The Nerve of Foley, and Other Railroad Stories

," declared Mr. McKay. "And she's

huge brown sail hanging idly from its yard, while the crew vigorousl

store?" qu

s of old. Sometimes they are quiet and inoffensive, at another time

must arm

Quexo, bri

presently reappeared, brin

-telescope-see?" and he raised his hands to imitate the op

house, this time bringing b

the oncoming craft. "They may be armed. If so, their weapons are lying on the bot

Let me have a

ost snatched the telescop

think the white man is a captive, for he's talking to a

ly, "so we'll return to the house and serve out the arms. At the

ked Andy anxiously, for the yawl

r you do, don't let them have reason to think we want t

n belts and revolver holsters, then, grasping

e and the other buildings, for they had ceased paddling, and were gazing in wonder towa

re!" shoute

was the reply. "

rs?" replie

governor. C

McKay, then turning to his companions he exclaimed: "B

know

go. He hasn't changed much in appearance, and I'm afraid his manners

s, for the most part stark naked, began to tumble over the side, some grasping

ack into the canoe," shouted Mr. McKay stern

er to his men. Instantly the weapons were thrown into the canoe with a loud clatter, an

Jimmy Blight," exc

ld not bring himself to say the words "Pleased to

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, stra

d a card-sharper, while it was well known that his tyranny had more than once caused bloodshed amongst the Kanaka crew o

do for you?" asked

ied Blight, with a leer that ill-c

ose men touch so much as a copper nail, we'll send yo

a drink? You seem fixed up

want at the stream. Beyond that,

t-luck, I suppose. S

ot think it adv

iness, might I a

ives-"belong to the island of Ahii, which lies seventy miles nor'west of here. In fact

weight of this sentence to take eff

o 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. The

idea of bringing your friends her

y,

e cannot p

"How do you think you'll stop two hundred natives if they

se you hospitality. Food will be sent down to you; then, when your

began to make his way back to the h

dozen steps the ex-p

en 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 a

replied Mr. McKay. "By the b

o. When I've got a cargo of copra ready I

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 consid

ill be much of a stru

een w

the natives who took po

our firearms. You can rely upon it that I'll do my best to prevent bloodshed.

t," said

added t

at his people can gather as much taro and cocoanuts as they want, so long as they don't cross

ater. We've tw

we are going on this trip, we had better make preparations. We ought

going straig

l be much better to spend the night off Ni Atong-I suppose th

on the mulatto's return, "

me is?' An' I say: 'I no number one size blackamoor; I no niggah, sah;

your own. Now take that carcase down to the beach. Ellerton, you might take a stroll along the edge of the cliff a

hen laying his rifle on the ground, stretched himself into a comfortable po

gaged in seeking taro and cocoanuts, although they ke

clay and placing it in the red-hot embers of a fire. Although the white man cast several curious glances at the cliff, above

t that he had decided to lend his aid, at the same time stipulating that

nd Ellerton volunteering to keep watch on the boat while Mr. McKay,

ons were then sent down to the ex-pearler, while the natives pr

d Mr. McKay, "here is a signal rocket. Don't use it except in circum

revolver cartridges each. You'll see that anot

think everything is ready to make an

his trusty companion descended to the beach, passed between

on board, and the ammunition

re four roomy folding bunks, a swing table, plenty of lockers and racks had been fitted, while the linoleum-covered floor, the red b

n it and the cabin, or through a hatch on deck, were the sails, spare ropes, anch

the cabin bulkhead was fixed a boat's compass, illuminated by means of the cabin l

eneath the lofty peak of McKay's Island. "I'll turn you out at two in the

replied

, lulled by the slight motion of the little craft as