1957-08-10 — Page 6

Page G

THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 1957.

PRIDE AT STAKE IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS PRIDE THAT LED TO A STABBING AND A STRANGE

FLY BY B.O.A.C.

The jealous husband

Britanni

did

had a knife

knife... he trust me?

As a rule it was only when a husband suspected his wife of unfaith-

fulness that he took a knife to her admirer. But Terara's jea- lousy went a step beyond that.

Though he knew perfectly well that his exquisite, shy South- Wind loved him with all her heart (he admitted as much at the trial) he could not resist having a stab at Aimoa for merely making sheep's eyes at her.

Aimoa nearly died of it and Terara was lucky he got off with only a year's hard labour.

The trinl took place on Kuria Island, where the two young men and others--all the island of Tablteuen-were working under inden-

ture.

But Terarn couldn't be held in the local calaboose, because the only gnols authorised to take in long-term prisoners were those at district head- quarters.

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WAS bound to take him with me to Abemama (for that was In 1917, when I was District Omeer Central and Southern Gilberis) and this brought up the question of pocr ittle South-Wind.

She begged not to bo sent back none to Tablteuca. Terara, in prison all those hundreds of miles away at Abemama, would do every day andw of grief and Jealousy, wondering, what she was

10 out

up

board an

mean-

By Sir

• Where else but in the palm-fringed islands of the Pacific would a man make such a bargain to settle a debt of gratitude? Who else but Sir ARTHUR GRIMBLE could tell the story? Sir Arthur spont 40 years as a Colonial Office administrator in the islands. This series is adapted from his book, RETURN TO THE ISLANDS, completed just before he died.

Arthur Grimble

ship them back to Tabiteuea,

It was a dream of a shining All this was pure routine; we

dis- white frigate-bird, surpassingly charged prisoner awaiting re- beautiful, that had flown down

did the same for смету

He came to take orders for the next morning. He practically ran out of the room without saluting ng doon as my,cook- boy came in to spread a guest mat at my feet as I sat in a quatter's chair and tell me that TerraR and South-Wind had arrived.

patriation; but Terara had his from the sun and setded on his Put on in my

10 mc

honour

own views about it: I simply breast. Happiness like a surge couldn't get the idea out of his of the ocean had swept through head that he owed everything his heart at that, he said, and ho had cried aloud to the bird "O chiot from the SUIT, you

down from your poor South-Wind was a sad ile would come along to see have come

sight when they appeared? me, bringing South-Wind with height to me, who am nothing. him, three or four evenings a I throw away all I had and ran her lovely little golden body all dolled up and extinguished in week, and every time he would upon death; you saved me and the frilled horror of a mission

of

debtor'a

happincas harp on the depth of his in- gave me back my

Now, before you cave me never school Mother Hubbard." debtedness.

ceremonial to return, accept from my hand But it was high of his clght; and she herself would sewing that I could give her to

I liked his visits very much; one token of love and thanks dress in the southern Islands; die for thinking of his misery and do, for no pay, in the

one of those rare beyond words. So, I shall be she had clearly pat it on in

of pain. Couldn't I possibly manage to time, so that he could be sure he was

the

my honour and I did manage her Christians

younger for over free

Aru remembering your to my something nice about it. find some job for her as Abemama, she was at least earning with keep so that she could at least chow her-

us! generation who rofused to see shame People had their pride, after hame in the traditions of his loving kindness." self to him every day?

pagan ancestors; but I did find his misplaced gratitude infinitely geant Rola had just married a wife So South-Wind, a glowing tedious, and at last I couldn't much younger than himself and was wisp of loveliness no bigger restet telling him s0. only too glad to find, a nice com-

I was sorry at once that I panion for her. So wo took Southi- Wind with Iremendous

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BRITISH OVERSEAGUA ERWAY'S

As it happened, my station

Alemania.

CORPORATION

ser

nt

all.

than

elf, became an

cook'o

I did realise before he finish- that it had not been a real dream at all.

I thought it was her pleasure at the compliment that mado her more demonstrative than I

had ever before seen her.

He was simply back on the stead of sitting down on

face me hobbyhorse of his perishing guest mat to this paragon of a bird he had

In-

the with

male, yurd girl, mullery maldi had spoken, I could see from gratitude, and I in person wng Terara sho sank to the floor by JUST, and she чудя д washer woman's help, waitress,

sewing mald, and despatch run the alient look he gave me that ner in our establishment Only he was badly hurt. we couldn't swallow Terora's

success all round

He sang and nation of her doing it all for

laughed

MRS Rob loved her at first

nothing and, as she rulsed no personal objection whatever, ive gave her the princely wage of five shilings a week.

She, wise child, told Terora

exam,

My hand on

his head

been burbling about.

