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DUCHESS。 Where he learned to shoot； the stars alone can tell。 He was a
Yankeethat much we knew from the twang in his speech。 And that was
all we ever did know。
〃And now we begin to get to the point。 We had bad luck in the New
Hebrides； only fourteen boys for five weeks； and we ran up before the
southeast for the Solomons。 'malaita； then as now； was good recruiting
ground； and we ran into Malu； on the northwestern corner。 There's a shore
reef and an outer reef； and a mighty nervous anchorage； but we made it all
right and fired off our dynamite as a signal to the niggers to come down
and be recruited。 In three days we got not a boy。 The niggers came off to
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us in their canoes by hundreds； but they only laughed when we showed
them beads and calico and hatchets and talked of the delights of plantation
work in Samoa。
〃On the fourth day there came a change。 Fifty…odd boys signed on and
were billeted in the main…hold； with the freedom of the deck； of course。
And of course； looking back； this wholesale signing on was suspicious； but
at the time we thought some powerful chief had removed the ban against
recruiting。 The morning of the fifth day our two boats went ashore as
usualone to cover the other； you know； in case of trouble。 And； as usual；
the fifty niggers on board were on deck； loafing； talking； smoking； and
sleeping。 Saxtorph and myself； along with four other sailors； were all
that were left on board。 The two boats were manned with Gilbert Islanders。
In the one were the captain； the supercargo； and the recruiter。 In the other；
which was the covering boat and which lay off shore a hundred yards； was
the second mate。 Both boats were well…armed； though trouble was little
expected。
〃Four of the sailors； including Saxtorph； were scraping the poop rail。
The fifth sailor； rifle in hand； was standing guard by the water…tank just
for'ard of the mainmast。 I was for'ard； putting in the finishing licks on a
new jaw for the fore…gaff。 I was just reaching for my pipe where I had laid
it down； when I heard a shot from shore。 I straightened up to look。
Something struck me on the back of the head； partially stunning me and
knocking me to the deck。 'my first thought was that something had carried
away aloft； but even as I went down； and before I struck the deck； I heard
the devil's own tattoo of rifles from the boats； and twisting sidewise； I
caught a glimpse of the sailor who was standing guard。 Two big niggers
were holding his arms； and a third nigger from behind was braining him
with a tomahawk。
〃I can see it now； the water…tank； the mainmast； the gang hanging on to
him； the hatchet descending on the back of his head； and all under the
blazing sunlight。 I was fascinated by that growing vision of death。 The
tomahawk seemed to take a horribly long time to come down。 I saw it land；
and the man's legs give under him as he crumpled。 The niggers held him
up by sheer strength while he was hacked a couple of times more。 Then I
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got two more hacks on the head and decided that I was dead。 So did the
brute that was hacking me。 I was too helpless to move； and I lay there and
watched them removing the sentry's head。 I must say they did it slick
enough。 They were old hands at the business。
〃The rifle firing from the boats had ceased； and I made no doubt that
they were finished off and that the end had come to everything。 It was
only a matter of moments when they would return for my head。 They were
evidently taking the heads from the sailors aft。 Heads are valuable on
Malaita； especially white heads。 They have the place of honor in the canoe
houses of the salt…water natives。 What particular decorative effect the
bushmen get out of them I didn't know； but they prize them just as much as
the salt…water crowd。
〃I had a dim notion of escaping； and I crawled on hands and knees to
the winch； where I managed to drag myself to my feet。 From there I could
look aft and see three heads on top the cabinthe heads of three sailors I
had given orders to for months。 The niggers saw me standing； and started
for me。 I reached for my revolver； and found they had taken it。 I can't say
that I was scared。 I've been near to death several times； but it never
seemed easier than right then。 I was half…stunned； and nothing seemed to
matter。
〃The leading nigger had armed himself with a cleaver from the galley；
and he grimaced like an ape as he prepared to slice me down。 But the slice
was never made。 He went down on the deck all of a heap； and I saw the
blood gush from his mouth。 In a dim way I heard a rifle go off and
continue to go off。 Nigger after nigger went down。 'my senses began to
clear； and I noted that there was never a miss。 Every time that the rifle
went off a nigger dropped。 I sat down on deck beside the winch and
looked up。 Perched in the crosstrees was Saxtorph。 How he had managed
it I can't imagine； for he had carried up with him two Winchesters and I
don't know how many bandoliers of ammunition； and he was now doing
the one only thing in this world that he was fitted to do。
〃I've seen shooting and slaughter； but I never saw anything like that。 I
sat by the winch and watched the show。 I was weak and faint； and it
seemed to be all a dream。 Bang； bang； bang； bang； went his rifle； and thud；
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thud； thud； thud； went the niggers to the deck。 It was amazing to see them
go down。 After their first rush to get me； when about a dozen had dropped；
they seemed paralyzed； but he never left off pumping his gun。 By this time
canoes and the two boats arrived from shore； armed with Sniders； and with
Winchesters which they had captured in the boats。 The fusillade they let
loose on Saxtorph was tremendous。 Luckily for him the niggers are only
good at close range。 They are not used to putting the gun to their shoulders。
They wait until they are right on top of a man； and then they shoot from
the hip。 When his rifle got too hot； Saxtorph changed off。 That had been
his idea when he carried two rifles up with him。
〃The astounding thing was the rapidity of his fire。 Also； he never made
a miss。 If ever anything was inevitable； that man was。 It was the swiftness
of it that made the slaughter so appalling。 The niggers did not have time to
think。 When they did manage to think； they went over the side in a rush；
capsizing the canoes of course。 Saxtorph never let up。 The water was
covered with them； and plump； plump； plump； he dropped his bullets into
them。 Not a single miss； and I could hear distinctly the thud of every bullet
as it buried in human flesh。
〃The niggers spread out and headed for the shore； swimming。 The
water was carpeted with bobbing heads； and I stood up； as in a dream； and
watched it allthe bobbing heads and the heads that ceased to bob。 Some
of the long shots were magnificent。 Only one man reached the beach； but
as he stood up to wade ashore； Saxtorph got him。 It was beautiful。 And
when a couple of niggers ran down to drag him out of the water； Saxtorph
got them； too。
〃I thought everything was over then； when I heard the rifle go off
again。 A nigger had come out of the cabin companion on the run for the
rail and gone down in the middle of it。 The cabin must have been full of
them。 I counted twenty。 They came up one at a time and jumped for the
rail。 But they never got there。 It reminded me of trapshooting。 A black
body would pop out of the companion； bang would go Saxtorph's rifle；
and down would go the black body。 Of course； those below did not know
what was happening on deck； so they continued to pop out until the last
one was finished off。
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〃Saxtorph waited a while to make sure； and then came down on deck。
He and I were