Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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THE PEOPLE. BARNWELL. 8. C. C ftl« n I^CTUMIZXD >ET] .KTNE jTHEVALLEYof fy* GIANTS, Etc. LCOPVR j«HT BY PBTER & KYNt CHAPTER X—Continued. - 11 - “Th^e't one thing more that we nustnt neglect,” warned Mr. Gibney befoie the meeting broke up. “We’ve got to run this Mttle vessel Into some dqi-hoie where there’s a nice beach and smooth water, and change her name. I notice that her old name Reina Maria is screwed Into her bows and across her. stern In raised gilt let ters, contrary to law and custom. We’ll snip 'em olT, sandpa|>er every spot where there’s a letter, and re paint It; after which we’ll rig up a stagin’ over her bow and stern, and cut her new name, ‘Maggie II,’ right Into her plankin’. Nobody’ll ever sus pect her name’s been changed. I no tice that the official letters and num bers cut Into her main beam la F-C-P —WSf. I’ll change the F to E, and the O to O, and the I* to R. A bandy man with a wood chisel can do lots of things. He can change those nines to eights, the five to a six, and the seven to a nine. I’ve seen it done before. Then we'll rig a foretopmast and a spinnaker boom on her, and bend a fisherman's staysail. Nothing like It when you’re sailing a little off the wind. Seragg*. you have the papers of the old Maggie, and we all have our licenses regular enough. Dig up the old papers, Scraggsy. and I’ll doctor 'em up to fit the Maggie II. As for our armament, we'll dismount the guns and stow ’em away In the bold until we get down on the Colombian coast, and while we're lying In Pan ama repairing the holes where ray shots went through her. and puttin' new plaoka In her decka where the old plankin’ haa been scored by ahrap- nel. those paraqoeeta will think were aa peaceful aa chlpotanka. Better look ■» * . over your supplies. MyGuffey, and see If there's any paint aboard. I’d Just aa lief gtre the old girl a different dress before we drop anchor In Pan ama. r .... during Mr. Glbhey's absence on bis filibustering trip the Colombian revolu tionists had risen and struck their blow. After the fashion of a hot headed and impetuous people, they had entered the contest absolutely un trained. As a result, the war had last ed Just two weeks, the leaders had been Incontinently sjiot, and the whlte- wlnged dove of peace had once more spread her pinions along the borders j)l the Gold coast. Commodore Gibney was disgusted be yond measure, and at a special meet ing of the syndicate, called In the cabin of the Maggie II that same eve ning, It was finally decided that they should embark on an indefinite trad ing cruise In the South seas, or until such time as It seemed their services must be required to free a downtrod den people from a tyrant’s yoke. Captain Scraggs and McGuffay had never been In the South seas, but they had heard that a fair margin of profit was to be wrung from trade In copra, shell, coconuts, and kindred tropical products. They so expressed them selves. To this suggestion, howover, Commodore Gibney waved a deprecat ing paw. “Legitimate tradin'. t»hys.“ he said. "Is a nice, sane, healthy business, but the profits is slow. What we want Is quick profits, and while It ain't set down In black and white, one of the principal objects of this syndicate Is to lead a life of wild adventure. In tradin', there ain't no adventure to *l»eak of. We ought to do a little Mack-blrdln’, or raid some of those Jap pearl fisheries off the northern coast of Formosa." “But well be chaeed by real gun boats If are do that." objected Captain Scraggs. “Those Jap gunboats shoot "Like playin' poet-ofllca." was Mc- Guffey’s comment The .commodore smiled. “I thought .'<*11 boys would see it that way. Now tomorrow I’m going ashore to buy three dlvln' outfits and lay in a big stodk of provlalons for tjie voyage: In the lueuutiiue, while the carpenters are ge.ttin’ the ship into 8ha|*e. we’ll leave the first mate to charge while we go ashore and have a good time. I’ve seen worse places than i'anuma.” As a result of this conference Mr.’ Gibney’s suggestions were acted up on, and they contrived to jnake their brief stay in Panama very agreeable. They Inspected the work.on the canal, marveled at the stupendous engineer ing In thd Culebra Cut, drank a little, gambled a little, McGuffey whipped a bartender. He was ordered arrested, £nd six spiggpty little policemen, sent to arrest him, were ^Iso thrashed. The reserves were called out and a riot ensued. Mr. Gibney, following the motto of tne syndicate, 1. e„ All for on® and one for all— ^ United we stand, divided we fall, mixed in the conflict and presently found himself In durance vile.' Cap tain Scraggs, luckily, forgot the mot to and escaped, but inasmuch as he was on hand next morning to pay a fine of thirty ^esos levied against each of the culprits, he was instantly for given. Mr. | Gibney vowed that If a United States cruiser didn’t happen to be lying in the roadstead, he would have shelled! the town in retaliation. But eventually tfie'days passed, and the Maggie II, well found and ready for sea, shook out her sails to a fair breeze and sailed away, for Kandavu. She kept well to the southwest until she struck the southeast trades, when she swung around on her course, head ed straight for her destination. It was a pleasant voyage, devoid of In cident, and the health of all hands ■ was excellent. Mr. Gibney took daily observations, and was particular to make daily entries In his log when he. Scyaggs. and McGuffey were not playing cribbage, a game of which all three were passionately fond. On the afternoon of the twenty-ninth day after leaving Panama the lookout reported land. Through his glasses Mr. Gibney made out a duster of tall palms at the southerly end of the la- land. and as the schooner held lastly on her course he could discern the white breakers foaming over the reefs that guarded the entrance to the har bor. may be.that theee precautions amt necessary, but when I was here twenty years ago It was all the rage to kill a white man and eat him. Maybe times has changed, but the harbor and the coast looks Just as wild aud lonely as they ever did, and 1 didn’t see no sign of missionary when we dropped hook last night. 80 don’t take no chances.” .All hands promised that they would take extreme care, to the eud that their precious persona might remain Intact, so Mr. Gibney finished his esup of cof fee at a gulp and went on deck. The Kandavu aborigines were not long in putting in an appearance. Even as Mr. Gibney came on deck half a dozen canoes shot out from the beach. Mr. Gibney Inupediately piped all hands on deck, armed them, and non chalantly awaited the approach of what might or might not turn out to be an enemy. When^ the flotilla was within pistol <hot of. the schooner Mr: Gibney stepped to the rail and motioned them back. Immediately the natives ceased paddling, and a wild-looking fellow stood up In the forward canoe. After the manner of his kind be had all his life soused his head In lime-water when making his savage toilette, and as a result his shock of black hair stood on end and bulged out like a crowded hayrick. He was naked, of course, and In his hand he held a huge war club. "That feller’d eat a rattlesnake,’ gasped Captain Scraggs. “Shoot him, Gib. If he bats an eye.” _ "Shut up,” said the commodore, n trifle testily; "that’s the number-one nigger, who does the talkin’. Hello, boy.” J “Hello, cap'n,” replied the savage, and salaamed gravely. "You llkee buy chicken, buy pig? Maybe you say come 'board, I talk. Me very good friend, white master." "Bless my sweet-scented soul !