them, calling out that Larmer and another white man and a + number of their native allies were carrying away the brass gun. In an + instant the young wife gave the babe to a woman near her, and darted + towards her husband's house. A number of women and children, encouraged by + her presence, ran to alarm the approaching boats. + </p> + <p> + In front of the trader's house Larmer and another beachcomber were + directing a score of Kiti natives how to sling the heavy gun between two + stout poles. A sentry stood on guard at the gate of Challoner's fence, but + Tiaru dashed his crossed musket aside, and then sprang into the midst of + her husband's enemies. + </p> + <p> + “Set down the gun,” she panted indignantly, “ye coward men of Rôan Kiti, + and ye white men thieves, who only dare to come and steal when there are + but women to meet and fight with thee.” + </p> + <p> + Larmer laughed. + </p> + <p> + “Get out o' this, you meddling fool,” he said in English, and then, + calling to the natives to hasten ere it grew dark, he took no further + notice of the woman before him. Then, as they prepared to raise their + burden by a united effort upon their naked shoulders, Tiaru sprang into + the house and quickly reappeared with a heavy knife in her hand. Twisting + her lithe body from the grasp of one of the beachcombers, with flaming + eyes she burst in amongst the gun carriers and began slashing at the + strips of green bark with which the cannon was lashed to the poles. + </p> + <p> + “Curse you!” said Larmer fiercely, striding forward and seizing her by her + long hair. “Take away her knife, Watty, quick!” And he dragged her head + back with brutal strength—to release his hold with a cry of savage + fury as the woman turned upon him and with a swift stroke severed the + fingers of his left hand. Again she raised her hand as Larmer drew a + pistol and shot her through the body. She fell without a cry upon the gun + beneath. + </p> + <p> + “By ———, you've done it now!” said the man + </p> + <p> + Watty. “Look there! There's all our natives running away. We're as good as + dead men if we stay here five minutes longer. I'm off anyway”; and then, + hurriedly binding up his companion's bleeding hand, he disappeared into + the surrounding forest after his native allies. + </p> + <p> + For a few moments Larmer stood irresolute, looking first at the body of + the woman lying across the gun, then at his wounded hand. Already the + shouts of Challoner's natives sounded near, and he knew that the boats had + reached the beach. The gun, which had cost him so dear, must be abandoned, + but he would take a further revenge upon its owner. He ran quickly to a + fire which burned dimly in Challoner's cooking-house, lit a bunch of dried + palm leaves, and thrust it into the thatch of the dwelling-house. Then he + struck into the jungle. + </p> + <p> + As Challoner, followed by Dawson and the men of Jakoits village, rushed + along the narrow path that led to his house, they heard the roar and + crackle of the flames; when they gained the open they saw the bright light + shining on the old cannon, whose polished brass was stained and streaked + with red. Tiaru lay across the breech, dead. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + For nearly two days Challoner and his natives followed the tracks of the + murderer into the heart of the mountain forest of Ponapé. Dawson and + another party had left early the same night for the Rôan Kiti coast, where + they landed and formed a cordon, which it would be impossible for Larmer + to pass. + </p> + <p> + Watty, his fellow-scoundrel, was captured early next morning. He had lost + his way and was lying asleep beside a fire on the banks of a small stream. + </p> + <p> + He was promptly shot by Dawson. Larmer was to be taken alive. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile Challoner and his men pressed steadily on, driving their prey + before them. At noon on the second day they caught sight of his huge + figure ascending a rocky spur, and a party of natives ran swiftly to its + base and hid at the margin of a small, deep pool. Challoner knew that his + man wanted a drink, and would soon descend the spur to get it. + </p> + <p> + For some hours not a sound broke the silence, then a stone rolled down, + and presently Larmer's head appeared above a boulder. He looked carefully + round, and then, finding all quiet, began the descent. On the very edge of + the pool he again stopped and listened, holding his pistol at full cock. + His left hand was slung to his chest by a piece of green hibiscus bark, + which was passed round his neck and roughly tied. + </p> + <p> + The silence all around him was reassuring, but he still held out the + pistol as he bent his knees to drink. Ere his lips could touch the water + two half-naked figures sprang upon him and bore him down. He was too weak + to resist. + </p> + <p> + “Do not bind him,” said Challoner, “but tie his right hand behind his + back.” + </p> + <p> + Larmer turned his bloodshot eyes upon the trader, but said nothing. + </p> + <p> + “Give him a drink.” + </p> + <p> + A native placed a gourd of water to his lips. He drank greedily. Then, in + silence, Challoner and his men began their march back. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + At sunset the people of Jakoits gathered together in front of the + blackened space whereon the trader's house had stood. Raised on four heavy + blocks of stone was the still blood-stained cannon, and bound with his + back to its muzzle was Larmer. + </p> + <p> + Challoner made a sign, the brown-skinned men and women moved quickly apart + in two parties, one on each side of the gun. Then Rul, the chief of the + Jakoits* village, advanced with a lighted stick, touched the priming, and + sprang aside. A sheet of flame leaped out, a bursting roar pealed through + the leafy forest aisles, and Challoner had avenged his murdered wife. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Brothers-In-Law: A Tale Of The +Equatorial Islands; and The Brass Gun Of The Buccaneers, by Louis Becke + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BROTHERS-IN-LAW *** + +***** This file should be named 25056-h.htm or 25056-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/5/0/5/25056/ + +Produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Brothers-In-Law: A Tale Of The Equatorial Islands; and The Brass Gun Of The Buccaneers + 1901 + +Author: Louis Becke + +Release Date: April 12, 2008 [EBook #25056] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BROTHERS-IN-LAW *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +THE BROTHERS-IN-LAW: A TALE OF THE EQUATORIAL ISLANDS, and THE BRASS GUN OF THE BUCCANEERS + +From "The Tapu Of Banderah and Other Stories" + +By Louis Becke + +C. Arthur Pearson Ltd. + +1901 + + + + +THE BROTHERS-IN-LAW: A TALE OF THE EQUATORIAL ISLANDS + +"There," said Tavita the teacher, pointing with his paddle to a long, +narrow peninsula which stretched out into the shallow waters of the +lagoon, "there, that is the place where the battle was fought. In those +days a village of thirty houses or more stood there; now no one liveth +there, and only sometimes do the people come here to gather cocoanuts." + +The White Man nodded. "'Tis a fair place to look upon. Let us land and +rest awhile, for the sun is hot." + +The native pastor swung the bow of the canoe round towards the shore, +and presently the little craft glided gently upon the hard, white sand, +and the two men got out, walked up to the grove of cocoa-palms, and sat +down under their shade to rest and smoke until the sun lost some of its +fierce intensity and they could proceed on their journey homeward to the +principal village. + +The White Man was the one trader living in Peru,{*} the native was a +Samoan, and one of the oldest and bravest missionaries in the Pacific. +For twenty years he had dwelt among the wild, intractable, and savage +people of Peru--twenty years of almost daily peril, for in those days +the warlike people of the Gilbert Group resented the coming of the few +native teachers scattered throughout the archipelago, and only Tavita's +undaunted courage and genial disposition had preserved the lives of +himself and his family. Such influence as he now possessed was due, not +to his persistent attempts to preach Christianity, but to his reputation +for integrity of conduct and his skill as a fisherman and carpenter. + + * Francis Island, or Peru, is one of the largest atolls of + the Gilbert Group in the South Pacific, about one hundred + and twenty miles south of the Equator + +The White Man and he were firm friends, and that day they had been down +to the north end of the lagoon to collect a canoe load of the eggs of +a small species of tern which frequented the uninhabited portion of the +island in myriad swarms. + +Presently, as they sat and smoked, and lazily watched a swarm of the +silvery mullet called _kanae_ disporting themselves on the glassy +surface of the lagoon, the White Man said-- + +"Who were these white men, Tavita, who fought in the battle?" + +"Hast never heard the story?" inquired the teacher in Samoan. + +The trader shook his head. "Only some of it--a little from one, a little +from another." + +"Then listen," said Tavita, re-filling his pipe and leaning his broad +back against the bole of a cocoa-palm. + +***** + +"It was nineteen years ago, and I had been living on the island but a +year. In those days there were many white men in these islands. Some +were traders, some were but _papalagi tafea_{*} who spent their days +in idleness, drunkenness, and debauchery, casting aside all pride and +living like these savage