UNWELCOME VISITORS
"Great Scott! It's a native canoe," declared Mr. McKay. "And she's
heading straight for the island!"
The craft was some little distance from the entrance to the reef, her
huge brown sail hanging idly from its yard, while the crew vigorously
plied their paddles as they made the water fly from her sharp prow.
"Trouble in store?" queried Andy.
"It's well to be prepared," replied his father. "I know these natives
of old. Sometimes they are quiet and inoffensive, at another time they
are bold and war-like, or, what is worse, extremely treacherous."
"Then we must arm ourselves?"
"Assuredly. Quexo, bring my glass."
The mulatto darted off, and presently reappeared, bringing a glass of
lime-juice.
"Not that, you ass!" exclaimed Mr. McKay, laughing.
"Glass--telescope--see?" and he raised his hands to imitate the
operation of using a telescope. "I'll have the drink, anyhow."
Once more Quexo ran to the house, this time bringing back the required
instrument.
"There are at least forty natives," said Mr. McKay, after a lengthy
examination of the oncoming craft. "They may be armed. If so, their
weapons are lying on the bottom of the canoe. But unless I am very
much mistaken, there's a white man aboard."
"A prisoner? Let me have a look, pater!"
In his eagerness Andy almost snatched the telescope from his parent's
hand.
"A queer set of customers," he exclaimed; "but I don't think the white
man is a captive, for he's talking to a fellow with his hair frizzed up
a foot above his head."
"We've seen enough for the time being," rejoined Mr. McKay quietly, "so
we'll return to the house and serve out the arms. At the rate they are
travelling, the canoe will be here in ten minutes."
"They won't injure the boat?" asked Andy anxiously, for the yawl was
almost like a child to him.
"Not when they see us with rifles in our hands. Whatever you do, don't
let them have reason to think we want to fight, and, above all, don't
show any signs of fear."
The party quickly strapped on their ammunition belts and revolver
holsters, then, grasping their rifles, they hastened down to the beach.
The canoe had by this time entered the lagoon, and its occupants had
perceived the house and the other buildings, for they had ceased
paddling, and were gazing in wonder towards the shore. Nor did the
appearance of five armed men serve to set their minds at rest.
"Hullo, there!" shouted Mr. McKay.
"Hullo, there!" was the reply. "What's your game?"
"What's yours?" replied Mr. McKay.
"All square, governor. Can we land?"
"Provided you keep your people in order," replied Mr. McKay, then
turning to his companions he exclaimed: "By Jove! I know that fellow;
he's no good, I'm afraid."
"You know him?"
"Yes, I met him on a pearl-fisher in Torres Strait twenty odd years
ago. He hasn't changed much in appearance, and I'm afraid his manners
haven't. Still, I'll not claim acquaintanceship with him at present."
The paddles were resumed, and the canoe glided quietly to the shore.
The natives, for the most part stark naked, began to tumble over the
side, some grasping enormous clubs studded with sharks' teeth, and
others long triple-barbed spears.
"Tell those fellows to throw those weapons back into the canoe,"
shouted Mr. McKay sternly. "Otherwise we'll not permit them to land."
The white man spoke a few words to the turban-haired native, who in
turn uttered an order to his men. Instantly the weapons were thrown
into the canoe with a loud clatter, and the natives, wading ashore,
secured their boat and proceeded to squat in a semicircle.
"My name's Blight--Jimmy Blight," exclaimed the stranger.
Mr. McKay merely nodded his head in reply. He could not bring himself
to say the words "Pleased to see you," for the simple reason that he
was not.
Jimmy Blight had had a chequered career. He was a man of about fifty
years of age, some five feet eight inches in height, and of medium
build. Years of exposure to a tropical sun had not left any trace upon
his face, for his complexion was a chalky white. He had a bristling,
dark moustache; cut high over the lips, a scanty crop of dark hair, a
thin, straight nose, rather deep-set eyes that were continually
shifting in expression, while his hands, the broad nails of which were
bitten to the quick, showed little trace of hard work.
