THE LOOT OF BUNGAWAN.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11832, 18 January 1913, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE LOOT OF BUNGAWAN.

| ,(By William H Kitchell.)

'The boat—or I,kill!" Brabson rubbed -ins elbow ruefully. The yellow devil-,with the: creese was overworking the realism. .Brabson had paid • Dunga Dhu .to fire him off the lugger,at -Bungawen. buthe had' not paid for a massage.: So he tipped Dunga gentlj' and' glanced' at the beach.--.-The man ashore was Governor Kelly,-; right enough. And the Governor had. seen the fight. Which was what Brabsonin tended. He had come all the way down the Archipelago' to meet the Governor.-of Bungawen, and"he did not want Kelly to <know that meeting was premeditated. - "I've -Jeft 'another dollar for the swim," muttered Brabson. as, Dunga came aboard again.: "Now pike for Panalay.j' . The sail went up as Brabson hurried I his valise into the canoe that floated beside the lugger. It was'an outrigger and lull ;of-nut-brown, barbarians with mops ofiblack hair ; but they were unarmed and smiling, and they took him ashore upon, a big wave that broke into soapsuds: upon.a white beach backed by cocoa palms and jungle. . Brabson shook his. fist . seaward and then turned-to note the effect upon the man on.:,the beach. They shook hands solemnly,- and Kelly ,frowned. "Have a fight with the skipper P •"They're a bad lot,';' he observed, with sympathy'. ■

"He was a rascal;" returned Brabson, nodding. "He said I was getting off at the wrong island and that this wasn't Panalay!" The; Governor stared. "It-5 ain't!" he eiaculated. "If you're; looking for Panalay, you've droppe^. v off: at tl"n-wrong island. Yours is oveiy'the horizon, and 300 miles away."!',!', Brahgph's surprise was 'a remarkable imitation'.

"It can't be true. I paid him to be droppetjfrat Panalay. I suppose it wrfs my fnu.k." He groaned. "If it's true. I'm ruined. The monsoon turns next week, I'll never get away. Where am, 1, jgnyhow?" "YoiZ're on Bungawan, South PhilJipDinei,'/ replied Kelly, eyeing the valise.with interest. "I'm Governor Kelly. stuck, all right. You're three months with me until the monsoon changes. You won't regret it " But what did you say your name Was?"

Brabson told him, and kept certain items of importance to himself. yond the reef wabbled the dirty triangular sail of the lugger, scudding west in; a choppy sea. Under the sail was Dfijiga Dhu—tho only man southi of Manjlla who knew he was Brabson and that he had been sent down to investigate- the administration of Kellv. He would have to he a little and bluff more; 'hut the game was worth the playing: So he let Kelly take him away from the brtftvn men, away to the bungalow of the, on the of the jungle. - It was a rambling affair with a thatched roof, under which a python crackled lazily after the rats. A tattered American flag draped the doorway of the front room. This was the Governor's'-office, and behind' a calico curtain was the Governor's bedroom. Beyond was another bedroom and the kitchen".

They talked till evening. Then Kelly clapped his hands, and a native.came in with tobacco and a brazier'-of charcoal, and tiptoed out again with a salaam to Kelly and a deeper obeisance to the new arrival. "I wonder who he thinks I am?" observed Brabson, smiling. "I'll tell you in the morning," said Kelly queerly. "You don't speak the lingo, I suppose? It's Moro, with a dash of local color. I'm afraid I'll have to interpret for a while." Brabson assented cheerfully and grinned behind his cheroot. If Kelly knew!

"I'll give you my bed,"' remarked Kelly after the last game of cribbage. "I've got business with the Dato. The snake's tame. If lie falls out of the roof and hits anything, just clap for the punkah boy.. You needn't hurry in the morning.- Good night." Brabson turned in! The .spice breezes