people, with but a girdle of grass around their +naked waists, their hands ever imbued in the blood of their fellow white +men or that of the men of the land. + + * Beachcombers. + +"Here, on this island, were two traders and many beachcombers. One of +the traders was a man named Carter, the other was named West Carter +the people called 'Karta,' the other by his fore name, which was 'Simi' +(Jim). They came here together in a whaleship from the Bonin Islands +with their wives--two sisters, who were Portuguese half-castes, and both +very beautiful women. Carter's wife had no children; West, who was +the younger man, and who had married the younger sister, had two. +Both brought many thousands of dollars worth of trade with them to buy +cocoanut oil, for in those days these natives here did not make copra as +they do now--they made oil from the nuts. + +"Karta built a house on the north end of the island, where there is the +best anchorage for ships, West chose to remain on the lee side where +he had landed, and bought a house near to mine. In quite a few days we +became friends, and almost every night we would meet and talk, and his +children and mine played together. He was quite a young man, and had +been, he told me, the third mate of an English ship which was cast away +on the Bonin Islands four years before, where he had met Karta, who was +a trader there, and whose wife's sister he married. + +"One day they heard from the captain of a whaleship that there was much +money to be made on this island of Peru, for although there were many +beachcombers living here there was no trader to whom the people could +sell their oil. So that was why they came here. + +"Now, although these two men were married to two sisters, there was but +little love between them, and then as time went on came distrust, and +then hatred, born out of Karta's jealousy and wicked heart; but until +they came to live here on Peru there had been no bad blood--not even +enough to cause a bitter word, though even then the younger man did not +like Karta, who was a man of violent temper, unfaithful to his wife, +and rude and insulting in his manner to most men, white or brown. And +Serena, his wife, hated him, but made no sign. + +"As time went on, both men prospered, for there was much oil to be had, +and at the end of the first year a schooner came from Sydney and bought +it I went on board with Simi, after the oil had been rafted off to the +ship's side. Karta, too, came on board to be paid for his oil. He had +been drinking much grog and his face was flushed and angry. With him +were three beachcombers whose foul language and insolent demeanour +angered both the captain and Simi, who were quiet men. There were six or +seven of these beachcombers living on the island, and they all disliked +Simi, who would have none of their company; but in Karta's house they +were made welcome. Night after night they would gather there and drink +and gamble, for some of them had bags of dollars, for dissolute and idle +as they were for the most of their time they could make money easily +by acting as interpreters for the natives, to the captains of the +whaleships, or as pilots to the trading vessels sailing northward to the +Marshall Islands. + +"The captain paid Simi partly in money and partly in trade goods, for +the two hundred casks of oil he bought, and then Simi and I turned to go +on shore. Karta had scarce spoken ten words to Simi, who yet bore him no +ill-will, although for many months tales had come to us of the evil life +he led and the insults he put upon his wife Serena. + +"But after he had bidden farewell to the captain, Simi held out his +hand to his brother-in-law and said--'My wife Luisa sendeth love and +greetings to Serena. Is she in good health?' + +"Karta would not take the hand held out to him. + +"'What is that to thee or thy wife either?' he answered rudely. 'Look to +thy own business and meddle not with mine.' + +"Simi's face grew red with anger, but he spoke quietly and reproved his +brother-in-law for his rude speech. 'Why insult me needlessly before so +many strangers?' he said. 'What harm have I or my wife Luisa ever done +to thee?' + +"'Curse thee and Luisa, thy wife,' said Karta again; 'she and thee, aye, +and Serena too, are well matched, for ye be all cunning sneaks and fit +company for that fat-faced Samoan psalm-singer who stands beside thee.' + +"At these words the three beachcombers laughed, and when they saw that +Simi made no answer, but turned aside from Karta in contempt, one of +them called him a coward. + +"He turned upon him quickly. 'Thou liest, thou drunken, useless cumberer +of the earth,' he said, looking at him scornfully; 'no coward am I, nor +a noisy boaster like thee. This is no place for us to quarrel. But say +such a thing to me on the beach if ye dare.' + +"'He is my friend/ said Karta, speaking with drunken rage, and thrusting +his face into Simi's, 'he is as good a man as thee any day. To strike +him or any one of us thou art afraid, thou cat-hearted coward and +miser.' + +"Simi clenched his hands, but suddenly thrust them into his pockets and +looked at the captain and the officers of the ship. + +"'This is no place for me,' he again said in a low voice; 'come, Tavita, +let us go,' and without even raising his eyes to Karta and the three +other men he went out of the cabin. + +"That night he, Luisa, and I and my wife sat talking; and in the fulness +of her anger at the insults heaped upon her husband, Luisa told us of +some things. + +"'This man Karta hateth both my sister and myself, as well as my +husband. He hateth me because that it was I whom he desired to marry, +four years ago; but I feared him too much to become his wife, for +even in those days I knew him to be a drunkard and a gambler, and a +licentious man. Then although she loved him not my sister Serena became +his wife, for he was a man of good property, and promised to give over +his evil ways and be a good husband to her. And he hateth her and would +gladly see her dead, for she hath borne him no children. He is for +ever flinging cruel words at her, and hath said to her before me that a +childless man is a thing of scorn and disgrace even to the savage people +of this island. And he makes no secret of his wickedness with other +women. That is why my sister Serena is dull and heavy-minded; for she is +eaten up with grief and shame.' + +"'That is true,' said Simi, 'I have known this for a year past, for +when he is drunk he cannot conceal his thoughts. And he is full of anger +against me because I have nought in common with him. I am neither a +drinker of grog nor a gambler, and have suffered from him what I would +suffer from no other man. I am no brawler, but yet 'tis hard to bear.' + +***** + +"Just as dawn came, and I was sunk in slumber, I heard a footstep +outside my door, and then Simi called to me. 'Bring thy wife to my house +quickly,' he said, 'evil work hath been done in the night.' + +"My wife and I followed him, and when we entered we saw Luisa his wife +kneeling beside a couch and weeping over Serena, who lay still and quiet +as if dead. + +"'Look,' he said sternly, 'look what that devil hath done!' + +"He lifted Serena's left arm--the bone was broken in two places, above +and below the elbow. + +"We set to work quickly, and fitting the broken bones in place we bound +her arm up in stiff, smooth strips of the spathe of the cocoanut tree, +and then washed and dressed her feet, which were cut and bleeding, for +she had walked barefooted, and clothed only in her night-dress, all the +way from the north end of the island, which is nearly two leagues from +my house. + +"After she had drunk some coffee and eaten a little food she became +stronger, and told us all that had befallen her. + +"'Karta and the three other white men came back from the ship when it +was long past midnight, and I knew by the noise they made that they had +all been drinking grog. I heard them talking and laughing and saying +that thou, Simi, were a paltry coward; and then one of them--he who is +called Joe--said that he would one day end thee with a bullet and take +Luisa to wife, as so fine a woman deserved a better man than a cur for +a husband. And Karta--Karta my husband--laughed and said that that could +not be, for he meant to take thee, Luisa, for himself when he had ridden +himself of me. His shameless words stung me, and I wept silently as I +lay there, and pressed my hands to my ears to shut out their foul talk +and blasphemies. + +"'Suddenly I heard my husband's voice as he rose from the table and came +towards the sleeping room. He threw open the door and bade me come out +and put food before him and his friends. + +"'I rose at his bidding, for his face terrified me--it was the face of +a devil--and began to clothe myself. He tore the dress from my hands and +cursed me, and bade me go as I stood. In my fear I sprang to the window +and tried to tear down the cane lattice-work so as to escape from the +house and the shame he sought to put upon me. He seized me by the waist +and tried to tear me away, but I was strong--strong with the strength of +a man. Then it was that he went mad, for he took up a heavy _paua_ stick +and struck me twice on the arm. And had it not been that the other +white men came in and dragged him away from me, crying shame on him, and +throwing him down upon the floor, I would now be dead. + +"'I lay quiet for a little time and then rising to my feet looked out +into the big room, where the three men were still holding my husband +down. One of them bade me run for my life, for Karta, he said, had gone +mad with grog. + +"'I feared to seek aid from any of the natives, for