Part 13 (1/2)
In a few minutes the Solomon islanders began to return in parties of two or three, then came the two white men, excited and panting with the l.u.s.t of killing.
Kyte held a whispered consultation with one of his ”boys,”--a huge fellow, whose body was reeking with perspiration and blood from the scratches received in the th.o.r.n.y depths of the jungle,--and then pointed to the beach where four or five white-painted canoes had been launched, and were making for an opening in the reef. To reach this opening they would have to pa.s.s in front of the trader's house, for which they now headed.
Kyte waited a moment or two till the leading canoe was within four or five hundred yards, then he raised his rifle, and placing it across the stump of his left arm, fired. The ball plumped directly amids.h.i.+ps, and two of the paddlers fell. The rest threw away their paddles and spears, and swam to the other canoes.
”Now we've got them,” said Kyte, and taking about twenty of his boys, he manned his two boats and pulled out, intercepting the canoes before they could get through the reef into the open.
Then commenced an exciting chase. The refugees swam and dived about in the shallow water like frightened fish, but their pursuers were better men at that game than they, and of superior physique. In twenty minutes they were all captured, except one, who sprang over the edge of the reef into deep water and was shot swimming.
There were about five-and-twenty prisoners, and when they were brought back in the boats and taken on board the schooner it was found that the chief was among them. It may have occurred to him in the plantation life of the after time that he had better have stayed quiet. The Englishman, disgusted with the whole affair, went off with the other white men, leaving his boat's crew for safety in the trader's house, for had the Solomon islanders seen them they would have made quick work of them, or else Kyte, to save their lives, would have offered to take them as recruits.
The two other traders decided to leave in the schooner. They had made the locality too warm for themselves, and urged the Englishman to follow their example.
”No,” he said, ”I've been a good while here now, and I've never shot a n.i.g.g.e.r yet for the fun of the thing. I'll take my chance with them for a bit longer. The chances are you fellows will get your throats cut before I do.”
However, the schooner arrived safely at Samoa with her live cargo, but Kyte reported to his owners that it would not be advisable to recruit in New Britain for a year or two.
CHAPTER IX
HALCYON DAYS
We were now bound for Arrecifos Island, Hayston's central station, but had first to call at Pingelap and Strong's Island, where we were to land our cattle and s.h.i.+p a few tuns of oil.
Nine days after leaving Ponap, as the sun broke through the tropic haze, the lookout reported smoke in sight. The Captain and I at once went aloft, and with our gla.s.ses made out a steamer a long distance off.
Hayston said he thought it was the _Resacca_, an American cruiser.
Possibly she might overhaul us and take us into Ponap. Unless the breeze freshened we could not get away from her.
We were heading N.N.E. close hauled, and the steamer appeared to be making for Ponap. She was sure to see us within an hour unless she changed her course.
The _Leonora_ was kept away a couple of points, but the wind was light, and we were only travelling about four knots.
At breakfast time we could see the man-of-war's spars from the deck, and the breeze was dying away. The Captain and I went on the foreyard and watched her.
She had not as yet changed her course, but apparently did not seem anxious to overtake us.
At length Hayston said with a laugh, as he took a long look at her, ”All right, keep full, and by (to the man at the wheel) ----, brace up the yards again, she doesn't want to stop us. It's that old Spanish gunboat from Manila, a 'side wheeler.' I was told she was coming down to Ponap from Guam to look after some escaped Tagalau prisoners. She'd never catch us if she wanted to with anything like a breeze.”
That night the Captain seemed greatly relieved. He told me that it would prove a bad business for him if an American cruiser took him; and although he did not antic.i.p.ate meeting with one in these parts, he gave me full instructions how to act in the event of his seizure. He placed in my charge two bags of gold coin of two thousand dollars each, and a draft for a thousand dollars on G.o.ddefroys' in Samoa.
After which he declared that the s.h.i.+p was getting dull lately, and ordered the steward's boy to beat the gong and call out the girls for a dance.
For the next hour or two wild merriment prevailed. Antonio, the Portuguese, with his violin, and the Captain with his flute, furnished the music, while half a dozen of the girls were soon dancing with some of the picturesque ruffians of the foc'sle.
For days and days we had scarcely s.h.i.+fted tack or sheet, so gentle and steady was the wind that filled our sails; but the easterly equatorial counter current that prevails in these calm seas was sweeping us steadily on towards Strong's Island at the rate of two or three knots an hour.
On some days we would lower a floating target and practise with the long gun carried amids.h.i.+ps, on others the Captain and I would pa.s.s away an hour or two shooting at bottles with our rifles or revolvers.