CONTENTS

TheHouseofMapuhiTheWhaleToothMauki"Yah！Yah！Yah！"

TheHeathenTheTerribleSolomonsTheInevitableWhiteManTheSeedofMcCoyTHEHOUSEOFMAPUHI

Despitetheheavyclumsinessofherlines，theAoraihandledeasilyinthelightbreeze，andhercaptainranherwellinbeforehehovetojustoutsidethesuckofthesurf。TheatollofHikuerulaylowonthewater，acircleofpoundedcoralsandahundredyardswide，twentymilesincircumference，andfromthreetofivefeetabovehigh—watermark。Onthebottomofthehugeandglassylagoonwasmuchpearlshell，andfromthedeckoftheschooner，acrosstheslenderringoftheatoll，thediverscouldbeseenatwork。Butthelagoonhadnoentranceforevenatradingschooner。Withafavoringbreezecutterscouldwininthroughthetortuousandshallowchannel，buttheschoonerslayoffandonoutsideandsentintheirsmallboats。

TheAoraiswungoutaboatsmartly，intowhichspranghalfadozenbrown—skinnedsailorscladonlyinscarletloincloths。Theytooktheoars，whileinthesternsheets，atthesteeringsweep，stoodayoungmangarbedinthetropicwhitethatmarkstheEuropean。ThegoldenstrainofPolynesiabetrayeditselfinthesun—giltofhisfairskinandcastupgoldensheensandlightsthroughtheglimmeringblueofhiseyes。Raoulhewas，AlexandreRaoul，youngestsonofMarieRaoul，thewealthyquarter—caste，whoownedandmanagedhalfadozentradingschoonerssimilartotheAorai。Acrossaneddyjustoutsidetheentrance，andinandthroughandoveraboilingtide—rip，theboatfoughtitswaytothemirroredcalmofthelagoon。YoungRaoulleapedoutuponthewhitesandandshookhandswithatallnative。Theman’schestandshouldersweremagnificent，butthestumpofarightarm，beyondthefleshofwhichtheage—whitenedboneprojectedseveralinches，attestedtheencounterwithasharkthathadputanendtohisdivingdaysandmadehimafawnerandanintriguerforsmallfavors。

"Haveyouheard，Alec？"werehisfirstwords。"Mapuhihasfoundapearl——suchapearl。NeverwasthereonelikeiteverfishedupinHikueru，norinallthePaumotus，norinalltheworld。Buyitfromhim。Hehasitnow。AndrememberthatItoldyoufirst。Heisafoolandyoucangetitcheap。Haveyouanytobacco？"

StraightupthebeachtoashackunderapandanustreeRaoulheaded。Hewashismother’ssupercargo，andhisbusinesswastocomballthePaumotusforthewealthofcopra，shell，andpearlsthattheyyieldedup。

Hewasayoungsupercargo，itwashissecondvoyageinsuchcapacity，andhesufferedmuchsecretworryfromhislackofexperienceinpricingpearls。ButwhenMapuhiexposedthepearltohissighthemanagedtosuppressthestartleitgavehim，andtomaintainacareless，commercialexpressiononhisface。

Forthepearlhadstruckhimablow。Itwaslargeasapigeonegg，aperfectsphere，ofawhitenessthatreflectedopalescentlightsfromallcolorsaboutit。Itwasalive。Neverhadheseenanythinglikeit。WhenMapuhidroppeditintohishandhewassurprisedbytheweightofit。Thatshowedthatitwasagoodpearl。Heexamineditclosely，throughapocketmagnifyingglass。Itwaswithoutflaworblemish。Thepurityofitseemedalmosttomeltintotheatmosphereoutofhishand。Intheshadeitwassoftlyluminous，gleaminglikeatendermoon。Sotranslucentlywhitewasit，thatwhenhedroppeditintoaglassofwaterhehaddifficultyinfindingit。Sostraightandswiftlyhaditsunktothebottomthatheknewitsweightwasexcellent。

"Well，whatdoyouwantforit？"heasked，withafineassumptionofnonchalance。

"Iwant——"Mapuhibegan，andbehindhim，framinghisowndarkface，thedarkfacesoftwowomenandagirlnoddedconcurrenceinwhathewanted。Theirheadswerebentforward，theywereanimatedbyasuppressedeagerness，theireyesflashedavariciously。

"Iwantahouse，"Mapuhiwenton。"Itmusthavearoofofgalvanizedironandanoctagon—drop—clock。Itmustbesixfathomslongwithaporchallaround。A

bigroommustbeinthecentre，witharoundtableinthemiddleofitandtheoctagon—drop—clockonthewall。Theremustbefourbedrooms，twooneachsideofthebigroom，andineachbedroommustbeanironbed，twochairs，andawashstand。Andbackofthehousemustbeakitchen，agoodkitchen，withpotsandpansandastove。Andyoumustbuildthehouseonmyisland，whichisFakarava。"