they, too, dread +Karta at such times; so I walked and ran, sometimes along the beach, +sometimes through the bush till I came here. That is all.' + +* * * * * + +"That morning the head man in our village caused the shell to sound,{*} +to call the people together so that they might hear from Simi the story +of the shame put upon his wife's sister and upon himself and his house. +As the people gathered around the _moniep_{**} and the head men sat down +inside, the captain of the ship came on shore, and great was his anger +when he heard the tale. + + * A conch-shell. + + ** The council house. + +"'Let this poor woman come to my ship,' he said; 'her life here is not +safe with such a man as that. For I know his utter vileness and cruelty +to her. With me she shall be safe and well cared for, and if she so +wishes she shall come with me to Fiji where my wife liveth, and her life +will be a life of peace.' + +"So Serena was put in the ship's boat, and Luisa went with her to remain +on board till the ship sailed, which would be in three days. Then Simi +and the head men talked together in the council house, and they made a +law and sent a message to Karta. This was the message they sent to him: +'Because of the evil thou hast done and of the shame thou hast put upon +the sister of the wife of our white man, come no more to this town. If +thou comest then will there be war between thy town and ours, and we +will burn the houses and harry and slay thee and the seven other white +men, and all men of thy town who side with thee, and make slaves of the +women and children. This is our last word.' + +"A swift messenger was sent. Before the sun was in mid-heaven he +returned, crying out as he ran, 'War is the answer of Karta and his +village. War and death to Simi and to us all are his words; and to +Luisa, the wife of the white man, he sendeth this message: "Prepare a +feast for thy new husband, for he cometh to take thee away from one who +cannot stand against him."' + +"In those days there were seven hundred fighting men in our town, and +a great clamour arose. Spears and clubs and muskets and hatchets were +seized, the armour of stout cinnet which covered a man from head to foot +was put on, women filled baskets with smooth stones for the slings; and +long before sundown the warriors set out, with Simi and the head men +leading them, to meet their enemies mid-way--at this very place where we +now sit. For this narrow strip of land hath been the fighting-ground of +Peru from the old, old times long before I was born, and my years are +three score and seven. + +"The night was dark, but Simi and his people, when they reached this +place, some by land and some in canoes, lit great fires on the beach +and dug trenches in the sand very quickly, behind which all those who +carried muskets were placed, to fire into the enemy's canoes as they +paddled along the narrow passage to the landing place. Karta and his +white friends and the people of their town had more than two hundred +muskets, whilst our village had less than fifty. But they were strong of +heart and waited eagerly for the fight. + +"Just before sunrise we saw them coming. There were over one hundred +canoes, each carrying five or six men. Karta and the beachcombers were +leading in a whaleboat, which was being rowed very swiftly. When within +rifle-shot she grounded. + +"As they leapt out of the boat, rifles in hand, they were followed by +their natives, but our people fired a volley together, and two of the +white men and many of their people fell dead in the shallow water. Then +Simi and twenty of our best men leapt out of their trenches and dashed +into the water to meet them. Karta was in advance of them all, and when +he saw Simi he raised his rifle and fired. The bullet missed the white +man but killed a native behind him. Then Karta, throwing away his rifle, +took two pistols from his belt and shot twice at Simi who was now quite +close to him. These bullets, too, did Simi no harm, for taking a steady +aim at his foe he shot him through the body, and as Karta fell upon his +side one of our people leapt on him and held his head under the water +till there was no more life in his wicked heart. + +"The fight was soon ended, for seeing three of their number killed so +quickly, the rest of the white men ran back to their boat and tried to +float her again; and then Simi, taking a shot-gun loaded with slugs +from one of his men, ran up to them and shot dead the one named Joe. The +other white men he let escape, for all their followers were now paddling +off or swimming to the other side of the lagoon, and Simi was no lover +of bloodshed. + +"That day the people at the north end sent a message for peace, and +peace was made, for our people had lost but one man killed, so the thing +was ended well for us. + +"Serena came back from the ship, for now that Karta was dead she had +no fear. The three white men who were spared soon left Peru in a +whale-ship, for they feared to remain. + +"Simi and his wife and children and Serena did not long stay with us, +for he sold his house and boats to a new trader who came to the island +about a month after the fight, and they went away to live at a place in +Fiji called Yasawa. They were very good to me and mine, and I was sore +in my heart to see the ship sail away with them, and at night I felt +very lonely for a long time, knowing that I should see them no more." + + + + + + +THE BRASS GUN OF THE BUCCANEERS + + +Challoner was a trader at Jakoits Harbour in Ponape, one of the +loveliest of the great Caroline Archipelago in the North Pacific. He +was a quiet but determined-looking man of fifty, and at the time of +this story had been living on Ponape for over five years. Unlike the +generality of the white men who were settled on the island, he never +carried arms and never entered into any of the disputes that too often +occurred among them and ended in bloodshed. + +Many of his neighbours were scoundrels and ruffians of the deepest +dye--deserters from whale-ships and men-of-war, or escaped criminals +from California and the Australian colonies. Some of these earned a +living by trading with the natives for turtle-shell and cocoanut oil, +others were simply beachcombers, who attached themselves to the leading +chiefs and gave their services to them in war time, receiving in return +houses and land, and spending their lives in time of peace in the +wildest dissipation and excesses. + +In those days the American whaling fleet made Jakoits and the other +three harbours on the beautiful island their rendezvous before sailing +northward to the coasts of Japan and Siberia. Sometimes there would be +as many as thirty ships arrive within a week of each other, carrying +from thirty to forty hands each; and these, when given liberty by their +captains, at once associated with the beachcombing element, and turned +an island paradise into a hell during their stay on shore. + +There was among these beachcombers a man named Larmer. He was of +Herculean stature and strength, and was, in a manner, their leader. It +was his habit in his drunken moments to vaunt of the bloody deeds +which he had perpetrated during his crime-stained career in the Pacific +Islands. For the lives of natives he had absolutely no regard, and +had committed so many murders in the Gilbert Islands that he had been +forcibly taken on board a whaler by the few white men living there, and +threatened with instant death if he returned. + +The whaleship landed him on Ponape, and his presence soon became a +curse. Being possessed of plenty of arms and ammunition, he soon gained +the friendship of a native chief ruling over the western district of the +island, and his savage nature at once showed itself by his offering to +destroy the inhabitants of a little island named Pakin, who had in some +way offended this chief. His offer was accepted, and, accompanied by +five ruffianly whites and some hundreds of natives, the unfortunate +people were surprised and butchered. Elated with this achievement, +Larmer returned to Ponape, and, during the orgy which took place to +celebrate the massacre, he shot dead one of his white companions who had +displeased him over some trifling matter. + +The news was brought by a native to Challoner, who with a fellow-trader +and several local chiefs was sitting outside his house smoking and +enjoying the cool of the evening, and watching the flashing torches of +a number of canoes catching flying fish beyond the barrier reef. Neither +of them felt surprised, and Challoner remarked to the native that it was +good to know that one bad and useless man was dead, but that it would be +better still to hear that the man who slaughtered a whole community in +cold blood was dead also. + +"I wouldn't have said that if I were you," said Dawson, the other +trader, nervously; "that fellow Larmer is bound to hear of it." + +"I am quite prepared," Challoner replied quietly, "as you know, Dawson. +Things cannot go on like this. I have never killed a man in my life, but +to kill such a brute as Larmer would be a good action." + +The distance between Challoner's place and Kiti, where Larmer dwelt with +his villainous associates, was but ten miles. Yet, although Larmer had +now been living on the island for a year, Challoner had only once met +and spoken to him. + +***** + +During a visit which he (Challoner) had made to a little harbour called +Metalanim, he had explored some very ancient ruins there, which +were generally believed by the white uneducated traders to have been +constructed by the old buccaneers, though the most learned antiquarians +confess themselves puzzled to solve the mystery of their