blew in.from Glebes and out agin toward China. Dunga Dliu's-lugger was beating upcoast on the black sea jnder the stars, and it-would be three months again before another hull scraped over the reef. Brabson chuckled dreamily and fell asleep. And morning-came, as mornings do in the East, with a quick dawn and a blistering sun. The punkah boy laid breakfast under the riipa /tree, and, after the bananas. Brabson went out to find Kelly. He had been hearing the Governor for ten minutes. He found him under the. thatched roof of the Town Hall making an oration to' ithe populace. It was a large audience — for Bimgawan—and thero were few absentees Even the punkah' boy had followed him and was gazing with awe at th° lodge button upon his coat. Kellv welcomed l him with a new air of humility, and motioned lrinv-into n chair.' Moro is Philippine Arabic, and Brabson had been many years in the So he listened it© Kelly. If Kellv had knowii that Brabson■ understood him,- he would have- sat down quicker and said less. Kelly finished, and' the headmen nodded approval and came forward and faced Brabson expectantly. "You needn't shake the dirtiest hands," explained Kelly.' "Just touch their fingers and bow. It's a custom here for the Governor to shake hands with the native dignitaries." ' "But I'm hot the Governor!" returned Brabson in pretended, amazement.

"You are—you've got to be!" repliedKellv with visible trepidation. "I —I told 'em you've come to take my place. It. won't make any difference. I'll do all th»-work.and you can have all the glory." Brabson stared at him. "But you're-the Governor - yourself. T'm only an outsider. I don't comprehend the game." '.,•.- "It'.a a gamej of course—but it's big and on the level," explained Kelly rapidly. "Yon see. they put me down here on the Jumping-off place of the Philippines to govern Bungawan. I haven't- been bothered! since. And I'm a good boss but a blamed poor governor. I'm apt to forget details. I've k=pt things straight, and you won't find n dollar missing in the treasury." "Then why do you need me?" asked 1 Brabson quickly. "Because I'm in bad. I ain't a big enough man. physicallv, to overawe the natives." admitted Kelly soberly. "I've got a big scheme startedr to benefit the ■■ipland. but I ain't a big enough man to run it alone. I'd only start a riot. Tlip+'s why I want you to impersonate me." " .

"All right," said Brabson without a quiver; "I'll take the job. Bring on the native politicians." "I've called another palaver for to-' night." observed Kellv after the durlinr had adjourned. "We'll have some innovations to propose. Meanwhile, you've ordered-a holiday.- -There's nothing that will loosen the soul of /]■ native like a pig feast.. You've paid for the pigs." . Thev spent the afternoon m the cool o f the Governor's office. Kelly explained details, and Brabson, smoked and listened. Whenever a headman entered, which was often. Brabson would bow to the salaam and Kelly would interpret. "T guess you've grasped the scheme, Kcllv remarked at sundown. "It's Government ownership of- privatewraith. There's untold wealth in Bungawan —and untold waste. There ain't a native hut what's got a pearl necklace and a heap of copra—besides the monev. It's a paradise of naked capitalists. Nobody works. Yet they ain't happy. They" pick a living_ off the trees—and then stay awake nights because the barbarian next dopr has fou-nd a bigger pearl or something." "I see —it's unearned increment." said Brabson, nodding". "But what do you prooose to do about, it?" Kelly's face Teddened with enthusiasm.

"We'll take awav the wealth a-nd leave 'em happiness l ," he replied."" "We won't let them keep .even, a dollar or a pearl." "And then?"

'lt'll all go into the treasury. Some dav they'll want schools. And mav be a famine year." Most anything could happen 1 over here: With a good fat treasury to fall back upon,-Bunpa-wan would be the happiest -place on the onnn!'.', .' ,' - - -

