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〃The deck was in a shocking state；〃 said the mate。
〃Do I understand？〃 Bertie began。
〃Yes； just that；〃 said Captain Hansen。 〃It was an accidental drowning。〃
〃But on deck？〃
〃Just so。 I don't mind telling you； in confidence； of course； that they used
an axe。〃
〃This present crew of yours？〃
Captain Hansen nodded。
〃The other skipper always was too careless；〃 explained the mate。 He but just
turned his back； when they let him have it。〃
〃We haven't any show down here；〃 was the skipper's complaint。 〃The government
protects a nigger against a white every time。 You can't shoot first。 You've
got to give the nigger first shot； or else the government calls it murder and
you go to Fiji。 That's why there's so many drowning accidents。〃
Dinner was called； and Bertie and the skipper went below； leaving the mate to
watch on deck。
〃Keep an eye out for that black devil； Auiki；〃 was the skipper's parting
caution。 〃I haven't liked his looks for several days。〃
〃Right O；〃 said the mate。
Dinner was part way along； and the skipper was in the middle of his story of
the cutting out of the Scottish Chiefs。
〃Yes；〃 he was saying； 〃she was the finest vessel on the coast。 But when she
missed stays； and before ever she hit the reef； the canoes started for her。
There were five white men； a crew of twenty Santa Cruz boys and Samoans； and
only the supercargo escaped。 Besides； there were sixty recruits。 They were all
kai…kai'd。 Kai…kai？oh； I beg your pardon。 I mean they were eaten。 Then there
was the James Edwards； a dandy…rigged〃
But at that moment there was a sharp oath from the mate on deck and a chorus
of savage cries。 A revolver went off three times； and then was heard a loud
splash。 Captain Hansen had sprung up the companionway on the instant； and
Bertie's eyes had been fascinated by a glimpse of him drawing his revolver as
he sprang。
Bertie went up more circumspectly； hesitating before he put his head above the
companionway slide。 But nothing happened。 The mate was shaking with
excitement； his revolver in his hand。 Once he startled； and half…jumped
around； as if danger threatened his back。
〃One of the natives fell overboard；〃 he was saying； in a queer tense voice。
〃He couldn't swim。〃
〃Who was it？〃 the skipper demanded。
〃Auiki；〃 was the answer。
〃But I say； you know； I heard shots；〃 Bertie said； in trembling eagerness； for
he scented adventure； and adventure that was happily over with。
The mate whirled upon him； snarling：
〃It〃s a damned lie。 There ain't been a shot fired。 The nigger fell overboard。〃
Captain Hansen regarded Bertie with unblinking； lack…luster eyes。
〃II thought〃 Bertie was beginning。
〃Shots？〃 said Captain Hansen； dreamily。 〃Shots？ Did you hear any shots； Mr。
Jacobs？〃
〃Not a shot；〃 replied Mr。 Jacobs。
The skipper looked at his guest triumphantly； and said：
〃Evidently an accident。 Let us go down； Mr。 Arkwright； and finish dinner。〃
Bertie slept that night in the captain's cabin； a tiny stateroom off the main
cabin。 The for'ard bulkhead was decorated with a stand of rifles。 Over the
bunk were three more rifles。 Under the bunk was a big drawer； which； when he
pulled it out； he found filled with ammunition； dynamite； and several boxes of
detonators。 He elected to take the settee on the opposite side。 Lying
conspicuously on the small table； was the Arla's log。 Bertie did not know
that it had been especially prepared for the occasion by Captain Malu； and he
read therein how on September 21； two boat's crew had fallen overboard and
been drowned。 Bertie read between the lines and knew better。 He read how the
Arla's whale boat had been bushwhacked at Su'u and had lost three men； of how
the skipper discovered the cook stewing human flesh on the galley fireflesh
purchased by the boat's crew ashore in Fui； of how an accidental discharge of
dynamite； while signaling； had killed another boat's crew； of night attacks；
ports fled from between the dawns； attacks by bushmen in mangrove swamps and
by fleets of salt…water men in the larger passages。 One item that occurred
with monotonous frequency was death by dysentery。 He noticed with alarm that
two white men had so diedguests； like himself； on the Arla。
〃I say； you know；〃 Bertie said next day to Captain Hansen。 〃I've been glancing
through your log。〃
The skipper displayed quick vexation that the log had been left lying about。
〃And all that dysentery； you know； that's all rot； just like the accidental
drownings；〃 Bertie continued。 〃What does dysentery really stand for？〃
The skipper openly admired his guest's acumen； stiffened himself to make
indignant denial； then gracefully surrendered。
〃You see； it's like this； Mr。 Arkwright。 These islands have got a bad enough
name as it is。 It's getting harder every day to sign on white men。 Suppose a
man is killed。 The company has to pay through the nose for another man to take
the job。 But if the man merely dies of sickness； it's all right。 The new chums
don't mind disease。 What they draw the line at is being murdered。 I thought
the skipper of the Arla had died of dysentery when I took his billet。 Then it
was too late。 I'd signed the contract。〃
〃Besides；〃 said Mr。 Jacobs； 〃there's altogether too many accidental drownings
anyway。 It don't look right。 It's the fault of the government。 A white man
hasn't a chance to defend himself from the niggers。〃
〃Yes； look at the Princess and that Yankee mate；〃 the skipper took up the
tale。 〃She carried five white men besides a government agent。 The captain； the
agent； and the supercargo were ashore in the two boats。 They were killed to
the last man。 The mate and boson； with about fifteen of the crewSamoans and
Tonganswere on board。 A crowd of niggers came off from shore。 First thing
the mate knew； the boson and the crew were killed in the first rush。 The mate
grabbed three cartridge belts and two Winchesters and skinned up to the
cross…trees。 He was the sole survivor； and you can't blame him for being mad。
He pumped one rifle till it got so hot he couldn't hold it； then he pumped the
other。 The deck was black with niggers。 He cleaned them out。 He dropped them
as they went over the rail； and he dropped them as fast as they picked up
their paddles。 Then they jumped into the water and started to swim for it； and
being mad； he got half a dozen more。 And what did he get for it？〃
〃Seven years in Fiji；〃 snapped the mate。
〃The government said he wasn't justified in shooting after they'd taken to the
water；〃 the skipper explained。
〃And that's why they die of dysentery nowadays；〃 the mate added。
〃Just fancy；〃 said Bertie； as he felt a longing for the cruise to be over。
Later on in the day he interviewed the black who had been pointed out to him
as a cannibal。 This fellow's name was Sumasai。 He had spent three years on a
Queensland plantation。 He had been to Samoa； and Fiji； and Sydney； and as a
boat's crew had been on recruiting schooners through New Britain； New Ireland；
New Guinea； and the Admiralties。 Also； he was a wag； and he had taken a line
on his skipper's conduct。 Yes； he had eaten many men。 How many？ He could not
remember the tally。 Yes； white men； too； they were very good； unless they were
sick。 He had once eaten a sick one。
〃My word！〃 he cried； at the recollection。 〃Me sick plenty along him。 'my belly
walk about too much。〃
Bertie shuddered； and asked about heads。 Yes； Sumasai had several hidden
ashore； in good condition； sun…dried； and smoke…cured。 One was of the captain
of a schooner。 It had long whiskers。 He would sell it for two quid。 Black
men's heads he would sell for one quid。 He had some pickaninny heads； in poor
condition； that he would let go for ten bob。
Five minutes afterward； Bertie found himself sitting on the companionway…slide
alongside a black with a horrible skin disease。 He sheered off； and on in