diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'old/55763-0.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | old/55763-0.txt | 5715 |
1 files changed, 0 insertions, 5715 deletions
diff --git a/old/55763-0.txt b/old/55763-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index b25f591..0000000 --- a/old/55763-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5715 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Boy Fortune Hunters in the South Seas, by -L. Frank Baum - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Boy Fortune Hunters in the South Seas - -Author: L. Frank Baum - -Release Date: October 17, 2017 [EBook #55763] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BOY FORTUNE HUNTERS--SOUTH SEAS *** - - - - -Produced by Mary Glenn Krause, MFR, Stephen Hutcheson, -University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University -of South Florida and the Online Distributed Proofreading -Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - [Illustration: Among the Islanders] - - - - - The Boy - Fortune Hunters - in the - South Seas - - - By - FLOYD AKERS - - Author of - The Boy Fortune Hunters in Alaska, - The Boy Fortune Hunters in Panama, - The Boy Fortune Hunters in Egypt, - The Boy Fortune Hunters in China, - and The Boy Fortune Hunters in Yucatan - - [Illustration: Publisher logo] - - PUBLISHERS - THE REILLY & BRITTON CO. - CHICAGO - - Copyright, 1911 - By - The Reilly & Britton Co. - - - - - CONTENTS - - - CHAPTER PAGE - I Senor De Jiminez 11 - II I Advance a Proposition 29 - III We Meet Some Queer People 40 - IV Nux and Bryonia 55 - V A South Pacific Typhoon 75 - VI A Freakish Shipwreck 88 - VII The Pearl People 98 - VIII The Reef Patrol 115 - IX Alfonso’s Antoinette 131 - X The Pearl City 147 - XI A King, A Priest, and A Boy 162 - XII The “Crooked One” 173 - XIII Living Shields 189 - XIV A Desperate Attempt 202 - XV My Execution 212 - XVI The Way It Happened 221 - XVII The Consequences 230 - XVIII A Run for Life 236 - XIX A Capricious Earthquake 246 - XX King Bryonia 255 - - - - - The - Boy Fortune Hunters - In The South Seas - - - - - CHAPTER I - SENOR DE JIMINEZ - - -“There’s one thing certain,” said my uncle, Naboth Perkins, banging his -fist on the table for emphasis. “If we don’t manage get a cargo in ten -days we’ll up anchor an’ quit this bloomin’ island.” - -My father the skipper, leaning back in his easy-chair with his legs—one -of them cork—stretched upon the table and his pipe in his mouth, nodded -assent as he replied: - -“Very good.” - -“Here it is five weeks since we finished unloadin’ that machinery,” went -on Uncle Naboth, “an’ since then the _Seagull’s_ been floatin’ like a -swan in the waters o’ Port Phillip an’ lettin’ the barnacles nip her. -There ain’t a shipper in Melbourne as’ll give us an ounce o’ cargo; an’ -why? Jest because we’re American an’ float the Stars an’ Stripes—that’s -why. There’s a deep-seated conspiracy agin American shipping in -Australia, an’ what little truck they’ve got to send to America goes in -British ships or it don’t go at all.” - -Again Captain Steele nodded. - -“S’pose we try Adelaide,” suggested big Ned Britton, our first mate. - -“That’s jest as bad,” declared Uncle Naboth. “It’s an off season, they -say; but the fact is, Australia sends mighty little to the United -States, an’ those that ship anything prefer English bottoms to ours. -Everything’s been contracted for months ahead, and the only chance the -_Seagull_ has of going home freighted is to grab some emergency -deal—where time counts—an’ load an’ skip before any Britisher comes into -port.” - -“Well?” said my father, inquiringly. - -“Well, that’s what we’ve been waitin’ for, an’ I’m gettin’ desprit tired -o’ the job. So now I’ll give these folks jest ten days to rustle up a -cargo for us, an’ if they don’t do it, away we goes in ballast.” - -I laughed at his earnestness. - -“Why, Uncle Naboth, it won’t hurt us to go home without freight,” said -I. “In fact, we’ll make better time, and for my part I see no use in -waiting ten days longer for such a ghostly chance.” - -“Don’t be foolish, Sam,” returned my uncle, impatiently. “Boys never -have any business instincts, anyhow. It’s our business to carry cargoes, -so to make the long voyage back home light-waisted is a howlin’ -shame—that’s what it is!” - -“We were paid so much for the cargo we brought that we can well afford -to run home in ballast,” I remarked. - -“There you go—jest like a boy. You’ve got a fat bank account, Sam -Steele; an’ so hev I; an’ so’s the Cap’n, your father. An’ we three own -the _Seagull_ an’ can do as we blame please with her. But business is -business, as Shylock says to the lawyers. We’re runnin’ this schooner to -make money—not one way, but both ways—an’ our business is to see that -every league she travels counts in dollars an’ cents. Nice merchantmen -we’d be to float off home in ballast, jest ’cause we got a big lump fer -bringin’ a load of farm machinery here; wouldn’t we, now?” - -“Oh, I don’t object to your trying for a cargo, Uncle Naboth. That’s -your part of the business, and if any man could make a contract you can -do so; but I see no use in getting annoyed or worried in case we find it -impossible to secure a consignment of freight.” - -Uncle Naboth smiled grimly. - -“I ain’t worried, Sam,” he said more mildly. “I’m only tellin’ you an’ -the Cap’n what my sentiments is.” - -We were seated in our pleasant sitting-room at the Radley Arms, one of -the cosiest inns I ever stopped at. It was a place much patronized by -mariners of the better class and Mrs. Wimp, our landlady, was certainly -a wonderful cook. Joe Herring, my chum and a lad who, although only -about my own age, served as second mate of the _Seagull_, had aroused my -uncle to speech by remarking that as far as he was concerned he wouldn’t -mind boarding all winter at the Radley Arms. But Joe was a silent -fellow, as was my father Captain Steele, and having evoked the above -tirade he said nothing further. Uncle Naboth had a perfect right to -issue his ultimatum concerning our freight, being supercargo and part -owner, and as our recent voyages had been fairly prosperous and we were -already amply paid for our present trip to Australia we were all in a -mood to take things philosophically. - -I think Ned Britton, the mate, was the most uneasy of our party, but -that was because he disliked the land and was only comfortable when -afloat. Ned even now lived on shipboard and kept everything taut and in -running order, while my father, Uncle Naboth and I had rooms at Mrs. -Wimp’s admirable inn. I am free to confess that I like a bit of land -loafing now and then, while poor Ned is never happy unless he knows the -water is sliding under the keel. - -Joe and I had ransacked sleepy old Melbourne pretty well by this time -and had enjoyed every day of the five weeks we had been ashore. There -wasn’t a great deal of excitement in town, but we managed to have a good -time and to keep amused. Our little group had sat in silent meditation -for a few moments following my uncle’s last remark, when Mrs. Wimp stuck -her head in the door and said: - -“’Ow’d yer loike to see a gent as wants to see yer?” - -We looked at one another inquiringly. - -“Who is it?” demanded Uncle Naboth. - -“’E didn’t say.” - -“Didn’t say what, Mrs. Wimp?” - -“Didn’t say ’oo ’e were.” - -“Did he say who he wanted to see?” - -“No sir.” - -“Then never mind. Tell him to call again, Mrs. Wimp,” I ventured to say, -amused at the landlady’s noncommittal manner. - -“No, no!” exclaimed my uncle. “It may be somethin’ about a cargo. Who -did he ask for, Mrs. Wimp?” - -“’E jus’ dropped in an’ said: ‘Is the _Seagull_ people stoppin’ ’ere?’ -‘They is,’ says I. ‘Then I wants to see ’em,’ says ’e. So I comes up to -see if it’s agreeable.” - -“It is, Mrs. Wimp,” asserted Uncle Naboth. “Be kind enough to show the -gentleman up.” - -Thereat Mrs. Wimp withdrew her head and closed the door. My father -filled his pipe anew and relighted it. Joe looked thoughtfully out of -the window into the alley below. I turned over a newspaper that lay upon -the table, while Ned and my uncle indulged in a few remarks about the -repairs recently made to the ship’s engines. Not one of us realized that -the next few minutes were destined to alter the trend of all our lives. - -Then came the visitor. He silently opened the door, closed it swiftly -behind him and stood with his back to it shrewdly eyeing us each one in -turn. - -The man’s stature was quite short and he was of slight build. His hair, -coarse in texture, sprinkled with gray and cropped close, stood straight -up on his forehead like a scrubbing brush. His eyes were black and -piercing in expression; his nose rather too fat; his chin square and -firm; his face long and lean, and his skin of the dusky olive hue -peculiar to natives of southern climes. His apparel was magnificent. The -velvet coat had gold buttons; he sported a loud checked vest of purple -and orange, and his cravat was a broad bow of soft white ribbon with -gold fringe at the edges. - -At once I began speculating whether he was a vaudeville actor or a -circus barker; but either idea was dispelled when I noticed his -diamonds. These were enormous, and had a luster that defied imitation. -His shirt buttons were diamonds as big around as my little finger nail; -he had another monster in the center of his bow tie and his fingers -fairly glittered with gems of the same character. Every link of a huge -watch guard was set with diamonds, and his cuff buttons were evidently -worth a small fortune. - -The appearance of this small but gorgeous individual in our dingy -sitting-room produced an incongruous effect. The air was fogged with -tobacco smoke; my father still lazily rested his legs across the -table-top; the rest of us lounged in unconventional attitudes. However, -being Americans we were more astonished than impressed by the vision -that burst upon us and did not rise nor alter our positions in any way. - -“Which it is the gentleman who the ship _Seagull_ owns?” demanded the -stranger, mixing his English in his agitation, although he spoke it very -clearly for a foreigner. - -Uncle Naboth became our spokesman. - -“There are three owners,” said he. - -“Ah! where they are?” - -“All in this room,” replied my uncle. - -“Excellent!” exclaimed our visitor, evidently pleased. He glanced around -him, drew a chair to the table and sat down. My father moved his wooden -leg a bit to give the stranger more room. - -“What is price?” he inquired, looking at Mr. Perkins, whom he faced. - -“Price for what, sir?” - -“Ship,” said the man. - -“Oh, you want to buy the ship?” gasped my uncle, fairly staggered by the -suggestion. - -“If you please, if you like; if it is rais—rais—raison—_a_—ble.” - -Uncle Naboth stared at him. My father coolly filled his pipe again. The -man’s quick eye caught Joe and I exchanging smiling glances, and he -frowned slightly. - -“At what price you hold your ship?” he persisted, turning again to my -uncle. - -“My dear sir,” was the perplexed reply, “we’ve never figured on selling -the _Seagull_. We built it to keep—to have for our own use. We’re -seamen, and it’s our home. If you’d ask us offhand what we’d sell our -ears for, we’d know just as well what to answer.” - -The man nodded, looking thoughtful. - -“What the ship cost?” he asked. - -“Something over two hundred thousand dollars.” - -“United State America dollars?” - -“Of course.” - -Our visitor drew an envelope from his pocket; laid it on the table and -scribbled some figures upon the back. - -“Ver’ well,” he said, presently; “I take him at two hunder thousan’ -dollar, American.” - -“But—” - -“It is bargain. What your terms?” - -“Cash!” snapped Uncle Naboth, laughing at the man’s obstinacy. - -The diamond-bedecked man leaned his elbow on the table and his head on -his hand in a reflective pose. Then he straightened up and nodded his -head vigorously. - -“Why not?” he exclaimed. “Of course it must the cash be. You will know, -sir, that a gentleman does not carry two hunder’ thousan’ dollar about -his person, and although I have had more than that sum on deposit in -Bank of Melbourne, it have been expend in recent purchases. However, -nevertheless, in spite of, I may say, I have ample fund in Bogota. I -will make you draft on my bank there, and you may sail with me in my -ship and collect the money in gold when we arrive. That is cash payment, -Señor; is not?” - -“Bogota!” remarked my uncle, by this time thoroughly bewildered. “That -is a long way off.” - -“Merely across Pacific,” said the other easily. “There is direct route -to it through the South Seas.” - -My father nodded in confirmation of this statement. He knew his charts -by heart. - -“Sir,” said Uncle Naboth, sitting up and heaving a deep sigh, “I have -not the honor of knowing who the blazes you are.” - -The stranger cast a stealthy glance around the room. Then he leaned -forward and said in a low voice: - -“I am Jiminez.” - -This impressive statement failed to enlighten my uncle. - -“Jiminez who?” he inquired. - -For an instant the man seemed offended. Then he smiled condescendingly. - -“To be sure!” he replied. “You are of United State and have no interest -in South American affairs. It is natural you have ignorance regarding -our politics. In Bogota the name of De Jiminez stands for reform; and -reform stands for—” He hesitated. - -“What?” asked my uncle. - -“Revolution!” - -“That’s only nat’ral,” observed Mr. Perkins complacently. “I hear -revolutions are your reg’lar diet down in South America. If there didn’t -happen to be a revolution on tap your people wouldn’t know what to do -with themselves.” - -Señor de Jiminez frowned at this. - -“We will not politic discuss, if you please,” he rejoined stiffly. “We -will discuss ship.” - -“We don’t want to sell,” said my uncle positively. - -De Jiminez looked at him speculatively. - -“I tell you with frankness, I must have ship,” said he. - -“What for?” - -“I will tell you that—but in more privacy,” with a wave of his hand -toward our interested group. - -“Oh, these are all _Seagull_ men,” announced Uncle Naboth. “I’ll -introduce you, Mr. Yim—Him—Jim—” - -“Jiminez.” He pronounced it “He-ma-noth” now, in Spanish fashion. - -“This is Captain Steele, our skipper and part owner,” continued my -uncle. “This young man is Sam Steele, his son, and also part owner. Sam -is purser and assistant supercargo of the _Seagull_. I’m supercargo, the -third owner, and uncle to Sam an’ brother-in-law to the Cap’n. Is that -all clear to you?” - -De Jiminez bowed. - -“Here is Ned Britton, our first mate; and also Joe Herring, our second -mate. Both are trusted comrades and always know as much as we know. So -what you say, stranger, is as private before these people as if you -spoke to but one of us. Therefore, fire ahead.” - -The man considered a moment; then he said slowly: - -“You must know there are spies upon me here in Melbourne, as there are -everywhere, whichever I go; so I cannot too careful be. You ask me why I -want ship. I answer: to carry supplies of war to Colombia—arms and -ammunition for the Cause—all of which I have successful purchase here in -Australia.” - -“Oh; you’re going to start something, are you?” inquired Uncle Naboth. - -“It is already start, sir,” was the dignified response. “I am to -complete the revolution. As you do not understan’ ver’ well, I will the -explanation make that my country is rule by a bad president—a -dictator—an autocrat! We call ourselves republic, Señor Americaine; but -see! we are not now a republic; we are under despotism. My belove people -are all slave to tyrant, who heeds no law but his own evil desire. Is it -not my duty to break his power—to free my country?” - -“Perhaps,” answered Mr. Perkins, his calmness in sharp contrast to the -other’s agitation. “But I can’t see as it’s any of _our_ -bread-and-butter. It’s your country, sir, but you must remember it’s not -ours; and to tell you the cold fact, we don’t propose to sell the -_Seagull_.” - -At this Señor de Jiminez looked a bit worried. But the little Spaniard -was game, and did not give up easily. - -“I must have ship!” he asserted. “I am rich—have much money entrusted to -me for the Cause—my estate is ver’ large. The best families of Colombia -are all with me; now and always, whatever I do. See, Señor; it was my -ancestor who discover South America! who discover the River Orinoco! who -was first governor of my country under the Queen of Spain! Yes, yes. I -am descend direct from the great navigator Gonzalo Quesada de Jiminez, -of whom you read in history.” - -“I congratulate you,” said Uncle Naboth dryly. - -“I have here in Melbourne congregate the means to carry on the war, -which is now languish for want of arms and ammunition. It is all ready -to send to Bogota. Therefore, you see, I must really have ship.” - -“But why buy one?” asked my uncle. “Why not send your stuff as freight?” - -“Impossible!” exclaimed the other. “You are United State. Well, United -State forbid any merchant ship to carry arms to friendly state for -starting revolution. If I hire you to do so I get you in trouble, and -myself in trouble. I want no quarrel with United State, for when I am -myself President of Colombia I must stand well with other powers. So it -is same with every nation. I cannot hire a ship. I must buy one and take -responsibility myself.” - -This frank and friendly explanation led me to regard the flashy little -man more kindly than before. I had been busy thinking, knowing that -Uncle Naboth had set his heart on making some money on the return -voyage. So, during the pause that followed the speech of Señor de -Jiminez, I turned the matter over in my mind and said: - -“Tell me, sir, what you propose doing with the ship after you get to -Colombia with it?” - -He stared at me a moment. - -“It is of little use then,” said he, “unless I could put some cannon on -board and use him for gunboat.” - -“Have you ever been aboard the _Seagull_?” I continued. - -He shook his head. - -“I have inquire about every ship now in Port Phillip,” he said. “Not one -is available but yours that is big enough to carry my cargo—all others -are owned in foreign lands and cannot be bought. But I see your ship, -and it look like a good ship; I inquire and am told by my friends here -it is famous for speed and safety.” - -“It is all that,” agreed my uncle heartily. - -“We have a couple of guns on board already,” I continued; “for sometimes -we sail in seas where it is necessary for us to protect ourselves. But -as a matter of fact the _Seagull_ would make a poor gunboat, because she -has no protective armor. So it seems all you could use her for would be -to carry your revolutionary supplies to Colombia and land them -secretly.” - -“That is all that I require!” he said quickly, giving me a keen look. - -“Sam,” said my uncle, “you’re goin’ to make a durn fool of yourself; I -kin see it in your eye!” - - - - - CHAPTER II - I ADVANCE A PROPOSITION - - -By this time all eyes were upon my face, and realizing that I was about -to suggest a bold undertaking I was a little embarrassed how to -continue. - -“For our part, sir,” said I, addressing Señor de Jiminez and keeping my -gaze averted from the others, “it is our intention to sail for America -presently, and we would like to carry a good paying cargo with us. So it -strikes me we ought to find a way to get together. Have you spent all -your funds here in purchases, or have you some left?” - -He figured on the envelope again—eagerly now, for his quick brain had -already grasped my forthcoming proposition. - -“I have still in bank here equal to nine thousan’ dollar United State -money,” said he. - -“Very well,” I rejoined. “Now suppose you purchase from us the _Seagull_ -for two hundred thousand dollars, and pay down nine thousand in cash, -agreeing to resell the ship to us as soon as we are free of the cargo -for the sum of one hundred and ninety-one thousand dollars, accepting -your own draft, which you are to give us, in full payment. In that way -the thing might be arranged.” - -He had brightened up wonderfully during my speech and was about to reply -when Uncle Naboth, who had been shaking his head discontentedly, broke -in with: - -“No, Sam, it won’t do. It ain’t enough by half. Your scheme is jest a -makeshift an’ I kin see where we might get into a peck o’ trouble aidin’ -an’ abettin’ a rebellion agin a friendly country. Moreover, you don’t -take into account the fact that we’ve got to operate the ship across the -South Seas, an’ the salaries an’ wages fer such a long voyage amounts to -considerable.” - -I have respect for Uncle Naboth’s judgment, so was rather crestfallen at -his disapproval. But Señor de Jiminez, who was alert to every phase of -the argument, said quickly: - -“It is true. Nine thousan’ dollar is too much for an ordinary voyage, -and too little for such voyage as I propose. I will pay fifteen thousan’ -dollar.” - -“You haven’t the cash,” remarked my uncle, “and revolutions are -uncertain things.” - -Jiminez took time to muse over the problem, evidently considering his -dilemma from every viewpoint. Then he began to shed his diamonds. He -took out his jeweled cuff buttons, his studs, pin and watch guard, and -laid them on the table. - -“Here,” said he, “are twenty thousan’ dollar worth of jewels—the finest -and purest diamonds in all the world. I offer them as security. You take -my nine thousan’ dollar in gold, and my personal note for six thousan’, -which I pay as soon as in Colombia we land. If I do not, you keep the -diamonds, which bring you much more in your own country. You see, -gentlemen, I trust you. You are honest, but you make a hard bargain—hard -for the man who must use you in spite of difficulty. But I have no -complaint. I am in emergency; I must pay liberally to accomplish my -great purpose. So then, what is result? Do I purchase the ship as Señor -Sam Steele he describe?” - -Uncle Naboth hesitated and looked at my father, who had listened with -his usual composure to all this but said not a word. Now he removed his -pipe, cleared his throat and said: - -“I’m agree’ble. Colombia ain’t so blame much out’n our way, Naboth. An’ -the pay’s lib’ral enough.” - -“What do you think, Ned?” asked my uncle. - -“The Cap’n’s said it,” answered the mate, briefly. - -“Joe?” - -Joe started and looked around at being thus appealed to. He was only a -boy; but Uncle Naboth knew from experience that Joe never spoke without -thinking and that his thoughts were fairly logical ones. - -“The deal looks all right on the face of it, sir,” said he. “But before -you sign a contract I’d know something more of this gentleman and his -prospects of landing his arms in safety, so we can get away from -Colombia without a fight. Let Sam find out all he can about this -revolution and its justice, and get posted thoroughly. Then, if it still -seems a safe proposition, go ahead, for the terms are fair enough.” - -“Of course,” answered Uncle Naboth, “we don’t mean to jump before we -look. Other things bein’ equal an’ satisfaction guaranteed, I’ll say to -you, Mr. Jim—Yim—Jiminez, that I b’lieve we can strike a bargain.” - -The little man’s face had seemed careworn as he listened intently to -this exchange of ideas. Evidently he was desperately anxious to get the -_Seagull_ to deliver his contraband goods. But he offered no objection -to Joe’s cautious suggestion. Instead he turned to me, after a little -thought, and said: - -“Time is with me very precious. I must get to Bogota as soon as -possible—to the patriots awaiting me. So to satisfy your doubts I will -quickly try. It is my request, Señor Sam, that you accompany me to my -hotel, and the evening spend in my society—you and your friend Señor -Joe. Then to-morrow morning we will sign the papers and begin to load at -once the ship. Do you then accept my hospitality?” - -I turned to Uncle Naboth. - -“Do you think you can trust Joe and me?” I asked. - -“Guess so,” he responded. “Your jedgment’s as good as mine in this deal, -which is a gamble anyway you put it. Go with Mr. Jiminez, if you like, -and find out all he’ll let you. Mostly about him, though; nobody knows -anything about a revolution.” - -“Very well, Uncle,” I answered. Then I turned to the Colombian. “Sir,” -said I, “we cordially accept your invitation. You seem fair and just in -your dealings and for the present, at least, I’m glad to have formed -your acquaintance. Keep your diamonds until we ask for the security. As -you sail in our company you may as well wear them until circumstances -require us to demand them of you.” - -He bowed and restored the gems to their former places. Then he rose and -took his hat. - -“You will return with me to my apartments?” - -“If you desire it,” said I. - -“Then, Señors, I am at your service.” - -Joe quietly left his seat, saying: “I’ll be ready in a jiffy, Sam,” and -started for his room—a room we shared together. After a moment’s -hesitation I followed him. - -“What are you going to do?” I asked. - -“Slick up a bit and pack my toothbrush. Didn’t you hear De Jiminez speak -of his ‘apartments’ at the hotel? And we’re to stay all night it seems.” - -“True enough,” I exclaimed. “We must look decent, old man,” and I -quickly changed my clothing and threw into a small grip such articles as -I thought might be needed. Joe was ready before me, and I saw him -quietly slip a revolver into his hip pocket; so I did the same, smiling -at the incongruity of going armed to make a semisocial visit. - -We found Señor de Jiminez slightly impatient when we returned to the -sitting-room, so we merely said good-bye to our friends and followed him -out to the street. The Radley Arms was situated in a retired and very -quiet district, and our exit seemed entirely unobserved except by our -curious landlady. A sleepy beggar was sitting on the corner, and before -him the Colombian paused and said in a calm tone: - -“What will your report be, then? That I have visited the Radley Arms? -Well, let me give you help. I had friends there—these young -gentlemen—who are returning with me to my hotel. You will find us there -this evening and until morning. Will such information assist you, my -good spy?” - -The beggar grinned and replied: - -“You’re a rare one, De Jiminez. But don’t blame me; I’m only earnin’ my -grub.” - -“I know,” said the other, gravely. “You do the dirty work for my -countryman, the chief spy. But I do not care; you are both powerless to -injure me, or to interfere with my plans.” - -Then he walked on, and a short distance down the street hailed a cab -that was rolling by. We three entered the vehicle and were driven -directly into the busiest section of the city. - -“The driver of this cab,” remarked De Jiminez, “is also a spy; and if -you could behind us see you would find the beggar riding with us.” - -“They seem to keep good track of you, Señor,” said Joe. - -“I do not mind,” answered the man. “If my arrangement with you succeeds -I shall be able to get away from here before my enemies can interfere.” - -It was already growing late in the day and the streets were lighted as -we entered the main thoroughfares. Our host seemed lost in thought and -few remarks were exchanged between us during the long ride. - -Finally we drew up before an imposing looking edifice which I quickly -recognized as the Hotel Markham, quite the swellest public house in all -Melbourne. It cost one a lot to stop at such a place I well knew, but -reflected that Señor de Jiminez, if important enough to conduct a -revolution, might be expected to live in decent style—especially if the -“patriots” paid his expenses. - -I suppose it would be becomingly modest to admit right here that Joe and -I were rather young to be sent on such an errand. Perhaps Señor de -Jiminez recognized this fact even more fully than we did. But in justice -to ourselves I must add that we were boys of more than ordinary -experience, our adventures on many voyages having taught us to think -quickly, act coolly and carefully consider every motive presented to us. -Predisposed as I was in favor of this queer Colombian, who interested me -because he was playing a desperate game and had the nerve to play it -well, I had no intention of deceiving myself or allowing him to deceive -me in regard to his standing and responsibility. It was my business to -find out all I could about the man, and I fully intended to keep my eyes -and ears wide open. - -The first thing I noticed as we entered the hotel was the respectful -deference paid our conductor by the servants, who seemed eager to wait -upon him. The manager came from his little booth with a smile and bow -for Señor de Jiminez and promptly assigned Joe and me to a large room -which he said was connected with the “suite” of our host. De Jiminez -himself conducted us to this room, a very luxurious chamber, and then -excused himself, saying: - -“You will wish to prepare for dinner and I must the same do also. When -you are ready, be kind to come into my apartments, Number 18, which is -the first door at your left. Have you necessaries in everything?” - -We assured him we were amply provided for and he left us with a -courteous bow. There wasn’t much for us to do, except to wash and brush -ourselves and examine the rich furnishings of the place. Neither Joe nor -I was an utter stranger to luxurious living, although our ordinary -quarters were commonplace enough and our mode of life extremely simple. -We have seen palaces of great magnificence, and therefore the handsome -room assigned us did not impress us as much as it interested us. - -We whiled away half or three-quarters of an hour in order not to crowd -our host too closely, and then we knocked at the door of room Number 18. - - - - - CHAPTER III - WE MEET SOME QUEER PEOPLE - - -A servant in private livery admitted us to a spacious drawing-room and -Señor de Jiminez, arrayed in a regulation dress suit, in which he -appeared far more imposing than in the flashy attire he had before worn, -advanced quickly to greet us. At a center table sat an aged, pleasant -faced lady and crouching in a chair by the fireplace was a youth of -about my own age, who bore so strong a facial resemblance to De Jiminez -that it needed no shrewdness to guess he was his son. - -Our host led us first to the lady. - -“Young gentlemen,” said he, as with profound deference he bowed before -her, “I have the honor to present my mother, Señora de Jiminez.” - -She smiled graciously and extended her hands to us. - -“It is unfortune,” he added, “that she is not with your English language -familiar.” - -“Oh, but I speak Spanish—a little,” said I; for I had learned it during -a sojourn in Panama. Then I told the lady I was glad to meet her, -speaking in her own tongue, and she bade me welcome. - -De Jiminez seemed pleased. He next led me to the young fellow by the -fire, who had not risen nor even glanced toward us, but seemed -tremendously interested in his own thoughts. These could not have been -very pleasant, judging from the somber expression of his face. - -“My son Alfonso,” said our host, introducing us. “Alfonso, I present Mr. -Steele and Mr. Herring, two young American gentlemen I have recently -met.” - -The boy looked up quickly. - -“Not of the _Seagull_!” he exclaimed in English. - -“Yes.” - -“Then—” he began eagerly; but his father stopped him with a gesture. - -“I am making consideration of a proposition they have made to me,” he -observed with dignity. - -“Perhaps, Alfonso, we may sail back to Colombia in the _Seagull_.” - -The boy’s eyes glistened. They were dark and restless eyes, very like -those of his parent. He rose from his chair and shook hands with us with -an appearance of cordiality. We now saw he was remarkably short of -stature. Although he was sixteen the crown of his head scarcely reached -to my shoulder. But he assumed the airs and dress of a man and I noticed -he possessed his father’s inordinate love for jewelry. - -“Would you prefer in the hotel restaurant to dine, or in our private -salon?” inquired the elder De Jiminez. - -“It is unimportant to us, sir,” I returned. “Do not alter your usual -custom on our account, I beg of you.” - -“Then,” said he, “I will order service in the salon.” He seemed relieved -and went to consult his servant. - -Meantime young Alfonso looked at us curiously. - -“You do not own the _Seagull_, I suppose,” he remarked. - -“Why not?” I asked with a smile. - -“It’s a fine ship. I’ve been over to look at it this afternoon—” - -“Oh; you have!” - -“Yes. They would not let me go aboard, but I saw all I wished to. It is -swift and trim—what is called ‘yacht built.’ It can sail or go by steam. -Your crew looks like a good one.” - -“That is all true, sir,” I agreed, amused at his observations. - -“And you young fellows own it?” - -“I don’t,” said Joe. “I’m second mate, that’s all. But Mr. Steele here -is one-third owner, with his father and uncle owning the other -two-thirds.” - -Alfonso looked at me intently. - -“Have you sold it to my father?” he asked in a low voice. - -“Not yet,” said I, laughing. “But, as Señor de Jiminez told you, we are -considering the matter.” - -“You know why we want it?” - -“‘We’?” I repeated. “Are you also a conspirator—pardon me, a -patriot—then?” - -“I am a De Jiminez,” he returned proudly. “After my father I am entitled -to rule over Colombia.” - -“To rule? That savors of monarchy. I thought Colombia is a republic.” - -“You are quite right. It _is_ a republic—as Mexico is; as Venezuela and -Costa Rica are. But the president has great power. Is not Diaz equal to -a king?” - -“I am not very well posted on South American or Mexican politics,” I -replied evasively. “But from what your father said I imagine there is -already a president in Colombia.” - -He gave a frown at this, amusingly like his father’s frown. Then his -face cleared and he said: - -“Permit me to explain. The family of De Jiminez has controlled Colombian -politics ever since my great ancestor discovered the country and called -it New Grenada. But a few years ago, while my father was traveling in -Europe, the opposition obtained control and still has the presidency. -The important and wealthy class, however, resented the usurpation, and -even before my father alarmed at the situation hurried back home, a -revolution had begun. I say a revolution, because the opposition had -firmly established themselves. We are really attempting a restoration of -the rightful party to its former power.” - -“In our own republic,” I said thoughtfully, “the votes of the majority -rule. Why do you not resort to the ballot instead of to arms?” - -“I have visited your country,” he said. “The conditions there are -different. In Colombia we have a small class of wealthy and influential -people and a horde of vulgar laborers who are little more than slaves. -They have small intelligence, no education, and work for a bare living. -My father tried to establish a school system that would enable them to -rise above such conditions. They would not send their children to the -schools. Then he tried to force them by law—compulsory education you -know, copied from your own and other countries—but they rebelled at this -and the opposition made capital out of their resentment. The result was -the overthrow of the De Jiminez party as I have stated.” - -This seemed to put a new aspect on the revolution. I began to approve -the action of the De Jiminez party and to sympathize with their “cause.” - -“Has your father many followers in Colombia?” I asked. - -“The intelligent class is of course with him; small in numbers but -controlling the wealth of the country. We ourselves are coffee planters -and bankers, and we employ several hundred laborers who will do whatever -we may direct—and do it willingly. Many of the families in sympathy with -us can also control their servants; but we have found great difficulty -in securing arms and ammunition for them. We have organized and drilled -several regiments—I have drilled our own men myself—but they cannot -fight without weapons. That is why we are so eager to ship our cargo of -arms to Colombia.” - -The elder De Jiminez had returned in time to hear the conclusion of this -speech, and he nodded approval. It seemed to me that the little fellow -really talked remarkably well. He spoke better English than his father -and expressed himself in well chosen language. It at once occurred to me -why Joe and I had been invited here. The young De Jiminez was a rabid -partisan of “the Cause” and his clever father imagined that an -enthusiastic boy would be more apt to impress boys of his own age than -his senior might impress men. The thought put me somewhat on my guard -and made me inquire into things more carefully. - -“Australia seems a queer place to obtain a cargo of arms,” I remarked. -“There are no factories here I believe.” - -“No,” said our host, “the arms I purchased came from England consigned -to a local firm. We could not purchase direct for it would result in -international complications; but we have many friends here in Australia. -It is a favorite resort for exiles from my country, and that is why I -arranged the purchase here. But come; dinner is served and I hope you -have good appetites.” - -He gave his arm to his old mother, who was remarkably active for her -years, and led the way to a connecting room where the dinner was served. -It was a fine spread, and Joe and I did full justice to the many -courses. - -Afterward we returned to the drawing-room, where the old lady read a -Spanish periodical while we chatted in English concerning Colombian -affairs and the revolution. - -I learned that the De Jiminez family was considered among the wealthiest -of the republic. Our host conducted an important banking business in -Bogota and had extensive coffee plantations in the foothills. He was not -directly known as the leader of the revolutionists, but would be chosen -the new president by the insurgents if they succeeded in overturning the -present government. Yet De Jiminez was scarcely safe in his own country -just at present and intended to land in a secret cove on the coast and -transport his cargo of arms inland to one of the rendezvous of the -revolutionists. - -Young Alfonso was as ardent a partisan as his father. He was -tremendously ambitious and it seemed his father encouraged this, telling -his son many times that the future of his country would some day be -dependent upon the boy’s ability and courage and that he must uphold the -honorable name of De Jiminez. - -Their assumed importance was of course amusing to me, who looked upon -their seven by nine country with tolerant disdain; but to them Colombia -and the revolution were the most tremendous things in the world. And, -after all they were simple, kindly people, honestly inclined and -desirous of improving the conditions in their native land if this -“tempest in a teapot” resulted in their favor. I had already decided -that we would be justified in concluding the deal with Señor de Jiminez -when a diversion was created by the arrival of visitors. - -The servant ushered two ladies into the room. One was a beautiful woman -of middle age and the other a tall, slim girl who was evidently her -daughter. Both were exquisitely dressed and impressed me as persons of -importance even before I noticed the extreme courtesy with which our -host greeted them. - -Introductions followed. The elder lady was Señora de Alcantara of -Bogota, and the younger her daughter Lucia. At once Madam inquired in an -eager tone: - -“Well, De Jiminez, have you succeeded in getting a ship?” - -“I think so,” he replied, glancing at me a bit doubtfully. “The only -thing still to be settled is the matter of terms. I have not much money -left to satisfy the owners, who have no confidence in their being able -to collect when we arrive at Colombia. But I hope it can yet be arranged -in a satisfactory manner.” - -“I also hope so,” she returned, “for I am anxious to travel home in your -company.” - -“You!” he exclaimed in unfeigned astonishment. - -“Yes. I have just received letters of absolute pardon from the -government. I am free to return to my home in Bogota whenever I please.” - -“You surprise me, Señora,” he said, evidently disturbed by the news. -Then he took the lady aside, and while they were conversing privately -Alfonso said to us: - -“De Alcantara, her husband, was the first leader of the revolution, and -was killed in battle two years ago. His wife and daughter fled to -Australia and their estates were confiscated. This is indeed surprising -news; but I think the government wishes to placate the wealthy classes -by this lenient action.” - -Señor de Jiminez returned to our group smiling and content. I overheard -Madam de Alcantara say in Spanish to Madam de Jiminez. “Never, under any -circumstances, will I abandon the Cause. I shall return to my estates, -because here I am an exile and dependent upon our friends for -maintenance. There I may intrigue to advance the revolution, although I -am warned against mixing in politics if I accept the government’s -amnesty.” - -“The Cause is sacred to us all,” was the calm reply. - -Lucia de Alcantara was at once monopolized by Alfonso, who deserted us -to pay the young girl marked attention. She did not appear to resent -this; neither did she respond with much enthusiasm. She was really a -beautiful girl, not more than fifteen or sixteen years of age, and her -slender, willowy form towered so far above the undersized Alfonso that I -remarked to Joe, aside: “That certainly is the long and short of it old -man, isn’t it?” - -“I suppose there will be accommodations in the _Seagull_ for the -ladies?” inquired Señor de Jiminez. - -“Yes,” said I; “they might be made fairly comfortable.” - -He said no more then, but presently sat down to a quiet game of bezique -with Madam de Alcantara, leaving Alfonso to entertain us as well as -Lucia. We found that the girl spoke English, and she became so -interested in our accounts of the United States that she fairly ignored -the youthful Colombian to question us about our country, our ship, and -the chances of our sailing together across the South Seas. - -It was quite late when they left, Alfonso and his father both escorting -their guests to the carriage, and on their return Joe and I pleaded -fatigue and retired to our rooms. - -“Well, Joe,” I said, when we were alone, “what do you think now?” - -“Mighty pretty girl,” he returned musingly. - -“But about the business deal?” - -“Oh, that,” he responded, waking up, “I’m in favor of it, taking it all -around. We get well paid and run no especial chances except when we land -the goods. We’ve done harder things than that, Sam, for less money; so -it needn’t bother us much. You see the Alcantaras can have the for’ard -cabin and—” - -“Bother the Alcantaras!” I exclaimed impatiently. “You’re usually -opposed to passengers, Joe.” - -“I know; but they’re anxious to get home and Lucia said—” - -“‘Lucia!’” - -“Isn’t that her name?” he demanded. - -“I believe it is.” - -“She’s a clever sort of a girl. Usually, Sam, girls are dubs; but this -Spanish creature has lots of ‘go’ to her and won’t make bad company on -the voyage.” - -I let him alone, then, and went to bed. Joe Herring was a silent fellow -at ordinary times, but if I had let him ramble on about this girl I am -sure he’d have kept me awake half the night. It didn’t strike me there -was anything remarkable about her either. - - - - - CHAPTER IV - NUX AND BRYONIA - - -Our report seemed to satisfy my uncle and my father when we returned to -the Radley Arms at ten o’clock the next morning. At twelve Señor de -Jiminez appeared in his checked vest and diamonds and signed the -contract, paying us nine thousand dollars in gold and giving us a draft -on his own bank in Bogota for six thousand. We also secured papers -granting us the right to repurchase the _Seagull_ by returning the notes -we accepted for the sale price, which notes we believed not worth the -paper they were written on. Then, all business details being completed -and the ship formally turned over to its new owner, the early afternoon -saw us all aboard the _Seagull_ engaged in stowing the cases of arms and -ammunition which had already begun to arrive. De Jiminez did not intend -to waste any time, that was certain, and one dray after another brought -our freight to the lighter, which transferred it to the ship. - -The boxes were of all sizes and shapes, being labeled in big black -letters “Machinery.” They were consigned to the coffee plantation of De -Jiminez. There were a lot of them and they were tremendously heavy -things; but we stowed them in the hold as rapidly as they arrived and -two days sufficed to get the entire cargo aboard. - -On the evening of the second day our passengers boarded us. There were -five of them including the elder De Jiminez, his mother and son, and -Madam de Alcantara and her daughter. They were accompanied by trunks and -bandboxes galore; enough to make my father grunt disdainfully and Uncle -Naboth look glum. I think none of us—except perhaps our erratic second -mate, Joe—was greatly delighted at the prospect of female passengers on -a long voyage; but we had made our bargain and must abide by it. - -De Jiminez had bustled around all day getting the ship’s papers in shape -and preparing for the voyage, while young Alfonso, whom Uncle Naboth had -promptly dubbed “Little Jim,” attended to the loading of the boxes with -the coolness and care of a veteran. They couldn’t wait a moment after -the last case of arms was aboard. Bill Brace, the engineer, had steam up -long ahead of time; so at dusk we hoisted anchor and slowly steamed out -of Port Phillip into the calm blue waters of the South Pacific. If any -government spies watched De Jiminez depart he was indifferent to them, -and they were now powerless to interfere with his plans. - -The comfort of our passengers depended wholly upon two men of our crew -whom I have not yet had the opportunity of introducing to you. Our own -personal comfort had depended upon them for years, so I am justified in -making the above statement. They were gigantic blacks; not negroes of -the African type, but straight-haired ebony fellows who were natives of -some island in these very seas where we were now sailing. Their names -were Nux and Bryonia, and one was our steward and the other our -cook—fairly entitled, indeed, to be called our “chef.” - -Concerning these curious names there is a serio-comic story which I will -briefly relate. - -A number of years ago, while Uncle Naboth Perkins was sailing an old tub -he and my father jointly owned on a voyage from New Zealand to San -Francisco, he encountered somewhere in the South Seas a native canoe -drifting upon the waves. It seemed at first to be vacant, but as it -passed close to the lee of the slow-going sailing vessel the seamen -noticed something lying flat in the bottom of the dugout. They threw a -grappling hook and drew the little boat alongside, when they discovered -two black men lying bound hand and foot and senseless from lack of food -and water. How many days they had drifted about in that condition no one -could tell, least of all the poor victims. Being hoisted aboard the -bodies were laid side by side upon the deck and Uncle Naboth, who was -the only excuse for a physician there was aboard, examined them and -found that both were still alive. But the condition of the poor fellows -was exceedingly precarious. Had they not possessed such stalwart frames -and splendid constitutions they would have been dead long before. - -So Uncle Naboth brought out the ship’s medicine chest and found it -rather shy of restoratives. Aside from calomel and quinine, neither of -which seemed appropriate for the case, the only remedies the chest -contained were two bottles of homeopathic pills—one of nux vomica and -the other of bryonia. - -My uncle pondered a time between these unknown medicines and decided to -give one black the nux and the other the bryonia, hoping thus to save at -least one of the disabled castaways. So a course of treatment began. -Both were liberally fed brandy and water and one was given six pills of -nux vomica and the other six pills of bryonia, the doses being -administered every hour. Mr. Perkins became intensely interested in the -results, and that no mistake might be made he labeled one black boy -“Nux” and the other “Bryonia.” “Nux” regained consciousness first, and -while the amateur physician was regretting that he had not fed them both -the same dope “Bryonia” opened his eyes to the world again. - -I have always suspected the brandy and water really did the job, but -Uncle Naboth was so proud of his medical skill that he will never admit -that possibility. - -“It’s a doctor’s duty to guess,” he has said more than once referring to -this occasion, “an’ I managed to guess right because I only had two -medicines an’ both of ’em was recommended to kill or cure. The dog-gone -little sugar pills must ’a’ had extract o’ magic in ’em; that’s what I -think.” - -Anyhow, Nux and Bryonia got well and regained their strength, and more -grateful fellows never lived. Neither could understand a word of -English, while their own language was a puzzle to all the crew; but they -were quick to observe and ready to undertake any work that lay at hand. - -Not knowing where to drop the castaways, nor wishing to delay the voyage -because of two black men, my uncle decided to carry them along with him, -and their intelligence and devotion so won him that before the voyage -ended he prized Nux and Bryonia more than all the rest of the crew put -together. They gradually picked up a word of English here and there -until they were able to make themselves understood, and in time they -learned to speak it fluently. But they had never a word to say of their -experiences or past life and we really knew little about their -antecedents. - -The following year we had another ship in which I sailed my first voyage -with Uncle Naboth, and Nux and Bryonia watched over me so -faithfully—saving my life on one important occasion—that I learned to -regard them both very highly and a friendship was formed between us that -time has only strengthened. So of course when we built our fine new ship -the _Seagull_, Nux and Bry became fixtures in it as much as we were -ourselves, and I must admit that no owners ever had more faithful or -capable servants. - -Bryonia was the taller of the two, although both were stalwart fellows, -and perhaps he was a bit more shrewd and active than Nux. He became our -cook, learning the art with amazing rapidity, and I am positive that no -ship’s cook ever lived who was his superior. Nux, a jolly good-natured -fellow who was strong as an ox, was our steward and cared for the after -cabin perfectly. They did other tasks when occasion required, and the -two have accompanied me in more than one hair-raising adventure, proving -themselves plucky, intelligent and true to the bone. Somehow we had all -come to depend greatly upon our black South Sea Islanders, and they in -turn were very fond of us—especially of Uncle Naboth and myself. - -It so happened that this was the first voyage since they were picked up -that had taken us to the South Seas. We had been to Alaska, to Panama, -to Egypt, China and Yucatan, but the fortune of commerce now led us for -the first time into the South Pacific. When first we headed for -Australia I had said to them: - -“Well, boys, you’re going somewhere near your native land on this -voyage.” - -They exchanged a quick glance but said nothing in reply. They seemed -neither overjoyed nor sorry, but accepted this journey with the same -calm philosophy they had the others. In mentioning the incident to Uncle -Naboth he said: - -“I don’t see why our going through the South Seas should make any -difference to them. Why, Sam, the South Pacific has a million little -islands in it, none of which amounts to a row of pins. Nux and Bry were -natives of one of these dinky islands an’ I guess they had a hard, wild -life of it judging from the condition they was in when I found ’em. My -pickin’ ’em up was great luck for the pair an’ no mistake. They’re -civilized Injuns, now, an’ their life on shipboard is luxury compared to -what they used to have. Besides we’ve treated ’em well an’ they’ve grown -fond of us; I doubt if we landed plump on their native island they’d -ever leave the ship an’ go back to their old life.” - -“I should hope not!” I exclaimed. “How old do you think they are, Uncle -Naboth? Whenever I ask them they shake their heads and say they do not -know.” - -“Perhaps they don’t; many of the savage races never keep track of their -age; they think it’s bad luck to count the years. But I should judge -these fellows are about twenty-five years old. Nux may be a little -older, but not much.” - -Perhaps it was natural that these native islanders should be a source of -much curiosity to Alfonso de Jiminez and Lucia de Alcantara. They were -accustomed to seeing dark-skinned races, and in Australia one meets -Borneans, Samoans, the East India and native Malay tribes, Philippinos, -Japs and Chinese; but such handsome and dignified blacks as Nux and -Bryonia were different, indeed, and I have often thought the desert -Moors the nearest approach to them of any people I have ever seen. - -Our islanders wore neat uniforms of gray and gold, which rendered their -appearance the more striking. They would never accept money for their -service, saying they owed their lives and happiness to us and could -never repay us. Moreover they declared they had no use for money. But -they delighted in their uniforms, so we kept them well supplied and they -wore them at all times. - -The addition of five passengers to our complement did not phase Bry in -the least. On the contrary it gave him a chance to cook some of the -delicious dishes for which he was famous among ourselves, and so to -extend his reputation. Nux had more extra work than his comrade, looking -after the cabins and serving the meals; but he had a great capacity for -work and made no complaint whatever. - -Captain Steele had been a mariner all his life and was no stranger to -the South Seas; but this course from Melbourne to the coast of Colombia, -while not unknown to the charts, was strange to him and he had to put in -a lot of study before he got his lines properly marked and knew exactly -where to travel. - -“Ye see, Sam,” he said to me one evening as I sat in his cabin watching -him figure, “it would be all plain sailin’ if it warn’t fer them measley -little islands—hundreds of ’em the chart shows, an’ there’s indycations -of hundreds more that ain’t been located. If we get a hair’s breadth off -our course we’ll have to do a good bit of dodgin’. The spots on the -chart marked islands means a lot of rocks in plain English, an’ rocks -won’t do the _Seagull_ any good if we happen to bump agin ’em.” - -“Isn’t there a way to avoid most of the islands?” I asked. - -“Not that anyone knows of. The South Seas is spotted with ’em most -everywheres an’ it’s better to keep in your reg’lar course, where you -know your soundin’s, than to try findin’ a clearer track over to -Colombia.” - -“Let’s see,” I said, tracing the chart with my finger; “our course lies -directly through the Low Archipelago. What a lot of islands there are! -But there seems to be plenty of room between them.” - -“Certainly,” agreed my father. “Give us weather like this an’ we’ll -dodge every rock in our way.” - -I understood what he meant. The weather is treacherous in these seas -near the equator, and it would be bad for us to encounter a storm among -the rocky shoals of the islands. Just now the weather was magnificent -and the sea as smooth as glass. Our engines were in fine working order -and we made sufficient speed to satisfy even the restless new “owner,” -Señor de Jiminez. - -A piano was in the main cabin and Lucia played and sang very agreeably. -Her songs were mostly those dreamy Spanish things with melody enough to -haunt you long afterward, and Joe especially listened with eagerness to -every note, although “Little Jim” was always on hand to turn the music. -Joe couldn’t do that, not being able to read a note and he was often on -duty besides; but Lucia knew he appreciated her music and whether our -boy mate was in the cabin or tramping the deck overhead she played to -please him more than she did Alfonso. - -Now that all the hurly-burly of stowing the cargo and getting under way -was over, our passengers settled down to enjoy the voyage, and it was -then that the peculiar traits in their various characters became -noticeable. I admit that we are all peculiar in one way or another, as -some clever student of human nature has observed and recorded before my -time. Perhaps, therefore, our new acquaintances were no more odd in -their ways than the ordinary run of humanity. - -Madam de Jiminez was as placid and contented as the day was long. She -required little amusement and was no bother at all. Madam de Alcantara, -on the contrary, proved fussy and exacting. She led poor Nux a dog’s -life, waiting on her whims, and her daughter had no easy time of it -either. Lucia was very dutiful and obedient and ran at once when -summoned by her mother—which was every fifteen minutes on a fair -average. Yet the Señora was quite gracious to all about her and never -lost her temper or said unkind things. Being as beautiful as she was -gracious we had not the heart to blame her. I believe her fussiness was -a nervous affliction and that the lady really had a kindly nature. Lucia -was devoted to her and tenderly loved her. - -This girl, the third of our female passengers, was always bright and -cheery and the life of the party. She accepted Alfonso’s marked -attentions with absolute indifference. Being accustomed to them she -evidently considered them characteristic of the boy and to be borne with -patience while in his society. Joe pleased her better; but she was not -the least bit a flirt and had no thought as yet of falling in love with -anyone. Her feeling for Joe was one of good comradeship. - -Little Jim would have been a very decent fellow could he have modified -his airs of importance and curbed his excessive vanity. He was really a -bright, clever boy, and the son of a man somewhat distinguished in his -own country. But the youth’s patronizing manner was intolerable, and one -evening when he had joined Joe and me and we were leaning over the rail -together I was obliged to “call him down” in no gentle manner. - -“I don’t mind associating with you here where there is no formality, you -know,” he said; “but if you ever come to Bogota you must not expect me -to be quite so free with you.” - -“If ever we come to Bogota,” I remarked, “we are liable to find you in -jail or in hiding among the mountains. These petty South American -revolutions take queer turns sometimes and are liable to become -dangerous.” - -“Petty!” he exclaimed. “Petty revolutions!” - -“That is certainly what they are,” I returned. “Your country is so small -and insignificant that we seldom hear of it in the big world; and your -revolution is so absurdly unimportant that we never hear of it at all.” - -“But you will!” he cried. “When we have won and my father is made -president the world will ring with our victory.” - -“Nonsense,” said I. “The newspapers in the United States will give it -about an inch of space, and the people who read that inch will wonder -where on earth Colombia is.” - -He seemed nettled at this, and a little crestfallen. - -“That inch of publicity,” I continued, “you will perhaps get in case you -win. But if you lose you remain unnoticed. There are lots of Central and -South American republics, and plenty of revolutions in them at all -times. To be frank with you, Alfonso, the people of more important -nations are weary of reading about them.” - -He hardly knew what to reply, but his humiliation was of short duration. -After strutting up and down the deck a few turns he rejoined us and -said: - -“You may sneer at Colombia—and at her great revolution—but you cannot -sneer at the family of De Jiminez. We are very ancient.” - -“You are, indeed,” I assented. “You have had a great many ancestors; but -they are mostly dead, are they not?” - -“How far back can you trace _your_ descent?” he asked. - -“As far as my father. Those before him we’ve lost track of. They are -also dead, and therefore of no importance to us just now.” - -“The family of De Jiminez,” he stated proudly, “is very wealthy.” - -“Why mention so common a thing?” I responded. “There are thousands of -big fortunes in the world. Joe Herring, who stands there beside you and -is our second mate, is a millionaire; yet he lacks distinction on that -account because there happen to be so many other millionaires in the -world.” - -He turned and stared at Joe by the light of the swinging lantern. - -“You a millionaire!” he exclaimed. - -“Perhaps a little better than that,” admitted Joe, quietly. “I’m a -seaman and pretty nearly a man.” - -“But you have money—a million?” - -“My agent says it’s getting to be nearly twice that; it grows so -tremendously while I’m away.” - -“Then why do you sail in a ship as second mate?” - -“Mainly because I love the life, and secondly because I love Sam, here,” -returned Joe gravely. “The adventure and companionship give me more -pleasure than to pose in a big city as a rich young kid. As a matter of -fact the money is a nuisance to me.” - -“Why don’t you buy a ship of your own and hire Sam to sail with you?” -asked Little Jim. - -“Hire Sam! Why Sam is worth more of that dreadful money than I am. I’m -sure he could buy the De Jiminez estates with the bank thrown in and -still be rich.” - -The statement dazed Alfonso. - -“Is it true? Is it possible?” he asked. “Or are you joking?” - -“It is true,” said Joe. “The surprising thing is that you have not heard -of the _Seagull_ and its adventures before this. The ship has made -several fortunes for its owners, and in the United States and Europe it -is famous. But I suppose that inasmuch as we hear little of the -Colombians they hear little of us.” - -Alfonso did not try to patronize us so extensively after this -conversation, but he patronized others and I was sorry he could not -remedy so great a defect in his character. His father was just as -important in his way, but not so officious. A passion for display in -dress and jewelry possessed the elder De Jiminez and he spent most of -his spare time in changing his clothes, appearing before us in a -succession of dazzling costumes that made us fairly gasp for breath. He -had other jewels beside the diamonds. Sometimes he wore rubies, and -sometimes emeralds; but he was never as proud as when sporting his -glittering assortment of diamonds. I think he imagined their sparkle -rendered him personally admirable and the envy of all beholders, and the -poor man never knew we callous Americans were laughing at him. - -Señor de Jiminez was very happy to have succeeded at last in -accomplishing his great mission. The arms and munitions of war had been -secured with great difficulty and after many disappointments. Best of -all, a ship had been chartered to carry the stores to Colombia. With -such reinforcements the languishing revolution would receive new -impetus—sufficient, he fondly hoped, to render it successful. - - - - - CHAPTER V - A SOUTH PACIFIC TYPHOON - - -Our fine weather held for five days. Then, just as we were approaching -the dangerous district Captain Steele had spoken of to me, the sky -lowered, a stiff breeze came out of the northwest and the waves began to -pile up as only the waves of the South Pacific can. - -By night it was blowing a gale; but our passengers, with the exception -of Lucia and Alfonso, had taken to their berths long before this. The -_Seagull_ behaves beautifully in a storm. An ordinary gale does not -disturb her coolness in the least. She merely