existence. But +that these ruins had been used as a _depot_ or refuge of some sort by +those who sailed the North Pacific more than two hundred years ago was +evident, for many traces of their occupancy by Europeans had been found +by the few white men who had visited them. + +It was Challoner's fortune to discover amid the mass of tangled vines +and creepers that grew all over the walls, and even down in the curious +chambers, an old brass cannon. With the aid of some of his native +friends he succeeded in dragging it forth and conveying it in his boat +to his house, where, upon cleaning it, he found it bore the Spanish +arms over the date of its casting in Manila, in the year 1716. Much +interested in this, he refused to sell the gun to several whaleship +captains, who each wanted to buy it. He would sell it, he thought, to +better advantage by sending it to Australia or Europe. + +Soon after its discovery he had set his people to work to clean and +polish it One day he saw coming towards him a man, who from his huge +figure he knew must be Larmer, the beachcomber. + +"I say, boss," said the man roughly, "let's have a look at that cannon +you've found, will yar?" + +"There it is," said Challoner quietly, pointing to his boat-house, but +not deigning to accompany the beachcomber and show him the weapon. + +Larmer made a brief but keen inspection, and then walked into the +trader's room and, unasked, sat down. + +"It's as good as new," he said. "What do you want for it?" + +"I will not sell it," replied the trader coldly, eyeing the beachcomber +steadily, "at least to no one in Ponape. There is too free a display of +and use of arms here as it is," and he looked pointedly at the brace of +heavy Colt's revolvers in his visitor's belt. + +A scowl darkened Larmer's face. "I'll give you a hundred dollars for +the thing," he said. "I want it, and I mean to have it" And he rose and +dashed his huge hand down upon the table. + +Challoner was unarmed, but his face betrayed neither fear nor any other +emotion. He was standing with his back to the doorway of his bedroom. +A thick curtain of navy blue calico concealed the interior of this room +from the view of any one in the living room, and Larmer had seen no one +but the trader about. + +For some few seconds there was silence; the beachcomber, with his +clenched fist still on the table, was trying to discover whether the man +before him was intimidated. Challoner stood unmoved. + +"Yes," began Larmer again, "I want that cannon. Sru, the chief of Kiti, +an' me is going on a little war-party again. But I'll pay you for it." + +"And I tell you that I won't sell it. Least of all to a man like you, +who would use it for murder." + +The beachcomber's hand went to his belt--and stayed there, as the trader +stepped aside from the doorway and he saw a rifle pointed at his heart. +It was held by the trader's wife. + +"Put up your hands," said Challoner, with a contemptuous laugh. "And +now listen to me. I want no quarrel with you--don't force one on me. Now +clear out." + +Without a word the baffled man turned away. But the look of savage +hatred that gleamed in his fierce eyes told Challoner that he had made +a dangerous enemy. And only a few days passed before he heard from the +natives that Larmer said he would have his revenge--and the brass gun as +well--before many months were over. + +But the trader, though apparently taking no heed, was yet watchful. His +influence with the natives of the Jakoits district was great, for they +both liked and trusted him as a just and honourable man, and he knew +that they would rally round him if Larmer attempted either to carry off +the gun or do harm to him. + +For some months matters went on at Jakoits very quietly, and the last of +the whaling fleet having sailed, Challoner and Dawson went about their +usual work again, such as trading along the coast in their whaleboats +and storing their cocoanut oil in readiness for the _Mocassin_, the +trading ship which visited them once a year, and was now due. + +Although living only a few miles apart from each other, the two did not +very often meet, but Challoner was one day surprised to see Dawson's +boat pulling into the beach, for he had had a visit from his friend only +the previous evening. The moment the boat touched the sand Dawson jumped +out, and Challoner at once saw by the anxious expression on his face +that something was wrong. + +He soon learnt Dawson's news, which was bad enough. The _Mocassin_ +had run ashore in the night at a place five miles away from Dawson's +village, and it was feared she would become a total wreck unless she +could be lightened and floated over the reef into smooth water. The +captain had sent an urgent message for aid, and in less than half an +hour the two men were on their way to the wreck, accompanied by nearly +every male native in Challoner's village. + +Towards sunset on the following day, just as the boats were in sight, +returning from the wreck, Tiaru, the trader's wife, with her one child +and some of her female relatives, were coming from their bathe in +the sea, when they heard screams from the village, and presently some +terrified women fled past them, calling out that Larmer and another +white man and a number of their native allies were carrying away the +brass gun. In an instant the young wife gave the babe to a woman near +her, and darted towards her husband's house. A number of women and +children, encouraged by her presence, ran to alarm the approaching +boats. + +In front of the trader's house Larmer and another beachcomber were +directing a score of Kiti natives how to sling the heavy gun between two +stout poles. A sentry stood on guard at the gate of Challoner's fence, +but Tiaru dashed his crossed musket aside, and then sprang into the +midst of her husband's enemies. + +"Set down the gun," she panted indignantly, "ye coward men of Roan Kiti, +and ye white men thieves, who only dare to come and steal when there are +but women to meet and fight with thee." + +Larmer laughed. + +"Get out o' this, you meddling fool," he said in English, and then, +calling to the natives to hasten ere it grew dark, he took no further +notice of the woman before him. Then, as they prepared to raise their +burden by a united effort upon their naked shoulders, Tiaru sprang +into the house and quickly reappeared with a heavy knife in her hand. +Twisting her lithe body from the grasp of one of the beachcombers, with +flaming eyes she burst in amongst the gun carriers and began slashing at +the strips of green bark with which the cannon was lashed to the poles. + +"Curse you!" said Larmer fiercely, striding forward and seizing her by +her long hair. "Take away her knife, Watty, quick!" And he dragged her +head back with brutal strength--to release his hold with a cry of savage +fury as the woman turned upon him and with a swift stroke severed the +fingers of his left hand. Again she raised her hand as Larmer drew a +pistol and shot her through the body. She fell without a cry upon the +gun beneath. + +"By ------, you've done it now!" said the man + +Watty. "Look there! There's all our natives running away. We're as good +as dead men if we stay here five minutes longer. I'm off anyway"; and +then, hurriedly binding up his companion's bleeding hand, he disappeared +into the surrounding forest after his native allies. + +For a few moments Larmer stood irresolute, looking first at the body of +the woman lying across the gun, then at his wounded hand. Already the +shouts of Challoner's natives sounded near, and he knew that the boats +had reached the beach. The gun, which had cost him so dear, must be +abandoned, but he would take a further revenge upon its owner. He ran +quickly to a fire which burned dimly in Challoner's cooking-house, lit +a bunch of dried palm leaves, and thrust it into the thatch of the +dwelling-house. Then he struck into the jungle. + +As Challoner, followed by Dawson and the men of Jakoits village, rushed +along the narrow path that led to his house, they heard the roar and +crackle of the flames; when they gained the open they saw the bright +light shining on the old cannon, whose polished brass was stained and +streaked with red. Tiaru lay across the breech, dead. + +***** + +For nearly two days Challoner and his natives followed the tracks of +the murderer into the heart of the mountain forest of Ponape. Dawson +and another party had left early the same night for the Roan Kiti coast, +where they landed and formed a cordon, which it would be impossible for +Larmer to pass. + +Watty, his fellow-scoundrel, was captured early next morning. He had +lost his way and was lying asleep beside a fire on the banks of a small +stream. + +He was promptly shot by Dawson. Larmer was to be taken alive. + +Meanwhile Challoner and his men pressed steadily on, driving their prey +before them. At noon on the second day they caught sight of his huge +figure ascending a rocky spur, and a party of natives ran swiftly to its +base and hid at the margin of a small, deep pool. Challoner knew that +his man wanted a drink, and would soon descend the spur to get it. + +For some hours not a sound broke the silence, then a stone rolled +down, and presently Larmer's head appeared above a boulder. He looked +carefully round, and then, finding all quiet, began the descent. On the +very edge of the pool he again stopped and listened, holding his pistol +at full cock. His left hand was slung to his chest by a piece of green +hibiscus bark, which was passed round his neck and roughly tied. + +The silence all around him was reassuring, but he still held out the +pistol as he bent his knees to drink. Ere his lips could touch the water +two half-naked figures sprang upon him and bore him down. He was too +weak to resist. + +"Do not bind him," said Challoner, "but tie his right hand behind his +back." + +Larmer turned his bloodshot eyes upon the trader, but said nothing. + +"Give him a drink." + +A native placed a gourd of water to his lips. He drank greedily. Then, +in silence, Challoner and his men began their march back. + +***** + +At sunset the people of Jakoits gathered together in front of the +blackened space whereon the trader's house had stood. Raised on four +heavy blocks of stone was the still blood-stained cannon, and bound with +his back to its muzzle was Larmer. + +Challoner made a sign, the brown-skinned men and women moved quickly +apart in two parties, one on each side of the gun. Then Rul, the chief +of the Jakoits* village, advanced with a lighted stick, touched the +priming, and sprang aside. A sheet of flame leaped out, a bursting roar +pealed through the leafy forest aisles, and Challoner had avenged his +murdered wife. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Brothers-In-Law: A Tale Of The +Equatorial Islands; and The Brass Gun Of The Buccaneers, by Louis Becke + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BROTHERS-IN-LAW *** + +***** This file should be named 25056.txt or 25056.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/5/0/5/25056/ + +Produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e2fbf58 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #25056 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/25056) diff --git a/old/25056-h.htm.2021-01-25 b/old/25056-h.htm.2021-01-25 new file mode 100644 index 0000000..18c0a3f --- /dev/null +++ b/old/25056-h.htm.2021-01-25 @@ -0,0 +1,1232 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + The Brothers-in-law: a Tale of the Equatorial Islands, and The Brass Gun + Of The Buccaneers, by Louis Becke + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Brothers-In-Law: A Tale Of The +Equatorial Islands; and The Brass Gun Of The Buccaneers, by Louis Becke + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Brothers-In-Law: A Tale Of The Equatorial Islands; and The Brass Gun Of The Buccaneers + 1901 + +Author: Louis Becke + +Release Date: April 12, 2008 [EBook #25056] +Last Updated: March 8, 2018 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BROTHERS-IN-LAW *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <div style="height: 8em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h1> + THE BROTHERS-IN-LAW: <br /> A TALE OF THE EQUATORIAL ISLANDS, <br /> <br /> + and THE BRASS GUN OF THE BUCCANEERS + </h1> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + From “The Tapu Of Banderah and Other Stories” + </h3> + <h2> + By Louis Becke + </h2> + <h5> + C. Arthur Pearson Ltd. <br /> <br /> 1901 + </h5> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + Contents + </h2> + <table summary="" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto"> + <tr> + <td> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> THE BROTHERS-IN-LAW: A TALE OF THE + EQUATORIAL ISLANDS </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0002"> THE BRASS GUN OF THE BUCCANEERS </a> + </p> + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE BROTHERS-IN-LAW: <br /> A TALE OF THE EQUATORIAL ISLANDS + </h2> + <p> + “There,” said Tâvita the teacher, pointing with his paddle to a long, + narrow peninsula which stretched out into the shallow waters of the + lagoon, “there, that is the place where the battle was fought. In those + days a village of thirty houses or more stood there; now no one liveth + there, and only sometimes do the people come here to gather cocoanuts.” + </p> + <p> + The White Man nodded. “'Tis a fair place to look upon. Let us land and + rest awhile, for the sun is hot.” + </p> + <p> + The native pastor swung the bow of the canoe round towards the shore, and + presently the little craft glided gently upon the hard, white sand, and + the two men got out, walked up to the grove of cocoa-palms, and sat down + under their shade to rest and smoke until the sun lost some of its fierce + intensity and they could proceed on their journey homeward to the + principal village. + </p> + <p> + The White Man was the one trader living in Peru,{*} the native was a + Samoan, and one of the oldest and bravest missionaries in the Pacific. For + twenty years he had dwelt among the wild, intractable, and savage people + of Peru—twenty years of almost daily peril, for in those days the + warlike people of the Gilbert Group resented the coming of the few native + teachers scattered throughout the archipelago, and only Tavita's undaunted + courage and genial disposition had preserved the lives of himself and his + family. Such influence as he now possessed was due, not to his persistent + attempts to preach Christianity, but to his reputation for integrity of + conduct and his skill as a fisherman and carpenter. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Francis Island, or Peru, is one of the largest atolls of + the Gilbert Group in the South Pacific, about one hundred + and twenty miles south of the Equator +</pre> + <p> + The White Man and he were firm friends, and that day they had been down to + the north end of the lagoon to collect a canoe load of the eggs of a small + species of tern which frequented the uninhabited portion of the island in + myriad swarms. + </p> + <p> + Presently, as they sat and smoked, and lazily watched a swarm of the + silvery mullet called <i>kanae</i> disporting themselves on the glassy + surface of the lagoon, the White Man said— + </p> + <p> + “Who were these white men, Tâvita, who fought in the battle?” + </p> + <p> + “Hast never heard the story?” inquired the teacher in Samoan. + </p> + <p> + The trader shook his head. “Only some of it—a little from one, a + little from another.” + </p> + <p> + “Then listen,” said Tâvita, re-filling his pipe and leaning his broad back + against the bole of a cocoa-palm. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + “It was nineteen years ago, and I had been living on the island but a + year. In those days there were many white men in these islands. Some were + traders, some were but <i>papalagi tafea</i>{*} who spent their days in + idleness, drunkenness, and debauchery, casting aside all pride and living + like these savage people, with but a girdle of grass around their naked + waists, their hands ever imbued in the blood of their fellow white men or + that of the men of the land. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Beachcombers. +</pre> + <p> + “Here, on this island, were two traders and many beachcombers. One of the + traders was a man named Carter, the other was named West Carter the people + called 'Karta,' the other by his fore name, which was 'Simi' (Jim). They + came here together in a whaleship from the Bonin Islands with their wives—two + sisters, who were Portuguese half-castes, and both very beautiful women. + Carter's wife had no children; West, who was the younger man, and who had + married the younger sister, had two. Both brought many thousands of + dollars worth of trade with them to buy cocoanut oil, for in those days + these natives here did not make copra as they do now—they made oil + from the nuts. + </p> + <p> + “Karta built a house on the north end of the island, where there is the + best anchorage for ships, West chose to remain on the lee side where he + had landed, and bought a house near to mine. In quite a few days we became + friends, and almost every night we would meet and talk, and his children + and mine played together. He was quite a young man, and had been, he told + me, the third mate of an English ship which was cast away on the Bonin + Islands four years before, where he had met Karta, who was a trader there, + and whose wife's sister he married. + </p> + <p> + “One day they heard from the captain of a whaleship that there was much + money to be made on this island of Peru, for although there were many + beachcombers living here there was no trader to whom the people could sell + their oil. So that was why they came here. + </p> + <p> + “Now, although these two men were married to two sisters, there was but + little love between them, and then as time went on came distrust, and then + hatred, born out of Karta's jealousy and wicked heart; but until they came + to live here on Peru there had been no bad blood—not even enough to + cause a bitter word, though even then the younger man did not like Karta, + who was a man of violent temper, unfaithful to his wife, and rude and + insulting in his manner to most men, white or brown. And Serena, his wife, + hated him, but made no sign. + </p> + <p> + “As time went on, both men prospered, for there was much oil to be had, + and at the end of the first year a schooner came from Sydney and bought it + I went on board with Simi, after the oil had been rafted off to the ship's + side. Karta, too, came on board to be paid for his oil. He had been + drinking much grog and his face was flushed and angry. With him were three + beachcombers whose foul language and insolent demeanour angered both the + captain and Simi, who were quiet men. There were six or seven of these + beachcombers living on the island, and they all disliked Simi, who would + have none of their company; but in Karta's house they were made welcome. + Night after night they would gather there and drink and gamble, for some + of them had bags of dollars, for dissolute and idle as they were for the + most of their time they could make money easily by acting as interpreters + for the natives, to the captains of the whaleships, or as pilots to the + trading vessels sailing northward to the Marshall Islands. + </p> + <p> + “The captain paid Simi partly in money and partly in trade goods, for the + two hundred casks of oil he bought, and then Simi and I turned to go on + shore. Karta had scarce spoken ten words to Simi, who yet bore him no + ill-will, although for many months tales had come to us of the evil life + he led and the insults he put upon his wife Serena. + </p> + <p> + “But after he had bidden farewell to the captain, Simi held out his hand + to his brother-in-law and said—'My wife Luisa sendeth love and + greetings to Serena. Is she in good health?' + </p> + <p> + “Karta would not take the hand held out to him. + </p> + <p> + “'What is that to thee or thy wife either?' he answered rudely. 