"Isthatall？"Raoulaskedincredulously。

"Theremustbeasewingmachine，"spokeupTefara，Mapuhi’swife。

"Notforgettingtheoctagon—drop—clock，"addedNauri，Mapuhi’smother。

"Yes，thatisall，"saidMapuhi。

YoungRaoullaughed。Helaughedlongandheartily。Butwhilehelaughedhesecretlyperformedproblemsinmentalarithmetic。Hehadneverbuiltahouseinhislife，andhisnotionsconcerninghousebuildingwerehazy。Whilehelaughed，hecalculatedthecostofthevoyagetoTahitiformaterials，ofthematerialsthemselves，ofthevoyagebackagaintoFakarava，andthecostoflandingthematerialsandofbuildingthehouse。ItwouldcometofourthousandFrenchdollars，allowingamarginforsafety——fourthousandFrenchdollarswereequivalenttotwentythousadfrancs。Itwasimpossible。Howwashetoknowthevalueofsuchapearl？Twentythousandfrancswasalotofmoney——andofhismother’smoneyatthat。

"Mapuhi，"hesaid，"youareabigfool。Setamoneyprice。"

ButMapuhishookhishead，andthethreeheadsbehindhimshookwithhis。

"Iwantthehouse，"hesaid。"Itmustbesixfathomslongwithaporchallaround——"

"Yes，yes，"Raoulinterrupted。"Iknowallaboutyourhouse，butitwon’tdo。

I’llgiveyouathousandChilidollars。"

Thefourheadschorusedasilentnegative。

"AndahundredChilidollarsintrade。"

"Iwantthehouse，"Mapuhibegan。

"Whatgoodwillthehousedoyou？"Raouldemanded。"Thefirsthurricanethatcomesalongwillwashitaway。Yououghttoknow。

CaptainRaffysaysitlookslikeahurricanerightnow。"

"NotonFakarava，"saidMapuhi。"Thelandismuchhigherthere。Onthisisland，yes。AnyhurricanecansweepHikueru。IwillhavethehouseonFakarava。Itmustbesixfathomslongwithaporchallaround——"

AndRaoullistenedagaintothetaleofthehouse。SeveralhourshespentintheendeavortohammerthehouseobsessionoutofMapuhi’smind;butMapuhi’smotherandwife，andNgakura，Mapuhi’sdaughter，bolsteredhiminhisresolveforthehouse。Throughtheopendoorway，whilehelistenedforthetwentiethtimetothedetaileddescriptionofthehousethatwaswanted，Raoulsawhisschooner’ssecondboatdrawuponthebeach。Thesailorsrestedontheoars，advertisinghastetobegone。ThefirstmateoftheAoraisprangashore，exchangedawordwiththeone—armednative，thenhurriedtowardRaoul。Thedaygrewsuddenlydark，asasquallobscuredthefaceofthesun。AcrossthelagoonRaoulcouldseeapproachingtheominouslineofthepuffofwind。

"CaptainRaffysaysyou’vegottogettohelloutahere，"wasthemate’sgreeting。"Ifthere’sanyshell，we’vegottoruntheriskofpickingituplateron——sohesays。Thebarometer’sdroppedtotwenty—nine—seventy。"

Thegustofwindstruckthepandanustreeoverheadandtorethroughthepalmsbeyond，flinginghalfadozenripecocoanutswithheavythudstotheground。

Thencametherainoutofthedistance，advancingwiththeroarofagaleofwindandcausingthewaterofthelagoontosmokeindrivenwindrows。ThesharprattleofthefirstdropswasontheleaveswhenRaoulsprangtohisfeet。

"AthousandChilidollars，cashdown，Mapuhi，"hesaid。"AndtwohundredChilidollarsintrade。"

"Iwantahouse——"theotherbegan。

"Mapuhi！"Raoulyelled，inordertomakehimselfheard。"Youareafool！"

Heflungoutofthehouse，and，sidebysidewiththemate，foughthiswaydownthebeachtowardtheboat。Theycouldnotseetheboat。Thetropicrainsheetedaboutthemsothattheycouldseeonlythebeachundertheirfeetandthespitefullittlewavesfromthelagoonthatsnappedandbitatthesand。A

figureappearedthroughthedeluge。ItwasHuru—Huru，themanwiththeonearm。

"Didyougetthepearl？"heyelledinRaoul’sear。

"Mapuhiisafool！"wastheansweringyell，andthenextmomenttheywerelosttoeachotherinthedescendingwater。

Halfanhourlater，Huru—Huru，watchingfromtheseawardsideoftheatoll，sawthetwoboatshoistedinandtheAoraipointinghernoseouttosea。Andnearher，justcomeinfromtheseaonthewingsofthesquall，hesawanotherschoonerhovetoanddroppingaboatintothewater。Heknewher。ItwastheOROHENA，ownedbyToriki，thehalf—castetrader，whoservedashisownsupercargoandwhodoubtlesslywaseventheninthesternsheetsoftheboat。