tosses her head, takes the -bit in her teeth, so to speak, and prances a trifle instead of gliding. - -But this was no ordinary storm. We who had experienced all sorts of -weather in our voyages were soon forced to admit that fact. The wind -veered every hour or so; it blew steadily for a time and then came in -gusts—“pushes,” Uncle Naboth called them—that were exceedingly trying to -both the ship and crew. We would no sooner find our sea legs on one -slant of the deck when over she flopped and we had to seek a new angle -to cling to. The waves were tremendous and the wind seized their curling -edges and scattered them in foamy spray over the ship. The sky became -black as ink; the gale roared and shrieked with maddening intensity; yet -we bore it all stolidly enough for a time, confident of the staunchness -of our bark and the skill of her captain. - -My father had put on his pea-jacket and helmet at the beginning of the -storm and kept his station on deck sturdily. He assured us he knew -exactly where we were and that we had a clear sea ahead of us; but when -the _Seagull_ began to swerve here and there, driven by the irresistible -power of the gale, even he became bewildered and uncertain of his -bearings. - -All that night the ship fought bravely. It kept up the fight throughout -the long succeeding day. Perhaps it was because all hands were weary -that the ship seemed to head into the storm of the second night with -less than her usual energy and spirit. - -Drenched to the skin I crept along the deck to where my father stood. I -am no seaman and have no business on deck at such a time, but I will own -that for the first time in my experience at sea I had become nervous, -and I wanted the captain to reassure me. - -I found him near the bow, clinging to the rail and trying to peer into -the night. He was dripping with spray and had to wipe his eyes every few -moments to enable him to see at all. - -“How’s everything, father?” I asked, my mouth to his ear. - -He shook his head. - -“All right if we don’t bump something,” he managed to say when a brief -lull came. “We’ve veered an’ sliced an’ slipped around so much that I -don’t just know where we’re at; ’cept we’re way off our course.” - -That was bad; very bad. We hadn’t sighted an island since the storm -began, but that was no evidence we were not near a group of them. There -was a fairly good searchlight aboard the ship, and it was now being -worked every minute from the lookout; but it couldn’t do more on a night -like this than warn us of any near by danger. - -“Go back!” roared my father in my ear. “Go to bed an’ save your -strength. You may need it afore long.” - -That was the most fearful speech I ever heard him utter. Nothing had -ever disturbed his supreme confidence before. I crept away heartsick and -awed, and managed to get safely below, where I found Uncle Naboth -smoking his pipe in the main cabin. - -“Where yer been, Sam?” he inquired. - -“Talking to father.” - -“What does he say?” - -“We’ve lost our bearings and the sea is full of islands. The ship is all -right, you know. It’s only the water that’s dangerous.” - -He gave a grunt and looked thoughtful. - -“I’ve seen gales, ’n’ gales,” he remarked presently. “Usually they’re -respectable critters an’ you know what to expect of ’em. But this sort -of a jugglin’ wind beats all figgerin’. Fer me, Sam, I fall back on our -luck. It’s stayed by us so far, an’ I don’t see no reason fer it to -change front. Eh?” - -“I agree with you, Uncle,” I replied, and was about to add another -optimistic remark when in rushed—or tumbled, rather—Señor de Jiminez, -his face white and his teeth chattering. He had shed his gorgeous -raiment and was attired merely in a dark brown bath robe. - -“Tell me,” he said, steadying himself by the table as the ship lurched -to leeward, “is there—can there be—any danger?” - -“Danger of what?” I asked, not knowing just how to reply to him. - -“To the cargo—to the arms!” he gasped in choking tones. Then I saw he -was not frightened about the safety of the people, or even the ship, but -was exercised solely on account of those precious arms. - -“Why, if we go down, the cargo goes with us,” I returned, smiling in -spite of the gravity of the situation. “But I imagine we’ll all float -long enough to—” - -The _Seagull_ lurched the other way as a great wave caught her, and -while we clung to the furniture for support there came a sharp crack and -the ship staggered and keeled well over. - -She lay there a long time, trembling slightly. I could hear the waves -dash against her with the force of a trip hammer. The door of the -stateroom opposite flew open and Madam de Alcantara came rolling into -the cabin and landed at my feet. I managed to seize her and drag her to -a chair beside me; but she clung round my neck sobbing and crying out: - -“What is it? Oh, what is it? Are we sinking? Is all lost?” This in -Spanish was quite impressive. - -“Be calm, Madam,” I replied, noticing that she was robed in a charming -dressing gown and had not been injured by her dash across the cabin -floor. “There’s nothing serious the matter, you may be sure.” - -I was not really confident of this. Never had I known the _Seagull_ to -behave in such a manner before. She rolled terribly, and the waves were -dealing her sides thundering blows, one after another. - -Uncle Naboth was endeavoring to gain the door to get on deck when Joe -came in, water running from his slicker in floods and his face covered -with grease and grime. - -“What’s up, old man?” I demanded. - -“Screw snapped and tore away the rudder,” said Joe. “I was in the -engine-room when it happened. It sent the wheels whirling, I can tell -you, before we could shut down.” - -“Then we’re now drifting?” - -He nodded. - -“If there was any chance at all we could ship a new rudder. That would -serve to keep us straight, anyhow, and we could use the sails as soon as -the wind moderates. But the gale’s as crazy as a bedbug, and I can’t see -that anything can be done just now.” - -“Nothing but wait,” said I. “Where’s father?” - -“Trying to lash a rudder to the stern; but it’s hopeless.” - -“And Ned?” - -“Ned’s with him, of course. I wanted to help but they ordered me below.” - -By this time all of our passengers had gathered in the cabin listening -to Joe’s dismal report. Nux was there, too, tying Madam de Jiminez fast -in a big chair so she would not fall out and then tendering his services -wherever they were needed. - -For a wonder the ship became a bit steadier now that she was absolutely -helpless. She got into the trough of the sea where the wind did not -buffet her so badly, and although the waves washed over her constantly -she was so tight and staunch that she shed the water like a duck. I do -not remember ever to have passed a more uneasy hour than the one that -followed the cracking of the screw and the loss of our rudder. Had it -not been for the women it is likely I would have regarded our -predicament in the light of an adventure, and been excited and elated -over the danger. But the presence of our female passengers altered the -case entirely and rendered it far more serious. - -We were a glum lot, if I may except Uncle Naboth, who still strove to -smoke his pipe and remain philosophic. Alfonso was calm and endeavored -to comfort his father by saying that as long as we floated the arms were -safe. Lucia devoted herself to her mother with a coolness that was -admirable, and Madam de Jiminez was as quiet and contented as ever, not -making any sort of a fuss and proving her courage in a way that quite -won us all. I do not know just what hysterics are; but if they’re a sort -of a wild fit that induces one to run amuck, then Madam de Alcantara had -them—and had them badly. She screeched, and kicked and howled and wailed -that she was too young to die; although for that matter she hadn’t the -advantage of many of us, and I don’t see that youth has any special show -in a South Sea gale, anyhow. - -At the end of an hour my father came stumping in on his wooden leg, -looking haggard and weary. - -“Brandy, Sam!” he said, tumbling into a chair. - -I brought him the bottle and a glass and he took a good swig. - -“Bry can’t make coffee. The galley’s washed out,” continued the captain. -And then he drew his hand across his forehead with a gesture that I well -knew, and that always betokened perturbation of an unusual sort. - -“Did you fail to ship the rudder?” I asked. - -“’Tain’t that, Sam. There wasn’t much chance, anyhow. But Billy Burke -an’ Dick Leavenworth is washed away—gone—done for!” - -My heart gave a thump of dismay. Two of our finest seamen lost; fellows -I had earnestly respected and admired. It was the first fatality our -crew had ever experienced, so no wonder my father was broken-hearted -over it. I remembered that Leavenworth had a family, and the thought -made me shudder. - -“The ship will the storm stand, and be all good—will it not?” asked De -Jiminez, by this time thoroughly unstrung and despairing. There was -something almost pitiful in the question—hoping against hope—and of -course Captain Steele lied to reassure him. - -“The _Seagull’s_ all right,” he asserted. “She’ll stand a much worse -knockin’ around than this, an’ be none the worse for it. You’d better -all go to bed an’ try to sleep. If only we had a clear sea I’d turn in -myself.” - -“But it is said we are drifting, Captain! A propeller we have not; a -rudder we have not! We have no defense against the sea—we are -impotent—helpless!” wailed De Jiminez. - -“Why, yes; that’s a fact,” admitted the captain. “We’re jest like a -chip, floatin’ whichever way the wind blows. But you never heard of a -chip sinkin’, did you?” - -“N—no,” was the doubting reply. - -“What do you mean by saying there’s not a clear sea?” asked young -Alfonso. - -“Study yer jogerfy,” said my father gruffly. “You’ll find the South Seas -specked with islands everywheres. I don’t jest know where we are at this -minute, but I’ll gamble there’s islands not far away.” - -“Oh. Then if the ship happens to break up we can easily get to land, and -perhaps save the cargo,” remarked Little Jim complacently. - -My father stared at him, muttered some inaudible remark and rose to -return to the deck. - -“Must you go?” I asked. - -“It’s my place, Sam,” said he. - -“But you’ll be careful?” I never said such a thing to him before, but I -had poor Dick and Billy Burke in my mind—cautious fellows, both of -them—and my father had a wooden leg. - -“I’ll lash myself to the riggin’ when I get to it,” he returned, and -disappeared up the companionway. - -We sat in dismal silence for a time. The wind seemed to be abating, but -the waves continued their mad rolling as vigorously as ever. Finally -Madam de Jiminez expressed a wish to return to her stateroom. Nux -understood Spanish, for our blacks were marvels at acquiring languages -and could speak half a dozen tongues; so the steward assisted the old -lady to her berth and made her as comfortable as possible. After a long -argument Lucia prevailed upon her mother to go to bed, and the moaning, -despairing woman was led to her room. Perhaps inspired by this example -Uncle Naboth decided to “turn in,” but the two De Jiminez stuck it out -and remained all night in the cabin, deploring their hard luck in -choicest Spanish. As much to escape their moody companionship as -anything else I went to my own room and lay down upon the bunk without -removing my clothing. It was then about three o’clock, and although the -motion of the vessel had greatly moderated I found it no easy task to -stay in my berth. Being at the mercy of the waves the _Seagull_ -performed some queer antics, and once or twice I wondered if she -wouldn’t “turn turtle,” so far over did the waves keel her. But, queerly -enough, we get used to anything in time, and as I was much exhausted I -finally fell into a doze, and then into a deep slumber. - - - - - CHAPTER VI - A FREAKISH SHIPWRECK - - -Joe wakened me at early dawn, laying a wet, clammy hand in mine and -jerking me to a sitting position. - -“Get up, Sam!” he said. “Something’s going to happen pretty quick.” - -“Are we leaking?” I asked as I tumbled from the berth. - -“Yes; but that isn’t it. Come on deck; and step lively while you’ve got -the chance.” - -He rushed away with the words and I followed him closely. - -The sky was gray and overcast, and although it was so early there was -light enough to observe distinctly our surroundings. The waves were -simply gigantic and the disabled _Seagull_ was like a fisherman’s bob in -their grasp. The cargo had not shifted, fortunately, owing to its being -so heavy and so carefully stowed, so we kept on our keel as well as the -sea would allow us. I found nothing terrifying in the view from the deck -until my eye caught sight of a dark object looming ahead, which I -instantly recognized as the rocky shore of an island. The waves were -bearing us rapidly toward it, and we were helpless to resist. - -“See there! and there!” cried Joe, pointing to right and left. - -I saw. Rocks were everywhere, on all sides of us. We were right in the -heart of a group of South Sea islands—what group, we had no idea. My -father’s stern, set face showed from the poop; the sailors stood -motionless at the rail. The two De Jiminez, father and son, clung -together and stared with blanched faces at the threatening coast. - -There was scarcely any wind, as we were partially sheltered in this -location. A wind might possibly have saved us; but as it was, and in our -crippled condition, there was absolutely no hope. - -Uncle Naboth stumbled toward us and said to Joe: - -“Call the passengers. Get ’em all on deck an’ see that there are plenty -of life preservers. Ned’s getting the boats ready to launch.” - -I went with Joe, for there was nothing I could do on deck. Madam de -Alcantara began to scream again, but she was not slow in grabbing her -jewels and gaining the deck, where she collapsed at once and sobbed like -a baby. We got the old lady up easily, and she was as cheerful as anyone -could be under such trying circumstances. I had Lucia search for all the -cloaks and warm clothing she could lay hands on and Joe and I brought up -a lot of blankets; for the air was chilly, even in this tropical clime, -and I knew we would all be soaked if we managed to get ashore in the -boats. - -Bryonia provided a lot of food for us—tinned meats, biscuits and various -edibles that might be eaten uncooked—and had the forethought to add some -utensils for cooking, as well. A keg of fresh water was deposited in -each of the boats. By this time the grim island ahead was very near, and -Captain Steele shouted his orders to have the boats lowered. - -We put the women into the first, while it still swung at the davits, and -Ned Britton, cool as a cucumber, picked a crew to man it. He watched his -chance and dropped the longboat neatly on the crest of a high wave, -casting loose as the ship rolled heavily in the opposite direction. A -little cheer arose from our men as they saw Ned’s boat floating safely, -and at once Joe began loading the gig. The two De Jiminez and Uncle -Naboth were with this lot; but Joe was not so fortunate as Ned had been. -He dropped the boat all right into the gulf between two big waves, but a -line got tangled, somehow, and in a jiffy the gig was over and her -occupants struggling frantically in the water. The boatswain dropped the -third boat quick as a flash, got free from the ship and began picking up -the swimmers. Ned also came to the rescue, at the peril of capsizing his -own frail craft, and he drew Little Jim aboard as the boy was sinking -for the third time. His father was hauled in by a boat hook wielded by -the sturdy boatswain, and fortunately Uncle Naboth was spilled so close -to the side that he was able to seize a rope and hold fast until -rescued. Not a life was lost and the third boat, the cutter, carried its -double load easily. - -There remained to us but one more boat to launch, and I went to my -father and said: - -“Come, sir; there’s nothing to be gained by waiting.” - -He shook his head. - -“Get aboard, Sam,” said he, “and take all the men that’s left with you. -I’m goin’ to stay here.” - -“But that is folly!” I cried. “It’s a useless sacrifice, father. You -can’t help the poor _Seagull_ by staying.” - -“It’s my ship—part o’ her, anyhow—an’ I’ll stay by her like she’s always -stayed by me,” he returned obstinately. - -I was in despair and for a moment knew not what to do. Turning half -around I found the two big blacks, Nux and Bryonia, standing just behind -me. The remaining sailors were already in the boat, looking anxiously -towards us. - -I caught Bry’s eye and there was an inquiring look in it that could not -be misunderstood. - -“Take him, boys!” I exclaimed, and at the word the two promptly caught -my father up and bore him kicking and struggling to the boat, where they -dumped him on the bottom and then sat upon him. - -The lines were quickly cast off and we floated squarely upon the brow of -a wave. The men at the oars pulled lustily and we increased our distance -from the ship with steady strokes. They then lay to, merely trying to -keep a balance as we slid down the side of one wave and up the slope of -another. - -I had my eyes fastened on the _Seagull_, and presently a huge mountain -of water came sweeping along, caught her full on its crest and rushed -with her upon the rocks of the island, now very near to us. - -The ship went ashore stern foremost, upright as a die and riding the top -of the great wave like a swan. It tucked her into a cove between two -elevated points of rock and then receded and left her perched there. -There was no crash of splintering timbers—no sound at all. The foremast -swayed, cracked off and tumbled over the side; but the other masts stood -firmly and it seemed to our wondering eyes as if some monster had -grabbed the ship from the sea and set it high on the rocks to dry. Our -oarsmen had plenty to do just then to keep us from swamping, for -although we were not directly in the track of the monster wave we were -near enough to feel a portion of its resistless power and were nearly -sucked in upon the reefs ourselves. But I shouted as frantically as a -madman, and from the other boats, which were at the right of us, arose a -hearty cheer that made our seamen pause long enough to stare over their -shoulders at the marvelous sight. Then they cheered too, for we all -loved the dear old _Seagull_. - -Instead of a wreck—the fatal smash-up that had seemed imminent and was -expected by all—the good ship was suddenly rendered safe from further -harm, for no other wave that followed was powerful enough to dislodge -her. - -Nux and Bryonia allowed the captain to sit up to view the wonderful -sight, and my father stared until his eyes bulged from their sockets. He -said nothing, however, but turned his attention to our personal dilemma, -for there was no surety that we could manage to gain the shore alive. A -forbidding line of rocky reefs faced us and should we attempt to land -among them our frail boats would be instantly dashed to pieces. Bryonia, -who had stood up to look at the ship when he released my father, -remained for some time upright, shading his eyes with his hand and -peering attentively at the coast. Presently he gave a grunt and muttered -something to Nux in their native language. I caught the words, for long -ago they had taught me, merely as a pastime, their peculiar dialect. - -“Faytan!” he said. “Look, Ketaha, is it not so?” - -Ketaha was Nux’s original name, never used since Uncle Naboth had picked -him up. He too stared at the coast line steadily, and then nodded his -head. - -“It may be Faytan, my Louiki. Perhaps we are wrong. But it surely looks -like Faytan.” - -“Do you know this island, then?” I asked, speaking their own language. - -“If it is Faytan, we have been very near to it; but we have never landed -upon the island,” replied Bry. “The Pearl People live in Faytan, and -they are the enemies of all the other islanders—of all the world. If it -is Faytan, we are risking our lives to land there.” - -“It is risking our lives to try to keep afloat in this sea,” I replied. -“Our men cannot fight these waves for long, Bry.” - -He turned away and whispered to Nux. After a brief confab the latter -said to us in English: - -“Jus’ try to turn dat point o’ rock yonder, Cap’n Steele. Den I guess -you find a cove to land, where dere am no rocks.” - -The English of the blacks was somewhat imperfect, although they spoke -their own language with excellent expression. But you must remember they -had acquired our language on shipboard, from all classes of people, and -seamen are not noted for grammatical precision. - -Captain Steele at once took command of our boat and directed the men to -pull around the point of rock. They obeyed with a will and, although -they found it a desperately hard task in such a raging sea, finally -succeeded in breasting the waves and making the point. Immediately we -found ourselves sheltered from the force of the waves and, sure enough, -a strip of white sand lined the shore of a small cove just ahead. - -“Faytan!” cried Bry, and covered his face with his hands. - -“Faytan!” echoed Nux; but he frowned and said nothing more. - -The other boats had followed our lead and, heavily laden though they -were, managed to round the point. Within half an hour we had run all -three boats upon the tiny beach, pulled them out of reach of the sea, -and stood wet and despondent in a dismal group upon this unknown isle. - - - - - CHAPTER VII - THE PEARL PEOPLE - - -“This is a terrible experience,” said De Jiminez in a gloomy voice. “A -nation’s fate has been decided by a South Sea typhoon!” - -“All is not lost,” replied Little Jim, attempting to console him. “The -ship is high on the rocks yonder, and all the arms and ammunition may -yet be saved. Perhaps the natives of this island are civilized and -friendly, and will care for us until we can find another ship to take us -to Colombia.” - -His father shook his head disconsolately. - -“I doubt if any people at all live on these rocks,” he said. “The place -seems absolutely barren.” - -“Why, there is a grove of big trees a quarter of a mile back,” declared -Alfonso, “and the island is surely big enough to support many -inhabitants. Wherever there are trees we are likely to find fields of -grain and fruits. Come; let us go inland and explore the place.” - -During this conversation the three women had huddled under their wet -cloaks, terrified and trembling. To them this adventure was a dreadful -thing. To be shipwrecked upon a barren island is not wholly unknown to -mankind but may well be regarded at all times with foreboding and -horror. - -“Come, then,” said the elder De Jiminez; “let us walk to the forest -yonder. We shall find better shelter there, if nothing more.” - -“Wait a moment, please!” I exclaimed, for I had been watching Bryonia -and Nux, who stood apart eagerly conversing together. - -“Why should we wait?” demanded Alfonso, annoyed at my interference. - -“Because these blacks are natives of the South Seas,” I replied, “and -they think they recognize this island. Let us therefore counsel with -them before we act.” - -“Bah! Any of these islands is safe enough,” persisted the boy. - -“I am not sure of that,” I responded. “We are far from the usual path of -ships as we have been blown from our course by the gale. This island is -not marked upon any chart, I am sure, which means that there is no -record of a white man having ever visited it.” - -This statement had its influence upon our passengers, for they cast -uneasy glances around and I am sure De Jiminez had no desire to risk the -safety of the women by acting recklessly. - -Presently our blacks came toward us with grave faces. Bryonia approached -my father and said: - -“We pretty sure this Faytan Island, the home of the cruel Pearl People. -If that is so, we no safe here, and better go away.” - -“What, and leave the _Seagull_!” exclaimed my father. - -“If no go away,” returned Bry in solemn tones, “we soon be dead.” - -“Why?” - -“Pearl People never let people come to their island. If people come, -they kill ’em quick. Nux and I, we once live on island near here. Twice -the young men of my people make a war party to conquer Pearl People. The -first time none ever came back. The second time Nux and I we go with -them. We have many hundred fighting men—warriors. We come to other side -of island, where is big city. Pearl People see us and send many hundred -boats to meet us on the water. We make brave fight. All our warriors -die. Nux and me, we bound and put in bottom of canoe. Pearl People king -say he take us to city and kill us with fire to honor his great Pearl -God, who win him the fight. But sudden storm come up; very bad storm; -our boat break away and drift out to sea; we nearly die from thirst and -pain when you pick us up and save us. That the story of the Pearl -People. They very bad, cruel blacks.” - -Bry’s dramatic recital gave us all food for thought, as may well be -imagined. The sailors and passengers formed an eager group around him -and listened intently to the tale; but there was little of comfort in it -for anyone. - -Uncle Naboth, my father and I, Joe and Ned Britton, went a little apart -from the others and held a council. After considering the situation we -favored Joe’s advice, which was to cut across the end of the island to -where the _Seagull_ was perched upon the rocks, enter the ship and take -possession of it before our enemies did. We could be more comfortable -there than elsewhere on this bleak shore. Our supplies were there, -probably uninjured; moreover, we could use it as a fort and defend it -successfully against a horde if attacked. - -If Bry and Nux were correct about this being Faytan, then this was the -safest plan we could adopt. If our blacks were wrong we would soon -discover the fact and could later decide on a definite plan of action. - -It would be impossible to launch the boats again and return around the -point to the ship, for the sea was yet in fearful turmoil; so we decided -to leave the boats where they were, and try to find our way across the -rocks. - -Our passengers, when this was explained to them, readily agreed to the -plan, provided the ship proved to be in a safe position and we were able -to get aboard. Of course our crew, all old and tried men, were ready to -obey any orders they received, so we lost no time in making the start -and our promptness doubtless saved our lives. - -There was a gloomy sky and the wind howled mournfully among the rocks. -We appointed two men to assist Madam de Jiminez and two others to aid -Madam de Alcantara who, since a real calamity had befallen us, had -ceased to wail and settled into a state of helpless stupor. Alfonso and -Joe walked with Lucia, but the girl was fully as active as they were and -could climb the rocks like a mountain goat. - -There was a fairly level country between the forest and the cove, but in -order to reach the ship we had to clamber over a mass of jagged rocks -that proved exceedingly difficult. There were high peaks with deep -ravines between them, for the point we were crossing was of volcanic -formation and some eruption had tossed the huge stones helter-skelter in -a confused mass. At one time we were high enough to see the ocean—still -rolling wildly—and at its feet the dear old _Seagull_ perched like a -monument on the rocks. Then we got tangled up with the ravines again and -when next we emerged we were across the point, and only a hundred rods -or so from the jagged coast where the ship was. - -It was a marvelous thing, this high beaching of the _Seagull_. The wave -that carried her ashore must have been a monster, for the ship stood at -least twenty feet above the water level and she had been gently placed -between two huge rocks in a cavity that seemed especially made to -receive her. She stood level as a die, stern to the island and bow to -the sea—the sea that she was likely never to sail again; for no human -agency could ever launch her from that altitude, with a double row of -sharp reefs between her and the deep water. As a seagoing vessel we -admitted that the career of the _Seagull_ was ended; but as a place of -refuge—a residence and a fort—the ship in its present location would -prove invaluable to us as long as we were obliged to remain upon the -island. - -We found the rocks that supported her so steep and difficult to climb -that we sent Joe and Ned Britton ahead, they being as sure-footed as -cats. On reaching the ship they found only a loose rope hanging over the -side to enable them to get aboard; but Joe managed to mount by this -means and at once let down a ladder. A few minutes sufficed to gather -ropes enough for their purpose, which was to furnish something to assist -us in mounting to the ship. It was not easy to get the two ladies up, -but Lucia was as active as a boy and assisted her mother even better -than we could. - -Soon we were all aboard, and to us who had always trod the decks when -the _Seagull_ lay upon the bosom of the water it was a peculiar -experience to find her stationary and wedged tight between two big -rocks. There was more or less disorder on board, as was natural when you -consider we had deserted the ship in a panic of fear; but there seemed -no especial damage of any port and the men set to work and quickly put -things to rights again. - -The sea was falling rapidly. After we reached the ship there was no wave -of sufficient magnitude to dash the spray over her side, and few that -even wetted her. The passengers at once sought their staterooms and put -them in order for further occupancy. De Jiminez was delighted at the -thought that he had saved his precious cargo, although what good the -guns and truck could do the revolution in Colombia was a mystery to the -rest of us. Little Jim was in a sullen, silent mood and seemed to think -fate was playing him a sorry trick. Perhaps she was; but my opinion is -we were lucky to come out of the typhoon as well as we did. It was -assuredly the worst storm I have ever experienced. - -So far we had seen no natives at all, and Uncle Naboth said to Bryonia: - -“Perhaps you’re mistaken about this being the island of the Pearl -People. For if them natives you’ve described are as careful as you say -they are about guarding their coast, they would have been after us long -before this.” - -“We quite sure we right,” answered Bry. “But you see, in such storm as -this they think no natives of other islands can come here to attack, so -they stay at home in their big city. To-morrow they come here, plenty of -them; and then we must fight hard.” - -This set my father thinking. He turned to Ned Britton and said: - -“Do you s’pose we could get the boats around to-night? The sea’s easier -now and if we wait till to-morrow we may have the natives on us. We -can’t very well afford to lose the boats, for without ’em we’d have no -way to leave this island.” - -Ned cast a look over the water and then nodded. - -“All right, Cap’n,” he said. “We’ll try it.” - -He went away to pick his men, and Bry returned to the kitchen galley and -started dinner. Fortunately the _Seagull_ was well provisioned and we -had enough supplies to last our party for several months. - -As Nux was laying the cabin table for the noonday meal I said to him: - -“Why are the natives of Faytan called the Pearl People—and why should -your tribe make such a desperate effort to conquer them?” - -“’Roun’ dis island, Mars Sam,” said he, “is de fines’ pearls in all de -world. Dey grow in a certain sort o’ clamshell what can’t be foun’ -anywhere else. An’ de Faytan natives dey jus’ crazy ’bout dem pearls, -an’ fish fer ’em all de time. But dey won’t sell none nor give ’em away; -dey jus’ keeps ’em all heaped up in de Pearl City, an’ wears ’em on -deyre bodies fer orn’ments. Dey worship de pearls in de great temple an’ -believes dey