The king had broken his promise,he had defied the deputation;the tapu was still dormant,THE LAND WE LIVE IN still selling drink,and that quarter of the town disturbed and menaced by perpetual broils.But there was worse ahead:a feast was now preparing for the birthday of the little princess;and the tributary chiefs of Kuma and Little Makin were expected daily.Strong in a following of numerous and somewhat savage clansmen,each of these was believed,like a Douglas of old,to be of doubtful loyalty.Kuma (a little pot-bellied fellow)never visited the palace,never entered the town,but sat on the beach on a mat,his gun across his knees,parading his mistrust and scorn;Karaiti of Makin,although he was more bold,was not supposed to be more friendly;and not only were these vassals jealous of the throne,but the followers on either side shared in the animosity.Brawls had already taken place;blows had passed which might at any moment be repaid in blood.Some of the strangers were already here and already drinking;if the debauch continued after the bulk of them had come,a collision,perhaps a revolution,was to be expected.
The sale of drink is in this group a measure of the jealousy of traders;one begins,the others are constrained to follow;and to him who has the most gin,and sells it the most recklessly,the lion's share of copra is assured.It is felt by all to be an extreme expedient,neither safe,decent,nor dignified.A trader on Tarawa,heated by an eager rivalry,brought many cases of gin.
He told me he sat afterwards day and night in his house till it was finished,not daring to arrest the sale,not venturing to go forth,the bush all round him filled with howling drunkards.At night,above all,when he was afraid to sleep,and heard shots and voices about him in the darkness,his remorse was black.
'My God!'he reflected,'if I was to lose my life on such a wretched business!'Often and often,in the story of the Gilberts,this scene has been repeated;and the remorseful trader sat beside his lamp,longing for the day,listening with agony for the sound of murder,registering resolutions for the future.For the business is easy to begin,but hazardous to stop.The natives are in their way a just and law-abiding people,mindful of their debts,docile to the voice of their own institutions;when the tapu is re-enforced they will cease drinking;but the white who seeks to antedate the movement by refusing liquor does so at his peril.
Hence,in some degree,the anxiety and helplessness of Mr.Rick.
He and Tom,alarmed by the rabblement of the SANS SOUCI,had stopped the sale;they had done so without danger,because THE LANDWE LIVE IN still continued selling;it was claimed,besides,that they had been the first to begin.What step could be taken?Could Mr.Rick visit Mr.Muller (with whom he was not on terms)and address him thus:'I was getting ahead of you,now you are getting ahead of me,and I ask you to forego your profit.I got my place closed in safety,thanks to your continuing;but now I think you have continued long enough.I begin to be alarmed;and because Iam afraid I ask you to confront a certain danger'?It was not to be thought of.Something else had to be found;and there was one person at one end of the town who was at least not interested in copra.There was little else to be said in favour of myself as an ambassador.I had arrived in the Wightman schooner,I was living in the Wightman compound,I was the daily associate of the Wightman coterie.It was egregious enough that I should now intrude unasked in the private affairs of Crawford's agent,and press upon him the sacrifice of his interests and the venture of his life.But bad as I might be,there was none better;since the affair of the stone Iwas,besides,sharp-set to be doing,the idea of a delicate interview attracted me,and I thought it policy to show myself abroad.
The night was very dark.There was service in the church,and the building glimmered through all its crevices like a dim Kirk Allowa'.I saw few other lights,but was indistinctly aware of many people stirring in the darkness,and a hum and sputter of low talk that sounded stealthy.I believe (in the old phrase)my beard was sometimes on my shoulder as I went.Muller's was but partly lighted,and quite silent,and the gate was fastened.I could by no means manage to undo the latch.No wonder,since I found it afterwards to be four or five feet long -a fortification in itself.As I still fumbled,a dog came on the inside and sniffed suspiciously at my hands,so that I was reduced to calling 'House ahoy!'Mr.Muller came down and put his chin across the paling in the dark.'Who is that?'said he,like one who has no mind to welcome strangers.
'My name is Stevenson,'said I.
'O,Mr.Stevens!I didn't know you.Come inside.'We stepped into the dark store,when I leaned upon the counter and he against the wall.All the light came from the sleeping-room,where I saw his family being put to bed;it struck full in my face,but Mr.
Muller stood in shadow.No doubt he expected what was Coming,and sought the advantage of position;but for a man who wished to persuade and had nothing to conceal,mine was the preferable.
'Look here,'I began,'I hear you are selling to the natives.'
'Others have done that before me,'he returned pointedly.
'No doubt,'said I,'and I have nothing to do with the past,but the future.I want you to promise you will handle these spirits carefully.'
'Now what is your motive in this?'he asked,and then,with a sneer,'Are you afraid of your life?'
'That is nothing to the purpose,'I replied.'I know,and you know,these spirits ought not to be used at all.'
'Tom and Mr.Rick have sold them before.'
'I have nothing to do with Tom and Mr.Rick.All I know is I have heard them both refuse.'
'No,I suppose you have nothing to do with them.Then you are just afraid of your life.'