Huru—Huruchuckled。HeknewthatMapuhiowedTorikifortradegoodsadvancedtheyearbefore。

Thesquallhadpassed。Thehotsunwasblazingdown，andthelagoonwasoncemoreamirror。Buttheairwasstickylikemucilage，andtheweightofitseemedtoburdenthelungsandmakebreathingdifficult。

"Haveyouheardthenews，Toriki？"Huru—Huruasked。"Mapuhihasfoundapearl。

NeverwasthereapearllikeiteverfishedupinHikueru，noranywhereinthePaumotus，noranywhereinalltheworld。Mapuhiisafool。Besides，heowesyoumoney。RememberthatItoldyoufirst。Haveyouanytobacco？"

AndtothegrassshackofMapuhiwentToriki。Hewasamasterfulman，withalafairlystupidone。Carelesslyheglancedatthewonderfulpearl——glancedforamomentonly;andcarelesslyhedroppeditintohispocket。

"Youarelucky，"hesaid。"Itisanicepearl。Iwillgiveyoucreditonthebooks。"

"Iwantahouse，"Mapuhibegan，inconsternation。"Itmustbesixfathoms——"

"Sixfathomsyourgrandmother！"wasthetrader’sretort。"Youwanttopayupyourdebts，that’swhatyouwant。YouowedmetwelvehundreddollarsChili。

Verywell;youowethemnolonger。Theamountissquared。Besides，IwillgiveyoucreditfortwohundredChili。If，whenIgettoTahiti，thepearlsellswell，Iwillgiveyoucreditforanotherhundred——thatwillmakethreehundred。Butmind，onlyifthepearlsellswell。Imayevenlosemoneyonit。"

Mapuhifoldedhisarmsinsorrowandsatwithbowedhead。Hehadbeenrobbedofhispearl。Inplaceofthehouse，hehadpaidadebt。Therewasnothingtoshowforthepearl。

"Youareafool，"saidTefara。

"Youareafool，"saidNauri，hismother。"Whydidyouletthepearlintohishand？"

"WhatwasItodo？"Mapuhiprotested。"Iowedhimthemoney。HeknewIhadthepearl。Youheardhimyourselfasktoseeit。Ihadnottoldhim。Heknew。

Somebodyelsetoldhim。AndIowedhimthemoney。"

"Mapuhiisafool，"mimickedNgakura。

Shewastwelveyearsoldanddidnotknowanybetter。Mapuhirelievedhisfeelingsbysendingherreelingfromaboxontheear;whileTefaraandNauriburstintotearsandcontinuedtoupbraidhimafterthemannerofwomen。

Huru—Huru，watchingonthebeach，sawathirdschoonerthatheknewheavetooutsidetheentranceanddropaboat。ItwastheHira，wellnamed，forshewasownedbyLevy，theGermanJew，thegreatestpearlbuyerofthemall，and，aswaswellknown，HirawastheTahitiangodoffishermenandthieves。

"Haveyouheardthenews？"Huru—Huruasked，asLevy，afatmanwithmassiveasymmetricalfeatures，steppedoutuponthebeach。"Mapuhihasfoundapearl。

TherewasneverapearllikeitinHikueru，inallthePaumotus，inalltheworld。Mapuhiisafool。HehassoldittoTorikiforfourteenhundredChili——Ilistenedoutsideandheard。Torikiislikewiseafool。Youcanbuyitfromhimcheap。RememberthatItoldyoufirst。Haveyouanytobacco？"

"WhereisToriki？"

"InthehouseofCaptainLynch，drinkingabsinthe。Hehasbeenthereanhour。"

AndwhileLevyandTorikidrankabsintheandchafferedoverthepearl，Huru—Hurulistenedandheardthestupendouspriceoftwenty—fivethousandfrancsagreedupon。

ItwasatthistimethatboththeOROHENAandtheHira，runninginclosetotheshore，beganfiringgunsandsignallingfrantically。Thethreemensteppedoutsideintimetoseethetwoschoonersgohastilyaboutandheadoffshore，droppingmainsailsandflyingjibsontherunintheteethofthesquallthatheeledthemfaroveronthewhitenedwater。Thentherainblottedthemout。

"They’llbebackafterit’sover，"saidToriki。"We’dbetterbegettingoutofhere。"

"Ireckontheglasshasfallensomemore，"saidCaptainLynch。

Hewasawhite—beardedsea—captain，toooldforservice，whohadlearnedthattheonlywaytoliveoncomfortabletermswithhisasthmawasonHikueru。Hewentinsidetolookatthebarometer。

"GreatGod！"theyheardhimexclaim，andrushedintojoinhimatstaringatadial，whichmarkedtwenty—nine—twenty。