gives ’em strength an’ health an’ makes ’em defeat all -deyre enemies. If any boat comes here an’ sends anyone ashore dey kill -’em quick. Sometimes de tribes of other islands come in big numbers to -try to get de pearls; but Faytans always too strong for ’em an’ kill ’em -all.” - -“Then how do you know about the pearls, and the Pearl City, and the -Pearl Temple, and all that?” I inquired. - -“How we know?” - -“Yes. If no one ever gets away alive, how did you find out about these -people?” - -“I tell you,” said Nux. “Bry’s father he great chief of our people—what -you call king. One day when he go with many canoe to fight the Grinto -Islanders, a storm come up an’ drive him far away. All de canoe keep -together with lines, an’ lay still on de water all night, floatin’ -wherever de wind drive ’em. When day break in mornin’ he find two canoe -from Faytan have drift in among ’em. When Faytan people see our canoe -dey go fast to escape; but our warriors go faster. Dey catch Faytan -canoe an’ de Pearl People fight us. Dey kill twenty-two of our warriors -an’ we kill six Faytan people an’ make two prisoners. The prisoners we -carry back home. Dey big fellows an’ don’t talk much; but dey brag of de -Pearl People an’ say they rich an’ strong, an’ nobody can ever conquer -dem an’ get de pearls. Sometimes dey tell us all about de Pearl City an’ -de great temple, an’ all dat; an’ our chief ask ’em to show de way to -Faytan an’ he prove he can conquer de Pearl People. Dey tell chief dey -hate us so bad dey will show de way. So many young men of our tribe go -in canoe, an’ de two Faytan natives go an’ show dem de way. I guess -’bout four hundred went, but only seven came back. All de res’ was -murdered by de Pearl People. De prisoners try to escape in de fight an’ -get to land; but our chief he kill ’em both an’ den escape himself an’ -come home with six others.” - -“That was hard luck,” I remarked. - -“My father,” said Nux, “was kill in dat fight.” - -“But you tried it again?” - -“Many years after. Chief he old, den, an’ his son grow up an’ want to go -to Faytan. De chief’s son is Bry. He my cousin. We hear much talk about -Pearl People, an’ Bry—his right name Louiki—he beg chief to go. So we -get a thousan’ warriors with spear, ax an’ bow ’n’ arrow, and go in many -canoe to Faytan. Bry told you what happen. I think we two the only ones -that escape.” - -I thought over this story with much care. - -“Do you believe all that rubbish about the pearls, Nux?” I asked. - -“Why not, Mars Sam? I see de Pearl People when I fight ’em. All have -their bodies covered wid strings of fine pearls. Big pearls. Some white, -some blue, some pink. I see de pearls. Why do I not believe?” - -“Did you see the big city?” - -“I see part of it from de sea. We couldn’t get on shore. It mighty fine -city, Mars Sam—over on de odder side dis island.” - -“Then how did you happen to recognize the back end of the island where -we are now?” - -“Before we fight we come close, in de night, to see if we can land here -an’ not be seen. We think if we can fight on land we beat de Faytans, -who fight best on water. But when we row up an’ down dis coast we find -we cannot land. We try de little cove; but dey on watch. Dey on watch -all aroun’ de island; so we go bold to de front an’ fight in sight of de -city.” - -“Seems to me, Nux,” I observed, turning this over in my mind, “we’re -likely to have some lively times with these natives.” - -The black nodded very soberly. - -“Pearl People very big; very dang’rous,” he replied. “They thick as -leaves on the trees. If we go ’way alive, Mars Sam, it’s cause we have a -ship full o’ guns an’ ca’tridges, which shoot better than bow ’n’ arrow -can.” - -“Yes, indeed,” I said, smiling; “it is certainly fortunate we have such -a cargo. And the ship, cast ashore in this place, is a splendid fort. We -won’t despair yet, Nux.” - -The ladies did not appear at dinner, all three having gone to bed to -rest after their dreadful night. Nux carried coffee and toast to them, -and the rest of us dined at the cabin table in rather solemn fashion. -There was little in the situation to cheer any of us. - -Toward evening Ned and his men left the ship and began their tedious -climb over the rocky point to the cove where we had left the boats. I -saw that all of them were well armed and warned them of the warlike -disposition of the natives. The sea was now smooth enough to render the -journey around by boat practical, and as we had seen no sign of any -inhabitants, so far, we hoped we were as yet unobserved. But that thick -forest ahead of us might be harboring a hundred watching eyes. - -They failed to discover themselves, in that case, then or afterward. It -grew dark quickly and I feared our boys would not reach the boats until -long after nightfall. But the sky was clearing, in patches, and in -places we could see thousands of stars glittering dimly. - -We had established a good watch on deck and drawn up all the ladders, so -that a surprise was well-nigh impossible. Joe and I paced up and down in -the dusk, for we were careful not to show any lights, and talked about -the queer stories we had heard of the Pearl People. - -“If half these tales are true, Joe,” said I, “I mean to have a try at -some of those pearls before we leave here.” - -“Of course,” he returned. “It would be foolish for us not to land such a -rare treasure when it’s right at hand—hunting for us, so to speak. But -what interests me most, Sam, is the Pearl City, with its palaces and -temples. That might be worth seeing.” - -“Nux says the natives number many thousands, and they have decreed death -to all strangers. But who knows, Joe? We may see the city after all.” - -As he was about to reply we heard the far-off crack of rifles—a regular -volley—and knew the sound came from the cove. After that there was deep -silence. - -The struggle had begun. - - - - - CHAPTER VIII - THE REEF PATROL - - -Because no sound of any sort now came to our ears we were beginning to -worry about the fate of our men when Bry joined us on deck. He said the -Faytans did not shout when they fought. They uttered no war cry of any -sort, but went into battle silently and if slain died without a murmur. -Victory was accepted with the same stoicism, so it was impossible for us -to tell how the battle had gone. That Ned Britton’s party had met the -natives there was no doubt. The shots told us that. Only time could -disclose the result. - -My father and Uncle Naboth had come on deck and soon young Alfonso -joined our anxious group. - -“I hope your men didn’t provoke a battle with the islanders,” said the -latter. “My father and I depend on them for assistance in getting away -from here.” - -“They’ll be glad to assist you to get to glory,” replied Uncle Naboth, -“for that’s their best stunt. Haven’t you been told these Faytans, or -Pearl People, as our blacks call ’em, decree death to any who land on -this island?” - -“Oh, that’s Nux’s story; but I don’t believe it,” said the boy. “When we -tell them who we are they’ll be sure to treat us decently.” - -“Do you suppose they’ve ever heard of Colombia?” I asked. - -“Why not?” he retorted. “They must have some intercourse with the -outside world. Ships visit every known island, nowadays.” - -“I doubt if a ship has ever been here before,” said I. “This isn’t a -known island; it’s not on any map or chart or other record. There are -plenty of such islands in the South Seas, I suppose. Bryonia and Nux -happen to know this place, for their own native island is only about a -hundred leagues away; but my father and uncle, who have sailed all the -traveled paths in the South Pacific, have never heard of Faytan before.” - -Alfonso became silent at this; but he remained on deck, and it was after -midnight before our anxiety was satisfied. - -Ned’s signal came as a joyful surprise to us, and we hastily threw down -the ladders and ropes to assist the fugitives in gaining the deck, in -case they were pursued. The mate leaped on board first of all, saying: - -“Let down the davits; and lively, too, lads! We’ve got the boats; but -Lord only knows what else we’ve brought with us.” - -In the hurry that followed no questions were asked. It was better to -work first and talk afterward. The davits were swung out and the ropes -lowered; but after that it was some time before we got the first signal -to haul away, for the men had to carry the heavy boats up the slanting -rocks before they could be attached. Pretty soon the longboat came -swinging up; then the gig, and finally the cutter. We had lost the -fourth boat, the whaler, in launching it in the storm, but all the boats -left on the shore of the cove, with their contents, were now secured. We -had to work by the light of the stars, which was dim enough; for until -the boats and all the men were under shelter we dared not show a light. - -Finally three of our men were hoisted over the side moaning with pain. -These were tenderly received by their fellows and stowed below, while -Bry, the best surgeon on the ship, hurried after to see what could be -done for them. When we got Ned into the cabin to spin his yarn we found -his left hand covered with a bloodsoaked bandage torn from his shirt, -yet he had been working so industriously we had not suspected he was -wounded. - -“We got to the cove, all right,” he said, “though it were a bitter climb -over them sharp rocks. We didn’t wait a minute after gett’n’ thar, but -run the boats down the beach into deep water an’ prepared to get away at -once. Part of us were still waist deep in the water an’ the others -gett’n’ the oars shipped, when without warnin’ a hail of arrers fell -among us. It was dark, a’most, but when I glanced at the shore I could -see the white sand covered with scores o’ black natives; so I knew our -first move was to dig out lively. Yaller Tom were bleedin’ beside me in -the water, an’ I had to pull an arrer out’n my own hand afore I could -help him; but in a jiffy we were aboard an’ rowin’ like mad. The arrers -kept fallin’ ’round us, but didn’t do any more damage, so afore we got -out o’ rifle range I let the boys drop oars an’ fire one round into that -black line o’ savages. Some of ’em must have dropped, but they never -give a whimper; so we rowed on agin an’ soon lost sight of ’em. The -waves rolled us ’round some, for the storm left a heavy swell, an’ to -keep from grindin’ on the reefs we had to pick our way mighty careful. -There ain’t no decent water anywhere near this ship, an’ at first I -thought we’d never get the boats to it; but a mile or so north we found -an openin’ in the first reef, an’ half a mile or so south o’ here we got -through the second reef. We had to keep quiet, for fear the savages had -followed us along the shore, so they could drop on us when we tried to -land; but they failed to connect. Seen anything of ’em?” - -“No,” replied Uncle Naboth. “Who’s hurt, Ned, besides yourself?” - -“I guess Yaller Tom is done fer. The arrer’s broke off in his chest an’ -he wouldn’t let us pull it out. Nicodemus Brown’s got a splinter through -his shoulder, an’ young Dipps got an ugly gash in the leg. That’s the -worst o’ the story, although several of us’ll carry scars to remind us -of this night’s work.” - -“I think,” said I, “you owe your escape to the fact that the natives had -no canoes on this end of the island. They must have discovered you while -you were climbing the point, but got to the cove just a little too late -to meet you.” - -“Perhaps,” said Captain Steele, “it would have been a more even fight if -you could have faced them on land.” - -“I’m satisfied as it was,” returned Ned, shaking his head doubtfully. -“They were thick as fleas, Cap’n, an’ if we hadn’t got away in the boats -when we did we could have shot ’em down till our cartridges give out, -an’ then there’d have been enough left to have murdered us neat an’ -quiet. We must get ready for them folks, sir; they’re sure to be on us -in the mornin’, if they don’t arrive sooner. But I count myself lucky to -have got back with the boats with no worse calamities than we really -had.” - -“So do I,” said my father. “I’m much obliged, Ned.” - -I went to the forecastle to inquire about the wounded. Bry looked grave -over Yellow Tom’s case, but said the others would quickly recover. Our -islander knew all about arrow wounds, such as these, and could treat -them more successfully than a regular surgeon might have done. - -“Do you suppose the arrows were poisoned?” I asked. - -“No,” he replied; “South Sea natives do not poison arrows. We leave that -to the Negritos of the Philippines and inland tribes of Australia. We -islanders fight like men, not like cowards.” - -“I fear we shall find plenty of fighting ahead of us,” I remarked, -rather gloomily. - -The black nodded. - -“If we stay here we must fight,” said he. “I think it better to take the -women away in the boats, and trust the sea. From here I am sure I can -find the way to my own island, where I am a chief.” - -I made no comment on this suggestion and returned thoughtfully to the -deck. I knew Bryonia’s advice was sound enough; but I hated to leave -without an attempt to see the Pearl City and get some of the big pearls -I had heard of. The result proved, however, that we could not have taken -to the boats had we decided to. - -We kept an alert watch that night, you may be sure, but not a sound did -we hear except the sullen roar of the breakers against the reefs. As -dawn broke the lookout made a discovery. About a quarter of a mile away, -between the first and second reefs, was a solid line of canoes, each -carrying from three to six native Faytans. This line extended from the -point to half a mile down the coast, and the patrol so established was -sufficient to render our escape in the boats impossible. - -There was no sign of activity among the natives. They sat stolidly in -their canoes, their eyes bent upon the ship, perched high before them, -and these sentries were destined to remain at their posts for many days -to come. - -Now that we were discovered we experienced a feeling of relief. Whatever -might happen from this time on we could accept calmly and with our eyes -wide open. It was no game of hide and seek, but open defiance. - -“I suppose we must accept this as a declaration of war,” remarked Señor -de Jiminez at the breakfast table. The ladies had all risen early to go -on deck and examine the canoe patrol, so for once we were a complete -assemblage. - -“It certainly is no peaceful demonstration,” I replied. - -“Still, we may be able to treat with them and peace establish,” -continued the Colombian. “Let us offer to give them a few guns if they -will let us go.” - -I noticed Nux grinning in a corner of the cabin and was at once reminded -of the humor of the suggestion advanced. - -“Do they know about guns, Nux?” I asked. - -“No, Mars Sam.” - -“If they did,” I asserted, “they’d realize their ability to capture all -we have. But I understand these people never treat with intruders.” - -“We did not mean to intrude!” exclaimed Madam de Alcantara in a -frightened voice. - -“No; it was forced upon us,” I agreed. “I wonder if these fellows, to -whom a ship like ours is unknown, are not amazed to find the _Seagull_ -set high upon the rocks of their coast.” - -“All savage tribes,” remarked Señor de Jiminez, reverting to the former -subject, “are said to deal with foreigners as they are dealt with. These -people may be inimical to other native tribes, who sometimes come to -fight and rob them, but it seems to me if we treat them politely they -will become friendly in return.” - -“You may try it, if you like,” said Uncle Naboth dryly. “They didn’t -wait to discover whether Ned Britton’s party were polite or not; they -jest shot ’em up an’ asked no questions.” - -“Oh, dear!” wailed Madam de Alcantara. “I’m sure we shall all be -murdered by these heathen brutes. Why—oh, why—did I ever sail on your -ill-fated ship!” and the poor lady began to shed real tears. - -Lucia’s mother had a weak character, in spite of her proud and haughty -airs when safe ashore in a civilized community. Any adverse fortune -floored her at once and I am sure she had already suffered agonies such -as ordinary death could not equal. Her daughter, attentive and -sympathetic in a charming, unobtrusive way, sought to console and -encourage her parent; but it was a hopeless task. The sight of the -natives had completely unnerved Madam de Alcantara, and she sobbed so -bitterly that Lucia had to lead her to her room. - -Madam de Jiminez had nothing to say. She seldom asked a question, and -knowing she would be cared for as well as circumstances would permit, -showed us always a benign and cheerful face. She was never in the way, -and we all so admired the old lady’s courage that she suffered no lack -of attention. The one beautiful thing about her son and grandson was the -devotion they lavished upon her. Selfish they might be in all other -ways, but both were willing at all times to sacrifice their pleasure to -insure her comfort. Misadventures such as this are sure to bring out the -good and bad in one’s nature, and we learned to gauge one another quite -correctly during this period of mutual danger and suffering. - -On gaining the deck after breakfast we found that the idea of turning -the ship into a fort was being carried out in a practical manner. We -always carried a supply of rifles and cutlasses in the gun room, in case -of an emergency such as this. These had been brought out and distributed -lavishly along the deck, where one could conveniently seize them. We had -plenty of ammunition without having recourse to the revolutionary -supplies, and we judged that from the shelter of our bulwarks we could -repel any horde of savages attempting to clamber up the rocks. Even if -we allowed them to reach the summits of the twin peaks unmolested they -could not scale the ship’s side; so, with plenty of provisions and an -arsenal to fight with, we felt fairly safe for the present. In addition -to the small arms, we had two brass howitzers mounted at the bow and -stern of the _Seagull_. These were usually masked with canvas sacks, -designed to disguise them so the ordinary observer would not notice our -armament; but they were now uncovered and put in order for action, our -men training them so as to command the open space between us and the -edge of the dark forest. - -We had ample time for these preparations. The canoes guarding the reef -passages lay motionless and no sign of life was observable on the land -side. We hardly knew how to account for this; whether they were tempting -us to leave the ship or were themselves preparing for an assault. -However, it was our business to “stand pat” and await results. - -The day passed tediously. Lounging by the rail we looked down upon the -grim line of warriors, so silent and motionless, and they looked up at -us. Fortunately for them they were beyond the range of our rifles. I -brought up my glasses and focused them so the natives were distinctly -visible in every detail. They were handsome, stalwart fellows, averaging -fully six feet in height I judged, although now all were crouching in -the canoes. They were not black, as were Nux and Bryonia, but a dark -chocolate brown. Their hair seemed straight and fine of texture and was -allowed to grow long and be curled into a knot at the back of the head, -as women often wear it. Their only article of dress was a loin cloth, -made of a dark colored material on which were sewn curious designs in -pearls. All wore ornaments of pearls, such as necklaces, armlets and -anklets, the gems being of such size and color that I believe the -humblest native in the line carried the equivalent of a fortune upon his -person. - -I watched the Pearl People for hours. Their marked characteristic seemed -to be patience. Their features seemed finely cut and intelligent, but -the members of the patrol were just now very apathetic, seldom changing -their positions or indulging in the interchange of remarks. Their -business was simply to wait, and they displayed marvelous resignation to -duty. If they were curious they did not show it; if they resented this -inactivity they gave the resentment no expression. Automatons could not -have been more docile. Yet the Faytans struck me as being dignified, -reserved and most admirably trained to obedience, while their stern -countenances marked them as cold and cruel. - -In the afternoon, while a dismal silence pervaded the ship, I was -startled by hearing the clear tones of our piano. Some one began to play -a spirited march, and of course I knew it was Lucia. The brave girl was -trying to cheer us all with her music, and I am bound to admit it had an -animating effect. For an hour she played and sang, choosing the most -stirring tunes she knew, and when I finally went below I found all the -passengers had gathered in the cabin with Joe and Uncle Naboth, while -young Alfonso was joining in a Spanish madrigal that was popular in his -own country and all thoughts of our precarious position seemed thrust -into the background. - -That evening De Jiminez played écarté with his mother while Madam de -Alcantara was led to forget her fears far enough to read a book. We -lighted the cabin brilliantly, making no further attempt to evade the -watching eyes of the natives, and enjoyed a few hours of solace if not -of pleasure. - -Next day the waiting game was continued. South Sea natives seldom or -never attack at night, according to Nux; but these Faytans were so -unlike other savage tribes that we could not be sure this was one of -their customs. So we divided the watch and kept a sharp lookout night -and day. - - - - - CHAPTER IX - ALFONSO’S ANTOINETTE - - -Nothing happened this second day of our imprisonment. The Faytans -evidently had some plan of campaign mapped out, or they would not have -established the patrol of canoes. We began to consider what their -intentions could be. - -“Let’s give ’em credit for a leetle intelligence,” said Uncle Naboth, -who had been studying the natives through his binoculars. “The chief -that runs this place must have some ability, and as soon as he -discovered us here he must ’a’ thought it all out. Mebbe he lay awake -doin’ it, for next mornin’ we found them canoes on guard. That was the -first trick in the game.” - -“Not a bad one, either,” I remarked. - -“Not from the chief’s standpoint. It kept us from escapin’ in the boats, -which is the one thing, it seems, he don’t intend to let happen. Now, -our boys here,” pointing to Bryonia and Nux, “have a notion that the -Pearl People don’t want any strangers around. They never let ’em land, -if they can help it, and drive ’em away or kill ’em. Accordin’ to that -theory the Faytans ought to be glad to have us go. But here they are, -keepin’ us fast prisoners. Why’s that, Bry?” - -Bryonia had stood moodily silent. He now looked up and shook his head. - -“Can’t say, Mars Nabot’,” he answered. But he spoke in a hesitating way -that led me to think he preferred not to speak frankly. - -“It’s really a puzzler,” resumed Uncle Naboth. “If they mean to kill us, -why don’t they start in and fight it out?” - -“Perhaps they realize our position is impregnable,” I suggested. - -“It ain’t exactly that,” declared my uncle. “If they happen to think to -shoot some burnin’ arrers at us, they can easily set fire to the ship, -an’ then we’re done for.” - -“Not knowin’ about ships, they may not think of that,” said my father, -uneasily. - -“Well, what then?” asked De Jiminez. - -“Then,” replied Joe, “the wily islanders expect to conquer us in one of -two ways. First to starve us out, and—” - -“They can’t do that in a hurry,” muttered the Captain. - -“And second to let us die of thirst,” continued Joe. - -We all became thoughtful at this suggestion. I knew we had supplies of -fresh water sufficient for an ordinary voyage, and an aërator to doctor -it with if it became stagnant and unpalatable; but barreled water is not -the safest thing to depend upon, and thirst was a greater menace than -lack of food. Yet it seemed improbable that a savage chieftain would -have thought this all out and determined upon so tedious and unwarlike a -plan of conquest. - -Afterward I found Bryonia alone and said to him: - -“Why do you think the Faytans wish to keep us here?” - -“Don’ know, Mars Sam.” - -“Yes you do, Bry. Anyhow, you’ve some idea.” - -“I may be wrong.” - -“This is in confidence, Bry. You may trust me.” - -He hesitated a moment. - -“I wish, Mars Sam,” he said in a low voice, speaking his native tongue, -“that the lady passengers had not showed themselves.” - -“Oh, that’s it!” I exclaimed. “Are the natives partial to white women, -Bry?” - -“I know other chiefs,” he said, “and I know they like to take women of -other nations for wives. In my own island it is like that. I think if we -were only warriors the Faytans would drive us away, or let us take the -boats out. That is the only way I can explain the strange manner in -which they are acting.” - -“You may be right,” I returned, and walked away to think it over. - -The third day brought no more incident than the others that preceded it. -I had abandoned the idea that the Faytans intended to besiege us until -we succumbed to hunger or thirst, and told Joe so. Also I confided to my -chum Bry’s theory that they were concocting a plan to get our women. -This made Joe look grave and anxious. - -When Alfonso joined us, presently, I thought it best to acquaint him -with our fears. - -“If that is so,” said the boy, “we will see that the women never fall -into their hands alive. But I am confident there will be some way of -escape open to us before our condition gets desperate.” - -“What is your father doing?” I asked, thinking I would like a conference -with Señor de Jiminez. - -“He is writing a speech to deliver before the Colombian Congress when he -becomes president,” replied Alfonso with a smile. “Poor father! He -doesn’t know what despair means. I’m sure he has no real conception of -our present position.” - -“I wish,” said Joe, musingly, as he stared out over the island, “that I -could see into that forest yonder. I wonder if it’s full of watching -natives, or if they’re all lying snug in the big Pearl City we’ve heard -about.” - -Alfonso was thoughtful. For awhile he, too, stared at the forest. Then a -sudden idea occurred to him, for his face brightened and he laughed -aloud. - -“Fellows,” said he, “I’ve a notion to go over to that city and see what -it looks like. Also, I’ll take a peep into the forest as I pass by.” - -I looked at him in amazement, saying: - -“Have you gone crazy, then?” - -Again he laughed, quite gleefully. - -“I don’t wonder you suspect my sanity,” he answered; “but the truth is -that I had forgotten all about a certain important shipment of mine that -is now in the hold of this ship and may be of great help to us in our -present emergency. However,” he added, more soberly, “the thing was -intended for a far different purpose.” - -“A shipment? What is it?” I inquired. - -“Why, nothing more nor less than one of those new fashioned biplanes. I -bought one of the latest improved _Antoinettes_ when I went over to -Paris, during the time father was purchasing the arms in Australia. He -sent me there on some banking business, you know, and I naturally took -in the aviation exhibition. It did not take me long to decide that a -biplane would be of great assistance to the revolution and I induced the -great Bleriot himself to teach me how to work it. Before I left Paris I -could manage the thing beautifully, and I’ve made a good many successful -flights. It is all packed in three cases, with bands of red paint around -them so they can be identified from the arms, and I have many extra -parts in separate cases. It must seem queer to you to realize I have a -flying machine in this out-of-the-way place—where we’re shipwrecked on a -savage island.” - -“It is strange,” I admitted. - -“The _Antoinette_ would make even you fellows stare, I guess,” continued -Alfonso. - -“Oh, as for that,” said Joe, “both Sam and I have done some aërial -stunts in our time, and made some pretty long flights. But a biplane’s a -new invention to us.” - -“It occurred to me that I could put the machine together here on deck,” -announced Alfonso, “and make a trip over the forest to the Pearl City. I -won’t land there, of course, but I’ll circle around and find out what we -want to know, and then come back again. What do you think?” he asked a -little anxiously. - -“Seems like a brilliant idea,” I said approvingly. - -“Will you fellows help me to get it together?” - -“Of course,” said Joe. “And the sooner the better.” - -“Then order your men to fetch up the boxes with the red bands. There are -three of them.” - -I went to Uncle Naboth and my father and explained what Little Jim -wanted to do. They both considered the thing impracticable and -foolhardy, but said we could give the young Colombian whatever -assistance he needed. - -So the boxes were sent for and presently hoisted from the hold by means -of the cranes provided for such purposes. Only one was at all heavy, and -that contained the motor and tools. - -The carpenter unscrewed the covers and soon a confused mass of canvas -planes, braces, platforms and other odds and ends lay upon the deck. -Alfonso, with his coat off and sleeves rolled up, began to select the -pieces and connect them. He had written instructions for setting up the -machine, but did not need to refer to them often, being evidently quite -familiar with the details of its mechanism. - -It did not seem to me that the thing was at all serviceable; it was very -frail and more like a toy than a flying machine; but the boy assured me -it was an exact duplicate of the one that held the world’s record for -altitude and speed. - -“Aren’t you afraid to trust yourself to it?” asked Joe. - -“Afraid! Of course not,” was the reply. “It is perfectly safe if -operated intelligently—barring unavoidable accidents.” - -We both assisted, being guided by his directions, and all three of us -worked the remainder of that day. Lucia discovered us at about the time -we began assembling the airship, and was so fascinated by the -proposition that she remained constantly by our side, watching every -move we made. She made no remarks, but her dark eyes missed no detail, -and whenever Alfonso instructed us she listened as carefully as we did. -It seemed queer for a girl to take such an interest in a flying -machine—a thing that some men do not care to fool with. In addition to -the girl a curious group of the sailors surrounded us, for I have found -that those who sail the seas have a certain sympathy for those who sail -the air. - -I had myself become enthusiastic over the machine, as I began to -understand the theory of its operation. The _Antoinette_ was as -scientifically constructed as it was delicate and graceful. I could see -possibilities in the thing, now, and that night was a sleepless one for -me, so eager was I to continue our work the next morning. We got the -frame complete the second day, and set the engines in position. - -By evening the biplane seemed all ready to fly, but Alfonso asserted it -must be adjusted and tested with the utmost care, as all depended on the -tenseness and equalization of the planes. He told us, however, he hoped -to make the flight the following morning. - -Our relations with the natives had remained unchanged. The only event of -each day was the arrival of food and supplies for the floating -besiegers. These were brought in canoes around the island and a share -distributed to each of the line of boats. Then the commissary department -silently withdrew and the excitement was over. As for the guard, their -patience seemed untiring. The warriors must have been more or less -cramped in their canoes. If some of them were relieved at times, it was -during the nights, for darkness fell upon the silent line and daybreak -found it still unbroken. Perhaps some slept, lying