well raked aft, denoting that she was built for speed. I instantly made up my mind that if she were a coaster I wouldn't mind sailing in her for a while; for if there is one thing that I enjoy, it is being in a fast sailing ship.

"I'll keep an eye on that brig," said I; "and when she is ready for sea again, I'll try and ship in her." Every morning I took a walk to the shipping office, where there were always a great many sailors hanging around. We used to pass the time away spinning sea yarns.

One day a sailor said to me: "Have you seen that brig down in the harbor?" "Yes," said I; "she looks as though she can sail." "She belongs to the Queensland Government," he said. "She's in what we sailors call the slave trade. She is going to sign on one day this week; if I were you I would go down and see the 'Old Man' as I expect that he will want some men, as they nearly always leave when they come home here." "Does she land those so-called slaves here?" I asked.

"No. She lands them up north; she's just come in from Rockhampton."

"What do they do with these slaves?

"Well," he said; "they are not exactly slaves. They work up north on the sugar plantations. You see, this vessel carries a government agent and a doctor; they are the main guys. She sails out to the islands, sometimes going to the Solomon Islands, sometimes to New Guinea and the New Hebrides. No matter where she goes, she has to bring back a human cargo. Sometimes she gets them at the first island that she calls at, or she may have to call at a dozen or more. The agent goes ashore with a lot of presents for the chief, and if he can talk him into letting his people go, why he has no trouble in getting them. They all seem anxious to work on the plantations. A white man couldn't stand it. They pay them a shilling a day, I believe; and they are bound by contract to serve five years."

"I should think that they were a great deal better off working on the plantations," said I, "than living in their wild state."

"They are better off. After they have been there five years, there's very few of them that want to go back. They have their own villages, which they build themselves, and they bring their wives and families with them. After five years some of them are

perfectly civilized and drift into the cities. You see, they have a mission up there, and they are taught to read and write.".

"Do they ever have any trouble getting them?"

"No, they never come to fighting; some of the chiefs won't let them go, as some of the islands have practically lost all their men. These Kanakas are always fighting each other, so the chief knows that he wouldn't last long without fighting men. I have never been in one of these vessels, but I have had lots of chances."

"I think that I would like a job like that," said I.

"Well, there's your chance; I am sure that he will want a crew, and there are very few of us natives who would sail in her."

"I don't see anything wrong in trying to civilize a lot of savages."

"They are not as savage as they look. Leave them alone in their ignorance and they die happy; civilize them, and their troubles begin. I am married myself and have children of my own, that is why I wouldn't steal women and children for the government; I don't believe in it."

"They don't steal them if they make a contract and live up to it," said I.

A

"Oh! They live up to it all right; but I have been told that if they can't get them by fair means, they will by foul. It is not the government, but these rascals of agents. They resort to all kinds of strategy. friend of mine made a voyage in one of these slave traders. He told me how they called at one of the islands, and the chief would not part with any men. The agent gave him a few customary presents, and the chief returned the compliment. He told the chief that he was his friend, and that he would call again, as he liked his people. departed. Sailing around the islands without any better success, he returned, inviting the chief and his warriors on board to dine. He had tables spread in the hold for the feast. When they all sat down, instead of serving the feast, he battened down the hatch and sailed away. He then told the chief that if he would sign the contract he would let him and the crew of his canoe go ashore. The contract was signed and the government was satisfied."

"How did it get out?" I asked.

He

"One of the Kanakas told the missionary, and he reported it."

"What did they do to the agent?"

"He only lost his job, where he ought to have been sent to jail. Then they turn around and tell you that slavery is abolished."

"I have been in large ships engaged in the same sort of trade," said I. "I have loaded coolies in Calcutta for Demarerra. They are bound by contract, and at the expiration of their time they are taken back to India; as for stealing them, I think that that is only a sailor's yarn. Anyhow, if I get the chance I'll take it; it ought to be good for two or three months. After that, I think that I'll go south and take a ship for England; I haven't been there for years."

Two days later, I was in the shipping office, and I saw on the blackboard the name "Hawk", so I knew that it was a vessel going to sign on a crew.