Againtheycameout，thistimeanxiouslytoconsultseaandsky。Thesquallhadclearedaway，buttheskyremainedovercast。Thetwoschooners，underallsailandjoinedbyathird，couldbeseenmakingback。Aveerinthewindinducedthemtoslackoffsheets，andfiveminutesafterwardasuddenveerfromtheoppositequartercaughtallthreeschoonersaback，andthoseonshorecouldseetheboom—tacklesbeingslackedawayorcastoffonthejump。Thesoundofthesurfwasloud，hollow，andmenacing，andaheavyswellwassettingin。Aterriblesheetoflightningburstbeforetheireyes，illuminatingthedarkday，andthethunderrolledwildlyaboutthem。

TorikiandLevybrokeintoarunfortheirboats，thelatteramblingalonglikeapanic—strickenhippopotamus。Astheirtwoboatssweptouttheentrance，theypassedtheboatoftheAoraicomingin。Inthesternsheets，encouragingtherowers，wasRaoul。Unabletoshakethevisionofthepearlfromhismind，hewasreturningtoacceptMapuhi’spriceofahouse。

HelandedonthebeachinthemidstofadrivingthundersquallthatwassodensethathecollidedwithHuru—Hurubeforehesawhim。

"Toolate，"yelledHuru—Huru。"MapuhisoldittoTorikiforfourteenhundredChili，andTorikisoldittoLevyfortwenty—fivethousandfrancs。AndLevywillsellitinFranceforahundredthousandfrancs。Haveyouanytobacco？"

Raoulfeltrelieved。Histroublesaboutthepearlwereover。Heneednotworryanymore，evenifhehadnotgotthepearl。ButhedidnotbelieveHuru—Huru。

MapuhimightwellhavesolditforfourteenhundredChili，butthatLevy，whoknewpearls，shouldhavepaidtwenty—fivethousandfrancswastoowideastretch。RaouldecidedtointerviewCaptainLynchonthesubject，butwhenhearrivedatthatancientmariner’shouse，hefoundhimlookingwide—eyedatthebarometer。

"Whatdoyoureadit？"CaptainLynchaskedanxiously，rubbinghisspectablesandstaringagainattheinstrument。

"Twenty—nine—ten，"saidRaoul。"Ihaveneverseenitsolowbefore。"

"Ishouldsaynot！"snortedthecaptain。"Fiftyyearsboyandmanonalltheseas，andI’veneverseenitgodowntothat。Listen！"

Theystoodforamoment，whilethesurfrumbledandshookthehouse。Thentheywentoutside。Thesquallhadpassed。TheycouldseetheAorailyingbecalmedamileawayandpitchingandtossingmadlyinthetremendousseasthatrolledinstatelyprocessiondownoutofthenortheastandflungthemselvesfuriouslyuponthecoralshore。Oneofthesailorsfromtheboatpointedatthemouthofthepassageandshookhishead。Raoullookedandsawawhiteanarchyoffoamandsurge。

"IguessI’llstaywithyoutonight，Captain，"hesaid;thenturnedtothesailorandtoldhimtohaultheboatoutandtofindshelterforhimselfandfellows。

"Twenty—nineflat，"CaptainLynchreported，comingoutfromanotherlookatthebarometer，achairinhishand。

Hesatdownandstaredatthespectacleofthesea。Thesuncameout，increasingthesultrinessoftheday，whilethedeadcalmstillheld。Theseascontinuedtoincreaseinmagnitude。

"Whatmakesthatseaiswhatgetsme，"Raoulmutteredpetulantly。

"Thereisnowind，yetlookatit，lookatthatfellowthere！"

Milesinlength，carryingtensofthousandsoftonsinweight，itsimpactshookthefrailatolllikeanearthquake。CaptainLynchwasstartled。

"Gracious！"hebellowed，halfrisingfromhischair，thensinkingback。

"Butthereisnowind，"Raoulpersisted。"Icouldunderstanditiftherewaswindalongwithit。"

"You’llgetthewindsoonenoughwithoutworryin’forit，"wasthegrimreply。

Thetwomensatoninsilence。Thesweatstoodoutontheirskininmyriadsoftinydropsthatrantogether，formingblotchesofmoisture，which，inturn，coalescedintorivuletsthatdrippedtotheground。Theypantedforbreath，theoldman’seffortsbeingespeciallypainful。Aseasweptupthebeach，lickingaroundthetrunksofthecocoanutsandsubsidingalmostattheirfeet。

"Waypasthighwatermark，"CaptainLynchremarked;"andI’vebeenhereelevenyears。"Helookedathiswatch。"Itisthreeo’clock。"