in the bottoms of the -canoes, while others watched. I have no means of knowing. - -Finally our youthful and adventurous Colombian got his machine adjusted -to suit him, explaining to Joe and me, as he worked, all the details of -equilibrium and shifting the balance, and how to handle the wheel and -run the motors. The engines were not unlike those used on automobiles, -yet lighter in weight and made as delicately as a watch. The wheel -answered the slightest touch, and any change in direction required a -quick eye and quick thought. Indeed, to fly in a biplane is no dreamy -man’s job, for every nerve and muscle must be tense and responsive and -lend life to the inanimate thing he directs. - -Alfonso was cool as a cucumber while making his tests and I could see -that his eager enthusiasm was due more to the delights of an -exhilarating flight through the air than a desire to see the Pearl City, -or discover what our enemies were doing. Doubtless he had for some time -been aching for an opportunity to use his novel machine, and his present -attempt was mainly due to this wish. - -Being of a mechanical turn of mind and interested in all such -propositions, I followed intently every movement that Alfonso made in -putting the biplane together, adjusting it and preparing for the flight. - -“I almost believe I could work it myself,” I remarked with a smile. - -“That ‘almost’ qualifies your egotism,” replied Little Jim, with -assurance. “It is the flight itself—the management of the machine in the -air—that really requires knowledge and skill.” - -“But that can only come with experience,” I said. “How many flights have -you made?” - -“Several,” he declared proudly. “Once I remained in the air for -thirty-seven minutes. I can do better than that, now, for I have here an -improved machine and the condition of the atmosphere in these latitudes -is almost perfect, since the storm cleared.” - -He took his seat in the machine. We had cleared a long run along the -deck, from stern to stem, for his use in starting. - -“First,” said he, “I’ll take a turn among those boats over the reefs. I -may land here on my return, or I may keep on over the island; it will -depend upon circumstances.” - -Every soul aboard had gathered to watch this interesting attempt, and I -noticed that Lucia’s eyes were big and sparkling with excitement. -Alfonso was quite the hero of the hour and it filled him with pride and -elation to be the observed of all observers. His father, who had always -vigorously opposed his son’s experiments with airships, but realized the -fact that the biplane might be of much service to the revolution, was a -curious and silent spectator. He had indulged in a stiff argument with -Alfonso the night before, but had met defeat at the hands of his wayward -son. The boy’s courage and confidence were indisputable, and perhaps -Señor de Jiminez was a bit proud of his son’s progressive ideas. - -“The airship is bound to be a great factor in the future history of -nations,” asserted Alfonso, and this could not be successfully -controverted until the future revealed itself and became history. - -Joe and I followed directions in turning the motor and running the -machine along the deck for a start. It rose just before it reached the -bow, soared over the rail and headed straight out to sea, still -ascending. Absolute silence pervaded the anxious group on deck. We could -plainly hear the whir of the motors as the biplane, swift as a dart, -flew over the reefs, descried a graceful curve and circled around the -boats a hundred feet or more in the air. - -The Faytans were certainly a stolid lot, as we afterward proved; but the -flight of the airship was so startling that they craned their necks to -watch it, and some rose in the canoes while others ducked down and -covered their heads as if in terror. Fear was unknown to this people, -but superstition bound them in chains, and this surely seemed like a -demonstration of the gods. - -I must admit the boy handled the machine beautifully, and it responded -to his touch like a thing of life. Several times he circled around, then -swept out to sea until he was a mere birdlike speck, and finally came -back and headed directly for the ship. Perhaps it had been five or six -minutes since he left us, but to us it seemed an hour, so excited were -we by his daring and his success. - -We kept the deck clear, pressing close to the rail, and it seemed -Alfonso’s intention to land. He came toward us in a straight line; then -the machine dipped, for as it neared us it was fully three hundred feet -above the sea. Now the aëronaut shut down the motors and glided -gracefully downward at an angle of nearly forty degrees. We were -preparing to shout our applause, when like a great bird the biplane -swept over the deck, struck the mainmast at about its middle and came -crashing down in a heap—operator and aëroplane being mixed in a confused -jumble. - - - - - CHAPTER X - THE PEARL CITY - - -Joe and I rushed in first of all and pulled Alfonso out of the wreck. He -was insensible and bleeding profusely from a cut across the forehead. -Others eagerly took the boy from us and carried him below, his father -sobbing that his son was dead, dead, dead! and now could never become -the president of Colombia. - -I knew well enough Alfonso wasn’t dead, and told Lucia so when she asked -me with a white, startled face. - -“A little damaged, that’s all,” said I, and watched her as she hurried -away, womanlike, to render what assistance she could. - -“It were surely wonderful!” cried Uncle Naboth, viewing the mangled -biplane that lay at the foot of the mast; “but he’s spoilt his flying -machine the first trip.” - -“Oh, I’m not at all sure about that,” I replied. “What do you think, -Joe?” - -“Why, it’s like Alfonso—a little damaged, that’s all,” he answered with -a grin. “The motor seems all right, and that’s the main thing.” - -We made an examination, then, and found some of the framework of the -planes splintered. Otherwise nothing was injured and a little work would -soon restore the thing to good working order. - -Bryonia and “Capstan Bob,” the latter having been a poor doctor before -he became a good sailor, attended the injured boy, and soon word came up -that Alfonso had regained consciousness. He had broken his left arm and -cut his scalp open, but was not seriously injured. Late in the afternoon -he asked to see me, and when I went down to his room I found him quite -cheerful over his personal mishap, but worried about the condition of -his biplane. This I assured him could easily be repaired, and he told me -there was a supply of extra frames in one of the boxes, and asked me to -look after the airship and rig it up again. - -“I want to make another trip in it as soon as I am able,” he told me. -“This broken arm is an unfortunate thing, but I guess I can manage the -wheel with my right hand. Are you sure the motor is uninjured?” - -“It worked smoothly when I tested it,” I answered; “but I’ll go over it -again more carefully and make sure.” - -“Do,” he urged. “You and Joe can do the work, and to-morrow I’ll come on -deck and direct you. I’ll be all right by that time.” - -The morning, however, found Alfonso so stiff and sore from his bruises, -his gashed forehead and his cracked arm, that he could not leave his -berth. The women waited upon him tirelessly and Joe and I, left to our -own devices, decided to get to work on the biplane without the owner’s -assistance. It interested us more than ever, now that we had seen what -the thing could do, and I had acquired a powerful desire to test its -virtues myself. If we could restore the machine to good condition, and -should our safety demand knowledge of the movements of the natives, I -felt I would not hesitate to undertake a flight. - -All that day we worked, finding spare parts to replace those that had -been damaged. It was evident that accidents to the frame were expected -and anticipated, since duplicates of almost every part of them had been -furnished. Only the motor and steering gear were without duplicate -parts; but these were little likely to become injured, even by a direct -fall. - -On the following morning Joe and I arose before daybreak and got Bry to -make us some coffee while we finally adjusted the biplane. I had decided -to attempt a flight secretly, as I feared Señor de Jiminez or his son -would refuse us permission had we asked to go. The seat was so arranged -that it would carry two; so, both Joe and I being light in weight ought -not to prove too great a burden for the machine. I had intended to go -alone, at first, but Joe begged so hard that I did not like to refuse -him, and he agreed to allow me to manage it without interference. - -We instructed Bry and Ned Britton how to start us, but we took our run -on the deck from stem to stern, so as to head over the island. - -The _Antoinette_ rose like a bird—just as the sun came up—and with a -sense of elation and delight I realized we were actually flying. Up we -shot, right over the forest, which came beneath us so suddenly that for -the first time I recognized the marvelous speed of the machine. - -Determined to investigate this threatening barrier, I turned the wheel -so as to descry a succession of circles and descended until we were just -above the tallest tree tops. Joe had a pair of powerful glasses, and -while I watched the biplane he examined the forest. - -“The woods are full of savages,” he remarked, attentively looking -downward; “but most of them are lined up facing the ship.” - -“What are they doing?” I asked. - -“Stripping the trees of bark, and flattening it out. That’s queer. All -are working at this except the double line of sentries at the edge of -the forest.” - -“Perhaps they’re making shields of the bark,” I suggested; “in which -case they intend to attack us presently. But if they think we use bows -and arrows, which a bark shield will stop, they’re much mistaken.” - -“Who knows what they think?” muttered my companion. - -“And who cares? Keep your balance, Joe; I’m going to explore the rest of -the island.” - -First I rose to quite an altitude, so that we might determine the extent -of the island. Then I spied a large settlement at the far east of us—the -farthest point from the ship—and deciding that this was the Pearl City I -headed directly for it. - -A few moments only sufficed to bring us above the city, a journey of -perhaps ten miles from our starting point. Here again I circled while we -inspected the place. - -The city was of tremendous extent; for here, we afterward learned, -resided every inhabitant of Faytan. There was a pretty landlocked bay -before it, and the water front was thick with craft, mostly with canoes -such as we had seen, although there were some ponderous flat-bottomed -boats that resembled rafts more than ships. These I thought might be -used for the pearl fishing, although they were gaudily decorated and had -many seats with rudely carved backs. - -Between the forest and the city were large cultivated fields, with -groups of cocoanut and date palms showing here and there, and we -discovered several bands of workers on these farms, all calmly engaged -in performing their proper tasks. - -But the city itself was far more interesting than its surroundings. The -buildings were of clay bricks, of a light gray color, little wood being -used in their construction. They were of great size and laid out in -regular order, forming streets that radiated in all directions from a -central square. Directly in the middle of this space was a great -circular building which was painted a dark blue color—the only painted -building in the city—and lavishly decorated with pearls. The doorways, -windows and cornices, and even portions of the dome, were thickly set -with these precious gems, only pearls of great size and luster being -chosen for the purpose. This was the temple; but I ought to explain that -many of these details were not perceived by us at that time, while we -circled in the biplane over the city and looked curiously down upon it. -Perhaps it was this very curiosity that was our undoing, for I must have -neglected the machine in some way to send it suddenly swerving, first to -one side and then the other, in an erratic motion that was bewildering -and instantly destroyed my cool confidence. The strain on the planes was -dangerous, and although we managed to keep our balance I could not -steady the thing nor bring it to a stable equilibrium. We were at a -dangerous elevation should we fall, and to avoid this catastrophe I -involuntarily descended, without any regard as to where we might land. - -It was almost a fall, as it was. We first dove headlong, at a dangerous -angle, and then I swung her head up, shut off the motor, and she -fluttered, rocked and came to a sudden stop with a jolt that well nigh -drove the breath from our bodies. Joe pitched from the seat and rolled -over a few times; then he sat up and looked at me in a dazed way that -would have made me laugh had I not been wondering just then how many -bones I had broken. But after the jar on my nerves had subsided I -crawled out of the machine, which dropped its planes as if ashamed of -its rude action, and found we were on the flat top of one of the high -buildings that overlooked the place of the Pearl Temple. - -I crawled to the edge, which had a low parapet, and looked over. A -hundred eyes met mine, staring at me with wonder in spite of the stoic -nature of these remarkable islanders. - -It was not strange that they marveled. Airships are not yet everyday -affairs in our own country, so this one might well startle the natives -of a secluded South Sea island which even ships do not sight. I am not -certain which party was at first most bewildered, Joe and I or the -Faytans; but we were first to recover, and our desperate situation -called for decisive thought. - -Hastily I ran over the machine. A guide rope had parted, and I promptly -knotted it together again. In all other respects the _Antoinette_ seemed -uninjured. - -“Get aboard, Joe!” I cried; “we must make a run for it the best way we -can.” - -“Someone has to push the thing,” he returned. “I’ll start it and you -take it away, Sam. If you reach the ship safely you can come back with a -rescue party.” - -“That’s nonsense!” I exclaimed. “I won’t go without you, and you know -it. Here, help me run it over to the edge, and we’ll see what we can do. -It may dip at first, but there is lots of room in the square down there -for us to get a start and rise again.” - -“And lots of savages to grab us if we bump the ground. My way’s best, -Sam.” - -“Your way is impossible!” said I. “We will either go together, or we’ll -both stay right here.” - -The speech was prophetic. Before I had the words well out of my mouth -the natives began to pour in a stream out upon the roof, coming through -a square hole in the center which we had not thought to guard. - -Each of us was armed with a brace of revolvers, but we hesitated to use -them. As we backed away to the furthermost edge I said to Joe: - -“Don’t shoot. They’ll capture us anyhow by force of numbers, and we’ll -stand better with them if we don’t hurt anyone. Keep your pistols out of -sight, for a better time may come to use them.” - -Joe nodded. - -“You’re right,” he said briefly. - -The Faytans lined up before us, a score of great muscular fellows with -singularly intelligent features and of grave, dignified demeanor. As I -looked upon them I decided to adopt a certain plan of action. Extending -my hand and smiling in a fearless, friendly manner, I slowly advanced -toward the man directly in front of me. There seemed to be no captain or -leader among them. - -“Greeting, good friends,” I said in the language of Tuamotu, the island -Nux and Bry had come from, and which they had long ago taught me to -speak. All the natives of the South Seas have, I believe, a common -language, although each island seems to use a dialect or “brogue” of its -own. At any rate the islanders seem able to understand one another when -they meet in peace or war, and for that reason I hoped to make myself -understood. - -That I succeeded was soon apparent. The man did not take my extended -hand, but he said in a deep, musical voice: - -“We are not friends. It is not possible.” - -“No?” I returned, as if astonished. And, indeed, his frankness was -surprising, for these islanders are usually subtle and deceptive, -claiming friendship when they intend murder. “Why is it not possible for -us to be friends?” - -“Because you come unasked. Because we do not harbor strangers. Because -intruders deserve death, and the laws of the Faytans decree it.” - -This was not at all pleasant. - -“We came not here of our own will,” I said after a moment’s hesitation. -“The gods of the Storm and Wind thrust us upon your island. We wish to -go away; to return to our own country.” - -“That cannot be,” said another standing near the first speaker. “To -allow a stranger from the world beyond the sea to escape would be to -allow him to carry tales of Faytan to his countrymen. Then they would -send many boats here to rob us of our pearls and make us trouble.” - -“Therefore,” added another, “you must die to save Faytan.” - -“In what way?” I asked, more to gain time than because the mode of dying -interested me just then. - -“The King will determine that. We will take you to the King.” - -“Very well,” I responded cheerfully. “Come, Joe; let’s visit the King.” - -He grinned at this, for Joe isn’t easily scared, and we allowed the -Faytans to escort us from the roof, going so docilely that they did not -bind us or even touch our bodies. They merely surrounded us in a dense -mass, and since they were of gigantic size and strong as bulls that was -as secure a method as any. - -The house through which we passed was not badly arranged or furnished. -We saw numerous rooms from the corridors we traversed, and they were -more pleasant and homelike than you might suppose, considering this to -be an uncivilized island which the world’s progress had never yet -thought of. - -The square outside—it was a circle, really—was thronged with men, women -and children, all scantily clad as far as clothing was concerned, but -the humblest wearing a fortune in pearl ornaments. - -This island of Faytan must be very populous. There were at least two -hundred men in the boats guarding the reefs; the forest was full of -them; many were working in the fields, and still the Pearl City was -packed full, as far as we could see. The natives were of superior -physique and intelligence. We had thought Nux and Bry exceptionally well -built fellows, for South Sea Islanders, and we had often proved their -fidelity and keenness of intellect; but the Faytans were fully their -equals in every respect, and I knew from the reports of Tuamotu that -they had no such capital as the Pearl City and lived in a more primitive -manner. - -Crossing the square between close ranks of silent, staring natives, we -were escorted to the steps of the Great Temple and in through a high -arched doorway. - - - - - CHAPTER XI - A KING, A PRIEST AND A BOY - - -To our surprise there was no great hall of concourse before us, but an -entrance hall from which opened several doorways hung with finely woven -mats, all of which were lavishly decorated with conventional designs in -pearls. Before each doorway stood a guard, armed with a spear and a -double-edged battle-ax, the latter fashioned from gypsum by the method -employed by the North American Indians. - -There was a captain of these guards and when one of our conductors spoke -to him in a low voice this official disappeared through a central -doorway. He returned presently and Joe and I were told to follow him. -After us came merely a half dozen of our captors, closing the rear, and -so in stately procession we tramped down a long corridor and came to the -throne room. - -It was a high, spacious apartment, having many windows covered with -translucent fish-skin dyed in various colors. These had the appearance -of stained glass and were quite effective. Around three sides of the -room ran a stone bench covered with mattings and in the center was a -raised place, or dais, with a broad, pearl-encrusted seat. - -Heaped upon the royal bench were many gay colored blankets woven from a -soft cocoanut fibre, and lying flat upon these, face downward, was the -mighty King of Faytan. - -His Majesty was only a boy. His copper-colored form was lean and -slender, but no greater in length than my own. - -He did not move for a time and I had opportunity to examine him -curiously. The knot of hair twisted upon the back of his head was -decorated with five monstrous black pearls—the rarest and most valuable -sort known. Around his waist was a broad belt on which exquisite rose -pearls were thickly clustered. Over his shoulder was draped a short -cloak sewn thick with the same precious gems. But aside from this -richness of decoration there was nothing to distinguish the youthful -king from his subjects, unless it was his attitude. This might indicate -grief, despair or suffering, for though he moved not a muscle there was -such utter abandon in his pose that I caught myself feeling sorry for -the youth’s misery without knowing why or how he was miserable. - -We stood motionless, awaiting his royal pleasure. After a time, with a -slow, writhing motion he raised himself to a sitting position and showed -his face to us. - -I was born and bred in a democratic republic, and believe that all men -are free and equal; nevertheless there was a serene dignity in this -boy’s countenance that plainly marked him royal. Wherever I might have -met him I should have recognized in him the king; yet he was a mere -savage secluded on an unknown island. - -The unhappiness that had marked his former attitude showed plainly in -his face, but its proud regard seemed to demand no pity from anyone. -Whatever it was, the king was strong enough to bear it alone. - -He eyed Joe and me with calm interest, his look flashing over us from -head to heel and noting every detail of our appearance. Then he turned -to the captain of the guard and nodded permission for him to speak. - -“Flying through the air on a thing with wings,” began the man, “these -two intruders alighted upon the top of the house of Aza, where they were -captured. They are brought before your Majesty for judgment.” - -The king passed his hand across his eyes with a wearied gesture. Then he -looked toward us again and said: - -“They are young.” His voice was low and soft. - -“You are also young, your Majesty,” I ventured to state. - -“Then you understand our tongue?” he said quickly. - -“Imperfectly. I was taught to speak it by a native of Tuamotu.” - -“Tuamotu! So you have come here to get our pearls?” - -“No, indeed. We were shipwrecked, having been driven out of our course -by the storm. We are not robbers, your Majesty, but only unfortunate -voyagers.” - -He nodded. - -“You are indeed unfortunate to land upon the shore of Faytan,” said he. -“It means death to all of you.” - -“Not necessarily,” I returned, coolly. “For my part, I expect to live a -long time yet.” - -“You do not understand,” he persisted gently. “It is the law of the -island—the law of my forefathers—that all strangers who land upon Faytan -shall be put to death.” - -“A cruel law,” I remarked; “and an unjust one.” - -“It is to protect us from invasion,” he explained in a kindly tone. -“This is the richest island in all the world, and the most favored by -nature. My people are the bravest and strongest of mankind. No other -nation can at all compare with this, for we are protected and favored by -the powerful Pearl God.” As he mentioned this deity all the Faytans -present prostrated themselves, muttering: - -“The King is the Priest of the Pearl God. Through him we acquire power -and protection!” - -The king had also bowed his head, reverently and with no hint of -self-adulation. When the chant ended he turned to us and continued: - -“Strangers, it is not through hatred that your death is decreed. There -is no hate in my breast, although you have killed my father, the late -King of Faytan.” - -His voice faltered, and I exclaimed: - -“Killed the King! We? It is impossible.” - -His grief was readily explained now, but although these people posed as -our enemies I was really shocked at the assertion that we had rendered -this boy fatherless. - -“I do not think the deed was intentional,” he returned, musingly, “for -it was dark and your weapons could single out no man. But my noble -father’s death was the result of your coming here. When runners from the -other end of the island brought the news of your arrival, my father the -King set out at once with a band of chosen warriors to capture you. He -arrived at the cove at nightfall, in time to see your people leap into -your boats and start out to sea. Our warriors sent arrows after you, and -you replied with the weapons that sting. One stung my father and he fell -dead. The warriors brought him back to the Pearl City, where I slept, -and I was awakened to be told I had lost my dearest friend and was now -the King of Faytan.” - -He bowed his head again and for a time remained motionless. - -“I am sorry,” I said quietly. “It was the fortune of war.” - -“Yes,” he returned, raising his head to look at me curiously; “the -fortune of war; the same fate that led you here in the storm to meet -your death.” - -I began to feel a little uneasy. - -“Is there no way of evading that foolish law of yours?” I asked. - -“No. Away from Faytan every stranger is safe. He is nothing to us then. -But when a stranger comes to Faytan the law decrees his death. There is -no escape.” - -“Does the law say in what manner we are to die?” I inquired. - -“No. The King determines that. But it is our custom to grant our -prisoners the easiest death of which we have knowledge, which is by -drowning. The only demand of the law is that every invader shall die. -There is no desire on our part to be cruel.” - -I pondered the matter. - -“Does the law state how soon the prisoner shall die?” was my next -inquiry. - -“No. That would, of course, depend upon circumstances,” he admitted. - -“In that case, there is no need for us to worry over my death for the -present, or over that of this friend who is with me,” said I in my -easiest manner. “I begin to admire your law, your Majesty. It says very -truly that every intruder upon your island shall die. But every native -of Faytan, too, must die—in time.” - -He saw my point, but was not impressed. - -“The law says you shall be put to death, not that you will be permitted -to die in time,” said he. - -“Oh; very well, let it be that way,” I agreed. “But I am innocent of any -intent to wrong you, or any of your people, your Majesty; so I appeal to -you to postpone putting me to death as long as possible.” - -He stared at me in a puzzled way. - -“It is not fear,” he muttered, “that drives you to beg for your life—for -a few brief hours or days. What is it, then?” - -“I’ve acquired a habit of living,” said I, “and I hate to break it. Also -I have a duty to perform—to instruct you in the truth concerning the -great world outside of Faytan, of which I find you are very ignorant. I -must show you how far behind other nations you are; how much you have -yet to learn. You cannot gain this information from your own people, who -are as ignorant as you are; you must gain it from me, before I am put to -death. You say proudly that you rule a great country, but there is a way -for you to make it a far greater country. You say your people are happy -and prosperous, but I can teach you how to give them many comforts they -are now without.” - -At last I had interested him, for he was an intelligent youth. His eyes -flashed. He rose to his feet, facing me, and asked: - -“Can you do this?” - -“Yes; and more. I can tell you of things you have never even dreamed of, -which will make Faytan greater and more powerful than it has ever -been—since the beginning of time.” - -“Then,” said he, “your death shall wait until I have listened to your -teachings. But do not misunderstand me. I grant you neither pardon nor -life. I merely postpone your death.” - -“That is fair enough,” I answered. “I am satisfied.” - -Deliberately and with dignity he again seated himself, turning toward my -captors, who had heard all this conversation plainly. - -“You may go,” said he. - -Evidently the king had no thought of asking anyone’s advice as to his -actions. He told the captain of the guard to take us to a certain room -and keep us safely until he sent for us, and as we bowed low and left -the youthful monarch he turned and cast himself prone upon the blankets -of the throne again. When I looked back over my shoulder I found he had -buried his face in his hands and his attitude was one of great -dejection. - - - - - CHAPTER XII - THE “CROOKED ONE” - - -The Pearl Temple was also the Royal Palace, for as the king was the sole -priest of the Pearl God it was fitting that his abode should be in this -sacred place. Seldom has a nation placed the supreme power, both -religious and political, in the hands of one person. It is concrete -autocracy and usually a priesthood protects a country from its king -while the king protects it from the priests. But here was decidedly a -one-man rule—and the man was a boy. If we could win the boy’s friendship -there were no complications to thwart his will, and therein lay our sole -chance of salvation. - -Joe and I talked it over in our prison, a fine big room in the rear -portion of the temple, with windows opening on the square. There were no -guards, nor were we bound or otherwise restrained except by the command -of the king to remain in the room until sent for. We might easily have -dropped from one of the windows to the crowded streets; but that would -have availed us nothing. We might have walked out by way of the -corridors, and met the guards at the other end. Really, we were safe -enough, and our captors knew it. - -Our unfortunate mishap caused us considerable uneasiness. It was not so -much on account of our personal safety, although of that we had ample -cause to fear; but I worried lest my father or Uncle Naboth, suspecting -we were captured, should send out a party to attempt to rescue us. From -my present information I knew that would mean death to them all; only -while in the ship fort, with ample supplies of guns and ammunition, -could they successfully oppose these numerous and powerful Faytans. - -At noon we were given ample rations of excellent food; fish, turtle and -lobster forming the chief dishes. The drinking water, almost ice-cold -from earthen jars, was the finest I ever tasted. Women waited upon us, -but when I spoke to them in their native tongue they refused to answer. - -After the meal the king came in, unannounced and alone. The youth walked -with great dignity and his face was very sad. Sitting upon a bench -beside us he said: - -“You will tell me of the world beyond the sea, and I will listen. But -first tell me your names, and what island you come from.” - -We introduced ourselves and said we were Americans, but of course that -meant nothing to him. - -“I am Attero, the twentieth of that name who has ruled in Faytan,” said -he proudly. Then he began to examine our clothing and to feel the -texture of the cloth, asking us how it was made and of what use the -various garments might be. - -Joe is not much of a talker, so I spent several hours giving the king -the most primitive sort of information, taking care to so explain our -machinery and inventions as to set him wondering at our cleverness. He -was more interested at first in “the weapon that stings” than in any -other mechanical contrivance, and you may be sure I explained the -death-dealing character of our guns in a most impressive manner. - -“Your people are many, oh King,” said I; “but our rifles and revolvers -have more stings in them than you have people, although