d. 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 bosun, with about
fifteen of the crew--Samoans and Tongans--were on board. A crowd of
niggers came off from the shore. First thing the mate knew, the bosun
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