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SOUTH SEA TALES
which were boat's crew； the remainder being fresh labor recruits。
〃Of course it was an accident；〃 spoke up the ARLA'S mate； Jacobs； a
slender； dark…eyed man who looked more a professor than a sailor。
〃Johnny Bedip nearly had the same kind of accident。 He was bringing
back several from a flogging； when they capsized him。 But he knew how
to swim as well as they； and two of them were drowned。 He used a boat
stretcher and a revolver。 Of course it was an accident。〃
〃Quite common； them accidents；〃 remarked the skipper。 〃You see that
man at the wheel； Mr。 Arkwright？ He's a man eater。 Six months ago； he
and the rest of the boat's crew drowned the then captain of the ARLA。
They did it on deck； sir； right aft there by the mizzen…traveler。〃
〃The deck was in a shocking state；〃 said the mate。
〃Do I understand？〃 Bertie began。 〃Yes； just that；〃 said Captain
Hansen。 〃It was an accidental drowning。〃
〃But on deck？〃
〃Just so。 I don't mind telling you； in confidence； of course； that they
used an axe。〃
〃This present crew of yours？〃
Captain Hansen nodded。
〃The other skipper always was too careless；〃 explained the mate。 He
but just turned his back； when they let him have it。〃
〃We haven't any show down here；〃 was the skipper's complaint。 〃The
government protects a nigger against a white every time。 You can't shoot
first。 You've got to give the nigger first shot； or else the government calls it
murder and you go to Fiji。 That's why there's so many drowning
accidents。〃
Dinner was called； and Bertie and the skipper went below； leaving the
mate to watch on deck。
〃Keep an eye out for that black devil； Auiki；〃 was the skipper's parting
caution。 〃I haven't liked his looks for several days。〃
〃Right O；〃 said the mate。
Dinner was part way along； and the skipper was in the middle of his
story of the cutting out of the Scottish Chiefs。
〃Yes；〃 he was saying； 〃she was the finest vessel on the coast。 But
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when she missed stays； and before ever she hit the reef； the canoes started
for her。 There were five white men； a crew of twenty Santa Cruz boys and
Samoans； and only the supercargo escaped。 Besides； there were sixty
recruits。 They were all kai…kai'd。 Kai…kai？oh； I beg your pardon。 I mean
they were eaten。 Then there was the James Edwards； a dandy…rigged〃
But at that moment there was a sharp oath from the mate on deck and a
chorus of savage cries。 A revolver went off three times； and then was heard
a loud splash。 Captain Hansen had sprung up the companionway on the
instant； and Bertie's eyes had been fascinated by a glimpse of him drawing
his revolver as he sprang。
Bertie went up more circumspectly； hesitating before he put his head
above the companionway slide。 But nothing happened。 The mate was
shaking with excitement； his revolver in his hand。 Once he startled； and
half…jumped around； as if danger threatened his back。
〃One of the natives fell overboard；〃 he was saying； in a queer tense
voice。 〃He couldn't swim。〃
〃Who was it？〃 the skipper demanded。
〃Auiki；〃 was the answer。
〃But I say； you know； I heard shots；〃 Bertie said； in trembling
eagerness； for he scented adventure； and adventure that was happily over
with。
The mate whirled upon him； snarling：
〃It〃s a damned lie。 There ain't been a shot fired。 The nigger fell
overboard。〃
Captain Hansen regarded Bertie with unblinking； lack…luster eyes。
〃II thought〃 Bertie was beginning。
〃Shots？〃 said Captain Hansen； dreamily。 〃Shots？ Did you hear any
shots； Mr。 Jacobs？〃
〃Not a shot；〃 replied Mr。 Jacobs。
The skipper looked at his guest triumphantly； and said：
〃Evidently an accident。 Let us go down； Mr。 Arkwright； and finish
dinner。〃
Bertie slept that night in the captain's cabin； a tiny stateroom off the
main cabin。 The for'ard bulkhead was decorated with a stand of rifles。
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Over the bunk were three more rifles。 Under the bunk was a big drawer；
which； when he pulled it out； he found filled with ammunition； dynamite；
and several boxes of detonators。 He elected to take the settee on the
opposite side。 Lying conspicuously on the small table； was the Arla's log。
Bertie did not know that it had been especially prepared for the occasion
by Captain Malu； and he read therein how on September 21； two boat's
crew had fallen overboard and been drowned。 Bertie read between the
lines and knew better。 He read how the Arla's whale boat had been
bushwhacked at Su'u and had lost three men； of how the skipper
discovered the cook stewing human flesh on the galley fireflesh
purchased by the boat's crew ashore in Fui； of how an accidental discharge
of dynamite； while signaling； had killed another boat's crew； of night
attacks； ports fled from between the dawns； attacks by bushmen in
mangrove swamps and by fleets of salt…water men in the larger passages。
One item that occurred with monotonous frequency was death by
dysentery。 He noticed with alarm that two white men had so diedguests；
like himself； on the Arla。
〃I say； you know；〃 Bertie said next day to Captain Hansen。 〃I've been
glancing through your log。〃
The skipper displayed quick vexation that the log had been left lying
about。
〃And all that dysentery； you know； that's all rot； just like the accidental
drownings；〃 Bertie continued。 〃What does dysentery really stand for？〃
The skipper openly admired his guest's acumen； stiffened himself to
make indignant denial； then gracefully surrendered。
〃You see； it's like this； Mr。 Arkwright。 These islands have got a bad
enough name as it is。 It's getting harder every day to sign on white men。
Suppose a man is killed。 The company has to pay through the nose for
another man to take the job。 But if the man merely dies of sickness； it's all
right。 The new chums don't mind disease。 What they draw the line at is
being murdered。 I thought the skipper of the Arla had died of dysentery
when I took his billet。 Then it was too late。 I'd signed the contract。〃
〃Besides；〃 said Mr。 Jacobs； 〃there's altogether too many accidental
drownings anyway。 It don't look right。 It's the fault of the government。 A
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white man hasn't a chance to defend himself from the niggers。〃
〃Yes； look at the Princess and that Yankee mate；〃 the skipper took up
the tale。 〃She carried five white men besides a government agent。 The
captain； the agent； and the supercargo were ashore in the two boats。 They
were killed to the last man。 The mate and boson； with about fifteen of
the crewSamoans and Tonganswere on board。 A crowd of niggers came
off from shore。 First thing the mate knew； the boson and the crew were
killed in the first rush。 The mate grabbed three cartridge belts and two
Winchesters and skinned up to the cross…trees。 He was the sole survivor；
and you can't blame him for being mad。 He pumped one rifle till it got so
hot he couldn't hold it； then he pumped the other。 The deck was black with
niggers。 He cleaned them out。 He dropped them as they went over the
rail； and he dropped them as fast as they picked up their paddles。 Then
they jumped into the water and started to swim for it； and being mad； he
got half a dozen more。 And what did he get for it？〃
〃Seven years in Fiji；〃 snapped the mate。
〃The government said he wasn't justified in shooting after they'd taken
to the water；〃 the skipper explained。
〃And that's why they die of dysentery nowadays；〃 the mate added。
〃Just fancy；〃 said Bertie； as he felt a longing for the cruise to be over。
Later on in