"What ship is that?" I asked a sailor standing near.

"What ship?" "The Hawk."

"Oh! That's the slave trader."

I went inside and asked what time she was expected to sign.

"In a few minutes," the clerk replied. "That is the Captain down at the other end of the desk."

I immediately approached him. "Have you all your hands yet, sir?" I asked.

"No," he replied; "I am just going outside to pick them up. Let me see your papers?" I showed them to him, and he said: "I want eight men, you'll do for one. Do you know any good men?"

"No, sir; I am a stranger here."

He went to the door, and looking at the bunch of sailors and firemen, he shouted out: "I want seven sailors for the 'Hawk.'"

They were very slow in responding. One man came up showing his papers, then another, until finally he had picked his crew. "Come inside," he said.

We lined up in front of the desk to hear the articles read. I wanted to hear where we were bound to, so I was all attention. The clerk began reading. "The name of the ship is the Hawk'. Port of Registry, Brisbane. Bound on a voyage from here to San Christoval, Solomon Islands. From there to any port or ports between 60° south lat. and 60° north lat., and to terminate in the commonwealth of Australia. The time of the voyage not to exceed two years. This

ship is deemed complete with twelve hands all told. The usual scale of provisions prevail."

Then he proceeded to read the list of food and the quantities supplied. I had heard it read so many times that I knew it by heart. I heard the usual sentences at the end: "Substitutes at the master's option. No spirits allowed. Sign here."

I signed my name on the articles, and as I was walking out the Captain said, "Six o'clock tomorrow morning."

I walked out a full-fledged member of the crew of the slave trader "Hawk". Six o'clock found me on board ready for work. We were busy all the morning taking in stores. After dinner we heaved up anchor, and being a small vessel, sailed out of the harbor under our own canvas.

I soon found that she didn't deceive her looks; she could sail like a witch. She was a pretty easy-going ship, the Captain not believing in a lot of needless work. Everything was kept spotlessly clean, and she looked like a yacht. There were two brass cannons mounted for'ard, and I supposed that they used them to frighten the Kanakas. She put me in mind of a pirate ship or a privateer; I expect that was why the sailors of Brisbane didn't care to sail in her. I made up my mind then, if ever we had to use those guns then I would be the gunner.

As she plodded her way along with the same routine day after day, I began to wish that I was home in England. I had no relatives there, but still I called it home. My thoughts would fly to New York and Nina; and I wondered if she would welcome me if I went there. I had not written yet, but I would as soon as I returned to Queensland; and have the answer sent to a post office in England, to be kept until I should call for it. I surely had made up my mind to go home.

Time began to hang heavy on our hands, and I began to wish that we were at the islands, there we might get some excitement; I began to almost wish that we would have to steal the natives. It is was only about one thousand miles to San Christoval, and we ought to sail that in three weeks with any kind of wind. My judgment was not far out, for in three weeks to the day we dropped anchor in a well-protected bay. I was designated one of the regular boat's crew. We soon had the boat over the side.

Putting in a few presents, the agent and the doctor stepped in, and we were ordered to pull ashore.

The Kanakas saw us coming, and they swarmed out in their canoes to meet us. We landed the agent and the doctor, and two of us were told off to carry the presents, while the other two were to remain and look after the boat. We went to the chief's hut with a howling mob of savages following behind. The agent spoke the language, so with a few salaams they began to talk business.

I could soon see by the chief's manner that he was not favorably impressed. He sent for his minor chiefs to hold a kind of a "pow wow"; and the agent was told that he would be notified when they arrived. We had nothing else to do but return to the ship. Two days later a war canoe came off and notified the agent that the chief would speak with him. We again went ashore, and proceeded at once to the "royal palace".

The agent was quickly told that he had all the men that he was going to get from that island. Bidding the chief "good-bye", we returned to the ship. The agent and the Captain were soon in earnest conversation, and I heard the agent say: "We must work the smaller islands; these large ones are all played out. Of course it will mean a lot of sailing, because we will only be able to get about twenty or thirty at each place; at the most. There are lots of these small islands that have never been touched."