When Mr. McKay first met him he was mate of a pearling vessel, and
already he bore a bad reputation as a hard drinker and a card-sharper,
while it was well known that his tyranny had more than once caused
bloodshed amongst the Kanaka crew of the vessel. By his white
associates he was commonly known as "Chinese Pork"--in other words,
something very unpleasant.
"Well, what can I do for you?" asked Mr. McKay bluntly.
"The island's free, I guess?" replied Blight, with a leer that
ill-concealed his natural aggressiveness.
"So long as you behave yourself; but should one of those men touch so
much as a copper nail, we'll send you to the right about in double
quick time. Understand?"
"Yes, boss. But how about a drink? You seem fixed up pretty
comfortable here."
"You can have as much water as you want at the stream. Beyond that,
I'm afraid we cannot provide you."
"Humph! Must take pot-luck, I suppose. Say, are you traders?"
Mr. McKay did not think it advisable to answer.
"What's your business, might I ask?" he inquired.
"It's a long story, boss. You see my mates here"--indicating the group
of squatting natives--"belong to the island of Ahii, which lies seventy
miles nor'west of here. In fact, I was very comfortable along of 'em,
but might is right in these parts, I'll allow."
"Chinese Pork" paused to allow the weight of this sentence to take
effect, but Mr. McKay betrayed no sign.
"So a few days ago a tribe of natives from Teku came and drove us out.
There was a fight, you bet, but our fellows got the worst of it. So we
hooked it, and took canoe to Ni Atong, which is less than twenty miles
S.E. of Ahii. Ni Atong's all very well, only it ain't big enough, so
we're trying to find a larger island to settle upon. There's close on
a couple of hundred natives, and ten large canoes at Ni Atong. Strikes
me this place 'ud suit, 'specially with white gents like yourselves for
company like."
"I'm afraid you must give up all idea of bringing your friends here,
Mr. Blight, or yourself either."
"Say, why?"
"Because we cannot permit it."
"Look here, boss," replied Blight with an impudent swagger. "How do
you think you'll stop two hundred natives if they set their minds on
landing here? Even I couldn't stop 'em."
"Let them try," replied Mr. McKay. "Now, Mr. Blight, I cannot refuse
you hospitality. Food will be sent down to you; then, when your men
have rested sufficiently, I must ask you to leave this island."
And turning on his heel, Mr. McKay began to make his way back to the
house, the lads following him closely.
Before he had taken a dozen steps the ex-pearler ran after him.
"See here, boss; I don't mean to give offence--no offence meant--but
you'll allow it's hard on a chap to be done out of his own crib by a
pack o' niggers. And then you can't deny you've treated me
off-handish, specially as you're the first white man I've seen these
two years. So let's come to terms. I see you're well armed. Why not
come back to Ahii with us, and make those chaps from Teku clear off
back to their own island? Then the Ahii people won't want to trouble
you. See?"
"I'll consider the matter," replied Mr. McKay. "By the by, do you ever
go to Tahiti?"
"Not often, boss. I was there two years ago. When I've got a cargo of
copra ready I send it by a native boat. Why do you ask?"
"I merely wanted to know, Mr. Blight. But now I must be off. I'll
send the provisions along shortly, and will give you a definite reply
to your proposal in a few hours. It seems to me that the easiest way
out of the mess is to accept the fellow's advice," remarked Mr. McKay
as they entered their house. "We certainly don't want to try
conclusions with a horde of savages on this island. No doubt we could
beat them off, but in any case there is a considerable amount of risk.
If I can get Blight to give me a guarantee--though I don't place much
reliance on his word--backed by the chief's assurance that his men will
not trespass upon the island, I think we can very well help them."
"Do you think there will be much of a struggle?" asked Ellerton.
"Between whom?"
"The natives of Ahii and the natives who took possession of their
island."
"No; our presence will soon turn the scale, though we may not even have
to use our firearms. You can rely upon it that I'll do my best to
prevent bloodshed. Are you willing to go, lads? If you have
objections don't hesitate to say so."
"I haven't," said Ellerton.
"Nor I," added the others.
"Very well, then. Quexo, take this keg of flour down to the beach, and
tell that white man that his people can gather as much taro and
cocoanuts as they want, so long as they don't cross to this side of the
stream. You understand? Do you think we might spare Blight a lamb,
Andy?"