'Look to + thy own business and meddle not with mine.' + </p> + <p> + “Simi's face grew red with anger, but he spoke quietly and reproved his + brother-in-law for his rude speech. 'Why insult me needlessly before so + many strangers?' he said. 'What harm have I or my wife Luisa ever done to + thee?' + </p> + <p> + “'Curse thee and Luisa, thy wife,' said Karta again; 'she and thee, aye, + and Serena too, are well matched, for ye be all cunning sneaks and fit + company for that fat-faced Samoan psalm-singer who stands beside thee.' + </p> + <p> + “At these words the three beachcombers laughed, and when they saw that + Simi made no answer, but turned aside from Karta in contempt, one of them + called him a coward. + </p> + <p> + “He turned upon him quickly. 'Thou liest, thou drunken, useless cumberer + of the earth,' he said, looking at him scornfully; 'no coward am I, nor a + noisy boaster like thee. This is no place for us to quarrel. But say such + a thing to me on the beach if ye dare.' + </p> + <p> + “'He is my friend/ said Karta, speaking with drunken rage, and thrusting + his face into Simi's, 'he is as good a man as thee any day. To strike him + or any one of us thou art afraid, thou cat-hearted coward and miser.' + </p> + <p> + “Simi clenched his hands, but suddenly thrust them into his pockets and + looked at the captain and the officers of the ship. + </p> + <p> + “'This is no place for me,' he again said in a low voice; 'come, Tavita, + let us go,' and without even raising his eyes to Karta and the three other + men he went out of the cabin. + </p> + <p> + “That night he, Luisa, and I and my wife sat talking; and in the fulness + of her anger at the insults heaped upon her husband, Luisa told us of some + things. + </p> + <p> + “'This man Karta hateth both my sister and myself, as well as my husband. + He hateth me because that it was I whom he desired to marry, four years + ago; but I feared him too much to become his wife, for even in those days + I knew him to be a drunkard and a gambler, and a licentious man. Then + although she loved him not my sister Serena became his wife, for he was a + man of good property, and promised to give over his evil ways and be a + good husband to her. And he hateth her and would gladly see her dead, for + she hath borne him no children. He is for ever flinging cruel words at + her, and hath said to her before me that a childless man is a thing of + scorn and disgrace even to the savage people of this island. And he makes + no secret of his wickedness with other women. That is why my sister Serena + is dull and heavy-minded; for she is eaten up with grief and shame.' + </p> + <p> + “'That is true,' said Simi, 'I have known this for a year past, for when + he is drunk he cannot conceal his thoughts. And he is full of anger + against me because I have nought in common with him. I am neither a + drinker of grog nor a gambler, and have suffered from him what I would + suffer from no other man. I am no brawler, but yet 'tis hard to bear.' + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + “Just as dawn came, and I was sunk in slumber, I heard a footstep outside + my door, and then Simi called to me. 'Bring thy wife to my house quickly,' + he said, 'evil work hath been done in the night.' + </p> + <p> + “My wife and I followed him, and when we entered we saw Luisa his wife + kneeling beside a couch and weeping over Serena, who lay still and quiet + as if dead. + </p> + <p> + “'Look,' he said sternly, 'look what that devil hath done!' + </p> + <p> + “He lifted Serena's left arm—the bone was broken in two places, + above and below the elbow. + </p> + <p> + “We set to work quickly, and fitting the broken bones in place we bound + her arm up in stiff, smooth strips of the spathe of the cocoanut tree, and + then washed and dressed her feet, which were cut and bleeding, for she had + walked barefooted, and clothed only in her night-dress, all the way from + the north end of the island, which is nearly two leagues from my house. + </p> + <p> + “After she had drunk some coffee and eaten a little food she became + stronger, and told us all that had befallen her. + </p> + <p> + “'Karta and the three other white men came back from the ship when it was + long past midnight, and I knew by the noise they made that they had all + been drinking grog. I heard them talking and laughing and saying that + thou, Simi, were a paltry coward; and then one of them—he who is + called Joe—said that he would one day end thee with a bullet and + take Luisa to wife, as so fine a woman deserved a better man than a cur + for a husband. And Karta—Karta my husband—laughed and said + that that could not be, for he meant to take thee, Luisa, for himself when + he had ridden himself of me. His shameless words stung me, and I wept + silently as I lay there, and pressed my hands to my ears to shut out their + foul talk and blasphemies. + </p> + <p> + “'Suddenly I heard my husband's voice as he rose from the table and came + towards the sleeping room. He threw open the door and bade me come out and + put food before him and his friends. + </p> + <p> + “'I rose at his bidding, for his face terrified me—it was the face + of a devil—and began to clothe myself. He tore the dress from my + hands and cursed me, and bade me go as I stood. In my fear I sprang to the + window and tried to tear down the cane lattice-work so as to escape from + the house and the shame he sought to put upon me. He seized me by the + waist and tried to tear me away, but I was strong—strong with the + strength of a man. Then it was that he went mad, for he took up a heavy <i>paua</i> + stick and struck me twice on the arm. And had it not been that the other + white men came in and dragged him away from me, crying shame on him, and + throwing him down upon the floor, I would now be dead. + </p> + <p> + “'I lay quiet for a little time and then rising to my feet looked out into + the big room, where the three men were still holding my husband down. One + of them bade me run for my life, for Karta, he said, had gone mad with + grog. + </p> + <p> + “'I feared to seek aid from any of the natives, for they, too, dread Karta + at such times; so I walked and ran, sometimes along the beach, sometimes + through the bush till I came here. That is all.' + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + “That morning the head man in our village caused the shell to sound,{*} to + call the people together so that they might hear from Simi the story of + the shame put upon his wife's sister and upon himself and his house. As + the people gathered around the <i>moniep</i>{**} and the head men sat down + inside, the captain of the ship came on shore, and great was his anger + when he heard the tale. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * A conch-shell. + + ** The council house. +</pre> + <p> + “'Let this poor woman come to my ship,' he said; 'her life here is not + safe with such a man as that. For I know his utter vileness and cruelty to + her. With me she shall be safe and well cared for, and if she so wishes + she shall come with me to Fiji where my wife liveth, and her life will be + a life of peace.' + </p> + <p> + “So Serena was put in the ship's boat, and Luisa went with her to remain + on board till the ship sailed, which would be in three days. Then Simi and + the head men talked together in the council house, and they made a law and + sent a message to Karta. This was the message they sent to him: 'Because + of the evil thou hast done and of the shame thou hast put upon the sister + of the wife of our white man, come no more to this town. If thou comest + then will there be war between thy town and ours, and we will burn the + houses and harry and slay thee and the seven other white men, and all men + of thy town who side with thee, and make slaves of the women and children. + This is our last word.' + </p> + <p> + “A swift messenger was sent. Before the sun was in mid-heaven he returned, + crying out as he ran, 'War is the answer of Karta and his village. War and + death to Simi and to us all are his words; and to Luisa, the wife of the + white man, he sendeth this message: “Prepare a feast for thy new husband, + for he cometh to take thee away from one who cannot stand against him.”' + </p> + <p> + “In those days there were seven hundred fighting men in our town, and a + great clamour arose. Spears and clubs and muskets and hatchets were + seized, the armour of stout cinnet which covered a man from head to foot + was put on, women filled baskets with smooth stones for the slings; and + long before sundown the warriors set out, with Simi and the head men + leading them, to meet their enemies mid-way—at this very place where + we now sit. For this narrow strip of land hath been the fighting-ground of + Peru from the old, old times long before I was born, and my years are + three score and seven. + </p> + <p> + “The night