MY WIFE HOLDS THE GUN 217 



to Osa: "Well, how did you like those fellows?" 



She shook her head and smiled one of her knowing 

 smiles. "They're not nice people, Martin," she said, 

 "And you know they're not.'* That was her only 

 comment. 



I thought the poor girl was going to have a rest 

 after that harrowing experience. But we made a 

 foolish mistake a few weeks later that got us into 

 almost as bad a jam. We visited the Leuneuwa La- 

 goon about three himdred miles further north where 

 the tribes are not so hostile to white men. But they 

 are very superstitious. When Osa followed me into 

 one of their "devil houses" there was literally the 

 devil to pay. 



No woman was ever allowed in one imder pain of 

 death. The natives couldn't imderstand us and we 

 didn't know a word of their tongue. So for days it 

 looked as if our lives weren't worth five cents. 

 Finally things quieted down and we were able to get 

 away with whole skins. Why, we never knew. 



During these years I learned that a healthy woman 

 has just as much vitality as a man. I. always had 

 good health and plenty of muscle. But often when 

 I have been ready to give up in despair Osa has been 

 still ivill of pep and ready to go on. 



I remember once when we got caught out in a 

 small open boat among the islands. The weather 

 was tough and we had practically no food. The 



