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had to live straight in Otoo's eyes。 Because of him I dared not tarnish
myself。 He made me his ideal； compounding me； I fear； chiefly out of his own
love and worship and there were times when I stood close to the steep pitch of
hell； and would have taken the plunge had not the thought of Otoo restrained
me。 His pride in me entered into me； until it became one of the major rules in
my personal code to do nothing that would diminish that pride of his。
Naturally； I did not learn right away what his feelings were toward me。 He
never criticized； never censured； and slowly the exalted place I held in his
eyes dawned upon me； and slowly I grew to comprehend the hurt I could inflict
upon him by being anything less than my best。
For seventeen years we were together； for seventeen years he was at my
shoulder； watching while I slept； nursing me through fever and woundsay； and
receiving wounds in fighting for me。 He signed on the same ships with me； and
together we ranged the Pacific from Hawaii to Sydney Head； and from Torres
Straits to the Galapagos。 We blackbirded from the New Hebrides and the Line
Islands over to the westward clear through the Louisades； New Britain； New
Ireland； and New Hanover。 We were wrecked three timesin the Gilberts； in the
Santa Cruz group； and in the Fijis。 And we traded and salved wherever a dollar
promised in the way of pearl and pearl shell； copra； beche…de…mer； hawkbill
turtle shell； and stranded wrecks。
It began in Papeete； immediately after his announcement that he was going with
me over all the sea； and the islands in the midst thereof。 There was a club in
those days in Papeete； where the pearlers； traders； captains； and riffraff of
South Sea adventurers forgathered。 The play ran high； and the drink ran high；
and I am very much afraid that I kept later hours than were becoming or
proper。 No matter what the hour was when I left the club； there was Otoo
waiting to see me safely home。
At first I smiled； next I chided him。 Then I told him flatly that I stood in
need of no wet…nursing。 After that I did not see him when I came out of the
club。 Quite by accident； a week or so later； I discovered that he still saw me
home； lurking across the street among the shadows of the mango trees。 What
could I do？ I know what I did do。
Insensibly I began to keep better hours。 On wet and stormy nights； in the
thick of the folly and the fun； the thought would persist in coming to me of
Otoo keeping his dreary vigil under the dripping mangoes。 Truly； he made a
better man of me。 Yet he was not strait…laced。 And he knew nothing of common
Christian morality。 All the people on Bora Bora were Christians； but he was a
heathen； the only unbeliever on the island； a gross materialist； who believed
that when he died he was dead。 He believed merely in fair play and square
dealing。 Petty meanness； in his code； was almost as serious as wanton
homicide； and I do believe that he respected a murderer more than a man given
to small practices。
Concerning me； personally； he objected to my doing anything that was hurtful
to me。 Gambling was all right。 He was an ardent gambler himself。 But late
hours； he explained； were bad for one's health。 He had seen men who did not
take care of themselves die of fever。 He was no teetotaler； and welcomed a
stiff nip any time when it was wet work in the boats。 On the other hand； he
believed in liquor in moderation。 He had seen many men killed or disgraced by
square…face or Scotch。
Otoo had my welfare always at heart。 He thought ahead for me； weighed my
plans； and took a greater interest in them than I did myself。 At first； when I
was unaware of this interest of his in my affairs； he had to divine my
intentions； as； for instance； at Papeete； when I contemplated going partners
with a knavish fellow…countryman on a guano venture。 I did not know he was a
knave。 Nor did any white man in Papeete。 Neither did Otoo know； but he saw how
thick we were getting； and found out for me； and without my asking him。 Native
sailors from the ends of the seas knock about on the beach in Tahiti； and
Otoo； suspicious merely； went among them till he had gathered sufficient data
to justify his suspicions。 Oh； it was a nice history； that of Randolph Waters。
I couldn't believe it when Otoo first narrated it； but when I sheeted it home
to Waters he gave in without a murmur； and got away on the first steamer to
Aukland。
