Adventure, August 1917 — page 122: what you’re looking at

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

' i iy y 9 (i PX) A y y > 4 * otorua Author of “The Hazard of the Hills,” “The Pearl,” etc. The First Part of the Story Quickly Retold in Story Form VANCE LOUDON was foot-loose, fancy-free and twenty-eight. Ramble fever and a fast dimin- ishing eight-hundred-dollar patrimony had brought him from the United States to Honolulu. The spell of the South Seas laid compelling hands upon his spirit as he watched the schooner Manawa loading for the Madgeburg Islands. The Scotch skipper offered to take him along as passenger. ‘“There’s three more will be gangin’ wi’ us. I'll take ye along for a matter o’ two hundred dollars.” Vance brought out his roll. Rotorua was hereditary chief of Hapai and the Magdeburg group. He was six feet two inches of royal dusky height and more than half that distance waist measure. an absolute monarch—due to the untimely death by sun-stroke of the resident British commis- sioner. Three white people remained on the island— Serena Hargrave, daughter of the dead commis- sioner, Mrs. Gower, her aunt, and a British sergeant. When the royal presence was well saturated by public approval and gin, the sergeant appeared. “Miss ’Argrave harsks a haudience,”’ he an- nounced. Rotorua spoke English fairly well and he mus- tered his cloudy wits and achieved a hasty dignity. ‘‘All-a-right. How soon bimeby she come?” “Right horff. There’s a schooner houtside, ’ead- ing up the ’arbor.”’ ‘ER Il’s a going to be popping ’ere before long,” added the sergeant to himself. It was the Manawa, the first ship, except a gun- boat and one tramp steamer, to appear during two years. Vance Loudon had by this time had plenty of opportunity for sizing up his fellow passengers. Hawks they were—hawks of hazard. Hapai, rich in sandalwood and ebony, pearl, tortoise-shell and copra was thelure. Jim Edler and Phil Griffin were openly after a sandalwood concession. Brewster, lean and cynical, said nothing of his business. For only a week had Rotorua been — A canoe with Toruki, the king’s nephew, in com- mand came alongside the schooner. “Come aboard Toruki,” invited Captain Hender- son. ‘Mac, break out some liquor. We'll keep the rest of them off till we ken how matters stand.” The captain and three adventurers escorted Toruki below. Loudon stayed on deck. Suddenly through an open skylight there came to Loudon’s ears a babble of Melanesian, followed by broad Scotch. It was Toruki; the skipper translating. ‘‘He says a tramp freighter bought up the stuff on hand, all except this season’s copra,”’ came the skip- per’s words. ‘And that the commissioner took the money in gold and notes as payment. Something between nine and ten thousand pounds.” Vance Loudon bent for better hearing. ““Ask him where the money is now,” Brewster continued. “There’s a lassie, Toruki says. They call her Leaf of Heaven. And her aunt, a widow lady, anda sergeant. But there’s no guard. And no wireless nearer than New Mecklenburg, seventy miles south, But we must goeasy. Rotorua’s loyal, ye ken.” “Tt would be a kindly and no doubt a well-appre- ciated thing to offer the lady and her aunt the opportunity of removing those funds to a more secure place,” said Brewster. “How about young Loudon?” asked Edler. ‘“‘He can stay and keep the sergeant company. He need not know the Manawa is not staying over. Get him off on a hunting trip.” Vance slipped noiselessly to the rail. He held the winning hand so far. All he had to do was to seem unconscious of the plot and warn the two women. But the others kept a close watch. Rotorua was waiting ashore, regally attired to re- ceive expected gifts from the schooner’s passengers. Brewster’s offering was enshrined within a polished box—poker chips. Rotorua smiled appreciatingly. ““Eyah! Poker! Bimeby we play.” Loudon offered a shining hunting ax. ‘‘What do you want?” the king asked generously. Loudon said he would like some hunting. This, I20 cComicdook S}