our own numbers -are so few.” - -He pondered this a moment. - -“I thought that might be so,” he returned. “That is a reason why I did -not sooner send my people to capture you. My chief Medicine Man, Kuru, -has been studying this matter, and Kuru has found that while the metal -stings enter human flesh, and pass through it, they do not go far into -the bark of the trees. For when my father and some of his people were -stung, many other stings flew over their heads and reached the forest, -where we found the marks they made. This is the first time such weapons -have been used by invaders into Faytan. All others have had spears and -arrows like our own. Also you are the only pale-skins who have come to -Faytan.” - -“The pale-skins have more wisdom than the dark-skins,” I asserted. “They -have conquered all the known world. The reason Faytan has not yet been -conquered by us is that until the storm drove us upon your coast we did -not know such an island existed.” - -He bowed gravely. - -“That proves how wise my forefathers were in making our laws,” said he. -“We have been left in peace because the restless pale-skins, who love to -conquer what does not belong to them, did not know where to find Faytan. -Had we permitted any to leave our shores alive you would then have heard -of us. Also my forefathers declared that other nations would want our -pearls, which have brought good luck to us for many years. Is that also -true?” - -“It is,” I replied frankly. “My people like all pretty things, and you -must know that pearls are found not alone in Faytan, but in many other -parts of the world.” - -He seemed surprised. - -“As many as we have?” he asked. - -“Perhaps not. But pearls are not unknown to us. See,” and I showed him -my watch fob, which was set with a large diamond surrounded by small -pearls. He paid no attention to the diamond but examined the pearls -carefully. Then he smiled. - -“Have you seen any so small, so dull and colorless in my kingdom?” he -asked. - -“No, your Majesty.” - -“Such trifles grow in small shellfish, which we do not open, but throw -back into the sea to allow them to grow. Those which you have are dead. -The life is gone from them. We know how to keep all our pearls alive by -bathing them in the salt water,” he said. Then he asked. “What is on the -other end of this yellow chain?” - -I exhibited my watch and explained its use. He was greatly excited over -this trinket, especially when I showed him the wheels and how to keep -them going by winding. I thought it good policy to make him a present of -the watch, which was a cheap affair, and he accepted it with evidences -of joy and gave me in return a necklace of pearls worth a fortune. - -When he left us he said: - -“You must tell me more of your wonderful land and your wise people, for -truly you are able to teach me much.” - -He paused on his way out and came slowly back to us. - -“Tell me how my people can be safe from your stings,” he begged. - -“By keeping a long distance away from them,” I replied promptly. - -“Is there no other way?” - -“None, your Majesty.” - -“My chief Medicine Man, Kuru, thought that if we made shields of bark, -and carried them before us, the stings would not hurt.” - -That explained the work we had seen the natives doing in the forest. But -I hastened to assure King Attero that such shields were useless, as when -they came neat to our guns the bullets would go through them easily. - -“Then,” said he, in a grieved tone, “many of my people will die, for -they will make the attack to-morrow morning.” - -“Can you not send swift messengers and stop them?” I asked anxiously. - -“I will not do that,” he answered, “for it is not good to give one order -to change another. But I will spend the night in beseeching the great -Pearl God to protect my people from the pale-skins. Our god has never -yet failed us.” - -With that he left us and we saw no more of him until the following -afternoon. When he entered our room then, the boy king was more cheerful -of countenance and stepped more firmly and proudly than ever. - -“The Pearl God told me not to fear, for all would be well with my -people,” he announced. - -I looked at him curiously. Could one so naturally intelligent really -believe some mythical god had spoken to him? But it is not safe to -question anyone’s religion. Ignoring the point I asked: - -“Have you heard news of the battle?” - -“Yes. Many of my warriors have been killed, and your ship has not yet -been captured. But they are still fighting.” - -I heard this report with pleasure, and Joe shouted: “Hooray!” - -The king did not seem annoyed. - -“If we do not succeed to-day, we will to-morrow,” he prophesied, with -cool assurance. “For to-morrow I shall go to the battle myself, and -carry with me our greatest Chieftain, known as the Crooked One.” - -“May we go, also?” I inquired, eagerly. - -He considered the request thoughtfully. Then he replied: - -“It would seem best to drown you both this evening, before I leave for -the fight. The Crooked One has advised that, and his wisdom is great. -But I wish to be taught more of your knowledge, so I will let you live -until my return.” - -“But why must we stay here?” I asked. - -“Would you assist me in defeating your people, if I took you with me?” - -“No,” said I. - -He took my hand and touched it lightly to his breast. - -“What I like in the pale-skins,” he said, “is the truth-tongue. You do -not try to deceive me. That is why I have let you live to teach me. From -a lying teacher I would gain but little knowledge.” - -I have said before that this boy was remarkably intelligent for a -savage. There was also a nobility in his nature that was admirable and -noteworthy. I am no more truthful than the average American, but it was -not easy to try to deceive one of so simple and frank a character. From -the first I had thought it the best policy to be honest with him. Had -the pale-skins always been honest in their dealings with the -dark-skinned races many national tragedies would have been averted. - -We passed several hours in conversation, Joe taking a part in the talk, -now and then, but leaving most of it to me. Finally the king withdrew, -saying he would not see us again until after his return from the “war.” - -It was getting dark and we were thinking of going to bed on our -benches—which were plentifully supplied with soft blankets—when a sound -of slow and dragging footsteps along the corridor aroused us. A light -flickered across the doorway and was followed by a native bearing a -torch of rottenwood. - -At once I knew who it was. The shrewd, withered features, iron-gray -locks and penetrating glance; the humpbacked frame, long arms and -spindle legs could belong to none but the “Crooked One,” of whom the -king had spoken. I wondered if he came with his Majesty’s permission, -for he shielded the torch with a portion of an ample robe that partially -covered his misshapen body and peered at us silently a while before -addressing us. - -Then he said, speaking in a low, soft voice: - -“Strangers, I am here to assist you. Our mighty King, the wise Attero, -has accepted you as his friends; but that will not save you from the -death which the law decrees.” - -He paused impressively, and I asked: - -“What _will_ save us, then?” - -“Perhaps nothing at all,” he returned, evasively. “But I am the King’s -adviser, even as I was his father’s adviser, and I command all the -warriors of Faytan. If King Attero listens to anyone, he will listen to -me.” - -“And you will try to save us?” - -“If you will do what I am about to ask.” - -I reflected. - -“There seems no way to evade the law,” said I. “The law is as old as -Faytan, I am told, and demands the death of every stranger landing upon -your shores. The King has himself informed us that he is powerless to -evade the law, even if he desired to.” - -The Crooked One smiled sardonically. - -“Who makes the laws of Faytan?” he demanded. - -“The King’s forefathers made this law, it seems,” I returned. - -“True. Only the King can make a law in Faytan. And—_only the King can -unmake it_.” - -I sprang to my feet, inspired by a new hope. Of course the king had -power to abrogate the present law! Why had I not thought of this before? -It was an absurd law. The king was our friend. - -The Crooked One, having spoken so impressively, was now regarding us -with marked attention. The look enabled me to recover my composure -quickly. - -“Well, then?” said I. - -He sat down upon a bench, looking more crooked than ever. - -“I am Chief of the Warriors of Faytan,” he repeated. “I have fought many -invaders, and all are dead. For it is true that until now none has been -able to resist the number and power of the Faytans I have led. Your own -people cannot resist them for long; yet they are more terrible in a -fight than any we have ever met. There are perhaps as many persons in -your ship as I have fingers and toes; there are more Faytans than the -hairs of my head. In time, in spite of your stinging weapons, which the -King says are called guns, we shall surely capture you all. But if there -is much fighting many of my warriors will have died before we conquer -and destroy the pale-skins. I do not wish to have my warriors die. Why -is it necessary? So I have come to you, the King’s teachers, to say -this: Teach me, also. Teach me how to capture your people, and in return -I will ask the King to make a new law and cancel the old one, so that -you two will be permitted to remain in Faytan as long as you live, not -only safe from harm but honored by the King and all his people.” - -“Chief,” I returned, amused but angry, “we could not be honored by -anyone if we proved ourselves dishonorable. Will any of your warriors -betray you, or your King, to save their own lives? I do not think they -would. Nor will we be less noble than the Faytans. But I will give you -this answer: We could not betray our people if we would; for there is no -way you or your warriors can avoid death if you fight with the -pale-skins. Had you made them your friends they would have gone away and -left you in peace. But if you foolishly continue to make war upon them, -you and your island are lost forever, for no human power can save you.” - -“A man is but a man,” he returned, “whether his skin be pale or brown. -You have powerful weapons, but you are few in numbers. If you could kill -half my warriors the other half would finally conquer you.” - -“That remains to be proven,” I said. - -He arose from the bench and paced up and down, the light of the torch -making him appear like some huge goblin. - -“So you would sacrifice your own lives to save your friends?” he asked. - -“Willingly, if it is necessary.” - -“And are they as loyal to you?” - -“Any one of them would die to save us,” I asserted proudly. - -He laughed at this; a low, cackling laugh that was not pleasant to hear. - -“Then they must be allowed to do so,” he said, and picking up the torch -left the room without another word or even a parting glance in our -direction. - -“I don’t like that,” growled Joe. “He’s up to some deviltry, I’m sure.” - -“The same thing has occurred to me,” I replied. “Let us remember his -words. He will allow our friends to die to save our lives. It’s a trick -of some sort, Joe. The Crooked One is far more dangerous than the King -himself.” - -“What can he do?” inquired my friend. - -“I don’t know; but that clever old head has conceived some shrewd idea, -or I’m greatly mistaken. We must be on our guard, Joe. I wish we had -some way of warning our people.” - -“Might send them a wireless,” said Joe, grinning. - -“Well, let’s go to bed and forget it,” I suggested. “Nothing can happen -before morning, anyhow.” - - - - - CHAPTER XIII - LIVING SHIELDS - - -But in this declaration I was wrong. Something happened within the -hour—a summons to attend the king. We had gone to bed but had not fallen -asleep when the messenger came, so in a few moments we were ready to -follow the captain of the guard to the throne room. - -His Majesty was ready for the field. He bore a short spear with rows of -pearls set in the shaft, and over his shoulder was slung a bow and sheaf -of arrows. In his belt was the native two-edged tomahawk, and the young -fellow looked fit to render a good account of himself, had he been going -to fight savages like himself. - -Beside the king stood the Crooked One, who bore no arms at all. We -afterward learned that this famous chieftain, contrary to the custom of -these islanders, never fought in person but contented himself planning -the battle and directing his men. In this he was unconsciously imitating -the great generals of the civilized world. - -“Come,” said Attero. “We are ready for the journey.” - -“Oh! are we to go along?” I asked in surprise. - -“Yes,” said he, and marched out into the square. We followed. It was -pitch dark, but a group of men outside bore torches. Several litters had -been provided, similar to the “stretchers” we carry wounded men on. The -king took possession of one of these, the Crooked One of another. A -third and fourth were for the use of Joe and myself. As soon as I had -reclined upon the litter four men started away with it, going on a jog -trot, and I found it by no means uncomfortable. - -It was a queer procession. Half a dozen runners carried torches ahead of -us to light the way. The king’s litter came first; then the chieftain’s, -followed by mine and Joe’s. More torchbearers closed the line. And so we -proceeded at a rapid pace over hill and dale through the black night to -the opposite end of the island. - -As we came to the further edge of the forest, dawn broke. It was a gray, -dismal day and I thought the sky threatened rain. - -A great assemblage of warriors met us and welcomed the king and the -Crooked One with evident satisfaction. I stood by and listened while -several leaders made their reports. It seemed the fighting had been -constant the day before, and time and again the natives had been -repulsed with heavy loss. The “stinging things” went straight through -the bark shields, which the wise Kuru had recommended, and they had -therefore been abandoned. Between the forest and the ship the plain was -strewn with dead and wounded Faytans, and their friends could only go -under cover of darkness to reclaim their bodies, as whenever they showed -themselves a hail of bullets greeted them. - -I was very proud to learn that my friends were doing such excellent -work. Against their rapid-fire guns the poor natives with their -primitive weapons had no show whatever. Yet the simple creatures had -persisted in sacrificing themselves uselessly. - -The Crooked One listened calmly to the reports. Then he asked: - -“Have any of the invaders left the ship?” - -Not any, they told him, since the two who were prisoners had flown away -through the air. - -“Very good,” said he. “To-day, my warriors, we will capture all the -pale-skins.” - -I was curious to learn how he would do it; but breakfast seemed the -first thing on the programme, and of this meal Joe and I were given an -ample share. - -Afterwards the king walked aside with his chieftain while they conferred -together privately, speaking in low tones. The natives, stolid and calm, -obeying implicitly—and indifferent to life or death—awaited their -pleasure in silence. Then Joe and I were led to the edge of the forest -and permitted to step out into the open and observe the ship. There was -no sign of life on board at first, and rather anxiously I pulled out my -handkerchief and waved it to and fro, regardless of the Faytans just -behind me. Joe imitated my example and after a moment a flag was run up -on the mainmast and ducked once or twice to show we had been recognized. - -To find only that short distance separating us from our friends was -distinctly aggravating and I was almost tempted to cut and run for the -ship and chance a spear thrust between my shoulders. Turning my head to -see how near the natives were I found the Crooked One grinning with much -satisfaction, and saw him exchange a triumphant glance with the youthful -king. - -This nettled me, for I at once suspected we had been playing into the -hands of our enemies and for some reason had been placed where we were -in order that our friends on the ship might recognize us. A moment later -the chieftain gave a signal and we were seized by strong natives and our -hands bound firmly behind our backs. - -Then the mystery was explained. - -The Faytan warriors, fully armed, formed in two long lines just behind -us, Joe being placed in front of one line and I before another. It was -easy to guess their plan then. They intended to use us for living -shields, believing our friends would not dare to fire upon us, and so -advance near enough to the ship to board it with a rush and slay the -pale-skins by sheer force of numbers. - -It was a desperate attempt, cleverly conceived, and based upon my -assertion to the Crooked One that our friends would sacrifice themselves -for our sakes. - -But nature took a hand in the game just then. The sky had been overcast -since daybreak, and just as the two lines were advancing into the open, -pushing Joe and me before them, the clouds opened and immense drops of -rain came pattering down. It grew dark, too, so that we could scarcely -see the ship, and the Faytans hesitated and looked inquiringly at their -chieftain. - -The Crooked One eyed the sky, listened to the low growl of thunder, and -ordered his men back to the forest. Next moment the rain came down in -floods, and a bolt of lightning crashed overhead and sent a tall tree -toppling down upon us. No one was hurt, but it was now so dark we could -not see one another, and the great battle of the elements seemed to -render our puny human war insignificant. - -I realized this would be a good time to make a break for liberty, but -our hands were tied and the cords held by stalwart Faytans, so that we -were unable to take advantage of the opportunity. - -Crash after crash succeeded, and the thunder was deafening, while around -us the lightning darted like angry serpents. They have terrible storms -in these tropics, at times, and it is no unusual thing for an island to -suddenly disappear and never be heard of again. The tempest we now -experienced was so extraordinary that I believe it awed even the -natives. - -I could hear the sea pounding against the rocks and wondered if the -boats patrolling the reefs could survive. An hour, perhaps, the storm -lasted; but it broke almost as suddenly as it began, and while the trees -still dripped rivulets upon us, who were drenched to the skin already, -the sun came out brilliantly, shining for the first time that day. The -clouds tumbled away hurriedly, as if they had business elsewhere; the -wind hushed and was still and only the fierce boom of the breakers -remained to remind us of our late fearful experience. - -The Faytans also recovered quickly. A few moments sufficed to turn the -hundreds of dusky dripping statues into eager, alert warriors, and again -the Crooked One ordered the advance—in the same manner previously -attempted. - -Neither Joe nor I was big enough to fully cover the lines of gigantic -warriors crowding behind us; but the idea was that our friends would not -dare fire for fear of hitting us. If the natives could in this manner -advance close enough to stampede up the rocks to the ship, they hoped to -get enough men aboard to conquer our small party very quickly. For at -close range the savages had no doubt of their own superiority. - -For a time it seemed their plot would be successful. Joe and I held back -as much as we could, with that pushing crowd behind us, but steadily we -approached the ship and no sign came from those on board. I began to be -worried. Surely Uncle Naboth and Ned Britton were too clever to allow a -lot of half naked islanders to outwit them; yet not a head appeared -above the bulwarks, not a puff of smoke or rifle ball proved that our -tried and trusty seamen were prepared to sell their lives dearly and -defend the women to the last. - -We had reached the first of the rocks that clustered above the shore and -had began to stumble over them when, with an abruptness that fairly made -me jump, a near by crack of firearms saluted us and a straggling volley -was poured upon the devoted natives. Not from the ship, however; the -shots came from a ridge of rocks directly to the left of us, and the -Faytans began falling by the dozens. - -“Drop, Joe!” I cried, and at the same time fell flat upon my face -between two protecting rocks and lay there while the slaughter -continued. - -I was exulting in the strategy that had outflanked the Faytans and -reflecting that our boys had made a dash for those rocks during the -darkness of the storm, when their movements could not be observed, when -two stout arms seized me and raised me bodily from the ground. I thought -at first some of our own people had rescued me, but being turned face -down over a broad shoulder I saw the dusky skin of a savage below me and -knew that I had been taken by a Faytan. - -Instantly I began to struggle and cry out, but bound as I was I could -offer no serious resistance and my howls were almost drowned by the -crack of rifles, which continued unabated. I know now that my friends -saw my plight and Ned and Señor de Jiminez, who were both splendid -shots, made one or two attempts to bring down my captor; but my -sprawling body so covered him that only his head and legs were free, and -to fire at him at all was to put me in imminent danger. - -He was a powerful fellow, and fairly ran with me—no light burden, if I -am small—back to the forest. There were few of his band as successful -and he doubtless owed his own safety to the fact that he bore me upon -his back. - -The “stinging weapons” had played fearful havoc with the attacking -party, and even as the few stragglers who survived—most of them -wounded—crept back to the protecting forest, our men sallied from the -rocks, hastily stripped the pearl ornaments from the fallen, and -regained the ship without a single casualty. - -I stood among the trees watching them, with the king at one side of me -and the Crooked One on the other side. My joy was equaled by the chagrin -of my enemies when we saw Joe was safe with his comrades and being -complimented on all sides, while the ladies waved their handkerchiefs to -him from the deck of the ship. - -We were a silent party. I, because I was so disappointed and disgusted -at my hard luck that I could almost have cried, and the others because -their prettily conceived plan of attack had been thwarted and their -warriors mowed down by scores. - -“It is useless, your Majesty,” announced the Crooked One, regretfully; -“the weapons of the pale-skins are too bitter for us to face. The other -plan is best. It will require time and patience; but it is best.” - -“Come, then,” replied the King, briefly. “We will return to the city.” - -“What is the other plan?” I inquired, as we were conducted to our -litters. - -“We shall let thirst and hunger fight for us,” answered Attero, readily. -“Your people will soon need fresh water; but they cannot get it without -entering the forest, where my warriors will patiently await them.” - -I got into my litter, where my bonds were removed and I was borne along -by my bearers beside the king. - -“Did the boats escape the storm?” I asked presently. - -He nodded. - -“Of course. There was less danger to them on the water than to us in the -forest.” - -“But the reefs—” - -“My men are fishes first, and warriors afterward. They are used to -storms and do not dread them.” - -I did not see how any living thing could withstand the breakers on the -reefs, but said nothing more on that subject. - -The king was unusually quiet and seemed not to wish to converse with me. -I could not well blame him, seeing he had just witnessed the destruction -of many of his choicest fighting men. - -Dismally enough we made our way back to the Pearl City, where to my -satisfaction I was taken to my old room at the back of the temple. I -missed Joe, but was glad he was safe with his friends. It was not the -room that I cared especially for, but the evidence that I still retained -the young king’s good will. Had he ordered me to some other place in -close confinement, I might know my end was not very far off. - - - - - CHAPTER XIV - A DESPERATE ATTEMPT - - -Attero sent for me the following day and asked me to continue my -descriptions of American life. In view of the fact that he was -determined upon the destruction of our entire band I thought best to -impress upon him our national importance and to assure him that, as our -ships sailed every sea, it was only a question of time when others would -discover Faytan and come in such numbers that they could not be -successfully opposed. Also I explained many of the luxuries and -conveniences we enjoyed, of which the Faytans were wholly ignorant, and -informed the king that he and his people could readily secure them all -in exchange for a portion of their pearls. - -“At present the pearls are of no value to you,” said I, “as you can use -them only as ornaments. But by disposing of even your smallest ones you -can secure practical inventions and manufactured goods that would have -the effect of civilizing your people and render their lives far more -pleasant and useful.” - -Attero thought deeply upon this matter, and I could see my arguments -tempted him; but neither during this interview nor others could I -overthrow the prejudices inherited from a long line of exclusive -ancestors, who believed Faytan was the important portion of the world -and none but Faytans must ever be permitted to live upon the island. - -“I would like the good things the pale-skins have,” he admitted, “but -not at the price we would have to pay. Our riches lie in our pearls; not -because they could be exchanged for so many other things, but because -they bring us good luck, and the vast collection we have keeps the Pearl -God here among us, and thus insures his protection. We are now -prosperous and do not miss your great inventions because we have never -had them. But if we allowed you to go away and return with more of your -people, think what would happen! Our happy life would become one of -turmoil and eagerness to gain worldly goods. Some of my people would -want more than their share, and that would lead to envy and quarrels. At -present all property belongs to the King, and each of his subjects is -given what he requires. My people are content with this condition and it -would be foolish for me to change it.” - -“Then,” said I, “I have another proposition. Allow us to leave this -island, and do you come with us as our guest. We will take you to -America and show you our cities and our great civilization. You will -acquire much wisdom, much learning and experience. And afterward, if you -still desire it, we will bring you back here, land you upon your island, -and go away without telling anyone of Faytan or its king. We will -faithfully keep your secret, your Majesty, and you will be no worse off -than before we came, but far richer in knowledge of the world.” - -I thought this would win him, for a time; but finally he rejected the -plan, as he did all others I suggested. We talked together on several -days, but my stories of our life and the wonders of our civilization -seemed to content him. One evening he said to me: - -“You have given me much to think of, Steele; and after you are dead I -shall remember you as a good teacher. I am even sorry the law compels me -to put you to death; but it does, and my chiefs and medicine men are -beginning to reproach me for the delay.” - -“The King is supreme,” I said rather uneasily. - -“Because he obeys the same laws his subjects do,” was the answer. “Were -I to disobey the laws of my great ancestors there would soon be rebels -and traitors in Faytan.” - -I remembered the suggestion of the Crooked One. - -“The King who makes the laws has power to change them,” I asserted. “If -you proclaim a new law, saying that I, your friend, must be permitted to -live, your subjects will accept it willingly.” - -He smiled and looked at me rather pityingly. - -“It would please me to do that,” said he; “but it would be wrong. I must -not, for my own pleasure, disobey my forefathers, who in their wisdom -said that all strangers must be put to death. Is my own judgment so -perfect that I dare oppose that of twenty noble rulers of Faytan? No. I -have the power to save you in that way; but I will not do so.” - -“Never mind,” said I; “we will speak of this matter again, some other -time.” - -He gave me a steady look. - -“There will be no opportunity,” was his reply. “I like you, Steele. I am -glad you have been my friend. But to-morrow you will be put to death.” - -“To-morrow!” - -“I have waited too long already. My people are unhappy to see a -pale-skin alive when the law condemns him to death. It will be -to-morrow.” - -He turned away. - -“Wait, your Majesty—hear me!” I pleaded. - -He waved me aside with a haughty gesture and left the room. The Faytans -are philosophers and accept death without a murmur. The king, my friend, -could not understand my protest. - -Friend? Well, it was a queer sort of friendship that made no effort to -save me; that had no sympathy for my unhappy fate. - -I am a good deal of a coward at times. That night I could not sleep. -Thinking over my predicament with sober care I could see no possible way -of escape. My prison was well guarded. If I managed to leave it there -was no chance of my being able to pass through the native city and gain -the ship unchallenged. Still, desperate conditions require desperate -remedies, and I had my two revolvers in my pocket, both fully loaded. -About midnight it occurred to me to make a bold dash for liberty. If I -failed I could be no worse off than now, since I was condemned to die -the next morning. - -The windows of my room were not glazed or barred. They were big square -openings placed about five feet above the floor. By standing on the -stone bench that ran around the room I could look out upon the square at -the rear of the temple. I had no light; neither was there any light -burned outside; but the stars were bright enough for me to observe all -surrounding objects distinctly. I found the square deserted save by a -solitary form standing almost directly beneath my window, his back -toward me. A blanket covered his head and shoulders, for the natives -dread the chill night air and usually wear a blanket in this manner when -abroad at night. - -I waited for the man to move away, but when a half hour passed and he -did not stir I decided he was a sentry placed there to prevent my -escape. It was the first time a guard of any sort had been set to watch -over me. - -The sight of his blanket gave me an idea. I gathered up one of the -heaviest of those with which my bench was provided and creeping into the -thick embrasure of the window I spread the blanket, dropped it swiftly -over the head of the sentry, and then leaped down and caught him firmly -around the arms, bearing him to the ground with my weight. - -Although muffled in the blanket, which obstructed free action, the -fellow struggled desperately, and I soon realized I could not subdue -him. I dared not fire a revolver, as the sound would bring a horde upon -me; so I managed to draw my pocket knife and open the blade. With this I -stabbed repeatedly at the blanket, trying to reach the man’s heart, but -the cloth was so thick and closely woven that the rather blunt end of my -knife would not penetrate it, and all the while I was having greater -difficulty in holding him down. - -Rendered desperate by this condition I suddenly sprang away and made for -the nearest alley that led out of the square, leaving the sentry to -fumble with the blanket until he could free his head. - -Before he could do this I had entered a narrow street, up which I ran at -my best speed. By good luck it led