* gasped the commodore. “What won't them missionaries do next? Cut off my ears If tMs nigger ain’t civilized!" He beckoned to the canoe and It shot alongside, and Its brown crew came* climbing over the rail of the Maggie a Mr. Gibney met the spokesman af the rail and they rubbed noses very solemnly, after the manner of saluta tion In Kandavu. Captain Scraggs bustled forward, full of Importance. "Interduce me. Gib." he said amiably, and then, while Mr. Gibney favored him with a sour glance, Cap’alu Scraggs stuck out his hand and shook to kill. Can't you think of somethin’ else. Olbr “Well." said Mr. Olboey. "for a starter. I can. Ruppoee we Just head “fMH ” .. g. — . I ktfali^t Kandavu islaod In the Ft- ■ w%ivm —i u inmu. aic- i. ’. i’, T* , . ■ p,,ln ■ ,< ‘ r **** , earnest- j jj* ^ scheme around for a cargo of Guffey, lad. better run below and tone ' ' '* u d*** | black coral? It’s only worth about flf- up your engines. It’s too dangerous ■ dollars a pound. Kandavu That’s Kandavu. all right." an- ] briskly with the native nounced the commodore. "I was there ’ in NO with BUI MrGInty In the srhooo- i er Dashlo’ Wave. There’s the entrance to the harbor, with the Ksk reefs to the north and the Pearl reefs to the j south. The channel's very narrow— not more than three cables. If It’s that, but there’s plenty of water and a i good muddy bottom that’ll hold. Me- man that aays you ain’t got a great head." “By the lord," supplemented McGuf- "you have." The commodore smiled and tapped his frontal bone with his forefinger. "Imagination, my lads. Imagination." be said, and reached for the last of the punch. ty dollars a pound. Kandavu lays somewhere In latitude 22 south, longi tude 178 west, and when I was there last It was fair reekla’ wfth cannibal savages. But there'a tons of black coral there, and nobody’s ever been able to anesk la and get away with (t. Every time a boat used to land at I Kandavu. the native niggers weuld Exactly three seeks from the date of j h . T , , wh | te _ m . n down „„ tb€ ■ the naval (tattle which took place off the Coronado Islands, and whereby Mr. Gibney became commodore and man- aging owner of the erstwhile Mexican t _ ti> ^ , coast itatrol schooner Reina Marla, that I and iHj vestel sailed out of the harbor of Pan- * sma completely rejuvenated. Not a scar on her shapely lines gave evi dence of the sanguinary engagement through which she had passed. Mr. Gibney had her painted a creamy white with a dark blue waterline. She had had her bottom cleaned and scraped and the copper sheathing over hauled and patched up. Her sails bad been overhauled. Inspected, an<f repaired wherever necessary, and In . t*rd«?r to be on the Safe side. Mr. Gih- ney, upon motion duly ..made by him and seconded by McGuffey (to whom the seconding of the Gibney motions had developed Into a habit), purchased an extra suit of new’ sails. The en gines were overhauled by the faith ful McGuffey and a large store of dis tillate stored In the hold. Captain Scraggs, with* his old-time aversion to expense, made a motion (which was seconded by McGuffey before be had taken time to consider its import) pro- - vldlug for the abolition of the office - of chief engineer while the Maggte II was under sail, at which time the chief ex-officio was to hold himself under the orders of the commodore and be transferred to the deck department if necessary. Mr. Gibney approved the measure and it went into effect. Only on entering or leaving a port, or In case of chase by an enemy, were the engines to^be used, and McGuffey was* warned to be extremely saving ( qf his distillate. Mr. Gibney made a splendid Job of^ changing the vessel’s name, and as she chugged lazily out of Panama bay and lifted to the Jong ground-swell of the Pacific, It is doubtful if even her late Mexican commander, w’ould have recognized her. She was Indeed « beautiful craft, and Commodore Gib ney’s heart swelled with pride as he stood aft, conning the man at the wlieelj-and looked her over. It seemed like a sacrilege now, when he reflected how he had trained the gun of the old Maggie on her that day off the Coro nados. and It seemed to him now even a greater sacrilege to have brazenly planned to'enter her as a privateer to the struggles of the republic of Colom bia. The past tense la uaed advisedly, for that project was now entirely off. much to the secret delight of Captain Scraggs. who. If the hero of one naval engagement, was not snxloos to take part In another. In Panama the free- bohtecs of the Maggie 11 leaned that beach, and It’a got ao that skippers give the Island a wide berth.’’ "Gib. my dear hoy," chattered Cap tain Scraggs. Tm a man of peace I “Scraggsy, old stick-in-the-mud." said Mr. Gibney, laying an affectionate hand on the skipper’s shoulder, “you’re nothin’ of the aort. You’re a flghtln’ tarantula, and nobody knows It bef- ter’n Adalbert P. Gibney. I’ve seen you in action, Scraggsy. Remember that. It’s all right for you to say 1 you’re a man of peace and advise me ! and McGuffey to keep out of the track of trouble, but we know that away down low you're goln’ around lookin’ for blood; ami that once you’re up agin the enemy, you never bat an eyelash. Eh, McGuffey?” McGuffey nodded; whereupon, Cap tain ^cragg^, making but a poor ef fort to conceal the pleasure which Mr. Gibney’s rude compliment afforded him, turned to .the rail, glanced sea ward, and started to walk away to at tend to some trifling detail connected with the boat falls. “All right, Gib, ray lad,” he aald, affecting to resign himself to the Inev itable, "have it your own way. You’re a commodore and I’m only a plain captain, but I’ll follow wherever, you lead. I’ll go as far as the next man and we’ll glom that black coral if we have to slaughter every man, woman and child on the Island. Only, when we’re sizzlin’ to a *pot don’t you up and say I never warned you, because I did. How d’ye propose intimidatin’ the natives. Gib?” “Scraggsy,” said the commodore, solemnly, "we've waged a private war agin a friendly nation, licked 'em and helped purselves to their ship, We’ve citangqd her name and rig and her official number and letters and we’n» sailin’ under bogus papers. That makes us pirates, and that old Maggie burgee floatin’ at the fore ain’t noth in’ more nor less than the Jolly Roger. All right! Let’s be pirstes. Who cares? When we slip into M’galao harbor w'e’II Invite the king and, his 'head men aboard for dinner. We’ll get ’em drunk, clap ’em in double irons, and surrender ’em to their weep In’ subjects wh«n they’ve filled the hold of the Maggie- II with black coral. If they refuse to come aboard we’ll shell the bosh frith that long gun and the Maxim rapid-fire guns we’ve got below decks. That’ll scare ’em so they'll leave us aloae and we can help ncaselxas to the core) ” -* Scraggs’ cold blue, eyas glistened. “Lord. Gib." ha murmured. «jruu got « bead." ^ a passage on an ehb-tide for a saUia' ▼eseel. so wall run to under the pow er. Bcraggsy. stand by and when I give the word have your crew shorten sail." Within a few minutes a long white streak opened up In the wake of the schooner, announcing that McGuffey’* engines were doing duty, and a nice breeze springing up two points aft the beam, the Maggie heeled over and fairly flew through the water. Mr. Gib ney smiled gn ecstatic smile as he took the wheel and guided the schoon er through the channel. He rounded her up In twelve fathoms, and within five minutes every stitch of canvas was clewed down hard and fast. Ths sun was setting as they dropped an chor and Mr. Gibney had lanterns Thsy Rubbed Nosaa Vary Solemnly. hung along th< be Impossible for the, sail so that It would — any craft to ap proach the schooner and board, her without being seen. Also the watch on deck that night carried Mauser rifles, six-shooters, and rntlasses. Mr. Gibney was taking Ho chances. CHAPTER XI. "Now. boys," announced Commodore Gibney, as he sat at the bead of the officers’ mess at breakfast next morfw Ing, “tlfere'H be a lot of canoes pad-1 filing off to visit us within the hour, so whatever you do. don’t allow more than two of tbeae cannibals aboard the schooner at the same time.: Make 'em keep their weapons la the caaoaa with ’em, and at the first sign of trouble shoot ’em down Like doga. It “Happy to make your acquaintance," he said. “Scraggs Is my name, air. Shake hands with McGuffey. our chief engineer. Hope you left all the folks at home well. Whst’d you say your name was?" The Islander hadq’t said hla name was anything, but he grinned now and replied that It was Tabo-Tabu. “WeH. my bucko," muttered McGuf fey. who always drew the color line. Tm glad to beer that. But you ain’t the only thing that’s taboo around this packet. You can jest chock that war dub with the first mate, peudln’ our better acquaintance. Hand It over, you black beggar, or I'll hit you a swat to the ear that'll hurt all