THE BRIG LEONORA
The island of Millé is situated in the Radac or eastern portion of the
Marshall group, discovered by a captain of that name in 1788. On the
charts it bears the name of the Mulgrave Lagoon, and the reason is not
far to seek. For the most part the islands of Polynesia are of volcanic
origin, whilst the lagoons, which sometimes pass for islands, are
exclusively of coral formation. The minute insects which form them build
their submarine wall in a circle, which growing for ages, until it rises
at low water above sea-level, gradually collects sand and debris, when
it decomposes and becomes a solid. Then comes a day when wandering
cocoa-nuts float to it and take up their abode on its shores. Gradually
a ring of land is formed, varying in width, covered with a wreath of
palms, sheltering within its circumference a peaceful sea, into which
access is attainable by scattered channels only.
The spot we had reached was of this description.
Day was breaking when we first sighted the tops of the cocoa-palms, and
putting the ketch dead before the wind we ran down to the passage. On
going aloft I was glad to see the spars of a vessel showing about three
miles distant. As none of the crew had ever visited the place before, we
lay to and fired a gun. In about half-an-hour we saw a boat pulling
towards us, with a tall man standing up steering. It was Hayston.
Jumping aboard he shook me warmly by the hand, and said, "So you see
we've met again! What sort of passage did you have?"
I recounted our misfortunes, adding the information that the ketch
leaked terribly.
"Oh! that's just like Bascom," he remarked. "He told me that he'd send
her down as sound as a bell. I never had a chance of looking at her when
she was on the beach at Apia, and I certainly thought he would act
squarely with me. But we'll talk business by and by."
He now took command of the ketch, and brought us into the lagoon, where
we dropped anchor in ten fathoms alongside the brig. I then formally
handed over my vessel to him, and wished the king of Arnu joy of his
bargain. After receiving full particulars of the voyage, he called the
skipper aft.
"Well, Captain Westendorf," he said, "you have most fortunately reached
here safely, but more through good luck than good management. I know you
to be an experienced and capable navigator, so that had you attended to
your duty you would have made Millé ten or fifteen days, earlier. Now,
you can go ashore and live with my trader till you get a passage back to
Samoa, for I'll be hanged if I take you back. As for your crew, I don't
want them either; you can take them with you or turn them adrift. The
ketch I intend to leave here until I return from Ascension; but mark
this--_and you know me_--don't attempt to board her during my absence;
good day!"
I felt sorry at seeing the good-natured "Tapoleni" so humiliated; for
with the exception of that one failing which has obscured brighter
intellects, and which was the cause of all his troubles, he was a
thoroughly honest old fellow.
Black Tom and his wife elected to remain at Millé until they found a
suitable island on which to open a trading station. They parted from me
with many professions of gratitude which I think were sincere. He
afterwards became a wealthy man--such are fortune's vagaries in the
islands; his son Johnny earnestly begged me to intercede with Captain
Hayston on his account, and not to leave him on shore at Millé. I made
the request, and the Captain told him to come aboard the _Leonora_.
During the afternoon Hayston and I went over the ketch in order to
inspect the stores, gear, etc., when he asked me, now that my
responsibility had ended, what were my intentions as to future
movements? I told him I proposed to charter a native canoe for Arnu,
there to await a passing vessel and a passage to Samoa. From this
course, however, he dissuaded me, pointing out that I might have to stay
there six months. He then offered me the position of supercargo on his
brig at a fair salary, pressing for an immediate answer.
Thinking it better to be earning money than leading a life of idleness
among the natives, I consented. "I accept your offer, Captain," I said;
"but there is one thing I wish you to understand, I am coming with you,
not for the sake of the pay, but because I don't want to loaf about the
Marshall group like a beach-comber, and, moreover, I should like to
visit the Carolines. I don't particularly want to return to Samoa, and
if I see a place I like I'll start trading. Now, I am willing to do duty
as supercargo, even without pay, but I won't lend a hand in any
transaction that I don't like the look of. So at our first difference
you can set me ashore."
