south sea tales(南海传说)-第17章
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bricks that could have come from nowhere but a whaler's trying…out
furnace； and old brass pieces of the sixteenth century that verified the
traditions of the early Spanish navigators。 Ship after ship had come to
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grief on Oolong。 Not thirty years before； the whaler BLENNERDALE；
running into the lagoon for repair； had been cut off with all hands。 In
similar fashion had the crew of the GASKET； a sandalwood trader；
perished。 There was a big French bark； the TOULON； becalmed off the
atoll； which the islanders boarded after a sharp tussle and wrecked in the
Lipau Passage； the captain and a handful of sailors escaping in the
longboat。 Then there were the Spanish pieces； which told of the loss of
one of the early explorers。 All this； of the vessels named； is a matter of
history； and is to be found in the SOUTH PACIFIC SAILING
DIRECTORY。 But that there was other history； unwritten； I was yet to
learn。 In the meantime I puzzled why six thousand primitive savages let
one degenerate Scotch despot live。
One hot afternoon McAllister and I sat on the veranda looking out
over the lagoon； with all its wonder of jeweled colors。 At our backs； across
the hundred yards of palm…studded sand； the outer surf roared on the reef。
It was dreadfully warm。 We were in four degree south latitude and the sun
was directly overhead； having crossed the Line a few days before on its
journey south。 There was no windnot even a catspaw。 The season of the
southeast trade was drawing to an early close； and the northwest monsoon
had not yet begun to blow。
〃They can't dance worth a damn；〃 said McAllister。
I had happened to mention that the Polynesian dances were superior to
the Papuan； and this McAllister had denied； for no other reason than his
cantankerousness。 But it was too not to argue； and I said nothing。
Besides； I had never seen the Oolong people dance。
〃I'll prove it to you；〃 he announced； beckoning to the black New
Hanover boy； a labor recruit； who served as cook and general house
servant。 〃Hey； you； boy； you tell 'm one fella king come along me。〃
The boy departed； and back came the prime minister； perturbed； ill at
ease； and garrulous with apologetic explanation。 In short； the king slept；
and was not to be disturbed。
〃King he plenty strong fella sleep；〃 was his final sentence。
McAllister was in such a rage that the prime minister incontinently
fled； to return with the king himself。 They were a magnificent pair； the
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king especially； who must have been all of six feet three inches in height。
His features had the eagle…like quality that is so frequently found in those
of the North American Indian。 He had been molded and born to rule。 His
eyes flashed as he listened； but right meekly he obeyed McAllister's
command to fetch a couple of hundred of the best dancers； male and
female； in the village。 And dance they did； for two mortal hours； under that
broiling sun。 They did not love him for it； and little he cared； in the end
dismissing them with abuse and sneers。
The abject servility of those magnificent savages was terrifying。 How
could it be？ What was the secret of his rule？ More and more I puzzled as
the days went by； and though I observed perpetual examples of his
undisputed sovereignty； never a clew was there as to how it was。
One day I happened to speak of my disappointment in failing to trade
for a beautiful pair of orange cowries。 The pair was worth five pounds in
Sydney if it was worth a cent。 I had offered two hundred sticks of tobacco
to the owner； who had held out for three hundred。 When I casually
mentioned the situation； McAllister immediately sent for the man； took the
shells from him； and turned them over to me。 Fifty sticks were all he
permitted me to pay for them。 The man accepted the tobacco and seemed
overjoyed at getting off so easily。 As for me； I resolved to keep a bridle on
my tongue in the future。 And still I mulled over the secret of McAllister's
power。 I even went to the extent of asking him directly； but all he did was
to cock one eye； look wise； and take another drink。
One night I was out fishing in the lagoon with Oti； the man who had
been mulcted of the cowries。 Privily； I had made up to him an additional
hundred and fifty sticks； and he had come to regard me with a respect that
was almost veneration； which was curious； seeing that he was an old man；
twice my age at least。
〃What name you fella kanaka all the same pickaninny？〃 I began on
him。 〃This fella trader he one fella。 You fella kanaka plenty fella too much。
You fella kanaka just like 'm dogplenty fright along that fella trader。 He
no eat you； fella。 He no get 'm teeth along him。 What name you too much
fright？〃
〃S'pose plenty fella kanaka kill m？〃 he asked。
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〃He die；〃 I retorted。 〃You fella kanaka kill 'm plenty fella white man
long time before。 What name you fright this fella white man？〃
〃Yes； we kill 'm plenty；〃 was his answer。 〃My word！ Any amount！
Long time before。 One time； me young fella too much； one big fella ship
he stop outside。 Wind he no blow。 Plenty fella kanaka we get 'm canoe；
plenty fella canoe； we go catch 'm that fella ship。 My wordwe catch 'm
big fella fight。 Two； three white men shoot like hell。 We no fright。 We
come alongside； we go up side； plenty fella； maybe I think fifty…ten （five
hundred）。 One fella white Mary （woman） belong that fella ship。 Never
before I see 'm white Mary。 Bime by plenty white man finish。 One fella
skipper he no die。 Five fella； six fella white man no die。 Skipper he sing
out。 Some fella white man he fight。 Some fella white man he lower away
boat。 After that； all together over the side they go。 Skipper he sling white
Mary down。 After that they washee （row） strong fella plenty too much。
Father belong me； that time he strong fella。 He throw 'm one fella spear。
That fella spear he go in one side that white Mary。 He no stop。 My word；
he go out other side that fella Mary。 She finish。 Me no fright。 Plenty
kanaka too much no fright。〃
Old Oti's pride had been touched； for he suddenly stripped down his
lava…lava and showed me the unmistakable scar of a bullet。 Before I could
speak； his line ran out suddenly。 He checked it and attempted to haul in；
but found that the fish had run around a coral branch。 Casting a look of
reproach at me for having beguiled him from his watchfulness； he went
over the side； feet first； turning over after he got under and following his
line down to bottom。 The water was ten fathoms。 I leaned over and
watched the play of his feet； growing dim and dimmer； as they stirred the
wan phosphorescence into ghostly fires。 Ten fathomssixty feetit was
nothing to him； an old man； compared with the value of a hook and line。
Aft
