It was the moment of test, whereby
the lone white man was to live or be lost.
"Ten fella three times, Billy," Sheldon said encouragingly, though there
was a certain metallic rasp in his voice.
Billy scowled, looked up and looked down, but did not move.
"Billy!"
Sheldon's voice exploded like a pistol shot. The savage started
physically. Grins overspread the grotesque features of the audience, and
there was a sound of tittering.
"S'pose you like too much lash that fella Arunga, you take him fella
Tulagi," Billy said. "One fella government agent make plenty lash. That
um fella law. Me savvee um fella law."
It was the law, and Sheldon knew it. But he wanted to live this day and
the next day and not to die waiting for the law to operate the next week
or the week after.
"Too much talk along you!" he cried angrily. "What name eh? What name?"
"Me savvee law," the savage repeated stubbornly.
"Astoa!"
Another man stepped forward in almost a sprightly way and glanced
insolently up. Sheldon was selecting the worst characters for the
lesson.
"You fella Astoa, you fella Narada, tie up that fella Billy alongside
other fella same fella way."
"Strong fella tie," he cautioned them.
"You fella Astoa take that fella whip.
Pages:
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31