Hayston looked me straight in the face and held out his hand--"Well,
now, that's a fair deal. I give you my word that I won't ask you to join
in anything doubtful. The traders round here are the greatest scoundrels
unhung, and I have to treat them as they treat me. My books are in a bad
state, and you'll find work enough putting them straight; but I'll be
glad of your company aboard, even if you never do a hand's turn." So
the bargain was closed. I got my chest from the hold and sent it aboard
the brig; the steward receiving instructions that I was to occupy the
port side of the cabin. At dusk Hayston gave some of the crew liberty,
and sent the rest with the mates to haul the ketch in and beach her as
the tide was full. While he stood watching her from the brig's deck, he
suddenly remarked that they were making a mess of it, and calling two
boys to bring the dingey alongside, he was pulled into the shore.
There was a number of young women on board, natives of the Kingsmill
group, good-looking, but wild in appearance. I was on deck and they were
below, where I heard them laughing and talking, and saw they were seated
on the lounge that ran round the cabin. They all seemed very merry over
a game, much like "knucklebones," which they were playing with shells. A
large canoe was bearing down on us from one of the islands in the
lagoon, and just as she ran up in the wind ahead of us, allowing the
topsail to drift down alongside, I heard a man's voice mingling with the
girls'.
I was going forward to have a close look at the canoe, when I saw the
Captain close alongside in the dingey. He had sailed out to the brig,
having let the two boys remain on shore to assist at the ketch. Just as
he stepped over the sail, the owner of the voice I had heard ran out of
the cabin. Hayston gripped him by the arm, and I heard him sing out,
"What, would you knife me?" The next minute the man was seized in the
powerful arms, lifted high above his head, and then dashed upon the
deck, where he lay perfectly still.
The Captain disappeared in the cabin, and running up I lifted the man's
head. His back and neck seemed broken, and though I called loudly no one
came from below. There were a lot of Arunai natives in the hold sleeping
and smoking, but they took no notice of my calls, which, as I didn't
know a word of their language, did not surprise me. The canoe had now
come alongside, and the Captain reappeared upon deck. The chief seemed
pleased to see him, and then a lot of natives clambered on board and
carried the wounded man aboard their barque.
Having given them eight or ten pounds of tobacco, Hayston told them,
partly in English and partly in the Millé dialect, that the man was
shamming dead, and if he woke up on board they could chuck him overboard
and let him swim. Then they hoisted sail again and stood away.
I felt horrified, for, although the Captain was certainly justified in
defending himself from a man armed with a knife, I was shocked at
witnessing the result. He, however, insisted that the fellow was only
"foxing," and so the matter ended. When the boats returned from the
ketch, I heard the women remark to the sailors that Siaké (Jack) had
run away in a canoe, because "Kaptin" had beat him.
At daylight next morning we got under weigh, and I was astonished at the
manner in which Hayston handled the brig through the narrow passage.
After accomplishing this feat, we bore away for Ujillong, and the
steward called us to breakfast.
Our destination was the almost unknown chain of coral islets forming
Ujillong or Providence Island. Some fifteen months previously, Hayston
had discovered a passage through the reef there, and sailed his brig in.
He was delighted with the security afforded by the magnificent lagoon
inside. The islets were covered with cocoa-nuts, and he at once decided
upon forming a principal trading station there, making it a centre from
whence he could work the islands in the North Pacific. There were only
thirty natives on the whole lagoon, and with these he succeeded in
establishing friendly relations, setting them to work in erecting
dwelling-houses and oil-sheds.
We left in charge two white men named Jerry Jackson and Whistling Bill,
together with a number of Line Island natives who were to assist in
making oil. Hayston told me he intended to settle there himself and
cruise among the Carolines and Marshalls, whilst Captain Peese, his
colleague, would run a small vessel to China, making Ujillong his
headquarters. On this occasion he expected to find that a large quantity
of oil had been made in his absence, and was anxious to get there as
quickly as possible.
