nds,
especially when he has a good yarn to spin."

"The yarn isn't a pleasant one, captain," said the trader. "It's a
d------d unpleasant one, but it's true, sir."

He lit a cigar and then resumed: "Well, after six of these flash young
fellows were shot down, the other four dropped their rifles and cried
out, _Fia ola! Fia ola!_ (Quarter! Quarter!) and in a few minutes about
a dozen of the escapees made their appearance, took away their rifles
and cartridges, and tying their arms behind their backs made them march
in front of them up the mountain-side till they came to a bit of a
thicket in which were four or five small huts. Telling their prisoners
to sit down, half of their number went away, returning in half an hour
with the six heads of the men who had been shot.

"Take these heads back with you," said one of the outlaws, who could
speak Samoan, "and tell all Mulifanua that we are strong men. We fear
no one, for we have plenty of guns and cartridges, and five hundred men
such as you cannot take us. And say to the chief of the village, that on
every fourth day, food for us must be brought to the foot of the eastern
spur of the mountain. If this be not done, then shall we kill all whom
we meet--men, women or children. Now go and tell the man who flogged
us that some day we shall cook and eat his head, for we are very strong
men.'

"Well, the four poor trembling beggars were liberated, and carrying
the six heads of their comrades, they went back, and their story so
terrified the people of Mulifanua that no further attempt was ever made
to capture the outlaws. And although the Germans don't know of it, the
villagers are to this very day, gentlemen, supplying these dangerous
devils with food, and I know for a fact that sometimes two or three of
them come down from the mountains and sleep in the village without fear.
They have never troubled me; but very often a native boy or girl will
come to me and buy a 28-lb. bag of shot, caps and powder, and I know
perfectly well that it is for the 'wild men,' as the people here call
the escaped men. Every one of them has not only a rifle, but a shot-gun
as well, for they one night broke into the plantation store and carried
off all the rifles and guns they could find."

"Take care, Bob, that they don't take some pot shots at you," said the
captain, with a laugh, as his supercargo rose to get ready to go ashore
with the trader.

"They would if they thought Mr. Hemming was a Ge