I should probably have sold something petiish had not Rota to my surprise, turned on anger instead of me.

the

to He was so rude I had protest at last: "But Rota, there was nothing insolent or shame- LL he did for reply was to less in what Terara said. You're

sight, and so did the wife of nothing about the pay packet the warder of the men's gaol, until he walked, a free which was even more important, out of the prison and into the lake my hand, lay it palm being very silly. Dry up and She was allowed to sit in the warder's house, where she was down on his bent head and 11 talk for myself if you don't

She had to say: "You are my father; I nm mind." warder's house every morning waiting for him.

at six

visits

seemed

羈

I bo

o'clock, to

alle at tell him then, to explain how he who lives in your hand. So

I am by the magnificent be it here, where Terra as he passed out of the she come prison yard with his working pile of gifts a new pipe, 50 Stranger; but it shall be differ party.

sticks of tobacco, a brush and Chi at Tubitouca, lest This and

comb, a safety razor, a bottle shamed for ever." the Usual

of hair oil, two pounds of fish allowed by Jow

They left at once and I didi a din of not see them keep him very happy about line, a mouth organ,

again until we bolled sweets, a flaming orange

were all aboard the schooner waistcloth length, and I don't

Molau, what-not else that she

Tabltcuca. know

mat for his had set on the sweeter welcome back into her

laughed

Ther, for, he sang and all day at his work.

About a quarter-way through his term, he came to my office for a private talk.

It appeared that he thought himself Indebted to me for everything. Rota and his wife were doing to keep South-Wind happy. It had been on his mind for a long time, he said, and he wanted her to start getting level with the necount as quickly as poreible,

Wasn't there some regular job of sweeping or scrubbing

•

or

This series is adapted from Return to the Islands by Sir Arthur Grimble, to be pubished by John Murray.

p17y.

His debt of

gratitude

my feet, facing the guest mat her right check resting like a child's against my kace.

I must say I liked it a lot. But, remembering her hus band's over-jealous knife, I couldn't help hoping hard that he trusted me as much po sho did.

And then I noticed that he was still standing.

Before I could bid him be seated he stepped forward and Inid a wreath of white uri blossoms on South-Wind's head. "I leave this woman in your loving hands tonight. Let her kindness be to you the measuro

I tried to comfort him of my gratitude," he murmured,

smlling serenely down on both of us. I was still gaping at that when he added: For 20 days

southward bound for HE started to go bald-headed have slept apart from her no for Terara, calling him in- that the might come to you soicat, and shameless, and without shame." A couple of nights out, both pagan, and half a dozen other liko of them and Rola and I were names for daring to talk

I sat cursing myself for a together on the foredeck.

that before the Man of Matang. fool. This was the token of love and than he had meant Sprawled on our mats, look-

then, Turning to Terara

I the night before. No wonder ing up at tho mastheads tried to comfort him; "I shall Rota had been evandalised. But dancing among the stars, we be staying tomorrow night at how could I turn and rend him talked from the depths of silver Nukunau. Come ashore and now after inviting him to bring peace that only the moon-drunk seg me in the evening, and we'll South-Wind ashore to me? know, of ghosts we had seem think together of something you

LL but a few shillings of and mysteries wondered at, and can do for me. Bring South- Ho couldn't possibly have A her wages. had gone on strange things heard report of Wind with you." Having cald guessed that I hadn't meant it way. Besides, now I them, and £0 had a lot of out of the enchanted past.

which, I got up and went to this buying power in those days.

bed before either could speak understood his offer. I couldn't It didn't strikke me as a bit another word.

agree with Roth: I still could We gave them a house in the out of place, therefore,

seo no Insolence in 1-nothing Rota was sulky all day at the Indeed but a gesture of regard police lines and found a paid Terara started to tell Rola of a job for Terara in the station marvellous dream he had had Nukunau rest house, especially that wrung me with its genero-

when, after my evening meal, (Contlaued on Page 7) carpenter's shop until we could just before leaving Tarawa,

MANDRAKE THE MAGICIAN

AS I SAID -- MY KING'S INVITATION

TO VISIT HIM IS A COMMANDI

WHY DOES HE

INSIST?

BECAUSE-UR- - YOU ARE CHESS CHAMPION--HE IS A FAN-- WE HAVE THE BIG CHESS TOURNEY

NEXT MONTH WITH, PHILADOR--

12-29

JOHNNY HAZARD

ONE ARMY ISSUE HEAT- „DUBLET FIELD STOVE........ SURVIVAL KATIONS! THAT SWEET, NO-GOOP KIP! GOT TO THANK HEY, HE'S GONE!

HE WILL.

FORTUNATELY,

when

PAY YOU -- I DO NOT NEGO WHATEVER}{MONEY. I WILL NOT YOU ASKI

GO TO GAMBITA.

By Lee Falk and Phil Davis

THEN I MUST FORCE. YOU) TO COME WITH ME. THOSE ARE AKY

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THERE BE...

- A U.9, BAJE NOT FAR FROM HERET

CONTINUED-

By Frank Robbins

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