During the day I had leisure to observe the crew, and considering that
none of them were white men, the way in which the brig was worked was
simply admirable. They treated the officers with great freedom of
manner, but before the Captain they seemed absolutely to cower. There
being some thirty of them they were by no means over-worked. They were
allowed as much liquor as they chose to buy at a dollar a bottle for
gin, beer at fifty cents, and rum at a dollar. With such license one
would naturally think that insubordination would be rife. It was not so.
But though they never broke out at sea, when once the brig anchored they
became fiends incarnate. Gambling and drinking then commenced. The
sounds of oaths, yells, and blows floated up from the foc'sle, mingling
with the screams of the women, and the night was made horrible with
their din.
Individual members of the crew of this strange vessel I shall describe
later on--for the present _place aux dames_! Every officer had a native
wife, and the Chinese carpenter two. Most of these women were natives of
Arurai or Hope Island, one of the Kingsmill group. They were darker in
complexion than the other Polynesians, and prone to violent jealousy of
their protectors. It was by no means uncommon to see two of these girls
fighting like demons on the main deck with their national weapons,
wooden daggers set round with shark's teeth, while blood poured in
streams from their lacerated limbs and bodies. There were several girls
from Ocean and Pleasant Island, near the equator. Very good-looking
were these last, and fair as to complexion. The principal belle, whose
name was Nellie, was a very handsome half-caste--a native of Hope
Island. Her father, a deserter from a whaler, had acquired such
influence with the natives that they made him a war chief. He led them
when they cut off an American whaler and killed the whole crew.
Discarding civilised clothing, he became a native in all but colour, and
finally met his death in a skirmish with a hostile tribe. This girl was
his daughter, and had been given as a present to Hayston by the king of
Arurai. Along with her beauty she had a violent and dangerous temper,
and was never backward in using her knife on any woman that provoked
her.
We had merely dropped Millé astern of us, when Hayston changed his mind
about going to Arurai, and bore away to Pleasant Island. He told me that
he had forgotten a promise made to the traders there to bring them
supplies, but that he would call at Providence on our way back from the
Carolines.
Pleasant Island (or Naura) is generally considered one of the Gilbert
group, although it is far to the leeward, and the natives, together with
those of Ocean Island (or Paanup), consider themselves a distinct
people. The former island is in latitude 0.25 S., longitude 167.5 E.,
and the latter in latitude 0.505, longitude 169.30 E.
"We've got a bully breeze," said the Captain; "and there is a straight
run of five hundred miles before we sight the cocoa-nuts on Pleasant
Island. I'll show you what the _Leonora_ can do."
Our course was something about S.W. by W., the wind increasing in
strength as we put the helm up for Pleasant Island, and during the
afternoon, so quickly was the brig slipping through the water, that
Hayston said we should do the distance--four hundred and ninety-five
miles--in forty-eight hours. I was astonished at the rate we travelled,
and the Captain himself seemed pleased. Calling the hands aft, he gave
them a glass of grog all round, and told the women to go on the main
deck and dance. This created considerable amusement, for as the brig was
running dead before the wind, and occasionally giving rolls, the dancers
losing their balance got some heavy falls into the scuppers, while the
others laughed and enjoyed their misfortunes.
We ran up under the leeside of the island just forty-four hours after
leaving Millé, a trifle over eleven knots an hour. In a few minutes we
were boarded by the traders, of whom there were six. They were certainly
a rough lot. As each man lived under the protection of a particular
chief, the island being divided into six districts, there was the
keenest business rivalry among them.
Hayston called them down below, when they were soon pretty well drunk.
They had plenty of dollars, and bought largely of arms and ammunition. I
was employed, with the second mate, in getting up the guns, principally
Snider rifles, from the lazarette. I called to them, one by one, to come
and pick what they wanted; however they seemed quite satisfied to let me
give them what I liked.