Amanandwoman，attheirheelsamotleyfollowingofbratsandcurs，traileddisconsolatelyby。Theycametoahaltbeyondthehouse，and，aftermuchirresolution，satdowninthesand。Afewminuteslateranotherfamilytrailedinfromtheoppositedirection，themenandwomencarryingaheterogeneousassortmentofpossessions。Andsoonseveralhundredpersonsofallagesandsexeswerecongregatedaboutthecaptain’sdwelling。Hecalledtoonenewarrival，awomanwithanursingbabeinherarms，andinanswerreceivedtheinformationthatherhousehadjustbeensweptintothelagoon。

Thiswasthehighestspotoflandinmiles，andalready，inmanyplacesoneitherhand，thegreatseasweremakingacleanbreachoftheslenderringoftheatollandsurgingintothelagoon。Twentymilesaroundstretchedtheringoftheatoll，andinnoplacewasitmorethanfiftyfathomswide。Itwastheheightofthedivingseason，andfromalltheislandsaround，evenasfarasTahiti，thenativeshadgathered。

"Therearetwelvehundredmen，women，andchildrenhere，"saidCaptainLynch。

"Iwonderhowmanywillbeheretomorrowmorning。"

"Butwhydon’titblow？——that’swhatIwanttoknow，"Raouldemanded。

"Don’tworry，youngman，don’tworry;you’llgetyourtroublesfastenough。"

EvenasCaptainLynchspoke，agreatwaterymasssmotetheatoll。

Theseawaterchurnedaboutthemthreeinchesdeepunderthechairs。Alowwailoffearwentupfromthemanywomen。Thechildren，withclaspedhands，staredattheimmenserollersandcriedpiteously。Chickensandcats，wadingperturbedlyinthewater，asbycommonconsent，withflightandscrambletookrefugeontheroofofthecaptain’shouse。APaumotan，withalitterofnew—bornpuppiesinabasket，climbedintoacocoanuttreeandtwentyfeetabovethegroundmadethebasketfast。Themotherflounderedaboutinthewaterbeneath，whiningandyelping。

Andstillthesunshonebrightlyandthedeadcalmcontinued。TheysatandwatchedtheseasandtheinsanepitchingoftheAorai。CaptainLynchgazedatthehugemountainsofwatersweepinginuntilhecouldgazenomore。Hecoveredhisfacewithhishandstoshutoutthesight;thenwentintothehouse。

"Twenty—eight—sixty，"hesaidquietlywhenhereturned。

Inhisarmwasacoilofsmallrope。Hecutitintotwo—fathomlengths，givingonetoRaouland，retainingoneforhimself，distributedtheremainderamongthewomenwiththeadvicetopickoutatreeandclimb。

Alightairbegantoblowoutofthenortheast，andthefanofitonhischeekseemedtocheerRaoulup。HecouldseetheAoraitrimminghersheetsandheadingoffshore，andheregrettedthathewasnotonher。Shewouldgetawayatanyrate，butasfortheatoll——Aseabreachedacross，almostsweepinghimoffhisfeet，andheselectedatree。Thenherememberedthebarometerandranbacktothehouse。HeencounteredCaptainLynchonthesameerrandandtogethertheywentin。

"Twenty—eight—twenty，"saidtheoldmariner。"It’sgoingtobefairhellaroundhere——whatwasthat？"

Theairseemedfilledwiththerushofsomething。Thehousequiveredandvibrated，andtheyheardthethrummingofamightynoteofsound。Thewindowsrattled。Twopanescrashed;adraughtofwindtorein，strikingthemandmakingthemstagger。Thedooroppositebangedshut，shatteringthelatch。Thewhitedoorknobcrumbledinfragmentstothefloor。Theroom’swallsbulgedlikeagasballoonintheprocessofsuddeninflation。Thencameanewsoundliketherattleofmusketry，asthesprayfromaseastruckthewallofthehouse。CaptainLyncyhlookedathiswatch。Itwasfouro’clock。Heputonacoatofpilotcloth，unhookedthebarometer，andstoweditawayinacapaciouspocket。Againaseastruckthehouse，withaheavythud，andthelightbuildingtilted，twisted，quarteraroundonitsfoundation，andsankdown，itsflooratanangleoftendegrees。

Raoulwentoutfirst。Thewindcaughthimandwhirledhimaway。Henotedthatithadhauledaroundtotheeast。Withagreatefforthethrewhimselfonthesand，crouchingandholdinghisown。CaptainLynch，drivenlikeawispofstraw，sprawledoverhim。TwooftheAorai’Ssailors，leavingacocoanuttreetowhichtheyhadbeenclinging，cametotheiraid，leaningagainstthewindatimpossibleanglesandfightingandclawingeveryinchoftheway。

