按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
give a spice to the perpetual firing。 For the young warriors it
was a period of admirable enjoyment。 But the anxiety of Mataafa
must have been great and growing。 His force was now considerable。
It was scarce likely he should ever have more。 That he should be
long able to supply them with ammunition seemed incredible； at the
rates then or soon after current； hundreds of pounds sterling might
be easily blown into the air by the skirmishers in the course of a
few days。 And in the meanwhile； on the mountain opposite； his
outnumbered adversary held his ground unshaken。
By this time the partisanship of the whites was unconcealed。
Americans supplied Mataafa with ammunition； English and Americans
openly subscribed together and sent boat…loads of provisions to his
camp。 One such boat started from Apia on a day of rain； it was
pulled by six oars； three being paid by Moors； three by the
MacArthurs； Moors himself and a clerk of the MacArthurs' were in
charge； and the load included not only beef and biscuit； but three
or four thousand rounds of ammunition。 They came ashore in Laulii；
and carried the gift to Mataafa。 While they were yet in his house
a bullet passed overhead； and out of his door they could see the
Tamasese pickets on the opposite hill。 Thence they made their way
to the left flank of the Mataafa position next the sea。 A Tamasese
barricade was visible across the stream。 It rained； but the
warriors crowded in their shanties； squatted in the mud； and
maintained an excited conversation。 Balls flew； either faction；
both happy as lords； spotting for the other in chance shots； and
missing。 One point is characteristic of that war； experts in
native feeling doubt if it will characterise the next。 The two
white visitors passed without and between the lines to a rocky
point upon the beach。 The person of Moors was well known； the
purpose of their coming to Laulii must have been already bruited
abroad； yet they were not fired upon。 From the point they spied a
crow's nest； or hanging fortification； higher up； and； judging it
was a good position for a general view； obtained a guide。 He led
them up a steep side of the mountain； where they must climb by
roots and tufts of grass； and coming to an open hill…top with some
scattered trees； bade them wait； let him draw the fire； and then be
swift to follow。 Perhaps a dozen balls whistled about him ere he
had crossed the dangerous passage and dropped on the farther side
into the crow's…nest； the white men； briskly following； escaped
unhurt。 The crow's…nest was built like a bartizan on the
precipitous front of the position。 Across the ravine； perhaps at
five hundred yards； heads were to be seen popping up and down in a
fort of Tamesese's。 On both sides the same enthusiasm without
council； the same senseless vigilance； reigned。 Some took aim；
some blazed before them at a venture。 Now … when a head showed on
the other side … one would take a crack at it； remarking that it
would never do to 〃miss a chance。〃 Now they would all fire a
volley and bob down； a return volley rang across the ravine； and
was punctually answered： harmless as lawn…tennis。 The whites
expostulated in vain。 The warriors； drunken with noise； made
answer by a fresh general discharge and bade their visitors run
while it was time。 Upon their return to headquarters； men were
covering the front with sheets of coral limestone； two balls having
passed through the house in the interval。 Mataafa sat within； over
his kava bowl； unmoved。 The picture is of a piece throughout：
excellent courage； super…excellent folly； a war of school…children；
expensive guns and cartridges used like squibs or catherine…wheels
on Guy Fawkes's Day。
On the 20th Mataafa changed his attack。 Tamasese's front was
seemingly impregnable。 Something must be tried upon his rear。
There was his bread…basket； a small success in that direction would
immediately curtail his resources； and it might be possible with
energy to roll up his line along the beach and take the citadel in
reverse。 The scheme was carried out as might be expected from
these childish soldiers。 Mataafa； always uneasy about Apia； clung
with a portion of his force to Laulii； and thus； had the foe been
enterprising； exposed himself to disaster。 The expedition fell
successfully enough on Saluafata and drove out the Tamaseses with a
loss of four heads； but so far from improving the advantage；
yielded immediately to the weakness of the Samoan warrior； and
ranged farther east through unarmed populations； bursting with
shouts and blackened faces into villages terrified or admiring；
making spoil of pigs； burning houses； and destroying gardens。 The
Tamasese had at first evacuated several beach towns in succession；
and were still in retreat on Lotoanuu； finding themselves
unpursued； they reoccupied them one after another； and re…
established their lines to the very borders of Saluafata。 Night
fell； Mataafa had taken Saluafata； Tamasese had lost it； and that
was all。 But the day came near to have a different and very
singular issue。 The village was not long in the hands of the
Mataafas； when a schooner； flying German colours； put into the bay
and was immediately surrounded by their boats。 It chanced that
Brandeis was on board。 Word of it had gone abroad； and the boats
as they approached demanded him with threats。 The late premier；
alone； entirely unarmed； and a prey to natural and painful
feelings； concealed himself below。 The captain of the schooner
remained on deck； pointed to the German colours； and defied
approaching boats。 Again the prestige of a great Power triumphed；
the Samoans fell back before the bunting； the schooner worked out
of the bay； Brandeis escaped。 He himself apprehended the worst if
he fell into Samoan hands； it is my diffident impression that his
life would have been safe。
On the 22nd； a new German war…ship； the EBER； of tragic memory；
came to Apia from the Gilberts； where she had been disarming
turbulent islands。 The rest of that day and all night she loaded
stores from the firm； and on the morrow reached Saluafata bay。
Thanks to the misconduct of the Mataafas； the most of the foreshore
was still in the hands of the Tamaseses； and they were thus able to
receive from the EBER both the stores and weapons。 The weapons had
been sold long since to Tarawa； Apaiang； and Pleasant Island；
places unheard of by the general reader； where obscure inhabitants
paid for these instruments of death in money or in labour； misused
them as it was known they would be misused； and had been disarmed
by force。 The EBER had brought back the guns to a German counter；
whence many must have been originally sold； and was here engaged；
like a shopboy； in their distribution to fresh purchasers。 Such is
the vicious circle of the traffic in weapons of war。