The brig was standing off and on, close into the land, in charge of the
boatswain, the mate being ill; Hayston was singing "The Zouave," and the
traders were applauding uproariously, whilst two were dancing with
Nellie and Sara, shouting and yelling like lunatics. The only one that
was sober was a fine young fellow who seemed ill, and was supported by a
native. This young fellow paid me for the arms bought by his comrades,
saying, "They're all drunk now, and as I don't go in for that kind of
thing myself, they've got me to do this business for them." The man who
was dancing with Sara had a bag of dollars in his hand, and as he
waltzed round the cabin he kept swinging it about and striking the
woodwork of the cabin.
Carl, the sick man, called out to him, "I say, Ned, let me have that
money now, I'm settling up for you." Swinging the bag of dollars round,
Ned sent it full at liberty, and struck Carl in the chest, knocking him
down. I picked him up, and thought by the pallor of his face that he was
either killed or seriously injured.
The native who was with him called to some of his comrades, and a young
woman came down and took his head in her lap, while I got a decanter of
water. After a while he came round, and told me he was not much hurt,
but that the bag of money was heavy and had bruised his chest greatly.
"You dog," he said, getting up and walking over to the other man, who
was now sitting at the table talking to the Captain, "as sure as my
name's Carl I'll make you suffer for this."
"Come, come," said Hayston, "it was only Ned's rough play. I don't think
he meant to hurt you. Besides, I don't want to see white men fighting on
board my ship."
"Look here, Captain," said he, pulling off his shirt, "look at my body,
and tell me if Ned thought me a fit subject for a joke."
It makes me shudder now. There was an awful gash on his back, extending
from his right shoulder to below the ribs on the right side. It was
roughly sewn up here and there, and seemed to be healing, but the blow
on the chest had made it bleed anew; a dark stream was soaking down his
leg to the ground.
"By heaven! that is a terrible cut," said the Captain; "how in thunder
did you get mauled like that?"
Carl, who was still very faint, told us that some time ago he had a
fight with a native, and licked him. One night, as he was lying face
downward on his mat, this man crept into his hut and struck him with a
shark tooth sword. His native wife, who was coming into the house at
the time, carrying two shells of toddy, dropped them, and flinging her
arms round the man's legs, tripped him up, and held him, while Carl, all
smothered in blood, shot him dead with his revolver.
"Ned!" said the Captain gravely, when Carl's tale was told, "did you
know this young fellow had this gash in his back when you hove the bag
at him?"
"Of course I did! why, d--n him, can't he take a joke? Naura's a rough
shop for a man that can't stand a bit of fun."
"Put up your hands, you cowardly dog!" said the Captain, and in an
instant the drunken traders cleared a space. "I'll teach you to hurt a
wounded man."
Ned was as big a man as the Captain, and seemed to be the leading spirit
of the gang. But the other traders, though armed with navy revolvers and
derringers, did not seem inclined to interfere.
At the first round the big trader went down like a bullock, and lay on
the cabin floor apparently lifeless. Hayston was like a mad animal when
he tried to get him up, and the man fell helpless. Picking him up in his
arms like a child, he carried him on deck, the rest of us following.
"Here! Naura men, where's Ned's boat?" he called out.
It was towing astern, and some one having hauled it up, Hayston dropped
the man into it like a log of wood.
Then his good temper returned instantly, and he paid Carl every
attention, insisting on dressing his wound. We remained out by Pleasant
Island all day, and shipped a lot of oil, for which Hayston paid the
traders in arms and ammunition; we then stood away for Ocean Island.
I learned that Carl had been a petty officer on board the U.S. cruiser
_Wish-ton-wish_, but had deserted and made his way to Pleasant Island.
He seemed superior to his companions in every way, and I was glad to be
able to give him some books.
He told me that he belonged to the New England States, but that he could
never return, and would put a bullet through his head rather than be
taken back a disgraced man. I bade him farewell with regret, and learned
two years afterwards that, a month after I saw him, he had blown his
brains out, as the U.S. corvette _Rowena_ touched at the island. Poor
Carl! How many a tale of wasted life, of reckless deeds, and early
death, could every island of the South Sea tell.