Theoldman’sjointswerestiffandhecouldnotclimb，sothesailors，bymeansofshortendsofropetiedtogether，hoistedhimupthetrunk，afewfeetatatime，tilltheycouldmakehimfast，atthetopofthetree，fiftyfeetfromtheground。Raoulpassedhislengthofropearoundthebaseofanadjacenttreeandstoodlookingon。Thewindwasfrightful。Hehadneverdreameditcouldblowsohard。Aseabreachedacrosstheatoll，wettinghimtothekneesereitsubsidedintothelagoon。Thesunhaddisappeared，andalead—coloredtwilightsettleddown。Afewdropsofrain，drivinghorizontally，struckhim。Theimpactwaslikethatofleadenpellets。Asplashofsaltspraystruckhisface。Itwasliketheslapofaman’shand。Hischeeksstung，andinvoluntarytearsofpainwereinhissmartingeyes。Severalhundrednativeshadtakentothetrees，andhecouldhavelaughedatthebunchesofhumanfruitclusteringinthetops。Then，beingTahitian—born，hedoubledhisbodyatthewaist，claspedthetrunkofhistreewithhishands，pressedthesolesofhisfeetagainstthenearsurfaceofthetrunk，andbegantowalkupthetree。Atthetophefoundtwowomen，twochildren，andaman。Onelittlegirlclaspedahousecatinherarms。

FromhiseyriehewavedhishandtoCaptainLynch，andthatdoughtypatriarchwavedback。Raoulwasappalledatthesky。Ithadapproachedmuchnearer——infact，itseemedjustoverhishead;andithadturnedfromleadtoblack。Manypeoplewerestillonthegroundgroupedaboutthebasesofthetreesandholdingon。Severalsuchclusterswerepraying，andinonetheMormonmissionarywasexhorting。Aweirdsound，rhythmical，faintasthefaintestchirpofafarcricket，enduringbutforamoment，butinthemomentsuggestingtohimvaguelythethoughtofheavenandcelestialmusic，cametohisear。Heglancedabouthimandsaw，atthebaseofanothertree，alargeclusterofpeopleholdingonbyropesandbyoneanother。Hecouldseetheirfacesworkingandtheirlipsmovinginunison。Nosoundcametohim，butheknewthattheyweresinginghymns。

Stillthewindcontinuedtoblowharder。Bynoconsciousprocesscouldhemeasureit，forithadlongsincepassedbeyondallhisexperienceofwind;

butheknewsomehow，nevertheless，thatitwasblowingharder。Notfarawayatreewasuprooted，flingingitsloadofhumanbeingstotheground。Aseawashedacrossthestripofsand，andtheyweregone。Thingswerehappeningquickly。Hesawabrownshoulderandablackheadsilhouettedagainstthechurningwhiteofthelagoon。Thenextinstantthat，too，hadvanished。Othertreesweregoing，fallingandcriss—crossinglikematches。Hewasamazedatthepowerofthewind。Hisowntreewasswayingperilously，onewomanwaswailingandclutchingthelittlegirl，whointurnstillhungontothecat。

Theman，holdingtheotherchild，touchedRaoul’sarmandpointed。HelookedandsawtheMormonchurchcareeringdrunkenlyahundredfeetaway。Ithadbeentornfromitsfoundations，andwindandseawereheavingandshovingittowardthelagoon。Afrightfulwallofwatercaughtit，tiltedit，andflungitagainsthalfadozencocoanuttrees。Thebunchesofhumanfruitfelllikeripecocoanuts。Thesubsidingwaveshowedthemontheground，somelyingmotionless，otherssquirmingandwrithing。Theyremindedhimstrangelyofants。Hewasnotshocked。Hehadrisenabovehorror。Quiteasamatterofcoursehenotedthesucceedingwavesweepthesandcleanofthehumanwreckage。Athirdwave，morecolossalthananyhehadyetseen，hurledthechurchintothelagoon，whereitfloatedoffintotheobscuritytoleeward，half—submerged，remindinghimforalltheworldofaNoah’sark。

HelookedforCaptainLynch’shouse，andwassurprisedtofinditgone。Thingscertainlywerehappeningquickly。Henoticedthatmanyofthepeopleinthetreesthatstillheldhaddescendedtotheground。Thewindhadyetagainincreased。Hisowntreeshowedthat。Itnolongerswayedorbentoverandback。Instead，itremainedpracticallystationary，curvedinarigidanglefromthewindandmerelyvibrating。Butthevibrationwassickening。Itwaslikethatofatuning—forkorthetongueofajew’s—harp。Itwastherapidityofthevibrationthatmadeitsobad。Eventhoughitsrootsheld，itcouldnotstandthestrainforlong。Somethingwouldhavetobreak。

