King o' the Beach Part 27

"That all?" said the man, with a hoa.r.s.e laugh. "That for you, then, and all you say," and he snapped his fingers in the doctor's face. "Now, look here, my fine fellow, I'm Dan Mallam, Beachcomber [see note], as they call me, King o' the Pearl Islands, dealer and merchant in copra, pearl sh.e.l.ls, and pearls. These are my reefs and islands. This is my estate, and all flotsam and jetsam as is washed ash.o.r.e is mine. Do you hear me?--mine, to do as I likes with. This steamer's come ash.o.r.e on my land, and my black lads, as has been out sh.e.l.ling and collecting nuts, saw it come and tell me, who have come over to see what the sea has washed me up this time, for I've been getting short o' odds and ends, and the rum was getting low. There was the steamer, empty and cast away, and I've took possession, when you come and begin bullying and pretending you've got a claim on her."

"Claim on her, you scoundrelly pirate!" cried the doctor. "Why, men have been transported for life for what you are attempting to do."

The man scowled at the word transportation, and his right hand went to one of the holsters, whose flap he pressed over the stud so as to lay bare the b.u.t.t of the pistol within. This he drew out and c.o.c.ked.

"I just warn you to be civil, my fine fellow," he said. "I've only to say a word to my black fellows, and, in spite of your kicking, over you'd go into water that swarms with sharks; but when a man insults me, Dan Mallam, King o' the Pearl Islands, my temper gets warm, and I show my boys what a shot I am. Do you hear?"

The pistol clicked, and sent a shudder through Carey, who started at the ominous sound and looked wildly round for the guns, in the mad idea that he might be able to catch one up, load it, and fire in defence of the man towards whom he felt as if he were an elder brother. But the guns were all in the hands of the blacks, and others had possession of the satchels containing the cartridges.

Second thoughts convinced him that such an attempt could only result in the ruffian carrying out one of his threats, for he was beyond the reach of the law, if he were, as he said, a dweller in some neighbouring island, ruling probably over a little tribe of blacks.

What was to be done?

Just then the doctor spoke.

"Look here," he said, "I do not wish to insult you, but I am not going to give up to a man who is acting as you are. I tell you once more, I hold this vessel in my charge, and I am prepared to defend it on behalf of the owners."

"How?" said their visitor, with a mocking laugh.

"Never mind how," replied the doctor, more calmly. "I am not to be frightened by empty threats. We are not so far from civilisation that you dare injure me and my companions. The news would be carried to Brisbane, Adelaide, or Sydney, and one of her Majesty's war s.h.i.+ps on the station would soon be here to call you to account."

"How'd they get the noos?" said the man, mockingly.

"In the same way that you did: the blacks would hear it."

"Let 'em," said the man, fiercely. "A black fellow's life aren't worth much, but they think too much of it to care about chucking it away."

"The report would certainly reach headquarters, and, like the black fellows, sir, you care too much for your life to care about chucking it away, as you call it. Now, look here, I am not frightened by your threats, neither do I want to quarrel."

"Same here, sonny, so let's forget what's pa.s.sed and be friends," said the man, replacing his little revolver.

"Hear me out first," said the doctor. "I am in command here, and I mean to retain it, but I do not wish to be grasping or unfair to an Englishman in want of necessaries out in this wild place. I will let you have what things you require in the morning."

"Thankye," said the man, drily. "Now then, we've only just got here after a long paddling against the currents, and the wind against us. I want something to eat, and my boys are pretty sharp set. Where do you keep your prog?"

"Call the men off, and tell them to camp down forward on the deck," said the doctor. "They can have a sail for tent, and they shall have such rations as we have ready. You would like a cabin, I suppose?"

"Well, rather," said the man, with a peculiar smile.

"We shall have a kind of supper ready soon; so call off your men at once."

"All right; only no games."

"Treachery?" said the doctor; "I had no thought of anything of the kind."

"Here, Black Jack, let go, and take the boys forward. No mumkull, baal, spear, baal, nulla-nulla. Plenty much eat soon. Get out."

The man grunted, said a few words to his fellows, and they all trooped forward and squatted on the deck.

"Beg pardon, sir," growled Bostock; "give 'em some 'bacco; there's plenty."

"All right," said their leader; "give 'em plenty of 'bacco. That'll keep 'em quiet for the night. Only I say, just a word of advice. Don't try to play no tricks, for they're about as nasty as a bag o' snakes.

Rile 'em or rile me, and they'll bite. If they bite they kill, and if they kill you three there'll be no work got out of 'em for a week.

Understand?"

"No," said the doctor, quietly.

"Then I'll tell you: they'll take you ash.o.r.e, and make a fire, and cook you."

"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed Carey, derisively.

The next moment the man's hand closed tight upon the boy's shoulder, holding him fast.

"You don't believe it, eh?"

"No," said Carey, boldly; "not a word of it, and don't grip my shoulder like that--it hurts."

"Meant it to, puppy," growled the man, menacingly. "D'ye hear? Cook you and eat you, and they'll begin on you, because you're young and tender; and they'll go on eating you till they're as dizzy as drunken men. Then they'll go to sleep, and wake up again, and go on cooking and eating till they can't see, and keep on till they've finished you all."

"Find me pretty tough," growled Bostock.

"Not they," cried the man. "You'd be tender by the time they got to you. They don't mind how long it is first. Don't believe it, eh?"

"No," said Carey, setting his teeth hard to master the pain he felt.

"It's a silly story about cannibalism to frighten me."

"Think so?" said the man. "All right. Here, Black Jack!" he roared.

The leading black s.n.a.t.c.hed up spear and club and bounded to the speaker with wonderful alacrity, his eyes flas.h.i.+ng, and he looked from one to the other as if expecting orders to slay.

"Ask him," growled his leader.

Carey was turning faint with pain, and the doctor saw it and stepped forward.

"Take hold of his arm," he said to their captor; "the boy has had his collar-bone broken."

As he spoke he removed the great coa.r.s.e hand to the boy's fore-arm, and Carey uttered a sigh of relief. Then, turning to the fierce-looking savage, he said quickly, "Here, you blackie."

"Not Blackie; Black Jack."

"Well, Black Jack, what do you do with your prisoners?"

The fierce look died into a broad grin, and he showed his white teeth.

"Make fire; eatum," he said, promptly. "Make big feast."

"Go back!" growled the so-called king.