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I shrugged my shoulders。 It was a hard question。
〃All the world；〃 was my answer〃all the world； all the sea； and all the
islands that are in the sea。〃
〃I will go with you；〃 he said simply。 〃My wife is dead。〃
I never had a brother； but from what I have seen of other men's
brothers； I doubt if any man ever had a brother that was to him what Otoo
was to me。 He was brother and father and mother as well。 And this I know：
I lived a straighter and better man because of Otoo。 I cared little for other
men； but I had to live straight in Otoo's eyes。 Because of him I dared not
tarnish myself。 He made me his ideal； compounding me； I fear； chiefly out
of his own love and worship and there were times when I stood close to
the steep pitch of hell； and would have taken the plunge had not the
thought of Otoo restrained me。 His pride in me entered into me； until it
became one of the major rules in my personal code to do nothing that
would diminish that pride of his。
Naturally； I did not learn right away what his feelings were toward me。
He never criticized； never censured； and slowly the exalted place I held in
his eyes dawned upon me； and slowly I grew to comprehend the hurt I
could inflict upon him by being anything less than my best。
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For seventeen years we were together； for seventeen years he was at
my shoulder； watching while I slept； nursing me through fever and
woundsay； and receiving wounds in fighting for me。 He signed on the
same ships with me； and together we ranged the Pacific from Hawaii to
Sydney Head； and from Torres Straits to the Galapagos。 We blackbirded
from the New Hebrides and the Line Islands over to the westward clear
through the Louisades； New Britain； New Ireland； and New Hanover。 We
were wrecked three timesin the Gilberts； in the Santa Cruz group； and in
the Fijis。 And we traded and salved wherever a dollar promised in the way
of pearl and pearl shell； copra； beche…de…mer； hawkbill turtle shell； and
stranded wrecks。
It began in Papeete； immediately after his announcement that he was
going with me over all the sea； and the islands in the midst thereof。 There
was a club in those days in Papeete； where the pearlers； traders； captains；
and riffraff of South Sea adventurers forgathered。 The play ran high； and
the drink ran high； and I am very much afraid that I kept later hours than
were becoming or proper。 No matter what the hour was when I left the
club； there was Otoo waiting to see me safely home。
At first I smiled； next I chided him。 Then I told him flatly that I stood
in need of no wet…nursing。 After that I did not see him when I came out of
the club。 Quite by accident； a week or so later； I discovered that he still
saw me home； lurking across the street among the shadows of the mango
trees。 What could I do？ I know what I did do。
Insensibly I began to keep better hours。 On wet and stormy nights； in
the thick of the folly and the fun； the thought would persist in coming to
me of Otoo keeping his dreary vigil under the dripping mangoes。 Truly； he
made a better man of me。 Yet he was not strait…laced。 And he knew
nothing of common Christian morality。 All the people on Bora Bora were
Christians； but he was a heathen； the only unbeliever on the island； a gross
materialist； who believed that when he died he was dead。 He believed
merely in fair play and square dealing。 Petty meanness； in his code； was
almost as serious as wanton homicide； and I do believe that he respected a
murderer more than a man given to small practices。
Concerning me； personally； he objected to my doing anything that was
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hurtful to me。 Gambling was all right。 He was an ardent gambler himself。
But late hours； he explained； were bad for one's health。 He had seen men
who did not take care of themselves die of fever。 He was no teetotaler； and
welcomed a stiff nip any time when it was wet work in the boats。 On the
other hand； he believed in liquor in moderation。 He had seen many men
killed or disgraced by square…face or Scotch。
Otoo had my welfare always at heart。 He thought ahead for me；
weighed my plans； and took a greater interest in them than I did myself。 At
first； when I was unaware of this interest of his in my affairs； he had to
divine my intentions； as； for instance； at Papeete； when I contemplated
going partners with a knavish fellow…countryman on a guano venture。 I did
not know he was a knave。 Nor did any white man in Papeete。 Neither did
Otoo know； but he saw how thick we were getting； and found out for me；
and without my asking him。 Native sailors from the ends of the seas knock
about on the beach in Tahiti； and Otoo； suspicious merely； went among
them till he had gathered sufficient data to justify his suspicions。 Oh； it
was a nice history； that of Randolph Waters。 I couldn't believe it when
Otoo first narrated it； but when I sheeted it home to Waters he gave in
without a murmur； and got away on the first steamer to Aukland。
At first； I am free to confess； I couldn't help resenting Otoo's poking
his nose into my business。 But I knew that he was wholly unselfish； and
soon I had to acknowledge his wisdom and discretion。 He had his eyes
open always to my main chance； and he was both keen…sighted and far…
sighted。 In time he became my counselor； until he knew more of my
business than I did myself。 He really had my interest at heart more than I
did。 'mine was the magnificent carelessness of youth； for I preferred
romance to dollars； and adventure to a comfortable billet with all night in。
So it was well that I had some one to look out for me。 I know that if it had
not been for Otoo； I should not be here today。
Of numerous instances； let me give one。 I had had some experience in
blackbirding before I went pearling in the Paumotus。 Otoo and I were on
the beach in Samoawe really were on the beach and hard agroundwhen
my chance came to go as recruiter on a blackbird brig。 Otoo signed on
before the mast； and for the next half…dozen years； in as many ships； we
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knocked about the wildest portions of Melanesia。 Otoo saw to it that he
always pulled stroke…oar in my boat。 Our custom in recruiting labor was to
land the recruiter on the beach。 The covering boat always lay on its oars
several hundred feet off shore； while the recruiter's boat； also lying on its
oars； kept afloat on the edge of the beach。 When I landed with my trade
goods； leaving my steering sweep apeak； Otoo left his stroke position and
came into the stern sheets； where a Winchester lay ready to hand under a
flap of canvas。 The boat's crew was also armed； the Sniders concealed
under canvas flaps that ran the length of the gunwales。
While I was busy arguing and persuading the woolly…headed cannibals
to come and labor on the Queensland plantations Otoo kept watch。 And
often and often his low voice warned me of suspicious actions and
impending treachery。 Sometimes it was the quick shot from his rifle；
knocking a nigger over； that was the first warning I received。 And in my
rush to the boat his hand was always there to jerk me flying aboard。 Once；
I remember； on SANTA ANNA； the boat grounded just as the trouble
began。 The covering boat was dashing to our assistance； but the several
score of savages would have wiped us out before it arrived。 Otoo took a
flying leap ashore； dug both hands into the trade goods； and scattered
tobacco； beads； tomahawks； knives； and calicoes in all directions。
This was too much for the woolly…heads。 While they scrambled for the
treasures； the boat was shoved clear； and we were aboard and forty feet
away。 And I got thirty recruits off that very beach in the next four hours。
The particular instance I have in mind was on Malaita； the most savage
island in the easterly Solomons。 The natives had