Ah，therewasonethathadgone。Hehadnotseenitgo，butthereitstood，theremnant，brokenoffhalf—wayupthetrunk。Onedidnotknowwhathappenedunlesshesawit。Themerecrashingoftreesandwailsofhumandespairoccupiednoplaceinthatmightyvolumeofsound。HechancedtobelookinginCaptainLynch’sdirectionwhenithappened。Hesawthetrunkofthetree，half—wayup，splinterandpartwithoutnoise。Theheadofthetree，withthreesailorsoftheAoraiandtheoldcaptainsailedoffoverthelagoon。Itdidnotfalltotheground，butdrovethroughtheairlikeapieceofchaff。Forahundredyardshefolloweditsflight，whenitstruckthewater。Hestrainedhiseyes，andwassurethathesawCaptainLynchwavefarewell。

Raouldidnotwaitforanythingmore。Hetouchedthenativeandmadesignstodescendtotheground。Themanwaswilling，buthiswomenwereparalayzedfromterror，andheelectedtoremainwiththem。Raoulpassedhisropearoundthetreeandsliddown。Arushofsaltwaterwentoverhishead。Heheldhisbreathandclungdesperatelytotherope。Thewatersubsided，andintheshelterofthetrunkhebreathedoncemore。Hefastenedtheropemoresecurely，andthenwasputunderbyanothersea。Oneofthewomensliddownandjoinedhim，thenativeremainingbytheotherwoman，thetwochildren，andthecat。

Thesupercargohadnoticedhowthegroupsclingingatthebasesoftheothertreescontinuallydiminished。Nowhesawtheprocessworkoutalongsidehim。

Itrequiredallhisstrengthtoholdon，andthewomanwhohadjoinedhimwasgrowingweaker。Eachtimeheemergedfromaseahewassurprisedtofindhimselfstillthere，andnext，surprisedtofindthewomanstillthere。Atlastheemergedtofindhimselfalone。Helookedup。Thetopofthetreehadgoneaswell。Athalfitsoriginalheight，asplinteredendvibrated。Hewassafe。Therootsstillheld，whilethetreehadbeenshornofitswindage。Hebegantoclimbup。Hewassoweakthathewentslowly，andseaafterseacaughthimbeforehewasabovethem。Thenhetiedhimselftothetrunkandstiffenedhissoultofacethenightandheknewnotwhat。

Hefeltverylonelyinthedarkness。Attimesitseemedtohimthatitwastheendoftheworldandthathewasthelastoneleftalive。Stillthewindincreased。Hourafterhouritincreased。Bywhathecalculatedwaseleveno’clock，thewindhadbecomeunbelievable。Itwasahorrible，monstrousthing，ascreamingfury，awallthatsmoteandpassedonbutthatcontinuedtosmiteandpasson——awallwithoutend。Itseemedtohimthathehadbecomelightandethereal;thatitwashethatwasinmotion;thathewasbeingdrivenwithinconceivablevelocitythroughunendingsolidness。Thewindwasnolongerairinmotion。Ithadbecomesubstantialaswaterorquicksilver。Hehadafeelingthathecouldreachintoitandtearitoutinchunksasonemightdowiththemeatinthecarcassofasteer;thathecouldseizeholdofthewindandhangontoitasamanmighthangontothefaceofacliff。

Thewindstrangledhim。Hecouldnotfaceitandbreathe，foritrushedinthroughhismouthandnostrils，distendinghislungslikebladders。Atsuchmomentsitseemedtohimthathisbodywasbeingpackedandswollenwithsolidearth。Onlybypressinghislipstothetrunkofthetreecouldhebreathe。

Also，theceaselessimpactofthewindexhaustedhim。Bodyandbrainbecamewearied。Henolongerobserved，nolongerthought，andwasbutsemiconscious。

Oneideaconstitutedhisconsciousness：SOTHISWASAHURRICANE。Thatoneideapersistedirregularly。Itwaslikeafeebleflamethatflickeredoccasionally。

Fromastateofstuporhewouldreturntoit——SOTHISWASAHURRICANE。Thenhewouldgooffintoanotherstupor。

Theheightofthehurricaneenduredfromelevenatnighttillthreeinthemorning，anditwasateleventhatthetreeinwhichclungMapuhiandhiswomensnappedoff。Mapuhirosetothesurfaceofthelagoon，stillclutchinghisdaughterNgakura。OnlyaSouthSeaislandercouldhavelivedinsuchadrivingsmother。Thepandanustree，towhichheattachedhimself，turnedoverandoverinthefrothandchurn;anditwasonlybyholdingonattimesandwaiting，andatothertimesshiftinghisgripsrapidly，thathewasabletogethisheadandNgakura’stothesurfaceatintervalssufficientlyneartogethertokeepthebreathinthem。Buttheairwasmostlywater，whatwithflyingsprayandsheetedrainthatpouredalongatrightanglestotheperpendicular。

Itwastenmilesacrossthelagoontothefartherringofsand。Here，tossingtreetrunks，timbers，wrecksofcutters，andwreckageofhouses，killednineoutoftenofthemiserablebeingswhosurvivedthepassageofthelagoon。