Although Hayston was an utterly reckless man in most matters, he was by
no means foolhardy where the lives of others were concerned. During the
time we spent at Pleasant Island every precaution was taken against a
surprise.
All the crew carried revolvers, and two men were posted in the fore and
main-tops armed with Winchesters. The natives of this island had cut off
many ships in past years, and were now so well armed and determined that
the utmost caution was needed.
It was here that I met an American named Maule--about as hard a specimen
of an old style South Sea trader as one could fall across. He was
extremely anxious that I should purchase two native girls from him. They
were under his charge. It seems their father had been killed, and his
own wife objected to their presence in his house.
I told him that I was supercargo, and therefore could not speculate on
my own account. Besides, that sort of traffic was entirely out of my
line. If he had curios, weapons, or Naura gods, I would deal, but there
I drew the line.
"Well, blame my cats! if you ain't too disgustin' partickler! Want to
stuff yer cabin with kyurosities and graven images, instead of dellikit
young women. Now, lookee hyar--jest you take them two gals o' mine for
thirty dollars, and you'll jest double your money from king Abinoka.
He's jest mad after Naura girls, and buys 'em up by the dozen."
Finding that I wouldn't invest, he tried the Captain, telling him that
the girls were anxious to get away from Pleasant Island, as their father
was dead, and having no brothers, they could not get food enough from
the people. His wife was jealous too, and had beaten them.
"Well, well!" said the Captain, "bring them aboard, and I'll give them a
passage somewhere. I suppose by and by you'll tell some man-of-war
captain that I stole them." So the trader sent them on board, and
received in exchange some boats' gear and a keg of molasses.
The girls went aft, and remained with the others in the cabin for a few
days. When we sighted Ocean Island, Hayston called me on deck, and said,
"Come and see a bit of fun."
Old Mary was told to bring up her flock. The two Pleasant Island girls
came up with the rest. They were about fourteen and fifteen years of
age, and, from their close similarity, probably the children of the same
mother--a somewhat unusual thing in the Gilbert group. They seemed
frightened at being called up, and clung closely to Sara and Nellie.
Their hair, Pleasant Island fashion, hung down straight upon their
backs, and was carefully oiled and combed. A girdle of Pandanus leaf was
their only garment. Speaking kindly to them, the Captain asked them if
they would like to go ashore there and live. I give the conversation.
_Captain._--"Well, will you go ashore here?"
_Girls._--"Are there plenty of cocoa-nuts and fish?"
_Captain._--"Pretty fair; but there are not always plenty."
_Girls._--"What chiefs will take us and give us food?"
_Captain._--"I don't know--there are more women there than men. All the
young men have gone away in whaleships."
_Girls._--"That's bad; the Ocean Island women will soon kill us
strangers."
_Captain._--"Most likely. Would you like to stay on the ship if I get
you husbands?"
_Girls._--"Yes! where are they?"
_Captain._--"Boatswain, send Sunday and boy George here."
These were two boys who had been sailing with Hayston for some years.
Both were about sixteen. Of George I will speak later on. Having come
aft, the Captain, addressing them, said he was pleased at their
steadiness, and as a reward for their good conduct, he had at great
expense procured them wives, whom he hoped they would treat well. His
speech was a humorous one, and the crew standing round grinned
approvingly--Sunday and boy George being, apparently, looked upon as
lucky youths, for the girls were undeniably good-looking. In fact, I
never saw an ill-looking Pleasant islander.
"Now, Terau and N'jilong, you must draw lots for first pick. Carpenter,
bring me two splinters of wood."
They were instructed by the other native girls how to draw lots, the
result being that Terau picked boy George, and her sister took Sunday.
"Steward!" commanded Hayston, "bring up a couple of bottles of grog. And
you, Sunday and boy George! before you begin your married life just
listen to me! Call all hands aft!"
The crew came aft, and the Captain, who now seemed quite serious, said,
"Now, boys, I have given these girls to Sunday and boy George. Don't let
me hear of any one attempting to interfere with them, and if one of you
puts his head into the boys' house while the girls are there alone, I'll
make it warm for him. There's a couple of bottles of grog for the watch
to drink their healths, and the steward has two more for the watch
below. For'ard now, and you, boys, go and ask the supercargo for some
cloth to rig your girls out with."