"I think so, pater. We've twenty at least."
"Then tell Quexo to take one down when he comes back. Now, boys, if we
are going on this trip, we had better make preparations. We ought to
start by sunrise at least, if we want to reach Ahii before dark."
"But are we going straight to Ahii?"
"No, by Jove! I forgot that for the moment. Of course, it will be
much better to spend the night off Ni Atong--I suppose there's a
lagoon--and proceed to Ahii on the following morning."
"Well, Quexo," said Andy, on the mulatto's return, "what did the white
man say?"
"He say: 'Come here you number one size blackamoor. What your massa
name is?' An' I say: 'I no number one size blackamoor; I no niggah,
sah; an' my massa name me no give, massa he tell you his name if you
ask.'"
"That's a smart reply, Quexo," replied Mr. McKay, laughing. "There's
nothing like keeping your master's counsel and your own. Now take that
carcase down to the beach. Ellerton, you might take a stroll along the
edge of the cliff and, without attracting undue attention, keep an eye
on the rascals. I don't want them straggling across the stream."
Thus bidden, Ellerton walked cautiously to the edge of the first
terrace, then laying his rifle on the ground, stretched himself into a
comfortable position so that he could see without being seen, and hear
without being heard.
Most of the natives had dispersed, and were busily engaged in seeking
taro and cocoanuts, although they kept strictly within the bounds laid
down by Mr. McKay.
Blight, the chief, and a couple of natives had killed the lamb and were
roasting it by the aboriginal method of caking it with clay and placing
it in the red-hot embers of a fire. Although the white man cast
several curious glances at the cliff, above which the roof of the house
was just visible, he refrained from setting foot upon the path that led
to Mr. McKay's settlement.
Late in the afternoon Mr. McKay went down to the beach and informed
Blight that he had decided to lend his aid, at the same time
stipulating that the natives must promise not to molest the inhabitants
of McKay's Island.
The remainder of the yawl's stores were then carried aboard, Andy and
Ellerton volunteering to keep watch on the boat while Mr. McKay,
Terence, and Quexo took turns in patrolling the edge of the terrace.
A tent, some blankets, and a few luxuries in the way of provisions were
then sent down to the ex-pearler, while the natives prepared to sleep
under the shelter of the palm trees and bushes.
"If you see or hear anything of a suspicious nature, Andy," cautioned
Mr. McKay, "here is a signal rocket. Don't use it except in
circumstances that warrant our interference. You have plenty of
ammunition?"
"Seventy rounds of rifle ammunition and fifty revolver cartridges each.
You'll see that another box of ammunition comes off in the morning."
"Aye, aye," replied his father. "Now I think everything is ready to
make an early start, so you had better be off."
Then, having bade the rest of the party good night, Andy and his trusty
companion descended to the beach, passed between knots of curious
natives, and embarked in the yawl's tender.
Five minutes later they were on board, and the ammunition stowed away
within easy reach.
The lads had made an excellent job in converting the ship's cutter.
From the awning-covered well a short ladder led to the cabin. Here
four roomy folding bunks, a swing table, plenty of lockers and racks
had been fitted, while the linoleum-covered floor, the red baize
curtains, and the polished brass lamp imparted an air of comfort.
Overhead a skylight served to admit both fresh air and light.
In the fo'c'sle, to which access could be obtained either by sliding
doors between it and the cabin, or through a hatch on deck, were the
sails, spare ropes, anchor cable, and a small stove constructed from
one of the galleys of the _San Martin_.
The motor had been installed under the floor of the well, while on the
afterside of the cabin bulkhead was fixed a boat's compass, illuminated
by means of the cabin lamp, so that the steersman could keep a course
with comfort, whether by day or night.
"Now, Hoppy, I'll take the first watch," remarked Andy, as the sun sank
beneath the lofty peak of McKay's Island. "I'll turn you out at two in
the morning, and then you can carry on till daybreak, if that will suit
you."
"Righto!" replied Ellerton.
And turning in upon his bunk he was soon fast asleep, lulled by the
slight motion of the little craft as she rose and fell to the gentle
heave of the lagoon.