At first； I am free to confess； I couldn't help resenting Otoo's poking his
nose into my business。 But I knew that he was wholly unselfish； and soon I had
to acknowledge his wisdom and discretion。 He had his eyes open always to my
main chance； and he was both keen…sighted and far…sighted。 In time he became
my counselor； until he knew more of my business than I did myself。 He really
had my interest at heart more than I did。 'mine was the magnificent
carelessness of youth； for I preferred romance to dollars； and adventure to a
comfortable billet with all night in。 So it was well that I had some one to
look out for me。 I know that if it had not been for Otoo； I should not be here
today。
Of numerous instances； let me give one。 I had had some experience in
blackbirding before I went pearling in the Paumotus。 Otoo and I were on the
beach in Samoawe really were on the beach and hard agroundwhen my chance
came to go as recruiter on a blackbird brig。 Otoo signed on before the mast；
and for the next half…dozen years； in as many ships； we knocked about the
wildest portions of Melanesia。 Otoo saw to it that he always pulled stroke…oar
in my boat。 Our custom in recruiting labor was to land the recruiter on the
beach。 The covering boat always lay on its oars several hundred feet off
shore； while the recruiter's boat； also lying on its oars； kept afloat on the
edge of the beach。 When I landed with my trade goods； leaving my steering
sweep apeak； Otoo left his stroke position and came into the stern sheets；
where a Winchester lay ready to hand under a flap of canvas。 The boat's crew
was also armed； the Sniders concealed under canvas flaps that ran the length
of the gunwales。
While I was busy arguing and persuading the woolly…headed cannibals to come
and labor on the Queensland plantations Otoo kept watch。 And often and often
his low voice warned me of suspicious actions and impending treachery。
Sometimes it was the quick shot from his rifle； knocking a nigger over； that
was the first warning I received。 And in my rush to the boat his hand was
always there to jerk me flying aboard。 Once； I remember； on SANTA ANNA； the
boat grounded just as the trouble began。 The covering boat was dashing to our
assistance； but the several score of savages would have wiped us out before it
arrived。 Otoo took a flying leap ashore； dug both hands into the trade goods；
and scattered tobacco； beads； tomahawks； knives； and calicoes in all
directions。
This was too much for the woolly…heads。 While they scrambled for the
treasures； the boat was shoved clear； and we were aboard and forty feet away。
And I got thirty recruits off that very beach in the next four hours。
The particular instance I have in mind was on Malaita； the most savage island
in the easterly Solomons。 The natives had been remarkably friendly； and how
were we to know that the whole village had been taking up a collection for
over two years with which to buy a white man's head？ The beggars are all
head…hunters； and they especially esteem a white man's head。 The fellow who
captured the head would receive the whole collection。 As I say； they appeared
very friendly； and on this day I was fully a hundred yards down the beach from
the boat。 Otoo had cautioned me； and； as usual when I did not heed him； I came
to grief。
The first I knew； a cloud of spears sailed out of the mangrove swamp at me。 At
least a dozen were sticking into me。 I started to run； but tripped over one
that was fast in my calf； and went down。 The woolly…heads made a run for me；
each with a long…handled； fantail tomahawk with which to hack off my head。
They were so eager for the prize that they got in one another's way。 In the
confusion； I avoided several hacks by throwing myself right and left on the
sand。
Then Otoo arrivedOtoo the manhandler。 In some way he had got hold of a heavy
war club； and at close quarters it was a far more efficient weapon than a
rifle。 He was right in the thick of them； so that they could not spear him；
while their tomahawks seemed worse than useless。 He was fighting for me； and
he was in a true Berserker rage。 The way he handled that club was amazing。
Their skulls squashed like overripe oranges。 It was not until he had driven
them back； picked me up in his arms； and started to run； that he received his
first wounds。 He arrived in the boat with four spear thrusts； got his
Winchester； and with it got a man for every shot。 Then we pulled aboard the
schooner； and doctored up。
Seventeen yea