was dark, but Simi and his people, when they reached this + place, some by land and some in canoes, lit great fires on the beach and + dug trenches in the sand very quickly, behind which all those who carried + muskets were placed, to fire into the enemy's canoes as they paddled along + the narrow passage to the landing place. Karta and his white friends and + the people of their town had more than two hundred muskets, whilst our + village had less than fifty. But they were strong of heart and waited + eagerly for the fight. + </p> + <p> + “Just before sunrise we saw them coming. There were over one hundred + canoes, each carrying five or six men. Karta and the beachcombers were + leading in a whaleboat, which was being rowed very swiftly. When within + rifle-shot she grounded. + </p> + <p> + “As they leapt out of the boat, rifles in hand, they were followed by + their natives, but our people fired a volley together, and two of the + white men and many of their people fell dead in the shallow water. Then + Simi and twenty of our best men leapt out of their trenches and dashed + into the water to meet them. Karta was in advance of them all, and when he + saw Simi he raised his rifle and fired. The bullet missed the white man + but killed a native behind him. Then Karta, throwing away his rifle, took + two pistols from his belt and shot twice at Simi who was now quite close + to him. These bullets, too, did Simi no harm, for taking a steady aim at + his foe he shot him through the body, and as Karta fell upon his side one + of our people leapt on him and held his head under the water till there + was no more life in his wicked heart. + </p> + <p> + “The fight was soon ended, for seeing three of their number killed so + quickly, the rest of the white men ran back to their boat and tried to + float her again; and then Simi, taking a shot-gun loaded with slugs from + one of his men, ran up to them and shot dead the one named Joe. The other + white men he let escape, for all their followers were now paddling off or + swimming to the other side of the lagoon, and Simi was no lover of + bloodshed. + </p> + <p> + “That day the people at the north end sent a message for peace, and peace + was made, for our people had lost but one man killed, so the thing was + ended well for us. + </p> + <p> + “Serena came back from the ship, for now that Karta was dead she had no + fear. The three white men who were spared soon left Peru in a whale-ship, + for they feared to remain. + </p> + <p> + “Simi and his wife and children and Serena did not long stay with us, for + he sold his house and boats to a new trader who came to the island about a + month after the fight, and they went away to live at a place in Fiji + called Yasawa. They were very good to me and mine, and I was sore in my + heart to see the ship sail away with them, and at night I felt very lonely + for a long time, knowing that I should see them no more.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE BRASS GUN OF THE BUCCANEERS + </h2> + <p> + Challoner was a trader at Jakoits Harbour in Ponapé, one of the loveliest + of the great Caroline Archipelago in the North Pacific. He was a quiet but + determined-looking man of fifty, and at the time of this story had been + living on Ponapé for over five years. Unlike the generality of the white + men who were settled on the island, he never carried arms and never + entered into any of the disputes that too often occurred among them and + ended in bloodshed. + </p> + <p> + Many of his neighbours were scoundrels and ruffians of the deepest dye—deserters + from whale-ships and men-of-war, or escaped criminals from California and + the Australian colonies. Some of these earned a living by trading with the + natives for turtle-shell and cocoanut oil, others were simply + beachcombers, who attached themselves to the leading chiefs and gave their + services to them in war time, receiving in return houses and land, and + spending their lives in time of peace in the wildest dissipation and + excesses. + </p> + <p> + In those days the American whaling fleet made Jakoits and the other three + harbours on the beautiful island their rendezvous before sailing northward + to the coasts of Japan and Siberia. Sometimes there would be as many as + thirty ships arrive within a week of each other, carrying from thirty to + forty hands each; and these, when given liberty by their captains, at once + associated with the beachcombing element, and turned an island paradise + into a hell during their stay on shore. + </p> + <p> + There was among these beachcombers a man named Larmer. He was of Herculean + stature and strength, and was, in a manner, their leader. It was his habit + in his drunken moments to vaunt of the bloody deeds which he had + perpetrated during his crime-stained career in the Pacific Islands. For + the lives of natives he had absolutely no regard, and had committed so + many murders in the Gilbert Islands that he had been forcibly taken on + board a whaler by the few white men living there, and threatened with + instant death if he returned. + </p> + <p> + The whaleship landed him on Ponapé, and his presence soon became a curse. + Being possessed of plenty of arms and ammunition, he soon gained the + friendship of a native chief ruling over the western district of the + island, and his savage nature at once showed itself by his offering to + destroy the inhabitants of a little island named Pàkin, who had in some + way offended this chief. His offer was accepted, and, accompanied by five + ruffianly whites and some hundreds of natives, the unfortunate people were + surprised and butchered. Elated with this achievement, Larmer returned to + Ponapé, and, during the orgy which took place to celebrate the massacre, + he shot dead one of his white companions who had displeased him over some + trifling matter. + </p> + <p> + The news was brought by a native to Challoner, who with a fellow-trader + and several local chiefs was sitting outside his house smoking and + enjoying the cool of the evening, and watching the flashing torches of a + number of canoes catching flying fish beyond the barrier reef. Neither of + them felt surprised, and Challoner remarked to the native that it was good + to know that one bad and useless man was dead, but that it would be better + still to hear that the man who slaughtered a whole community in cold blood + was dead also. + </p> + <p> + “I wouldn't have said that if I were you,” said Dawson, the other trader, + nervously; “that fellow Larmer is bound to hear of it.” + </p> + <p> + “I am quite prepared,” Challoner replied quietly, “as you know, Dawson. + Things cannot go on like this. I have never killed a man in my life, but + to kill such a brute as Larmer would be a good action.” + </p> + <p> + The distance between Challoner's place and Kiti, where Larmer dwelt with + his villainous associates, was but ten miles. Yet, although Larmer had now + been living on the island for a year, Challoner had only once met and + spoken to him. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + During a visit which he (Challoner) had made to a little harbour called + Metalanim, he had explored some very ancient ruins there, which were + generally believed by the white uneducated traders to have been + constructed by the old buccaneers, though the most learned antiquarians + confess themselves puzzled to solve the mystery of their existence. But + that these ruins had been used as a <i>depot</i> or refuge of some sort by + those who sailed the North Pacific more than two hundred years ago was + evident, for many traces of their occupancy by Europeans had been found by + the few white men who had visited them. + </p> + <p> + It was Challoner's fortune to discover amid the mass of tangled vines and + creepers that grew all over the walls, and even down in the curious + chambers, an old brass cannon. With the aid of some of his native friends + he succeeded in dragging it forth and conveying it in his boat to his + house, where, upon cleaning it, he found it bore the Spanish arms over the + date of its casting in Manila, in the year 1716. Much interested in this, + he refused to sell the gun to several whaleship captains, who each wanted + to buy it. He would sell it, he thought, to better advantage by sending it + to Australia or Europe. + </p> + <p> + Soon after its discovery he had set his people to work to clean and polish + it One day he saw coming towards him a man, who from his huge figure he + knew must be Larmer, the beachcomber. + </p> + <p> + “I say, boss,” said the man roughly, “let's have a look at that cannon + you've found, will yar?” + </p> + <p> + “There it is,” said Challoner quietly, pointing to his boat-house, but not + deigning to accompany the beachcomber and show him the weapon. + </p> + <p> + Larmer made a brief but keen inspection, and then walked into the trader's + room and, unasked, sat down. + </p> + <p> + “It's as good as new,” he said. “What do you want for it?” + </p> + <p> + “I will not sell it,” replied the trader coldly, eyeing the beachcomber + steadily, “at least to no one in Ponapé. There is too free a display of + and use of arms here as it is,” and he looked pointedly at the brace of + heavy Colt's revolvers in his visitor's belt. + </p> + <p> + A scowl darkened Larmer's face. “I'll give you a hundred dollars for the + thing,” he said. “I want it, and I mean to have it” And he rose and dashed + his huge hand down upon the table. + </p> + <p> + Challoner was unarmed, but his face betrayed neither fear nor any other + emotion. He was standing with his back to the doorway of his bedroom. A + thick curtain of navy blue calico