"Very well, sir," said the Captain; "it's just as you say. When do you wish to sail?"

"Just as soon as possible."

"We had better go below and look over the chart, then we can decide where to make for first."

They soon came on deck again, and ordering us to heave up the anchor we were once more under way. Two days later we were riding at anchor under the lee of a small island. Here we had to land on the beach in the open sea, with a heavy surf running; but we again met with a refusal. Getting under way again, we tried another island; but still no good. It seemed to me like begging from door to door; for my part I would rather steal. I felt like asking the Captain to let us go ashore and capture them, and bring them off as prisoners. Some very curious ideas passed through my mind; at other times, I would have stood up and protected these poor ignorant savages.

Making for another small island we came to an anchor. Lowering a boat, and putting in the regular paraphernalia, we pulled ashore. We were lying outside a barrer reef. Inside the reef there was a fine harbor; but as no vessel could cross the reef it was perfectly safe, as it was only available for small boats. Once inside. I was surprised to find a small well built boat landing. I said to myself, "That speaks of civilization; I know that we won't get any here." This time I was told off to look after the boat, the others repaired to look after the chief. I was sitting in the boat half asleep, when I heard the splash of paddles. Looking up, I saw a large war canoe, fully sixty feet long coming towards the landing. In it sat the chief in all his glory. He was an old man, with long white hair and beard. His skin was not as black as his warriors, and I could see that he was tattooed from head to foot.

As he stepped on to the landing, he said: "Hello! my men! What are you fellows doing here?"

"I'm waiting for the government agent; he's up talking with the chief."

"No, he's not," said he; "I'm the chief of this island." He spoke as perfect English as I did myself. His warriors were busy pulling their canoe high and dry ashore.

"You had better let my men pull your boat up before it is too late; there's a typhoon coming, and it will not be long before it strikes here. I was on my way to visit the chief of a neighboring island; I saw the storm coming, so I put back as fast as I could. I saw your ship lying outside, and I would have given her warning, only that I came in over the other end of the reef."

"Our Captain is well acquainted with these waters," said I; "so I expect he sees it coming and knows what to do."

They hauled our boat ashore, and at his request I walked with him to his hut, to find shelter from the coming storm. We had hardly entered before it came upon us with its full force. On entering, we found the agent and the doctor making presents to the chief's wives; I should think that he had a dozen, and was a regular Brigham Young. As the storm raged outside, they did nothing but talk typhoons for three hours. I weathered more typhoons, cyclones, hurricanes and gales in those three hours than I had in all the rest of my life put together. Then they started to talk business,

but the old chief kindly informed him that he had no men to spare.

He said: "A few years ago most of my men were drowned while returning from another island where we had been fighting. They were caught in a typhoon, and now I have twenty women to every man on the island."

The sun went down and darkness followed, there being no twilight in the equatorial latitudes. The old chief invited us to stay until morning, explaining that it was not safe to cross the reef in the dark, especially in a heavy sea as there must be now. Needless to say, the invitation was accepted. The next morning we pulled outside the reef, but there was no sign of the "Hawk".

We looked along the reef, and then it was we found the remains of her; she had been battered to pieces on the reef and not a soul saved. We returned to the chief with the sad news, and he told us to make his hut our headquarters as long as we remained.

As we were sitting down that evening, he said: "I suppose that you gentlemen wonder how it is that I speak your language. Well, I'll tell you. My right name is Jack McGreggor and I was born in Dundee in Scotland. As a lad I went to sea. On my second voyage we were caught in a typhoon and wrecked on the reef outside. Eight of us clung to the wreck, and were rescued by these natives. They were savages and cannibals then, but today they are as civilized as any people on the face of the earth.

"We were brought before the chief, and he ordered us to be tortured for his pleasure. They tied us to trees and stabbed us with spears with a point about a quarter of an inch long. The chief and his wives were sitting around watching his warriors throw the spears.

They would clap their hands and laugh as we danced in agony. Another time they built a large fire, stripping us naked; then they would apply burning sticks to our flesh. Every cry of agony was so much pleasure to these savages. Then they tattooed us the same as you see me now. This was not done with a needle, the same as they do it at home, but was done with their spears.