your relations. And hereaftor, • Scraggsy. Just keep your nigger friends to your self. I ofn't waxln' effusive over this savage, and It’s agin my principles ever to shake hands with a colored man. This chad's a d—d ugly cus tomer. and you take my word for It." Tabu-Tabu grinned again, walked to the rail, and tossed his war club down Into the canoe. "Me good missionary boy," he sqld. rather humbly. "McGuffey. my dear boy." protested Captain Scraggs. "don’t be so doggone rude. You might hurt this poor lad's feeiln's. Of course he’s only a simple native nigger, but even a dawg has feeiln’s. You ” "A-r-r-rh!' snarled McGuffey. "You two belay talkin' and snappin’ at each other," commanded Mr. Glb- ney, “an* leave all bargainin' to me. This .boy is all right and we’ll get along first rate If you two Just haul ship and do somethin’ useful besides buttin' in on your superior officer. Come along, Tabu-Tabu. Makee little eat down in cabin. You talkeo cap tain.” "Gib, my dear boy,” sputtered Cap- -taln Scraggs, bursting with curiosity, following tha commodore's reappear ance on deck, “whatever’s in the wind?” “Money—fortune," said Mr. Gibney, solemnly. McGuffey' edged up and eyed the commodore seriously. “Sure there ain’t a- little flghtln’ mixed up In it?” he asked. "Not a bit of it.” replied Mr. Gibney. “You’re as safe on Kandavu as If yqu was In church. This Tabu kid la son of prime minister to the king, with a heap of influence at court. The crew of a British cruiser stole him for a galley police when he was a kid, and he got civilized and learned to talk English. He was a cannibal in them days, but the chaplain aboard showed him him foolish it was to do such things, and finally Tabu-Tabu got re ligion and asked as a special favor to be allowed to return to Kandavu to ‘dtlllze his people. As a result of Tabu-Tsbu’s efforts, be tells me the king has concluded that when he eats a white man he’s flyin’ in the face of hla. own Interests, and most generally a gunboat comes along In s few monthi and shells Che bush, and—well, any how, there ain’t been a barbecue on Kandavu for ten yeara. It's a capital crime to eat a man now, and punish able by boilin’ the offender glivo to palm oil.” ^ ^S. "Well,” rambled McGuffey. "this Tabu-Tabu don’t look much like a preacher. If you ask me. But boa about this black coral?” "Ob. l et ribbed up a him.” said M/. Gibney. "HeU we that we get all the trade we can lug away. We’re the first vessel that’s touched here In two years, and they have a thunderin' lot of stuff on hand. Tabu's gone ashore to talk the king Into doin’ business with us. If he consents, we’ll have him and ^Tabu- Tabu and three or four of the sub chiefs aboard for dinner, or else he'll invite us ashore for a big feed, and we’ll have to go.” “Supposin’ the king don’t care to have any track with us?" inquired Mc Guffey, anxiously. !■ \ “In that case, Mac,” replied, the commodore with a smile, "we’ll Just naturally shell him out of house and home." “Well, then," said McGuffey, "let’s get the guns ready. Somethin’ tells me these people ain’t to be trusted, and I’m tellln’ you right now. Gib, I won’t sleep well tonight unless them two quaher gatllngs and the Maxlm- Vlckers rapid-fire gun* is mounted and ready for business.” "All right, Mac,” replied Mr. Gib ney, In the tone one uses when humor ing a baby. "Set ’em up If It’ll make you feel more cheerful. Still, I don’t see why you want to go actin’ so fool ish over nothin'.” "Well, Gib," replied the engineer, T may be crazy, but I ain’t no fool, and if there’s a dead w’hale around the ship, I can come pretty near amellln* McGuffey CenteMed Htmeelf by Pa rs* In* Baetewr* and the Cacti* Head. CRIMPS, PAINS' AND BACKACHE St Louis Woman Relierffd hf Lydia E. Pinkham’f Vef» •table Compound St Lodi, Mo.