concealed the interior of this room from + the view of any one in the living room, and Larmer had seen no one but the + trader about. + </p> + <p> + For some few seconds there was silence; the beachcomber, with his clenched + fist still on the table, was trying to discover whether the man before him + was intimidated. Challoner stood unmoved. + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” began Larmer again, “I want that cannon. Sru, the chief of Kiti, + an' me is going on a little war-party again. But I'll pay you for it.” + </p> + <p> + “And I tell you that I won't sell it. Least of all to a man like you, who + would use it for murder.” + </p> + <p> + The beachcomber's hand went to his belt—and stayed there, as the + trader stepped aside from the doorway and he saw a rifle pointed at his + heart. It was held by the trader's wife. + </p> + <p> + “Put up your hands,” said Challoner, with a contemptuous laugh. “And now + listen to me. I want no quarrel with you—don't force one on me. Now + clear out.” + </p> + <p> + Without a word the baffled man turned away. But the look of savage hatred + that gleamed in his fierce eyes told Challoner that he had made a + dangerous enemy. And only a few days passed before he heard from the + natives that Larmer said he would have his revenge—and the brass gun + as well—before many months were over. + </p> + <p> + But the trader, though apparently taking no heed, was yet watchful. His + influence with the natives of the Jakoits district was great, for they + both liked and trusted him as a just and honourable man, and he knew that + they would rally round him if Larmer attempted either to carry off the gun + or do harm to him. + </p> + <p> + For some months matters went on at Jakoits very quietly, and the last of + the whaling fleet having sailed, Challoner and Dawson went about their + usual work again, such as trading along the coast in their whaleboats and + storing their cocoanut oil in readiness for the <i>Mocassin</i>, the + trading ship which visited them once a year, and was now due. + </p> + <p> + Although living only a few miles apart from each other, the two did not + very often meet, but Challoner was one day surprised to see Dawson's boat + pulling into the beach, for he had had a visit from his friend only the + previous evening. The moment the boat touched the sand Dawson jumped out, + and Challoner at once saw by the anxious expression on his face that + something was wrong. + </p> + <p> + He soon learnt Dawson's news, which was bad enough. The <i>Mocassin</i> + had run ashore in the night at a place five miles away from Dawson's + village, and it was feared she would become a total wreck unless she could + be lightened and floated over the reef into smooth water. The captain had + sent an urgent message for aid, and in less than half an hour the two men + were on their way to the wreck, accompanied by nearly every male native in + Challoner's village. + </p> + <p> + Towards sunset on the following day, just as the boats were in sight, + returning from the wreck, Tiaru, the trader's wife, with her one child and + some of her female relatives, were coming from their bathe in the sea, + when they heard screams from the village, and presently some terrified + women fled past them, calling out that Larmer and another white man and a + number of their native allies were carrying away the brass gun. In an + instant the young wife gave the babe to a woman near her, and darted + towards her husband's house. A number of women and children, encouraged by + her presence, ran to alarm the approaching boats. + </p> + <p> + In front of the trader's house Larmer and another beachcomber were + directing a score of Kiti natives how to sling the heavy gun between two + stout poles. A sentry stood on guard at the gate of Challoner's fence, but + Tiaru dashed his crossed musket aside, and then sprang into the midst of + her husband's enemies. + </p> + <p> + “Set down the gun,” she panted indignantly, “ye coward men of Rôan Kiti, + and ye white men thieves, who only dare to come and steal when there are + but women to meet and fight with thee.” + </p> + <p> + Larmer laughed. + </p> + <p> + “Get out o' this, you meddling fool,” he said in English, and then, + calling to the natives to hasten ere it grew dark, he took no further + notice of the woman before him. Then, as they prepared to raise their + burden by a united effort upon their naked shoulders, Tiaru sprang into + the house and quickly reappeared with a heavy knife in her hand. Twisting + her lithe body from the grasp of one of the beachcombers, with flaming + eyes she burst in amongst the gun carriers and began slashing at the + strips of green bark with which the cannon was lashed to the poles. + </p> + <p> + “Curse you!” said Larmer fiercely, striding forward and seizing her by her + long hair. “Take away her knife, Watty, quick!” And he dragged her head + back with brutal strength—to release his hold with a cry of savage + fury as the woman turned upon him and with a swift stroke severed the + fingers of his left hand. Again she raised her hand as Larmer drew a + pistol and shot her through the body. She fell without a cry upon the gun + beneath. + </p> + <p> + “By ———, you've done it now!” said the man + </p> + <p> + Watty. “Look there! There's all our natives running away. We're as good as + dead men if we stay here five minutes longer. I'm off anyway”; and then, + hurriedly binding up his companion's bleeding hand, he disappeared into + the surrounding forest after his native allies. + </p> + <p> + For a few moments Larmer stood irresolute, looking first at the body of + the woman lying across the gun, then at his wounded hand. Already the + shouts of Challoner's natives sounded near, and he knew that the boats had + reached the beach. The gun, which had cost him so dear, must be abandoned, + but he would take a further revenge upon its owner. He ran quickly to a + fire which burned dimly in Challoner's cooking-house, lit a bunch of dried + palm leaves, and thrust it into the thatch of the dwelling-house. Then he + struck into the jungle. + </p> + <p> + As Challoner, followed by Dawson and the men of Jakoits village, rushed + along the narrow path that led to his house, they heard the roar and + crackle of the flames; when they gained the open they saw the bright light + shining on the old cannon, whose polished brass was stained and streaked + with red. Tiaru lay across the breech, dead. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + For nearly two days Challoner and his natives followed the tracks of the + murderer into the heart of the mountain forest of Ponapé. Dawson and + another party had left early the same night for the Rôan Kiti coast, where + they landed and formed a cordon, which it would be impossible for Larmer + to pass. + </p> + <p> + Watty, his fellow-scoundrel, was captured early next morning. He had lost + his way and was lying asleep beside a fire on the banks of a small stream. + </p> + <p> + He was promptly shot by Dawson. Larmer was to be taken alive. + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile Challoner and his men pressed steadily on, driving their prey + before them. At noon on the second day they caught sight of his huge + figure ascending a rocky spur, and a party of natives ran swiftly to its + base and hid at the margin of a small, deep pool. Challoner knew that his + man wanted a drink, and would soon descend the spur to get it. + </p> + <p> + For some hours not a sound broke the silence, then a stone rolled down, + and presently Larmer's head appeared above a boulder. He looked carefully + round, and then, finding all quiet, began the descent. On the very edge of + the pool he again stopped and listened, holding his pistol at full cock. + His left hand was slung to his chest by a piece of green hibiscus bark, + which was passed round his neck and roughly tied. + </p> + <p> + The silence all around him was reassuring, but he still held out the + pistol as he bent his knees to drink. Ere his lips could touch the water + two half-naked figures sprang upon him and bore him down. He was too weak + to resist. + </p> + <p> + “Do not bind him,” said Challoner, “but tie his right hand behind his + back.” + </p> + <p> + Larmer turned his bloodshot eyes upon the trader, but said nothing. + </p> + <p> + “Give him a drink.” + </p> + <p> + A native placed a gourd of water to his lips. He drank greedily. Then, in + silence, Challoner and his men began their march back. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + At sunset the people of Jakoits gathered together in front of the + blackened space whereon the trader's house had stood. Raised on four heavy + blocks of stone was the still blood-stained cannon, and bound with his + back to its muzzle was Larmer. + </p> + <p> + Challoner made a sign, the brown-skinned men and women moved quickly apart + in two parties, one on each side of the gun. Then Rul, the chief of the + Jakoits* village, advanced with a lighted stick, touched the priming, and + sprang aside. A sheet of flame leaped out, a bursting roar pealed through + the leafy forest aisles, and Challoner had avenged his murdered wife. + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Brothers-In-Law: A Tale Of The +Equatorial Islands; and The Brass Gun Of The Buccaneers, by Louis Becke + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BROTHERS-IN-LAW *** + +***** This file should be named 25056-h.htm or 25056-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/5/0/5/25056/ + +Produced by David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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