Kelly was right—the vrame-was big. Loot—and a getaway! Brabson stared

at nothing in particular and deliberated. KoJlv was-"wanted" at Manila: He had "forgotten to send', up~aniiicr of'his administration;-m fact, Manila had not heard from Kelly, in two vears. So Brabson had been sent to investigate. Tlie investigation was progressing. Brabson smiled. It was go ahead. In ninety days, no less., there would be a gunboat inside the reet —a, gunboat with a guardroom. And there would no chance of a .getaway unless Dunca Dhu came back with tho lugger. So Kelly could work out his destiny as he pleased. , , , » • 1 "I see. It's a wonderful game, said Brabson with sincerity. , It was at the evening palaver, however that Brabson realised his respotti sibilitv. It was a state affair, and. nobody came but the headmen. Eleven of them there were, and they sat in :'- row in front of the Governor's desk in the Governor's bungalow. And. Brabson played the "Governor. "You see the old one with the grouch," whispered Kelly, pointing to a. shrivelled Moro who looked a hundred, and good-for twenty more, lie s the ex-Dato, Samale. You've had him fired. "We're .going to elect a new one, and vou needn't be surprised if Samale gets his job back. He was a good Dato, anyhow." ~ Brabson sat and listened, inscrutably while Kelly talked with the headmen about bringing Bungawan liito line with civilisation. A new Governor wanted new reforms. Finally he called for the. election for Dato. . "It is the will of the Governor," imparted Kelly smoothly, "that the man who gets the votes will be Dato lor three years, with a badge and a reel shirt, and the privilege of keeping ins hat on when he meets the -Governor. A vote will cost five dollars. Are there anv candidates?" . " Eleven headmen rose silently, includSamale, and the clink of money came from the ash receiver upon- Brabson s desk. They voted, and Kelly grinned. "You've all' voted for yourselves. _ VYe need ono Dato—not eleven. You li have to pav and vote again.' Winch the eleven did—four times — and with the same result. ' It was after the seventh ballot that Samale stampeded' the convention. "Samale was Dato of Bungawan when your fathers were naked' boys, ■he quavered to the row of breech-clouts beside him. "He will be Dato now. He drew a pouch -of buffalo hide from his girdle and threw it .upon the desk. "Here are six hundred . dollars. It is worth the honor. ■ Let him who has i as many swords behind him vote for-| himself again." . "Is the choice unanimous?" queried' Kelly after the" silence. It was; and nobody got his money back. ' But Samale, to his disgust, was not to have a, monopoly of native politics. Bungawan had grown, Kelly, explained. Policemen were needed to"preserve order on the island, and there would have to be a Board of Works to act with Samale and the Governor in the new plan of reform. Luckily, there were enough iobs to go around, and they were all voted for, for a consideration* and nobody drew a blank. At leastnobody but Kelly. Then the official staff went out to the pig feast. The weeks rained by, and it .was during the last half of the monsoon that the island treasury overflowed' from Brabson's desk into a kerosene tin and a waste-basket. For Kelly's schemes were working. "When a native 'is- fighting madi to nav ten dollars, Mexican, a month for the fun of keening nine street lamps alight, and as much for the privilege of licensing cock fights in his_ own

particular village, there is profit 'ri government. These hut two of thirty plans for public ownership of private wealth, and they all worked. For instance, Brabson' took a walk ono morning along the beach. It was 1 ono of the few calm mornings that happen in the season when the winds whip the coco leaves ~ into tatters, and ; all Bunaawan had forsaken -the thatched huts for a holiday outdoors. Suddenly he stopped. 'Under a gaily decorated booth that was- one of the many along the beach stood a crowd of gaily decorated natives, and Samalo was in the middle of the, crowd enjoying himself. He was throwing baseballs at' gaily decorated rows of wooden dolls. It was an. expensive' pastime, for there was a sign at the counter which- read in Moro: "Six" Balls for a Dollar/ No Trust. Get Back at the Devil. If You Hit Three in Succession,, Your Sins are Forgiven, and You Get Your Money Back." Brabson knew Eastern theology. Sa T male was getting in a cheap way with the gods of Bun'gawan. It seemed like a : miniature'' Gpney Island. There were a home-made merry-go-round whirled by a wooden pole tied •to a water-buffalo, and a. "donkey ride" and a fortune-teller. There was .even a bamboo slide, down which throngs of shrieking Bunga.wanhers slid into the surf. - "What next?" asked Brabson, grinning, when he returned to the bungalow Kelly sighed. "What we need most is a scenic railroad and a. moving-picture show. But I'm afraid' we'll.have to compromise with a baseball—park," he remarked gloomily. "They'll be broke soon—and just as'liappv afterwards. They're human, and "like New Yorkers. If: it wasn't for summer excursions and Coney Island, there'd be a new set of statesmen in' the'yellow building opposite the bridge with every election;" Brabson winced. He was a New Yorker himself. Moreover, he was assisting ill a game of loot that had Tammany beaten forty ways for audacity. Then he smiled. He womd let Kelly play out the game. It was the day after the soda-water monopoly was instituted that Samale entered the Governor's office and laid an inlaid box of mother-of-pearl upon { the desk. Brabson bowed and Samale i salaamed with* dignitv. He was about to walk out when Kelly stopped him. "Blamed if he wasn.'t going without a receipt!" chuckled Kelly fn an aside. I "A receipt for what?" asked Brabson | opening the box. i