"The day of the tattooing I will never forget. It was during a kind of a feast time. They brought us out in front of the chief's hut, and the natives sat around in a ring. There were six native dancers picked out

died.

from among his warriors, and two native doctors. One of us was placed in the center of the ring, and the dance began; to the beating of the 'tom toms'. Every time that a dancer faced us, he would stab us with his spear; not deep enough to kill, but enough to be painful. About every quarter of an hour they would stop dancing when the doctors would rub in some black substance that they make from the leaves of a tree; when it healed it looked like India ink. As soon as the doctors had finished, a fresh set of dancers started. This was kept up practically all day, on one man; the rest of us watching the performance. I was the last to be tattooed. I have often wondered how it was that I didn't die with fright long before it came my turn. It finally came my turn, and I came through the ordeal the same as the rest, more dead than alive. I was even better off than they, my tattooing being done at two different times. The first day I fainted several times, so they let me go until I was well again. They nursed me back to life, only to renew their sport. After the second tattooing I nearly The chief wanted to keep us alive as long as he could, for he certainly was enjoying the fun. As I was getting better, the old chief used to visit me; but I never saw any of my companions again. They were killed some way or other and perhaps eaten. He would sometimes bring me some kind of fruit, and my heart kind of softened towards him. One day as he was visiting me, a big savage whom they had captured made an attack on him with a club. He would have killed the chief, had I not sprang on him and caught him by the throat. As I held him, the chief plunged a spear into his side and he fell back dead. From that day the guard was removed from my hut, and finally I was invited to share the chief's. I soon found out that I was looked upon as a man of position; and just as soon as I found this out, I started in to civilize them. One day we went to battle on another island, and our chief was killed. I took his place in command, and we gave them such a beating that they have never troubled the 'White Chief' as they call me. When we returned, I was installed chief, and there was great rejoicing on the island. I kept on with my civilizing, and today they are the most civilized people on any of the South Sea Islands.

That is all I have to tell; you can see the

rest for yourselves."

"Do you ever intend to go back to Scotland?" asked the agent.

"No," said he; "I expect that my people are all dead. I have been here for fiftytwo years; besides, how would I look in Scotland, all tattooed? They would look upon me as a curiosity and a freak. At the best, I would only be plain Jack McGreggor, whilst here I am Chief McGreggor, the White Chief. I will put men on the lookout for passing vessels, and give them orders to signal, if they come close enough. If they stop, I will take you off in my canoe. You mustn't for a moment think that I want to get rid of you; on the contrary, I am glad of your company. I know that your place is back in civilization, while mine is here, to die as I have lived."

Five days later a steamer bore down towards the island; they saw our signals, and answered. They came in close but did not anchor. We put off in the chief's big war canoe, and were soon alongside.

As soon as we were on board, the chief took his seat in the stern of the canoe, and as he paddled away, I thought what a noble chieftain was Chief McGreggor.

I watched the ship's head swing as she stood off from the land; we were bound for Adelaide in South Australia. To my dying day, I'll not forget Jack McGreggor, king of a cannibal island.

Cheerful Ever!

It's good we can say, with a sigh and a smile: "Times will be better after a while!

The light will stream through the clouds o'erhead,
And flowers will bloom where the thorns were red!"
What of the sigh, if we say with a smile:
"Times will be better after a while!"

It's a long, long way to the light of day; But winter gives ever a promise of May, And ever we dream, in the darkest night; "The joy will come with the morning light!" Even in our sorrow we say with a smile: "Times will be better after a while!"

"Times will be better!" In joy and woe

Is it not sweeter to sing them so?

Sweeter to dream, when the dark's o'er the bluc,
The eyes of the angels are looking at you?
Away with the sigh, then, and sweet be the smile
"Times will be better after a while!"

-Tid-Bits.

It takes but an offer to disclose grafters in unexpected places.

Brother W. P. Martin, Business Agent of Local No. 18. Houston, Texas, and Mrs. Martin.