The _Leonora_ was certainly a very sociable and domesticated ship.
We lay off and on at Ocean Island for a day or two, and engaged
twenty-seven natives to proceed to Ponapé (Ascension Island) to work for
Cappelle and Milne, a German firm. Then we made an easterly course to
Taputanea (or Drummond Island), one of the Gilbert group, where Hayston
had a trader.
The Drummond islanders are notorious throughout the Pacific for
treachery and ferocity. They frequently cut off vessels, and murder all
hands, being led on these occasions by renegade white men. When
Commodore White's ships visited this spot in 1842 they murdered one of
his seamen. A fight ensued, in which many were killed, and the town of
Utiroa was laid in ashes. But the lesson had no great effect, and
Hayston told me that they would not hesitate to attempt the capture of
any vessel that could not make a good resistance.
We sighted the island at night-time, and lay off Utiroa till daylight.
Then after putting the brig in a state of defence, and giving the
command to the Fiji half-caste, Bill, telling him also to shoot a
certain native if he saw him come alongside, Hayston had the longboat
and whaleboat lowered.
Into the former he put a great quantity of trade, principally gin, rum,
and firearms, giving me charge of the latter to cover him. I had six men
with me, each armed with a Vetterlich rifle, and I carried my own
Winchester--eighteen shot. Hayston gave me full instructions how to act
if he was attacked; then we made for the town of Utiroa, the boats
keeping alongside of each other. As we were pulling Hayston told me that
he wished to get ashore before the canoes left, in order to interview
his trader Jim in the presence of the people. This fellow, it appeared,
was a fighting man who had great influence over the Drummond Island
natives, with whom bloodshed and murder were acts of everyday
occurrence. He always aided them in their tribal fights, and evinced a
partiality for taking life that had won their warmest admiration.
Hayston had brought him from Ponapé, where he was the terror of the
white men, swaggering about the ports of the island, and using his
pistol on any one that resented his conduct. But he was a good trader
for all that, and had been placed in this trust because no other man
could be found willing to risk his life among such a treacherous race.
Jim had not been installed a week at Utiroa, when a chief named Tabirau
gave him one of his daughters for a wife, and was paid for her in trade
according to custom. Shortly afterwards the girl ran home again, saying
that the white man had beaten her for spoiling a razor.
Jim took his rifle, went to his father-in-law's house, and demanded the
girl back. A number of natives followed up, anticipating that he would
be killed, for Tabirau was a chief of note, not averse to the
extermination of white men. As they expected, he refused to give up the
girl unless Jim paid more trade, alleging that one of the muskets paid
for her was no good. Without a moment's hesitation the trader shot him
through the body, killing him instantly, and then clubbed the girl to
death with the butt end of his rifle.
Instead of being murdered by the natives for this atrocious deed, he was
looked upon as a hero, and all Tabirau's land, canoes, and property were
made over to him. The people of Utiroa elected him to be their
commercial ruler, refusing to sell oil or produce to any ship without
his advice or consent. For a while his conduct had quite satisfied
Hayston, until he learned that Jim had sold a lot of his oil to a
Californian trader, boasting, besides, that Hayston dared not bring him
to task for it.
It was now the Captain's intention to assert his authority, and break
the trader's power over the natives. For this purpose he determined to
meet him on shore, and let the natives see which was the better man.
As we approached the beach we saw fully five hundred natives assembled;
all were armed, and many dressed in their thick armour of fibre, and
wearing helmets of the skin of the porcupine fish. There was great
excitement among them, though many of them seemed glad to see Hayston,
calling out "Tiaka po, Kaptin" (How do you do). The main body, however,
seemed ready to dispute our landing.
