Adventure, August 3, 1919 — page 128: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

118 . Adventure shouted at the lone figure of a withered old native who came slowly, hesitatingly along the jetty, Jackson liked to talk, or at least he seemed to like it. He always did most of it, and there was scant chance of any one interrupting him, for his was the booming voice of an old-time mate, who, in addition to a leather throat, had a barrel-like chest. WHILE he was talking, the two other white men, both heavily armed, climbed on the jetty and stood curiously looking at Gilbert Lang. One of these men was obviously a sailor, a boatswain perhaps. The other was a man who seemed almost as much out of place at Gopassa as Gilbert. He was rather thin and dark-hued, but with the darkness and body of the Latin, His eyes were black and cunning, and the mouth wore an unconscious, wicked sneer, He was neatly dressed in white duck and wore a yachting cap. He carried a rifle and wore two revolvers. The other man was as heavily equipped. Jeb Jackson did not have anything in the way of a weapon. “Come here; you seventh son of the mother of Satan,” Jackson shouted at the lone native; then, changing to the pidgin English used and understood throughout almost the whole of the South Seas, he demanded again that “‘you fellow’ come closer. Baraka cautiously edged nearer. “DuBeque, this is Gilbert. Ain’t a missionary, are you?”’ Jackson said, un- dertaking to introduce the man in white duck and at the same time make sure that the boy was not one of those most dreatled and hated persons in the islands. That is, dreaded and hated by the men who sailed with and for Willerby. The large ship moored out in the bay was the Bebe. “Pleased to meet you,” said DuBeque quickly, politely, perhaps influenced by Gilbert Lang’s embarrassed but emphatic denial that he was a missionary. And in his momentary confusion he neglected to explain that his name was not Gilbert but Gilbert Lang. DuBeque talked with a soft and fluid ease; words came from his tongue smooth as dripping oil, and his voice was low-pitched, almost melodious, but just a little too unctuous. While Jackson was trying to hold conver- sation with the wily Baraka, DuBeque were | at the attitude of the natives, for it was unnatural and usually indicated hostile intention for the natives to stay off the water and beach when a ship came in. DuBeque obviously said what he did in the expectation that Gilbert would in turn speak of himself. And Gilbert did. He had at first no liking for DuBeque’s face, but DuBeque seemed a gentleman. It was a pleasure to hear English spoken fluently and quietly again. And Gilbert was interested and hopeful to learn that there was a party of white people on the Bebe. He said that he had been traveling about with Hurricane Williams, who came to Gopassa some weeks before after pearls, and he could not imagine what was the matter with the natives, for they were certainly not hostile but friendly, very friendly. DuBeque scarcely heard the last of Gilbert Lang’s septence. He hastily glided forward and prodded Jacksdn into an at- titude of attention, saying excitedly: “Hurricane Williams is here. Pearling, and Gilbert came with him. Williams has stirred up the niggers, as usual.” Jackson gave a questioning grunt and stared at Gilbert Lang doubtfully. “You come with Williams?” Jackson seemed skeptical. Gilbert did not look at all like the sort of a man Wil- liams would take up with. Sess] “So that tiger-shark is here? Pearling? Funny fellow, that Williams, ain’t he?” Jackson asked in a tone that passed for low with him, but his voice rumbled like distant thunder. . Gilbert readily admitted that Williams was strange at times. - “So you say he’s got these niggers primed for trouble with us, eh?” “No, he didn’t say that,” DuBeque hastily put in. “I did. You know wher- ever this beach-comber goes he makes trouble for white men.” “Does he now?” Jackson asked. There was something peculiar in his manner of asking it. comicbooks.con -