It was half full of pearls. "I though* I .warned "you about the hank," replied Kelly'with, surprise. "I started one in your name. We've taken in ever nine thousand! in cash already, and a berry basket full of pearls. We've got'a- savings department and', a. safedeposit vault, and' if the monsoon gives us time enough we'll start a corner on •the copra crop." "I see —and yet I don't/'' replied Brabson, puzzled. "Suppose they draw out the"deposits?" "They won't. They've to give six six months' notice, and by that time the next pearl crop will be gathered, andi they'll forget about the deposits." Kelly stopped' and gazed queerly, afc his companion. ' Then he went on. "I never thought they'd fall for it," he continued. "They wouldn't. before you came. That's why I usetl you for a figurehead. It's funny. You don't understand the lingo—but you've' got 'em mesmerised. They're broke, awl yet they don't complain. I'm glad you came." Brabson nodded absently.

Was it possible that Kelly had 10 suspicion of the truth For of late Brabson had not been idle. He had had a palaver with the headmen for an hour the night before, and his .pleading alone had lulled the uneasiness _<.f Bungawan that all was not right with the Government. He had' persuaded Samale to let Kelly alone until the gunboat came. Then the gunboat would take care of Kelly, and he would .see that the loot was restored to? the people. Meanwhile, he would be working up a good case against the Governor. Anyhow, Kelly was right on 'one point. Bungawan went- "broke"—yet Bungawan was happy. . -To be sure, , Kelly helped by making the merry-go- ' round and the bamboo slide free institutions; and there was a Government pig feast twice every week until the monsoon turned and the pearl season began. This stopped the discontent. With' the changing of the monsoon came a change in Kelly. "You're not looking well," said Brabson wickedly one morning. "There's a 'reason,'" ■ r.epliedi Kelly - sourly, looking seaward. His tone altered, strangely. # "I've just heard' of a native in the jungle, who hasn't paidIns hut tax. I'm going after him." - Brabson gazed nonchalantly seaward. On the horizon ,was a tiny thread of black smoke, and nearer was a dab of dirty white against the .background of the sea. The gunboat was coming —and so was Dunga Dhu! _ j- ' "You'll come along,-of coursj;," continued Kelly. •'" : \I - "Of course," returned. Brabson," ding. : '-. . i . «••,"""' Kelly went for, his hat,-while Brab-' son tiptoed toward his desk. His;valise ■ was under it, and into", it he packed'the

I loot r of Bungawai;::., He grinned as ho ''locked'the valise-within the desk". Then Kelly stood, behind-him. '"'-'We'll be back Before sundown. - You needn't. lock the office/' said Kelly evenly. But Brabson" locked the door..

They were not back at sundown. At noon the next day they were still searching- for the native who had not paid his liut tax. By one o'clock they had' tramped through another mile of trackless jungle without result. Brabson was tired and hot. He knew that there was no hut in the jungle. He knew the game. Kelly wanted to lose him and then get off with the loot. So lie stuck close behind him. He would keep Kelly inland until the gunboat was safe over the reef! There was no trusting Dunga, Dhu. Suddenly Kelly laughed. "Are you tired?" he queried with a chuckle. ' •'Oh no," replied Brabson smoothly. "You are. And you're .twelve miles from anywhere—and lost Besides." responded Kelly. showing no heat. "That's why I brought you into the jungle—to. lose you!'' "Why?" observed Brabson. facing the crisis. "I've been finding outthings," explained Kelly, facing him. "You didn't want to go to Panalay—you wanted to come here. And you can speak Bungawanese. And you thought I was a crook. Well, I'm not!" he finished, looking Brabson in the eyes. "You're not?" responded Brabson mechanically.

