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Updated: May 18, 2025
"I can't," I answered. "I gave my word." "As you please," said he. Apparently the matter didn't interest him. He began to talk of the performances of my little two-year-old, Beachcomber; and after twenty minutes or so, he drifted away. "I envy you your enthusiasm," he said, pausing in my doorway. "Wherever I am, I wish I were somewhere else. Whatever I'm doing, I wish I were doing something else.
And so it has come to pass, that the example of the uninfluential Beachcomber, in the establishment of an informal and unofficial refuge for birds, has been warranted and confirmed by the laws of the country. A proclamation in those terms, those good set terms, which time and custom approve, forbids shooting on this and two neighbouring groups of islands.
I saw East street through the colorful eyes of youth the eyes of Romance. I stepped along with my chest out and my chin up-tilted. A few paces behind me a beachcomber wobbled along with my sea-bag on his shoulder for what A.B. would demean himself with such labor on pay-day, when moochers abounded at his heel! I was looking for a boarding-house. But it was not the Sailors' Home.
Any oyster may contain a pearl, a pearl of great price a thing of beauty, a joy for ever. Every gold-lip, every black-lip oyster, is a chance in a lottery. Was there ever a Beachcomber so pure and elevated of soul as to refuse the chances that Nature proffers gratuitously? My meagre horde includes pearls of several tints, black, pink, and white.
A South Sea island girl, and this was her first adventure into civilization. Here was the corner-stone of a capital story; but he knew that Howard Spurlock would never write it. Other phrases returned now, like echoes. The beachcomber, the lowest in the human scale; and some day he would enter into this estate. Between him and the beach stood the sum of six hundred dollars.
It lies coiled and folded among the stones and coral of the reef, or partially hidden by brown seaweed, which heightens its momentary effect upon the nerves of the barefooted Beachcomber. Its length is from 4 to 5 feet, girth about 3 inches, colour reddish brown, with darker bands and blotches. The deception is in appearance only.
I knew my island, and was on terms of friendly admiration born of knowledge of beauty spots with all the others. I had become a citizen of the universe. During this period of utter abandonment of all serious claims upon time and exertion came the conviction that the career of the Beachcomber, the closest possible "return to Nature" now popularly advocated, has charms none other possesses.
The next tub was served the same, and then after the other tubs had had a final stir the beachcomber cried abruptly: "On board. That's enough for to-day. I'm dying for a drink." "Oh," muttered Carey to himself, "I wish I could stop you drinking."
To my knowledge he has committed four atrocious murders, and, in addition to that, he is a drunken, foul-mouthed blackguard. He only comes to Apia occasionally when there is no British man-of-war about and paints the town red, for although he is merely a loafing beachcomber, he is liberally supplied with money by his chief, and possesses an extensive harem as well.
"I have thought over our position again this morning, and it seems to me that the best thing to do, if we are allowed, is to go on quietly and submit, until a good opportunity occurs say of the blacks going ashore in their canoe." "And then seize the vessel again?" said Carey, eagerly. "And chuck Mr King Beachcomber overboard, sir," whispered Bostock.
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