"Keep close up!" the Captain called out to me, "and don't let any of
them see your arms, but be ready to drop it into them the first shot
that is fired. But, for God's sake, don't miss. That villain Jim, you
see, isn't here, though; those fellows mean mischief. However, land I
must, and will." He then told the crew to run the boat on the beach, and
standing up in the stern, called out to natives that he knew, pretending
to see nothing unusual in their manner. At the moment that he stepped on
the beach the whole body of natives formed in solid line in front of
him, while hundreds of rifle muzzles were almost thrust in his face. He
looked steadily at them, and commenced to talk with his hands in his
trousers' pocket.
I forgot my instructions, and my crew seemed equally excited at the
Captain's danger, for, without being told, they ran the whaleboat ashore
and we all jumped out. The men in the other boat were standing up rifle
in hand, and they followed us.
The Captain was speaking calmly to the natives, when he turned and saw
me. "For God's sake, go back to the boats," he said, in a quiet tone;
then raising his hand threateningly and roaring like a lion, he repeated
the order in the Drummond Island dialect. I understood this hint, so we
ran back, but kept our arms ready. Hayston's order to me seemed to have
a good effect, for the fierce looks of the natives relaxed, and soon
afterwards he called out that it was all right, and told me to give him
two muskets and a box of tobacco out of the longboat. This was a present
for two of the principal chiefs, who now shook hands with him, saying
that Jim was in his house, and had told them that if Captain Hayston put
his foot inside he would shoot him. Our former opponents seemed pretty
equally divided in their opinions. Half of them were eager to see the
fight between Jim and the Captain, and the others were ready to massacre
the whole of us if but a single act of hostility was committed on either
side.
Hayston ordered me then to come with him, and asked the natives'
permission to allow me to bring my Winchester, as I was frightened of
them. The boats were shoved out, the crew being told to jump ashore if
they heard any firing, and fight their way to Jim's house. As I joined
the Captain on the beach he told me that the natives thought he meant to
kill Jim, and that they had felt him all over to see if he had concealed
any arms, but that they seemed satisfied when they found none. I was
astonished at his recklessness in not bringing weapons, and as we were
escorted along the road by the natives, I told him that I had a
derringer hidden among some tobacco in a canvas bag slung round my
waist.
"No, no!" he said. "It will never do to see you give it to me now.
Besides, I don't want any shooting if I can help it. There are many of
these natives who will be glad to see Jim's power broken, and I want to
get my hands on him before he puts a bullet into me. The rest is easy
enough. If you see him taking a shot at me before I come up to him, you
can use that rifle; but don't kill him if you can help it, and don't be
alarmed about yourself. Take hold of this old nigger's hand who is
walking beside you and you'll be all right. Just keep laughing and
talking."
After a long walk we got up to the trader's house, and here the natives
made a halt. I was beginning to feel horribly scared, and wished we were
on board the brig again. Presently we were told that Jim was inside, and
would not come out because he was sick. Walking steadily forward the
Captain advanced to within a few feet of the house, and called out,
"Well, this is a nice sort of welcome, Jim! Come out and show yourself."
The door opened, and I could see that the place was filled with natives,
all of whom carried guns and seemed much excited.
Then Jim made his appearance and walked slowly up to the Captain. He was
a tall man, dressed in pyjamas, with two navy revolvers in his belt.
With his heavy red moustache and bloodshot eyes, he looked his character
well--that of an unscrupulous and remorseless ruffian. Hayston had
seated himself on a fallen cocoa-nut tree with his hands full of papers.
"How d'ye do, Jim?" he said, extending his hand to the trader and rising
as he spoke. The moment the trader's hand touched his, he seized him by
the throat and shook him like a dog shaking a rat; then spun him round
violently and threw him against the stern of a canoe, where he lay half
stunned. The natives gave a roar, but the Captain held up his hands--the
tide seemed to turn at once in our favour, and one man went up to the
trader, took away his pistols, and gave them to Hayston. The Captain
addressed the principal chiefs, whom he told that Jim had robbed him,
and that after he had made presents to the people, he intended to take
the rest of the trade away.
