PEARLS 229 



to one of the boys, whose name was Massai, he had 

 promised a rifle, but designedly withheld the gift until 

 towards the end of the term of agreement. Massai had 

 persistently begged for the rifle, and it having become 

 necessary for the ' Boss' to take a trip to the port, he 

 had definitely promised to bring it with him. Again 

 he designedly forgot. Massai became morose. Things 

 went on calmly enough until one day, when the mate 

 was below, the 'Boss' was suddenly thrown overboard. 

 As he floundered on the surface one of the boys struck 

 at him with a tomahawk, and then he must have realised 

 that his life was at stake. 



"Diving until well clear of the boat, he swam off to 

 the lugger, about a quarter of a mile away. As his 

 master came up, Massai leaned over the side, his master's 

 rifle in his hand. 



" 'Don't shoot me, Massai,' he shouted. ' I give 

 you good rifle belonga yourself.' 



"Massai shouted back, 'Me catch 'em plenty riple ! 

 You no good !' and fired. The bullet splashed over 

 the man's head. The next struck him fair in the fore- 

 head, and he sank. 



"In the meantime Massai 's confederates were sporting 

 with the diver, hauling him up to the surface, pumping 

 sufficient air to keep him alive, shutting it off until he 

 must have been nearly suffocated, reviving him with 

 fresh supplies, and with joy prolonging life until the fun 

 of the thing ceased ; then they had cut the pipe so that 

 he might drown. 



"The lugger having been ransacked, she was fired, 

 and she had sunk at her anchorage. 



"A few days after the man with the shirt arrived at 

 the island, and since these simple children of Nature 

 cannot keep their doings to themselves, he very soon 

 was made a confidant, learning the whole details of the 