westward, and I had visions of making -a successful run across the island when suddenly in the darkness a pair -of strong arms were flung around me and I was pinioned in a viselike -grip. - -“Pardon me,” said a low, sneering voice, in the native tongue. “It is -not wise to walk out at night. The dews of Faytan are dangerous.” - -It was the Crooked One. - -Panting and breathless I stood an unresisting prisoner, for I knew the -game was up. But I did not reply, understanding that any remark would -only call forth more triumphant sneers. As we stood there footsteps -hastily approached and another joined us. - -“Have you got him?” asked the newcomer. - -“Yes, your Majesty.” - -“Good,” said Attero. “He nearly smothered me.” - -“I beg your Majesty’s pardon,” said I. “I had no idea it was you.” - -“And had you known—what then?” he asked. - -“I believe I should have acted in the same way.” - -The Crooked One laughed, and said: - -“While I hold him, your Majesty will do well to search him. He may carry -dangerous weapons.” - -Attero had no hesitation in obeying this request. He took away my -revolvers. My knife I had dropped in the square. Then I was led back to -my prison. - -“I suspected,” said the Crooked One as he thrust me into my old room, -“that on this night you would attempt to escape, knowing you are to die -to-morrow.” - -“It was but natural,” added the king, calmly. “So we watched, my -chieftain and I, that we might prevent it. Good night, Steele. Myself, I -cannot sleep because of your impending doom. It makes me very unhappy. -But die you must.” - -With these words he left me, but the Crooked One remained to say: - -“Every street is well guarded. Escape is impossible. Be patient, -therefore, for no man can evade his fate.” - -He shuffled after the king, and left alone I threw myself upon the bench -and waited for daylight. - - - - - CHAPTER XV - MY EXECUTION - - -I have several times been in danger of a violent death, and yet I still -survive. “No man can evade his fate,” said the Crooked One; yet it is -equally true that no man knows or can foresee his fate. One who -frequently escapes death learns to fall back upon philosophy and ceases -to worry overmuch. - -I must have fallen asleep after a time, for when I opened my eyes the -sun was flooding the room and my usual breakfast of milk and fruits -stood upon the bench near me. I had scarcely finished the meal when in -came a dozen Faytan warriors, headed by the Crooked One himself. - -“Are you ready?” he asked. - -“What if I am not?” I retorted. “You intend I shall go with you, of -course.” - -He inclined his head gravely—not mockingly. Even he, standing in the -presence of death, respected my feelings. - -They did not bind me, but led me out between close files of the -warriors. In the square was a vast crowd, silent and attentive. With my -guard I passed to the east and took the broadest thoroughfare—that -leading to the bay. - -I had never been in this direction before, but I remembered seeing the -water front from the airship when Joe and I first entered the city. The -crowd swayed back to let us pass and then closed up behind us, following -after in a long procession. - -It was not far to the beautiful landlocked bay before which the Pearl -City had been built, and when it came into full view I found the water -thickly covered with boats of every description. The entire populace -seemed to have turned out to witness my execution, and the occasion -partook of the nature of a festival, for boats, barges and buildings -were gay with the peculiar banners these people use for decoration. They -were of all colors and shapes, and every one was bordered with pearls. - -One of the biggest flat-bottomed barges, manned by a score of oarsmen, -lay at the foot of the street waiting to receive us. I stepped aboard, -the guards followed and the Crooked One took a seat beside me. Then, -while the crowd scrambled for all the empty boats remaining, our oarsmen -dipped their paddles and we moved slowly away toward the center of the -bay. - -A clear space, several hundred feet in diameter, had been left for my -exclusive use, and I looked at it rather disapprovingly because the -clear, smooth stretch of water was destined, seemingly, to extinguish -all my future hopes and ambitions. Death by drowning may be a merciful -mode of execution, but I do not think any condemned person can look with -composure upon death in any form. For my part I took a sudden aversion -to water, although I had always loved it before. - -First we drew up before the royal barge, in which sat the young king -upon a high seat. Around this place, and indeed all around the clear -space in the bay, were clustered hundreds of boats, so densely packed -that their sides touched. Every boat had as many passengers as it would -hold, but the natives were quiet and no shouts nor jeering did I hear. - -Standing up beside me the Crooked One bowed low before the king and said -in a loud voice: - -“Here is a stranger who has dared to land upon the shores of Faytan. -What shall be done with him, King of Faytan?” - -“Let him die,” answered the king, speaking so that all might hear. - -With an abruptness that startled me, all that vast concourse repeated -the sentence after him: - -“Let him die!” - -It was a veritable roar of voices, expressing all the restrained -repugnance of the people for a stranger and their demand for vengeance. -It was not so much personal hatred on their part as a desire that I -should pay the long deferred penalty for my crime—the crime of being -shipwrecked on their coast. - -The chieftain resumed his seat and motioned to the oarsmen. With their -former deliberation they paddled us out into the clear space, until we -had reached the very center of it. Quite naturally I had expected to be -bound and have a weight attached to me before I was thrown overboard to -drown, but it transpired that this was not the Faytan custom. The king -had said he was merciful and did not torture his victims, yet it was -with a thrill of horror that I realized my death was to be made a -spectacle for the delectation of the natives, who were assembled to -watch and enjoy my struggles as I slowly drowned. - -Two strong warriors caught me up and tossed me into the water without -any warning or preparation. Then the barge receded to a position beside -that of the king, leaving me to my fate. - -I am a good swimmer, having lived on the water all my life. After the -plunge I arose to the surface, supported myself and looked about me. My -clothes were a drag upon me, so I managed to divest myself of my coat -and my shoes while I trod water. - -Why I should make what appeared a useless struggle for a brief period of -life was not clear to my mind just then. I was the center of a great -theater and thousands of eyes watched me with grave interest. At the -edge of the clearing a man was stationed in the prow of every boat with -an uplifted spear to prevent my clinging to the side. They wanted me to -struggle. The longer I tried to keep above water the longer the -spectacle would last. No matter how powerful a swimmer I might prove I -would wear out my strength in time, and they were prepared to wait -patiently to witness my antics and my final conquest. - -The thought came to me to disappoint them by letting myself quietly -drown at once; but so strong is hope in the human breast that I -abandoned the idea and determined, instead, to fight it out to the very -end. - -I rested leisurely upon my back, trying to avoid giving way to -excitement and wondering how long I could last, when suddenly a dark -object swept across the sky, approaching me with marvelous rapidity. In -an instant I knew it was the biplane, and the knowledge so excited me -that it was almost fatal. I rolled over and began to sink; then I -struggled to the surface to find the airship just over me. - -“Catch hold of the frame—here—anywhere!” called an eager voice—eager -though it strove to be calm. - -I raised myself and made a frantic effort to obey, but failed and sank -again. When I came to the surface a moment later the biplane was -circling over the bay. Again it came toward me, and this time it dipped -until it nearly touched the water. I grabbed the frame as it passed by -and clung to it desperately, for it nearly jerked my arms from their -sockets. - -Arrows were whizzing about me in a cloud; the natives were shouting -angrily and a thousand boats were rushing toward us; but the next -instant I was high in the air, dangling from the frail crossbar of the -lower plane, and my safety was only a question of whether I could hang -on or not. - -A face bent over me from the seat and stared into mine—a girl’s face. - -“Lucia!” I cried in wonder. - -“Save your breath and hold on!” she returned. “Can you manage it, Sam?” - -“I’ll try—for awhile.” - -“Till we get to the ship?” - -“I—I’m afraid not.” - -Indeed, this rush through the air was fast driving the life out of me. -My arms and hands were so numb there was no feeling in them at all. -Lucia had straightened up to attend to the machine, and the next thing I -knew I bumped the earth, lost my hold, and went rolling over and over. - -“Quick!” cried the girl. “Let me help you.” - -I sat up, quite dazed, and glanced about me. We were in an open field, -just now deserted by the natives, and Alfonso’s _Antoinette_ rested upon -the ground a short distance away. I could not have stood alone, but -Lucia dragged me to my feet and half supported me while I tottered to -the machine. It was a great effort to climb aboard, but the girl, -naturally strong and rendered doubly so by excitement, got me into the -seat and then deftly started the motors as she sprang up beside me. - -The machine rolled along the ground a little way, lifted its nose and -then soared into the air like a bird. I was still marveling at the -girl’s wonderful control of the aëroplane when the ship came in sight. -We dipped downward, the motor ceased to whir and the next moment we -gracefully alighted full upon the deck of the ship. - -A mighty cheer rang in my ears. Then all turned black and I lost -consciousness. - - - - - CHAPTER XVI - THE WAY IT HAPPENED - - -When I recovered I was surrounded by my friends. Father and Uncle Naboth -were administering restoratives while Ned Britton, Alfonso and Señor de -Jiminez stood by in a sympathetic group with the sailors for a -background. Lucia, squatted in a heap upon the deck, was sobbing into a -wet handkerchief. Evidently, now that the adventure was over, the brave -girl was wholly unnerved. - -Still dazed, but trying to collect my thoughts, I sat up. - -“Where’s Joe?” I asked. - -My father was silent and Uncle Naboth shook his head. Lucia redoubled -her sobs. This made me anxious. I got upon my feet with an effort and -said: - -“Isn’t he here?” - -“No,” said Lucia, spreading out her hands with a piteous gesture. “He is -in the Pearl City. I left him there.” - -Then, by degrees, they explained it all to me. Joe could not rest -contented while he knew I was in danger, and from his knowledge of King -Attero he believed the savage ruler would drown me as soon as I ceased -to interest him in my tales of the civilized world. He confided his -fears to Lucia, and suggested that as the biplane was still reposing -upon the roof of the house in the Pearl City, he might rescue me by its -aid if he could succeed in getting there. He had already crossed the -island twice, and believed he could make the trip in a single night. -Lucia encouraged him to make the attempt, and offered to go with him; -but he would not allow her to do that. When Joe mentioned the matter to -father and Uncle Naboth they both disapproved the idea, considering it a -hopeless and foolhardy adventure. They did not forbid him to go, -however, but said if he undertook the thing he must do so on his own -responsibility. - -My friend would not be dissuaded, but he confided no further in my -relatives and went about his preparations in his own way. With Lucia’s -aid he made a stain that dyed his skin to a copper color, and then -stripped himself of all clothing except a loin cloth such as the Faytans -wore. He took a blanket and his revolvers and then, when all was ready -and night came, Lucia let down a knotted rope for him and he climbed -down the side unobserved and began his journey. - -The girl, meantime, had made up her mind not to be deprived of the glory -of a share in the adventure. With the impulsiveness of a Spaniard in her -was united the athletic training of an American girl, and her romantic -nature impelled her to an act that was no less than folly. She silently -followed Joe and tracked him more than half way across the island before -he discovered her. Then he was in a dilemma. She positively refused to -return to the ship, and he did not like to have her do so unattended. On -the other hand he had an intuition that I was in immediate danger and -time pressed, so he dared not go back and postpone the event. Therefore -he unwillingly permitted the girl to accompany him. - -After they had succeeded in passing the warriors in the forest they met -no delays on their journey and before daybreak arrived at the city. Joe -found the house where we had left the airship, but could not get in. He -secreted himself and Lucia in a nook between two rear buildings until -morning, when the family that inhabited the place arose. By good luck -they managed to creep in unobserved and made their way to the roof, -where they found the biplane had been left undisturbed. The natives knew -nothing of its operation and perhaps regarded the machine with -superstitious awe. - -In overhauling the machine Joe discovered that Lucia understood it as -well as he did. She had watched us put it together and repair it after -Alfonso’s accident and had listened carefully and intelligently while we -were instructed in its use. Now she helped Joe adjust it, and they got -it in order just as I was led out for my execution. - -Peering over the edge of the roof Joe watched me being led away and at -first could not understand what was up. But when the entire population -not already gathered at the water front hurried after us, he gave a -shrewd guess that the hour of my execution was at hand. - -He knew pretty well what the programme would be. I was to be drowned in -sight of the watching Faytans. The water front was not visible from -their station on the housetop, but Lucia proposed she should take a -flight in the airship and find out how seriously I was in danger. - -He allowed her to go for two reasons. One was that he believed he could -start the machine all right from the roof, which she could not do. And -then, if she found a chance to rescue me, we could go back to the ship -in the biplane and Lucia and I would both be saved. To go himself meant -to leave her there alone upon the roof, in a strange city and surrounded -by enemies. - -Of course her mission was a desperate one at the best; but Joe -considered it less hazardous than for her to be left upon the roof, and -the biplane could not be trusted to carry three. - -He questioned Lucia closely, and her knowledge of the machine was more -accurate than his own. She had never operated it, but neither had he, -for that matter, so in the end he let her go. - -The biplane was started safely at the first attempt, and Lucia rose well -into the air and circled around until she got her bearings and could -overlook the tragedy being enacted on the bay. Then, seeing my danger, -she headed directly for me—and the result you know. - -“Where is he now?” I asked Lucia. - -“Still in the Pearl City,” she replied. “Before I left him he said he -would hide until to-night and then make his way back across the island.” - -“Did he say where he would hide?” - -“Yes. He was afraid some one would visit the roof as soon as the natives -found that the airship had been taken away. So, while every one was on -the water front, he intended to steal away and hide in the room that -used to be your prison, at the back of the temple. He said no one would -think of looking for him there, and he could get in through the windows -and get out again when it grew dark.” - -I didn’t like that plan very well, and began to be worried about my -friend. I found my strength returning rapidly and as soon as I could get -about I began to examine the airship, to see if it was in proper order. -Alfonso, his arm in a sling and his head well bandaged, sauntered up to -me and said: - -“You fellows seem to have little respect for the property of others. See -what trouble you’ve caused by stealing my _Antoinette_.” - -“You are right,” I admitted. “What will you take for the machine?” - -“I won’t sell it. It belongs to the revolution.” - -“Well, the revolution can’t use it just now, and I can,” I returned. “So -if you won’t sell it I’ll borrow it.” - -“What are you going to do?” he inquired. - -“I’m going to look for Joe. Those Faytans are in an ugly temper just -now, and they’ll make a quick end of him if they find him.” - -“Don’t be a fool, Sam,” cautioned Uncle Naboth. - -“Joe can take care of himself,” added my father. - -“I thought I could, too; but if Joe hadn’t tried to help me I’d be -drowned by this time. Do you think I ought to desert a comrade, father?” - -He looked at me thoughtfully a moment. Then he muttered as he turned -away: - -“Do as you like, Sam. You know best.” - -I turned to Alfonso. - -“How about the biplane?” I asked. “Can I borrow it, or must I steal it -again?” - -“Take it and welcome,” he replied. “Joe’s a good fellow. I wish I could -go after him myself.” - -Alfonso wasn’t half bad for a South American. He had his faults, but a -lot of good qualities with them. - -“You can’t go just now,” warned Lucia, who had been listening to us with -nervous attention. - -“Why not?” I asked. - -“Look!” She pointed to the sky, and for the first time I noticed that it -was a leaden gray. The sun had not wholly disappeared, but was a half -luminous ball glowing through murky clouds. - -“Another of them blamed storms is comin’,” remarked Uncle Naboth; “but -we don’t have to shorten sail for ’em while we’re floatin’ on dry land.” - -“The other storm didn’t come that way, sir,” observed Ned Britton, -gravely. - -We were silent now, for darkness fell upon us suddenly. It was almost as -if a light had been extinguished at night. There wasn’t a breath of air -stirring and the sea was like glass, but a queer moaning sound came to -our ears and we could not discover what caused it. - -“Better get below, Lucia, and look after your mother,” said Alfonso. - -I could hear her move away obediently, but was unable to see any of the -forms that stood around me. - -We waited for we knew not what, and the unseen but recognized danger -filled us with awe. - - - - - CHAPTER XVII - THE CONSEQUENCES - - -Suddenly the deck slid from beneath my feet and I fell flat upon my -face. The ship heaved and rolled as if it were tossing upon the waves of -the ocean, and her timbers creaked and groaned mournfully. At the same -time crash after crash echoed around us, accompanied by a strange -rending sound, as if all creation was being torn asunder. - -Then the ship stood firm, as it had been before, trembling slightly at -times but no longer tossing at its rock anchorage. The blackness -continued, however, and our men lighted the lanterns, disclosing our -white, pallid faces as we peered at one another questioningly. - -Black Nux had raised me to my feet and was even yet partially supporting -me. - -“What is it?” I whispered. - -“Eart’quake, Mars Sam,” he replied in a calm voice. “Guess it all over -now.” - -There were a few more trembles, and then came the rain—in a deluge, as -it had rained before. We were all driven to seek shelter below, and -there we waited anxiously for the sky to clear, that we might discover -what cataclysms the quake had wrought. - -It rained for two solid hours. The darkness continued for an hour or so -longer. It lightened gradually, so that the first intimation I had of it -was the clearing away of the shadows that had lurked in the corners of -the cabin, where the lamplight did not penetrate. I went on deck, where -I found Ned, with Nux and Bryonia and most of the crew, all peering -anxiously through the dim light in the direction of the sea. - -“What is it, Ned?” I asked, joining them. - -“The reefs!” he said, pointing with a trembling finger. “Where are they, -Sam?” - -I also looked, straining my eyes to discover the two jagged lines of -rock jutting out of the sea between us and the open water, as well as -the boat patrol that had guarded them ever since the day of our -shipwreck. But through the gray atmosphere I could see nothing but the -broad expanse of ocean. The waves rolled in, one after another, and -broke against the very rocks that held the _Seagull_ a prisoner. - -There was something queer about the position of the ship, too. -Heretofore we had been perched between the two points of rock, full -twenty feet above the sea. Now the waves almost lapped our sides, and -instead of the rocky points being below us, they reared themselves far -above the deck on either side. - -I turned toward the island, from whence not a sound was heard. The light -had strengthened sufficiently for me to see the forest line, and -presently I was aware that some of the trees near the edge had tottered -and fallen their length upon the plain. Otherwise the landscape seemed -unchanged, and the open space between us and the forest, which had been -the scene of such deadly conflict, looked just as it had before. - -Truly the earthquake had wrought wonders, and in some ways had benefited -us. The most startling change was the destruction of the reefs, leaving -the sea free before us. The boats filled with warriors, placed to guard -us from escaping, had been swallowed up with the reefs, and no vestige -of that formidable array remained except a few fragments of the canoes -which washed ashore. - -Perhaps inspired by a common hope we all descended the ladders to the -ground. There we were better able to appreciate all that had happened. -Except that the sky was still gray and forbidding, we now had plenty of -light to examine our surroundings clearly. - -One glance at the _Seagull_ dispelled our half formed hopes. Although -her keel was now on a level with the ocean, which even lapped her bow, -the ship was wedged fast between the two huge rocks. These must have -separated during the earthquake and allowed her to settle down into her -present position; but they still held her as in a vise. - -“If another quake comes, which ain’t unlikely,” observed Uncle Naboth, -“them rocks is liable to come together again, in which case they’d crack -the _Seagull’s_ sides like a nut in the jaws of a nutcracker.” - -It was quite possible, and the statement did not reassure us in the -least. - -“If we could but manage to launch her,” said Alfonso, “we have now -plenty of deep water for her to slide into.” - -My uncle looked at the young Colombian reproachfully. - -“Them ‘ifs’ seem to excuse a lot of fool remarks,” he said. “The only -way to launch the _Seagull_ would be with dynamite, and after that she -wouldn’t be likely to float.” - -It was now the middle of the afternoon, and although the sky continued -gloomy there was no air stirring and I dared not wait longer if I meant -to rescue Joe. I was very uneasy about my old chum, for the earthquake -was likely to have created as much havoc at the Pearl City as it had at -this end of the island. - -My father had gone into the hold with the carpenter and Ned to examine -the condition of the ship. The little damage we had sustained from the -typhoon which had tossed the ship to her elevated perch had already been -repaired—quite foolishly we thought. But the _Seagull_ was still dear to -the heart of Captain Steele, and he took as much care of her now that -she was useless as when she was proudly riding the waves. - -“What’s the programme?” asked Uncle Naboth, as I prepared to start. - -“I’m going to try to get to the city and find Joe. If possible I’ll get -him aboard and fetch him back with me. That’s as far as I can plan now, -Uncle.” - -“You won’t be foolhardy?” - -“I’ll try not to be.” - -Then I took my seat, Lucia started the motors, and a moment later I was -flying over the forest. - - - - - CHAPTER XVIII - A RUN FOR LIFE - - -Ascending to an altitude of several hundred feet I attempted what is -called the “spiral dip,” circling, in the air while gradually -descending. But the shadows lay so thick in the forest that I could not -tell whether any Faytans remained there or not. So I rose again and -headed east across the island in the direction of the Pearl City. - -I must have covered five of the ten miles in the next five minutes, and -the machine was working perfectly, when on glancing down I discovered a -native sprinting across the fields at a rapid pace. After him, but -nearly a quarter of a mile away, rushed a horde of savages. There must -have been at least two thousand of them, all intent upon the chase. - -This was so peculiar that I did another spiral dip to get a little -closer to the scene of action, and as I neared the ground and could see -more plainly it suddenly flashed upon me that the flying native was Joe. -Lucia had said that he had stained his skin and dressed himself in the -native loin cloth, but I had forgotten that until now. It explained the -scene perfectly. Joe had been discovered in the Pearl City, but had -managed to escape and was now heading for the ship, followed by a host -of pursuers. - -My friend was a mighty runner; I knew that. It was Joe’s especial -athletic accomplishment, and with such a lead I believed he could keep -the Faytans behind him until he reached the ship, unless—unless the -forest still harbored an army of warriors, in which case they could -easily head him off. - -With this contingency in mind I resolved to pick him up and take him -with me; so, judging the distance as accurately as I could, I swooped -downward and landed about a hundred yards ahead of the fugitive. - -“Climb aboard, Joe!” I called. “Take it easy, old man. We’re safe enough -now.” - -He dashed up, panting but still full of energy, and said: - -“How can we start her, Sam?” - -“Take your seat, and I’ll show you,” I replied. I had seen Lucia do the -trick and thought I could repeat it. The motor started, but the machine -would not rise. It bumped along the rough ground a way until I became -alarmed and stopped it. - -“Try again,” said Joe, coolly. - -I glanced over my shoulder and found the Faytans were getting -uncomfortably near. But I kept my wits and took time to readjust the -machine a little, so it would rise more quickly. A half dozen or so of -the pursuers were well in advance of the others, and I suspected they -might interfere with our start. So I faced about and carefully emptied -my revolvers at them, halting all but one. Then I turned back to the -machine, started the motor and ran beside it a few paces before I sprang -into the seat. - -Just then I heard a revolver crack beside me, but could pay no attention -to it because the biplane was speeding into the air at a tremendous -clip. It persisted in mounting upward, because I had adjusted it that -way, and in working the steering gear to obviate this the machine got a -side motion that was both unpleasant and dangerous. - -“Steady her, Sam!” called Joe; but I couldn’t. - -To add to my perplexity it grew dark again; the moaning sound was -repeated, and looking down I saw the earth shaking under me like a bowl -full of jelly. It was a horrible sight, and in my agitation I must have -bungled in some way, for the fearful side motion increased, and both of -us had to hold fast to keep from being hurled from our seats. - -Suddenly the biplane took a dive—swift as a bullet, but was supported -from falling by the outstretched planes. I lost all control, but managed -to shut off the motor and then cling to the frame with all my might. - -Down, down we went, but fortunately still gliding diagonally in the -direction of the ship. It was a regular tumble by this time, and I am -positive the biplane turned over and over several times. We just skipped -the further edge of the forest and crashed into the branches of a fallen -tree—one of those felled by the earthquake. With a jar that drove the -breath out of me I bounded from the branches and fell prone upon the -ground. Joe landed near me, and aside from the severe shock we both -escaped serious injury or the breaking of bones and soon scrambled to -our feet. - -I had turned to glance at the biplane, now a hopeless mass of junk, when -Joe suddenly caught my hand and said: - -“We must run for it, Sam!” - -Bursting in a stream from the forest came hundreds of Faytan warriors, -brandishing their weapons as they ran. They were so near that an arrow -or a well thrown spear might have caught us easily, but the savages -seemed intent on capturing us. - -I am not a great runner, but on this occasion, at least, I did myself -credit as a sprinter. Joe’s hand in mine and his superior swiftness -helped, of course, and we managed to keep a lead till we were near the -ship, when a volley from the deck effectually halted our pursuers. - -Even as we clambered up the side by means of the ladders they let down, -the sky darkened again and another tremble shook the earth. It made us -totter, but was not severe enough to cause any especial damage, and we -were all getting used to the quakes by this time, so were not much -frightened. Scientists have told me they are puzzled to explain this -apparent connection between the sky and the earthquakes. Atmospheric -conditions have nothing to do with earth convulsions, and vice versa, -they say. Yet it is a fact that in Faytan we could tell when a “tremble” -was coming by the sudden darkening of the sky. - -The Faytans were learning a few lessons by experience. When the light -became strong enough for us to see again we found the plain fairly alive -with natives, and more were constantly pouring in from the forest. - -At once all hands were assembled at the rail and our men lost no time in -opening fire, for we did not dare give our enemies time to attempt to -board us in such numbers, and it was now much easier to scale our sides -since the ship had settled down to the sea level. - -“Train the howitzers!” called my father, and the gunners leaped to their -posts. We had not used the cannon before, as they had not been required, -but now the savages were massed before us on the plain and a charge of -grape and canister was more effective than many rifle balls. - -We took the aggressive and without waiting to be attacked fired the two -cannon, one after another, point blank into the mass of Faytans. - -It was still too dark for us to see just what had been accomplished, but -I shudder to think of the wholesale destruction we must have caused. -They were doggedly determined, however, to get the “pale-skins” at any -cost, and if we destroyed hundreds there were hundreds more to take -their places. - -Presently they were swarming below us so close that the cannon were only -effective in slaughtering those crowding the plain behind them, and -every one of us able to hold a rifle stood at the rail and picked off -the nearest of our enemies. Their method of getting aboard was curiously -primitive. One man clung to the end of a long pole, which others raised -in the air and lifted so he could catch our rail. We had little -difficulty at first in shooting these down as fast as they were raised -to our level; but the attack was concerted with some skill, and every -inch of the rail needed to be guarded. - -“It must be the young king who is directing this battle,” I said to Joe -as we stood side by side, firing whenever we saw a head appear. - -“It can’t be the king,” he replied. “I shot him just as you carried me -off in the biplane.” - -“You shot the king!” I exclaimed. - -“Yes. He was right upon us and about to grab the