We were moving into the house to take possession, when the trader, who
had now recovered himself, got up and addressed the natives. I did not
understand what he said, but Hayston evidently did. The effect of Jim's
harangue was to render the natives undecided as to what course to
adopt. One man, who spoke good English and had a rifle with a sword
bayonet attached, said it did not matter if any one was killed, but they
thought their white man did not have fair play.
"Jim," said the Captain, in his smoothest tones, "you say you can whip
any man in the Pacific in four rounds. Well! now you have an opportunity
to prove your words. If you are a better man than I am, I will let you
keep what trade you have got, and shake hands afterwards."
Jim stripped to the waist, and called for one of his women to bring him
a pair of "taka" or "cinnet" sandals, as he was barefooted.
He was shaking with rage and excitement, while Hayston showed no concern
whatever. From the jump the trader forced the fighting, but in less time
than I describe it, both of his eyes were nearly closed, and he had a
terrific cut on his cheekbone. Some women then ran in and begged the
Captain to desist. I believe he could have killed his man in another
five minutes. He asked Jim if he was satisfied and would shake hands.
But the trader would not answer, and then the Captain's face grew dark.
Seizing him again by the throat he nearly strangled him, his eyes
protruding horribly as he worked his arms in the air. When he let him go
he fell like a log. "Carry him down to the boats and make him fast," he
said to the interpreter.
We entered his house unmolested, and I took an inventory of his goods.
There was very little trade left, but the natives said he had a lot of
money given him by the skipper of the Californian vessel. This we found
in a large soup and bouilli tin in his chest. It amounted to nearly
seven hundred dollars, mostly in U.S. half-dollar coins.
The natives begged the Captain not to close the station up; if Jim was
going away, they wished some one in his place. He said he would consider
their wish after he got on board; but they must first help him to raft
off twenty casks of oil that were lying in Jim's oil-shed.
We got off to the boats at last. The old man still kept hold of my left
hand. This, the Captain had told me, he had done to protect me if any
fighting took place; that if fighting had resulted I would not have been
killed, but would have been regarded as the old man's prize. The natives
launched their canoes and followed the boats in swarms when we set sail
for the brig. As soon as we got alongside, Hayston asked the second mate
if the native he had spoken of had shown up.
"No," said Bill; "he's gone away to Samoa, so they say here."
Hayston seemed pleased at this news, telling me that this man was a
special enemy of his, into whom he meant to put a bullet if he could
drop across him. As he was gone away he was saved an unpleasant task.
Jim was taken for'ard, and the carpenter was ordered to put him in
irons; thereupon he sulkily explained that he didn't intend to turn
rusty.
"All right, then, Jim," replied the Captain. "I'm glad we're going to be
friends again. But you can go ashore at Makin and stay there."
He then called for a man among his crew to take Jim's place on shore.
After some hesitation a sturdy Rotumah native said he didn't mind, if
the Captain gave him a wife. He couldn't speak the language, and if he
took a Taputana woman she might plot to kill him and he be none the
wiser.
"Boys!" called out the Captain, "is any one of you willing to give
Willie his wife? I'll make it up to him. Besides, there'll be plenty
more going through the Marshall group."
No one appeared struck with the idea. So the Captain called Sunday aft,
and held brief conversation with him, after which the boy went into the
deckhouse and brought out his wife and N'jilong. The poor girl shed a
few tears at first and clung to Sunday's neck, but he finally induced
her to go with Willie. She had come aboard almost naked, but went away
with a well-filled chest and any amount of finery.
She parted from her sister in an apathetic manner, but her tears began
to flow afresh when Sunday turned coolly from her and pursued his duties
on the deck. Savage though she might be, she felt the parting from the
hardened young wretch whom she had come to look on as her partner.
However she lost nothing by the change. Her new husband was a steady,
good fellow who treated her kindly. Years afterwards I met them both on
one of the Ellice Islands and received a warm welcome. Willie had
legally married her in Fiji, and they seemed a most affectionate couple,
with children in whom their chief pride in life was centred.