see some of Jinaban's people looking ugly."

"Forty dollars, then, and ten tins of biscuit to him who will kill this
dog. See, he mocks at us all."

A short, square-built man--a connection by marriage of the murderer's
brother, Rao--sprang into the open, snatched the rifle from Palmer's
hand, and levelled it at Jinaban. But as his eye met those of the
dreaded outlaw his hand shook. He lowered the weapon, and turned to the
white man.

"Parma," he said, giving back the rifle to Porter, "I cannot do it; for
his eye hath killed my heart."

"Ha!" laughed Jinaban, and the group of Ijeet men swayed to and fro, and
a savage light came into Palmer's eyes. He looked at Porter, who at
that moment raised the rifle and fired, and a man who was approaching
Jinaban, knife in hand, to cut his bonds, spun round and fell upon the
sand with a broken back. In a moment the crowd of Ijeet men drew off.

"Back, back," cried the half-caste, fiercely, springing towards them and
menacing them with the butt of his empty rifle, and then hurling it from
him he leaped back and picked up something that stood leaning up against
the wall of Palmer's boat-shed. It was a carpenter's broad-axe--a
fearful looking weapon, with a stout handle and a blade fourteen inches
across.

"Look," he cried. "This man must die. And all the men of Ailap are
cowards, else would this murderer and devil now be dead, and his blood
running out upon the sand. But, as for me who fear him not--see!"

He took two steps forward to Jinaban and swung the axe. It clove through
the murderer's shaggy head and sank deep down into his chest.

*****

Two days later Sepe, who had made her peace with Palmer's wife, met the
sailor as he was walking down to the beach to bathe.

"Wilt thou keep thy promise and marry me?" she asked.

"No," answered the half-caste, pushing her aside roughly; "marriage with
thee or any other woman is not to my mind. But go to the white man and
he will give thee the forty dollars and ten tins of biscuit instead.
Something thou dost deserve, but it shall not be me."

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Rodman The Boatsteerer And Other
Stories, by Louis Becke

*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RODMAN AND OTHERS ***

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