Page:Papers of William Shakespeare Hall, 1861–1895.pdf/157

 about 20, I think, and of a kindly disposition decided to land on an island off shore, I think, from the mouth of the Fortescue, to get turtle for fresh meat for the natives. He sharpened a tomahawk for butchering the turtle; took a dinghy crew of natives on to the island, where they turned over a number of turtle, and all hands then turned in for the night, intending to return to the Venus in the morning. Unfortunately Joe Murray, Uncle Sam's boy was of the party; to compass his death they first buried the tomahawk in Uncle Sam's skull, and then killed Joe Murray. Next morning the natives returned to the Venus and told the white man in charge that the dinghy had swamped coming off from the island, and uncle had lost his life. The man or men in charge weighed anchor and sailed in near the mainland to get a report to Roebourne, by some of the other pearling craft, or else in their course en route for Cossack. Anyhow upon the first opportunity after nearing the land the natives ran away. A few days later other pearlers landing on the same island for turtle, found uncle's body, in his blanket, buried in a shallow grave, and the murder was out.

Charlie was the ringleaader in the murder and over him Dad, I fancy, came into collision with the then Governor, because Dad, who soon after this also went pearling, pursued Charlie upon every available opportunity, the authorities having failed to apprehend him. After some