"I'm not! Itn on the level. What I took from th e natives I intended to give back. They need hospitals and schools and a fund for a famine year. They're children —and they don't know a dollar from a stone. So I thought I'd help them." "I see'," said Brabson weakly. He really did for a moment. 'And then you came with your yarn of Panalay," continued' Kelly in a. scorching monotone. 'You looked like an honest man—they're scarce in the Philippines—and 1 trusted you. But I've found you out!" 'Well?" suggested Brabson.' He meant to explain and then apologise. "You're even crookeder than you thought I was," snapped Kelly. "You've lied from K the beginning. You're just a grafter. You thought you'd grab the- money and the pearls and make-a getaway with Dunga Dhu. But you're mistaken. There's a gunboat steaming over the reef, and you 11 stay to meet dt. I'M going with Dunga Dhu mvself. Good-by!"" Brabson stumbled after the Governor, but .the Governor had stepped' into a. tangle of palms and creepers and. hatL vanished. , Ifc took Brabson an age to find the foot track and three hours more to get back to the bungalow. He ran most of At W last he 'staggered through a yam patch for a short cut to the village. He was' nearer, so much nearer that he could see a white man. climbing aboard a lugger in the offing. A gunboat la 3 ; at anchor just beyond the fringe ot cocoanuts, but nobody on the gunboat seemed to be awake. • He knew the East. If the lugger got across the reef, there were 20 ways for Kelly io escape. And Dunga Dhu knew them all!

He knocked the punkah boy out of his way as he dashed, into the Governor s bungalow and into the Governor's office. The python was snugly asleep m the waste-paper basket, and there was a white cockatoo with a yellow topknot gibbering at' him from the window. It was a steel-blue moment in Brabson s life. The worst hadi happened. The Governor had unlocked the door and the desk and had stolen the valise. Every dollar and every pearl of Bungawan was bobbing in an offshore breeze under the dirty sail of Dunga Dhu! A footfall hit the steps of the verandah. . Brabson lighted a cigar and waited. He had; seen the man through the window.

"If it isn't Brabson! How's things on BimgawenP" He was unnerved for the moment or he would have told. Instead', he waited. Luckily. Smith was an old friend and a good talker. A gunboat captain can find a" lot' to talk about, especially when he has been hurried south through a typhoon in an armor-plated steamboat with a walking beam gone wrong. So Brabson listened wistfully and prepared himself for the ordeal. Smith had run short of water, and it was too late to catch Kelly. _

Smith laughed. ' - 'I met, a white man who was going aboard, a lugger two hours ago. He said he was your orderly and that you'd sent him over to Panalay for a movingpicture machine. It's,a risky trip just' now. But he" looked like a fool." "I'm not so sure of that," replied Brabson- "I'll tell you what he's done for ine." But Brabson never told. The punkah boy had entered—with the Dato. Samale was carrying a note and'a valise, and he was headed for Smith.' - But Brabson i grabbed <. Samale and shoved him .outside the door. "It's from my—my orderly," he explained unsteadily. "Excuse me if I read the letter." "Sure thing. You'll find m e on the verandah when you finish," said Smith, going out without even a glance at the valise. And Brabson read the letter: . Captain of TJ.S. Gunboat. Dear Sir, —You will find the treasury of Bungawen in this.valise. A crook was after it. Be sure you get him His name is Brabson.. He's the only white on the island, hut he. has a black soul.You will find particulars inside and all accounts correct. I would have waited, hut I have tried some experiments in governing .the island which may not meet with vour approval.—Officially yours, Kelfv. Brabson placed the note upon 'the charcoal burner and watched' it burn. Then he unlocked!. the valise -He, knew_ what he would find inside, and his surmise was correct. The loot had not been touched.

. Then h e strolled outside with a new interest in the world.

The ciiap who went away in the lug-ger-looked a-bit like Kelly, who was Governor, here," said Smith, accepting a "He was an, honest man and a crank, so they exiled him here. By the way, what happened to him?" . He resigned," replied; Brabson carelessly. H e governed well enough, but lie was too fond of innovations. To give liim credit, I'm not sure but what most or them worked."