frame when I let go at -him. Didn’t you hear me shoot?” - -“Yes, but I was busy with the machine. I’m rather sorry for Attero,” I -answered, regretfully. - -“My opinion is that the Crooked One has planned this onslaught,” -continued Joe, “and that he is bound to get us this time at any -sacrifice. He’s a wily old fox.” - -We were too busy after that for further conversation. The smoke and din -of battle was something terrifying, and even now I wonder that the -savages were not disheartened by the noise and the sight of their -comrades falling on all sides of them. When we consider how unused they -were to firearms we must admit their courage was wonderful. - -I think we all began to realize that the situation was serious. On deck -Alfonso was fighting as well as he could with his broken arm, while his -father stood at his side and rendered an excellent account of himself. -Below in the cabin Madam de Alcantara had first fainted and then gone -into convulsions. Her shrill screams were not the least disheartening -sounds that reached our ears, yet I knew Lucia and Madam de Jiminez were -with her and that the poor lady was only frightened and not in a dying -condition. - -The constant tax on our nerves and the need to be constantly alert was -fast wearing out the strongest of us. Bryonia, who had fought nobly, -came over to me presently and suggested that we get the women into one -of the small boats and launch it while all of us covered the retreat -with our guns. He thought they might escape in that way, whereas we were -almost certain to be overcome at length by sheer force of numbers, and -then all would be doomed. - -I did not approve of the attempt myself, but counseled with my father -and Uncle Naboth, who promptly turned down the proposition. Just then -four Faytans succeeded in leaping aboard, and were engaged in a hand to -hand fight with Nux and Bry, who met them, when Ned got a sword through -one and Joe disposed of another with a pistol shot. That evened the -numbers and our blades were not long in ridding themselves of their -opponents. - -But this temporary invasion was a warning that we were losing ground and -our enemies gaining confidence, so we redoubled our activity and found -plenty to do in protecting ourselves from the boarders. - - - - - CHAPTER XIX - A CAPRICIOUS EARTHQUAKE - - -The fight was still raging fiercely when blackness fell upon us once -more, and for the first time I became panic-stricken. The sky had not -been clear all day, but we had managed to see until now, ever since the -fight began, but with a black pall hanging all around us and thousands -of enemies marking us for death the outlook was absolutely terrifying. -The Faytans had not been afraid of the dark before, and if now they had -the temerity to continue the attack we could not hope to resist them -long. - -My fears were soon justified. I heard Joe cry: “Look out, Sam!” and felt -rather than saw a big warrior standing before me. The moaning sound that -preceded a quake sang in my ears as I struck out furiously with my -cutlass, and then the ship reared her stem and pitched us all in a -struggling mass down the incline of the deck to the bow. - -I struck against a naked body and two hands grasped my throat and -effectually stopped my breath until I got a pistol out and shot my -assailant dead. At least he relaxed his hold and slid away from me—and I -slid too, rolling and bumping against obstacles of every sort till my -bones cracked. And now through the pitch darkness everything seemed to -go—ship and all—and a sheet of water struck me and made me gasp. - -The _Seagull_ was level now, but rolled from side to side while big -waves dashed over her and rushed out of the scuppers in a perpetual -stream. I heard a faint cheer from the forecastle; but now the elements -were in a wild turmoil and I was too utterly bewildered to think. - -The wind had instantly risen to a gale; the waves beat upon us in fury, -and through the darkness the _Seagull_ floundered here and there in an -aimless way that was puzzling and perilous. - -While I clung to a bit of rigging and tried to get my breath I realized -but one thing clearly—that the ship was afloat again. An earthquake more -severe than any that had previously occurred had split the two rocks -asunder and allowed her to slide into the sea. But where were we now? -And where were the Faytans? - -It takes a good deal to phase Captain Steele. Even while I stood -marveling my father had grasped the wheel, and, as our rudder and screw -had been fully repaired the aimless pitching of the ship was rectified -as soon as her head was brought to the wind and she faced the waves. -Then suddenly the sky brightened sufficiently for us to see one another -again. - -In the bow stood huddled a group of nearly a dozen Faytan warriors, -while our men were scattered here and there clinging to whatever support -they could find. I found that Joe wasn’t a dozen yards away from me. The -_Seagull_ was floating serenely on a rather turbulent sea and the coast -of Faytan was a quarter of a mile on our lee. - -We stared at the warriors a moment, and they stared at us. Then with one -accord we all made an advance toward the savages, determined to settle -the fight the first thing we did. They did not wait for us, but leaped -the rail into the sea and began swimming toward their island. - -“Let ’em go!” shouted my father. “And some of you get busy and toss -those bodies overboard. Where’s the firemen? Step lively, lads, and get -up steam as soon as the Lord’ll let you.” - -The men gave a cheer and responded with alacrity. We stripped all the -pearl ornaments from the dead natives that cluttered the deck, and -afterward threw the bodies overboard. During this operation I came upon -Señor de Jiminez seated in the scupper with his back to the bulwark and -sobbing like a baby. - -“Is anything wrong, sir?” I asked anxiously. - -“No—no! Everything is right,” he answered. “We are saved—the revolution -is saved! Hurrah for the revolution!” - -Joy affects some people that way, but I have no patience with men who -cry. - -We got up steam presently, but found the _Seagull_ was leaking like a -sieve. It took all the power of our engines to keep the pumps going; so -my father ordered sail hoisted, and as the wind had moderated to a stiff -breeze we were soon bowling along with the mainsail and jib set. The -mizzenmast had gone by the board at the time of the wreck. - -My father’s face wore an anxious expression and he called Uncle Naboth -and me into the cabin for a consultation. - -“We can keep afloat this way for a time—perhaps for days, if the leaks -don’t get worse,” he said; “but it’s foolish to take such chances. There -are islands near by, I’m sure. Shall we stop at the first one we sight?” - -“H-m. It might prove to be another Faytan,” said my uncle, doubtfully. -“I’ve had enough fighting to last me for a while.” - -“Wait a moment,” said I. “I want to get Bry.” - -“What for?” demanded my father. - -“He’s the only one aboard who knows these seas,” I replied. - -Bryonia came to the cabin and being questioned declared that he knew the -way to his own island of Tuamotu from here, but could not tell how to -get from there back to our regular course. - -“I know, though,” said Captain Steele, “for Tuamotu is marked on my -chart. It seems a French ship stopped there once, and did some trading -with the natives, so I’ve got it pretty fairly located.” - -“But what sort of a reception will your people give us, Bry?” I asked. - -He smiled. - -“I am Chief of Tuamotu,” he answered proudly. “I am equal to a king. My -friends will be welcome.” - -“All right,” said my father. “Take the wheel, Bry, and steer us towards -Tuamotu.” - -Bry became navigator then, and although he knew nothing of the science -he possessed an instinct that guided him correctly. Having once been -over the course from Tuamotu to Faytan he had the points firmly fixed in -his mind, and as the distance was only about a hundred miles and the -breeze held finely, on the second day we sighted a big island which both -Bry and Nux declared to be Tuamotu. - -Meantime a semblance of order had been restored to the ship. From being -in the depths of despair our passengers were now elated with hope. They -paid little heed to the fact that water was pouring into our hold as -fast as the engines could pump it out, for having escaped the more -tangible dangers of Faytan they believed our luck had changed and all -would now be well with us. - -Our men realized the situation and wore grave looks. But Lucia pounded -the piano and sang her Spanish songs; Señor de Jiminez resumed his -writing of the speech to be delivered before the Colombian Congress, and -Madam de Alcantara dressed herself in her most gorgeous robes and -declared she had enjoyed her recent adventure except for a sad attack of -“nerves.” - -Joe and I made a list of the pearls we had secured at Faytan, including -those rifled from the dead bodies of our enemies. They made so large a -collection and were of such extraordinary size and color that we knew -they would sell for an immense sum in America. All of our men were to -participate in the “prize money,” for all had helped to earn it. - -Joe, however, was richer in pearls than all the rest of us. When left by -Lucia at the Pearl City he had easily made his way unobserved to the -temple and crept through the window into our old room. Here he remained -quietly secreted for a time, but the silence throughout the great -building was so profound that he ventured to explore some of the -passages that were unknown to him. One of them led him to the inner -shrine of the temple, where an ugly image of the Pearl God was -installed. At the feet of this deity had been placed the most splendid -pearls found by the Faytans for many generations past, and Joe calmly -filled the folds of his loin cloth as full as they would hold of the -choicest gems. - -At that moment he was discovered by an attendant, who raised a hue and -cry just as the king was returning from the bay at the head of his -people, all heartily disgusted by my escape. Joe managed to leap from -the window and speed away before the Faytans fully recovered from their -astonishment, and then began the race which I had ended by taking Joe -aboard the airship. - -Next to Joe’s splendid pearls, the value of which would make any man -rich, however greedy he might be, my own string of gems, presented me by -Attero, was of prime importance. Tiffany has since valued them at forty -thousand dollars, but I will not part with them. I liked Attero and have -always regretted that Joe had to kill him. - - - - - CHAPTER XX - KING BRYONIA - - -When we sighted Tuamotu it occurred to us that the most important person -in our company was now our cook Bryonia—or rather Louiki, as he was -called by his people. We had to depend upon the hospitality of these -natives for some time to come; or until we had fully repaired the leaks -in the _Seagull_ for the long voyage still before us. Therefore we held -a consultation and decided to appoint Bry to the temporary office of -High Admiral, and to defer to him most respectfully while we lay at the -island. For if his people found their chief occupying a menial position -they might lose respect for him, and cause us a lot of trouble, whereas -if he arrived clothed with grandeur and power his prestige would be -increased. Nux also must be an important personage, for he was the -chief’s cousin and close comrade. It was all explained to our passengers -and crew, and so popular were the two faithful blacks that every one -entered into the spirit of the deception with glee, expecting much -amusement as the result. - -Tuamotu we found a beautiful island, finely wooded, with a range of -mountains in the center, and altogether somewhat larger than was Faytan. -As Bry had declared, there was a fine harbor, with a shelving beach upon -which we proposed to run the _Seagull_ at high tide, so as to get at her -leaks most conveniently. - -As we entered this harbor on a bright, sunny morning we found the shore -thickly clustered with natives, all as black as the ace of spades. They -were not, as a class, so intelligent looking as the Faytans; neither -were they so big and powerful of frame; but comparing them with other -South Sea Islanders I must admit they were vastly superior to the -general run. There was little ferocity about them, although I know they -can fight and are brave and sturdy warriors. Just now they were merely -curious and excited, for ours was the first ship but one to anchor in -their bay. We had made a brave display of bunting and flags, and when we -dropped anchor and furled our sails we fired a single shot from the bow -by way of salute. - -After many conferences with Bry we had decided upon our course of -action, so at once the gig was lowered and manned by a chosen crew, -while Bry and Nux, arrayed in their best gray and gold uniforms, gravely -descended the ladder and took their seats in the stern. I most admit -they moved with admirable dignity, and their great size lent them an -impressive appearance. No one but us could know that the uniforms were -those of servants. - -They were received in silence when first they landed, but then we saw -Bry stand before his people and begin a speech, and presently a shout -arose so prolonged and loud that it was fairly deafening. Those nearest -Bry fell on their knees and tried to kiss his feet, while those on the -outskirts leaped about, performing antics of joy. Then a tall native -advanced and folded Bry in a cordial embrace, afterward embracing Nux in -like manner. - -We knew then that our men had been recognized and loyally welcomed home. -A procession was formed to the village on the hill, and Bry and Nux -marched ahead of it while the shouts and gambols continued unabated. The -ship seemed no longer the center of interest to the natives, although -scattered bands of them soon began to saunter back to the shore to gaze -upon the unusual spectacle. - -Much entertained by the reception and satisfied that our black friends -were having a good time, we patiently awaited their return, listening -the while to the monotonous “chug-chug” of the pumps as they drove out -the water that persistently rushed into the hold. - -After a couple of hours the procession reappeared, Bry and Nux again at -the head. They marched down to the shore and while the chief and his -cousin reëntered the gig, accompanied by two other blacks, three canoe -loads of favored individuals clung to their wake and followed them to -the ship as invited guests. At a respectful distance a swarm of other -canoes came toward us, but they kept their distance from the ship and -had no disposition to intrude. - -We received the visitors with great ceremony. Nux told us that the tall -black—he who had first embraced them—was his own brother. When the old -chief, Bry’s father, had passed away, this man became the successor to -the rule of the island, as all thought that the legitimate heir, Louiki, -had perished in the battle with the Faytans. So Nux’s brother had been -chief until Bry’s return when, being a good fellow at heart, he welcomed -the long lost one and gladly resigned the royal office in his favor. - -In this party were the principal men and officials of the island, and -Bry showed them all over “his” ship, afterward giving them a plentiful -feast in the main cabin. Joe and I waited upon them, and it was fun to -see Bry at one end of the table and Nux at the other, posing as the -ruling spirits of the _Seagull_. My father and Uncle Naboth kept out of -sight, as did all our passengers, although Alfonso and Lucia hid on deck -and looked through the cabin windows at the savage feasters. The natives -of Tuamotu were duly impressed by the magnificent surroundings of their -chief, and when, he told them his ship needed repairs and tinkering they -gladly volunteered to render him every assistance in their power. - -So his Majesty dismissed them and sent them back to land, and when they -were gone he put on his apron and cooked our dinner. - -At five o’clock it was high tide, so we ran the _Seagull_ as far upon -the sandy beach as she would go, using the engines to propel her, and -then the natives swarmed into the water and braced her sides securely -with long poles. As the tide receded it left us high and dry, and by -daybreak our men were able to begin work. They found several planks -badly sprung and one gaping hole torn in the bottom by the sharp rocks -as we slid into the sea during the earthquake at Faytan. It would take -several days to repair the damage, because we could only work part of -the time, while the tide was out. - -Meantime, we were entertained by Bry in the chief’s house. It was the -best in the village, or on the island, but made of logs with a palm -thatched roof and far inferior in all ways to the houses of Faytan. Bry -gave us a native repast, consisting mainly of roast goat and cheese, -with a variety of delicious fruits. There was constant feasting and a -succession of dances and ceremonies in honor of the chief’s return, and -I was curious to know how all this would affect Bry, and whether he -would leave us to rule over his native island, or not. - -But when the repairs were completed Bry announced his intention of -sailing with us. - -“Allola, who is the brother of Nux, will make my people a good chief,” -he said, “and my life with you has spoiled me to be now an ignorant -islander. I could not be contented here any more; so I will go with you, -and stay with you always.” - -There had never been any question about Nux. He had always said he -preferred the life on our ship to being a big man in Tuamotu. - -All being ready, hundreds of natives waded into the water at high tide -and by sheer force of numbers pushed the _Seagull_ off the sands till -she floated. This operation was assisted by our propeller, but we could -not have moved the heavy ship without the aid of Bry’s subjects. - -The chief held a final farewell celebration, and distributed among his -people many beads and trinkets, a stock of which we always carried with -us. Then, amid the shouts of the multitude, who were all really sorry to -see us go, we started our engines, whistled three times and fired a gun, -and steamed out of the hospitable harbor. - -The voyage to Colombia was without important event. We soon got upon our -course again and encountered no more bad weather. - -But at our destination Señor de Jiminez received some startling news. -The revolution had, by a clever coup, overthrown the unpopular -government and won without bloodshed. As De Jiminez did not happen to be -present, another patriot was elected to the presidency, and was doing -his duty ably when we arrived. - -So the feelings of young Alfonso and his father were a combination of -both joy and sadness; but the joy predominated when they were greeted -enthusiastically by their political friends and De Jiminez was publicly -thanked for his services to his party. - -We were able to unload the guns and ammunition without danger, after -which we settled our accounts in a satisfactory manner with the -revolutionists, who recognized all of De Jiminez’ obligations. Then, -being once more the legal owners of the _Seagull_, we bade good-bye to -our passengers, who had shared with us the dangerous adventure at -Faytan, and steamed northward toward San Francisco. - -I noticed that Joe and Lucia exchanged rings, and overheard him promise -to see her again. I wonder if he ever will? - - - A new and exciting story of the adventures of “The Boy Fortune - Hunters” is added each year. These thrilling stories can be bought - wherever books are sold. The full list of title is given on page 2 of - this volume. - - (_Complete catalog free on request_) - - - _Good Books for Boys_ - The Boy Fortune Hunters Series - - By FLOYD AKERS - - The Boy Fortune Hunters in Alaska - The Boy Fortune Hunters in Panama - The Boy Fortune Hunters in Egypt - The Boy Fortune Hunters in China - The Boy Fortune Hunters in Yucatan - The Boy Fortune Hunters in the South Seas - -Mr. Akers, in these new books, has at a single bound taken front rank as -a writer for boys. The stories are full of adventure, yet clean, bright -and up-to-date. The first volume tells of the exciting scenes in the -early days of the Alaskan gold fields. The next book takes “The Boy -Fortune Hunters” to the “Canal Zone,” and the third story is filled with -stirring incidents in a trip through Egypt. The fourth book relates -exciting adventures in the Flowery Kingdom, and the fifth and sixth -stories detail further adventures in Yucatan and among the South Sea -Islands. - - _Illustrated 12mos. Uniform cloth binding, stamped in three colors. - Stunning colored wrapper._ - - Price 60 cents each - - - The Aeroplane Boys Series - By ASHTON LAMAR - - I IN THE CLOUDS FOR UNCLE SAM - Or, Mersy Marshall of the Signal Corps. - II THE STOLEN AEROPLANE - Or, How Bud Wilson Made Good. - III THE AEROPLANE EXPRESS - Or, The Boy Aeronauts’s Grit. - IV THE BOY AERONAUTS’ CLUB - Or, Flying For Fun. - V A CRUISE IN THE SKY - Or, The Legend of the Great Pink Pearl. - VI BATTLING THE BIG HORN - Or, The Aeroplane in the Rockies. - OTHER TITLES TO FOLLOW - -These stories are the newest and most up-to-date. All aeroplane details -are correct. Fully illustrated. Colored frontispiece. Cloth, 12mos. - Price, 60 cents each. - - - The Airship Boys Series - By H. L. SAYLER - - I THE AIRSHIP BOYS - Or, The Quest of the Aztec Treasure. - II THE AIRSHIP BOYS ADRIFT - Or, Saved by an Aeroplane. - III THE AIRSHIP BOYS DUE NORTH - Or, By Balloon to the Pole. - IV THE AIRSHIP BOYS IN THE BARREN LANDS - Or, The Secret of the White Eskimos. - V THE AIRSHIP BOYS IN FINANCE - Or, The Flight of the Flying Cow. - VI THE AIRSHIP BOYS’ OCEAN FLYER - Or, New York to London in Twelve Hours. - -These thrilling stories deal with the wonderful new science aerial -navigation. Every boy will be interested and instructed by reading them. -Illustrated. Cloth binding. Price, $1.00 each. - - The above books are sold everywhere or will be sent - postpaid on receipt of price by the - - Publishers The Reilly & Britton Co. Chicago - _Complete catalog sent, postpaid on request_ - - - Every Boy Wants - School-Fellow Days - - Designed by - Clara Powers Wilson - - [Illustration: SCHOOL-FELLOW DAYS] - -A record book suitable for boys of the upper grammar grades, through -high school, preparatory school and military academy. Striking -illustrations, printed in two colors on specially made, tinted paper -with good writing surface. - - No. 9. Buckram Edition - -Bound in fancy buckram with clever and appropriate cover design, in -three colors and gold. Large 8vo. 192 pages. Handsomely boxed. - Price $1.25 - - No. 10. Schoolmates Edition - -Swiss Velvet Ooze. Silk marker. Striking box. - Price $2.00 - - -MY GOLDEN SCHOOL DAYS. For school boys of all ages—with places and -departments for every important item of interest—and containing -appropriate verses and poems. Printed in three delicate colors on -specially made gray paper. Symbolical cover in two colors and gold. -Small 8vo. 100 pages—each decorated. Attractively boxed. List Price, -$0.60 - - Sold Wherever Books Are Sold - _Complete catalog, postpaid, on request_ - - - - - Transcriber’s Notes - - ---Copyright notice provided as in the original—this e-text is public - domain in the country of publication. - ---Silently corrected palpable typos; left non-standard spellings and - dialect unchanged. - ---In the text versions, delimited italics text in _underscores_ (the - HTML version reproduces the font form of the printed book.) - - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Boy Fortune Hunters in the South -Seas, by L. Frank Baum - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BOY FORTUNE HUNTERS--SOUTH SEAS *** - -***** This file should be named 55763-0.txt or 55763-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/5/7/6/55763/ - -Produced by Mary Glenn Krause, MFR, Stephen Hutcheson, -University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University -of South Florida and the Online Distributed Proofreading -Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law 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. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you receive -specific permission. If you do not charge anything for copies of this -eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook -for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, -performances and research. They may be modified and printed and given -away--you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks -not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the -trademark license, especially commercial redistribution. - -START: FULL LICENSE - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full -Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at -www.gutenberg.org/license. - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or -destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your -possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a -Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound -by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the -person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph -1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this -agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the -Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection -of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual -works in the collection are in the public domain in the United -States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the -United States and you are located in the United States, we do not -claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, -displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as -all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope -that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting -free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm -works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the -Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily -comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the -same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when -you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are -in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, -check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this -agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, -distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any -other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no -representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any -country outside the United States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work -on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: - - This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and - most other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the - United States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you - are located before using this ebook. - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is -derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not -contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the -copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in -the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are -redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply -either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or -obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any -additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works -posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the -beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including -any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access -to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format -other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official -version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site -(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense -to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means -of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain -Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the -full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -provided that - -* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation." - -* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm - works. - -* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - -* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and The -Project Gutenberg Trademark LLC, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project -Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may -contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate -or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other -intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or -other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or -cannot be read by your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium -with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you -with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in -lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person -or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second -opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If -the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing -without further opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO -OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT -LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of -damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement -violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the -agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or -limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or -unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the -remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in -accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the -production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, -including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of -the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this -or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or -additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any -Defect you cause. - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of -computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It -exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations -from people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future -generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see -Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at -www.gutenberg.org - - - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by -U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is in Fairbanks, Alaska, with the -mailing address: PO Box 750175, Fairbanks, AK 99775, but its -volunteers and employees are scattered throughout numerous -locations. Its business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt -Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up to -date contact information can be found at the Foundation's web site and -official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -For additional contact information: - - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular -state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To -donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project -Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be -freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and -distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of -volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in -the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. 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: 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. - |