-“I was bothered with cramp* and pains every month and 1 bad backache and [had to goto bad aa I I could not work. My Imotbe r and my I whole famQy always : Lydia E. Pink 's Vegetable ipound for aneh I troubles and they ■induced me to try ft and it haa helped me modi. 1 don't cramp* any — — and I can do nay housework all through the month. I recommend your Vegetable Compound to my friend* for female troubles. Mm Della Sobols, 1412 Salisbury Street, St. Louis, Mo. LytBa E. Ja*t think for a moi Knkham’ff Vegetable been in use for nearly fifty yean. It is prepared from medicinal plants, by the utmost pharmaceutical skilT and supe rior methods. The ingredients thus combined in the Compound correct the conditions which canm such annoying symptoms as had been troubling Mrs. Schok. The Vegetable Compound exer cises a restorative influence of the moat desirable character, correcting the trou ble in a gentle but efficient manner. This is noted, by the disappearance, <*** after another, of the J ' symptoms. Manner of Adminlstsrinf. A cowboy living near Big Stranger was complaining to the new school inar m about his stiff legs. “I think,” she sifld, "a course lo del- ■arte would lieneflt you." “How do you take that?" he asked. “Do you take It with a spoon or does It rtxne In capsules?” “It’s the kind of thing." she replied, nhat you shake while taking."—Dalou Pacific Bulletin. ELL-ANS Vt and Tag »t- I tell you. Gib. that Tabu-Tabu nigger had a look to bis eye for all tho world Ilk# a cur dog Hekla’ a hooo. I ain’t takla’ no chance*. My old moo oaed to any: 'Bart whatever you do, ailors havo aa anchor out to wind ward.’ " "By tho loft hind log of tho Groat 8ocred Bull." snapped Captain Bcragga. “If you ain’t enough to predpitoto war." "War." replied McGuffey. "is my long suit—particularly war with native niggers I just naturally crave to punch tho ear of anything darker than a Portagee. Remember how I cleaned out the police department of Panama?" "Mount tho guns If you’re goln’ to^ Mac. If not, for the love of the Lord don’t be demoralisin’ the crow with this talk of war. All I ask Is that you set the guns after I’ve finished my business here with Tabu-Tabu. He’s been on a war vessel, and knows what guns are, and If he saw you mountin’ them it might break up our friendly relations. He’ll think we dou’t trust him." •"Well, we don’t,” replied McGuffey, doggedly. “Well, we do," snapped Captain Scraggs. There la always something connected with the use of that pronoun of kings which eats like s ranker at the heart of men of the McGuffey breed. That officer now spat on the deck. In defi ance of the rales of bis superior offi cers, and glared at Captain Scraggs. “Speak for yourself, you miserable little wart." he roared. "If you In clude me on that cannibals’ visitin’ list, and go to contradictin’ me agto, I’ll ” "Mac," interrupted Mr. Gibney, an grily, "control yourself. It’s sgln tho rules to have rag-chewin' and back-bit- in’ on the Maggie II. Remember our motto: ‘All for*one and one for alf .* "Here comes that sneakin’ bushy- headed murderef back to the vessel,’* Interrupted McGuffey.. “I wonder what devilment he’s up to now.” Mr. McGuffey was partly right, for in a few minutes Tabu-tabu came along side, climbed aboard, and, salaamed. Mr. Gibney, fearful of McGuffey’s in ability to control bis antipathy for the race, beckoned Captain Scraggs. and Tabu-Tabu to follow him down Into the cabin. Meanwhile, McGuffey contented himself by parading back ward and forward across the fo- castle bead with a- Mauser rifle to the hollow of his arm and bis person fair ly bristling with pistols and cutlasses. Whenever on* of the flotilla of canoe* hove to at a, respectful distance, showed signs of crossing an imagi nary deadline drawn by McGuffey, he would point his rip* at them and swear horribly. He scowled at Tabu-Tabu when that Individual finally emerged from the conference with Mr. Gibney and Scraggs and went over the aide to hla waiting canoe. ^ . - (TO Be CONTTMUED.) 16799 DIED lnN«wYof*Ckr by tmktac GOLD MEDAL DID PAH BBIHS TOOK sap? pal* and tartar* af can be quickly • ink t* Jam CM |mlQ OVt Of red* aching muaclcap apfaisa aod rains, stiff joints, and Isas backs. For fertr yearn paia's anaaqr* dak H's splendid to taka tbi tbad. At piSS,!! ^ iSI -'.h-ss M&WMHOm ;T ff*r 4T.se , w* will m*4 C. (X XX 4 SSzS% rvkallt I**s4. Wh*a ms* to bmM vuk l%> WrtU tor mm low pvtow m TIB 3 W N® man s steady able hi* to keep c**i wUI *» ijtm • • * t« J