From which vain speculations, Bassett turned idly to review all that had occurredsince that day on the beach of Ringmanu when he first heard the sound andplunged into the jungle after it. Sagawa had protested. He could see him yet, hisqueer little monkeyish face eloquent with fear, his back burdened with specimencases, in his hands Bassett's butterfly net and naturalist's shot-gun, as he quavered, in B???che-de-mer English: "Me fella too much fright along bush. Bad fella boy, toomuch stop'm along bush."Bassett smiled sadly ...
Read More
From which vain speculations, Bassett turned idly to review all that had occurredsince that day on the beach of Ringmanu when he first heard the sound andplunged into the jungle after it. Sagawa had protested. He could see him yet, hisqueer little monkeyish face eloquent with fear, his back burdened with specimencases, in his hands Bassett's butterfly net and naturalist's shot-gun, as he quavered, in B???che-de-mer English: "Me fella too much fright along bush. Bad fella boy, toomuch stop'm along bush."Bassett smiled sadly at the recollection. The little New Hanover boy had beenfrightened, but had proved faithful, following him without hesitancy into the bushin the quest after the source of the wonderful sound. No fire-hollowed tree-trunk, that, throbbing war through the jungle depths, had been Bassett's conclusion.Erroneous had been his next conclusion, namely, that the source or cause couldnot be more distant than an hour's walk, and that he would easily be back by midafternoon to be picked up by the Nari's whale-boat."That big fella noise no good, all the same devil-devil," Sagawa had adjudged. AndSagawa had been right. Had he not had his head hacked off within the day? Bassettshuddered. Without doubt Sagawa had been eaten as well by the "bad fella boys toomuch" that stopped along the bush. He could see him, as he had last seen him, stripped of the shot-gun and all the naturalist's gear of his master, lying on thenarrow trail where he had been decapitated barely the moment before. Yes, withina minute the thing had happened. Within a minute, looking back, Bassett had seenhim trudging patiently along under his burdens. Then Bassett's own trouble hadcome upon him. He looked at the cruelly healed stumps of the first and secondfingers of his left hand, then rubbed them softly into the indentation in the back ofhis skull. Quick as had been the flash of the long handled tomahawk, he had beenquick enough to duck away his head and partially to deflect the stroke with his upflung hand. Two fingers and a hasty scalp-wound had been the price he paid for hislife. With one barrel of his ten-gauge shot-gun he had blown the life out of thebushman who had so nearly got him; with the other barrel he had peppered thebushmen bending over Sagawa, and had the pleasure of knowing that the majorportion of the charge had gone into the one who leaped away with Sagawa's head.Everything had occurred in a flash. Only himself, the slain bushman, and whatremained of Sagawa, were in the narrow, wild-pig run of a path. From the darkjungle on either side came no rustle of movement or sound of life. And he had 5suffered distinct and dreadful shock. For the first time in his life he had killed ahuman being, and he knew nausea as he contemplated the mess of his handiwork.Then had begun the chase. He retreated up the pig-run before his hunters, whowere between him and the beach. How many there were, he could not guess. Theremight have been one, or a hundred, for aught he saw of them. That some of themtook to the trees and travelled along through the jungle roof he was certain; but atthe most he never glimpsed more than an occasional flitting of shadows. No bowstrings twanged that he could hear; but every little while, whence discharged heknew not, tiny arrows whispered past him or struck tree-boles and fluttered to theground beside him. They were bone-tipped and feather shafted, and the feathers, torn from the breasts of humming-birds, iridesced like jewels.
Read Less
Add this copy of The Red One to cart. $4.12, new condition, Sold by Ria Christie Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Uxbridge, MIDDLESEX, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2021 by Mint Editions.
Add this copy of The Red One to cart. $4.22, new condition, Sold by Ria Christie Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Uxbridge, MIDDLESEX, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2021 by Mint Editions.
Add this copy of The Red One to cart. $7.92, new condition, Sold by Ria Christie Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Uxbridge, MIDDLESEX, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2007 by 1st World Library - Literary Society.
Add this copy of The Red One to cart. $11.46, new condition, Sold by Books2anywhere rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Fairford, GLOUCESTERSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2007 by 1st World Library.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
PLEASE NOTE, WE DO NOT SHIP TO DENMARK. New Book. Shipped from UK in 4 to 14 days. Established seller since 2000. Please note we cannot offer an expedited shipping service from the UK.
Add this copy of The Red One to cart. $15.05, new condition, Sold by Ria Christie Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Uxbridge, MIDDLESEX, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2022 by Legare Street Press.
Add this copy of The Red One to cart. $16.19, new condition, Sold by Books2anywhere rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Fairford, GLOUCESTERSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2019 by Read & Co. Books.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
PLEASE NOTE, WE DO NOT SHIP TO DENMARK. New Book. Shipped from UK in 4 to 14 days. Established seller since 2000. Please note we cannot offer an expedited shipping service from the UK.
Add this copy of The Red One to cart. $16.76, new condition, Sold by Books2anywhere rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Fairford, GLOUCESTERSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2013 by Hardpress Publishing.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
PLEASE NOTE, WE DO NOT SHIP TO DENMARK. New Book. Shipped from UK in 4 to 14 days. Established seller since 2000. Please note we cannot offer an expedited shipping service from the UK.
Add this copy of The Red One to cart. $18.23, new condition, Sold by Books2anywhere rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Fairford, GLOUCESTERSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2022 by LEGARE STREET PR.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
PLEASE NOTE, WE DO NOT SHIP TO DENMARK. New Book. Shipped from UK in 4 to 14 days. Established seller since 2000. Please note we cannot offer an expedited shipping service from the UK.
Add this copy of The Red One to cart. $18.84, new condition, Sold by Ria Christie Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Uxbridge, MIDDLESEX, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2007 by 1st World Library - Literary Society.
Add this copy of The Red One Tredition Classics to cart. $20.70, new condition, Sold by Books2anywhere rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Fairford, GLOUCESTERSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2013 by Tredition Classics.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
PLEASE NOTE, WE DO NOT SHIP TO DENMARK. New Book. Shipped from UK in 4 to 14 days. Established seller since 2000. Please note we cannot offer an expedited shipping service from the UK.