Half—drowned，exhausted，theywerehurledintothismadmortaroftheelementsandbatteredintoformlessflesh。ButMapuhiwasfortunate。Hischancewastheoneinten;itfelltohimbythefreakageoffate。Heemergeduponthesand，bleedingfromascoreofwounds。

Ngakura’sleftarmwasbroken;thefingersofherrighthandwerecrushed;andcheekandforeheadwerelaidopentothebone。Heclutchedatreethatyetstood，andclungon，holdingthegirlandsobbingforair，whilethewatersofthelagoonwashedbyknee—highandattimeswaist—high。

Atthreeinthemorningthebackboneofthehurricanebroke。Byfivenomorethanastiffbreezewasblowing。Andbysixitwasdeadcalmandthesunwasshining。Theseahadgonedown。Ontheyetrestlessedgeofthelagoon，Mapuhisawthebrokenbodiesofthosethathadfailedinthelanding。UndoubtedlyTefaraandNauriwereamongthem。Hewentalongthebeachexaminingthem，andcameuponhiswife，lyinghalfinandhalfoutofthewater。Hesatdownandwept，makingharshanimalnoisesafterthemannerofprimitivegrief。Thenshestirreduneasily，andgroaned。Helookedmoreclosely。Notonlywasshealive，butshewasuninjured。Shewasmerelysleeping。Hersalsohadbeentheonechanceinten。

Ofthetwelvehundredalivethenightbeforebutthreehundredremained。Themormonmissionaryandagendarmemadethecensus。Thelagoonwasclutteredwithcorpses。Notahousenorahutwasstanding。Inthewholeatollnottwostonesremainedoneuponanother。Oneinfiftyofthecocoanutpalmsstillstood，andtheywerewrecks，whileonnotoneofthemremainedasinglenut。

Therewasnofreshwater。Theshallowwellsthatcaughtthesurfaceseepageoftherainwerefilledwithsalt。Outofthelagoonafewsoakedbagsofflourwererecovered。Thesurvivorscuttheheartsoutofthefallencocoanuttreesandatethem。Hereandtheretheycrawledintotinyhutches，madebyhollowingoutthesandandcoveringoverwithfragmentsofmetalroofing。Themissionarymadeacrudestill，buthecouldnotdistillwaterforthreehundredpersons。Bytheendofthesecondday，Raoul，takingabathinthelagoon，discoveredthathisthirstwassomewhatrelieved。Hecriedoutthenews，andthereuponthreehundredmen，women，andchildrencouldhavebeenseen，standinguptotheirnecksinthelagoonandtryingtodrinkwaterinthroughtheirskins。Theirdeadfloatedaboutthem，orweresteppeduponwheretheystilllayuponthebottom。Onthethirddaythepeopleburiedtheirdeadandsatdowntowaitfortherescuesteamers。

Inthemeantime，Nauri，tornfromherfamilybythehurricane，hadbeensweptawayonanadventureofherown。Clingingtoaroughplankthatwoundedandbruisedherandthatfilledherbodywithsplinters，shewasthrownclearovertheatollandcarriedawaytosea。Here，undertheamazingbuffetsofmountainsofwater，shelostherplank。Shewasanoldwomannearlysixty;butshewasPaumotan—born，andshehadneverbeenoutofsightoftheseainherlife。Swimminginthedarkness，strangling，suffocating，fightingforair，shewasstruckaheavyblowontheshoulderbyacocoanut。Ontheinstantherplanwasformed，andsheseizedthenut。Inthenexthourshecapturedsevenmore。

Tiedtogether，theyformedalife—buoythatpreservedherlifewhileatthesametimeitthreatenedtopoundhertoajelly。Shewasafatwoman，andshebruisedeasily;butshehadhadexperienceofhurricanes，andwhilesheprayedtohersharkgodforprotectionfromsharks，shewaitedforthewindtobreak。

Butatthreeo’clockshewasinsuchastuporthatshedidnotknow。Nordidsheknowatsixo’clockwhenthedeadcalmsettleddown。Shewasshockedintoconsciousnesswhenshewasthrownuponthesand。Sheduginwithrawandbleedinghandsandfeetandclawedagainstthebackwashuntilshewasbeyondthereachofthewaves。

Sheknewwhereshewas。ThislandcouldbenootherthanthetinyisletofTakokota。Ithadnolagoon。Nooneliveduponit。

Hikueruwasfifteenmilesaway。ShecouldnotseeHikueru，butsheknewthatitlaytothesouth。Thedayswentby，andshelivedonthecocoanutsthathadkeptherafloat。Theysuppliedherwithdrinkingwaterandwithfood。Butshedidnotdrinkallshewanted，noreatallshewanted。Rescuewasproblematical。Shesawthesmokeoftherescuesteamersonthehorizon，butwhatsteamercouldbeexpectedtocometolonely，uninhabitedTakokota？

Fromthefirstshewastormentedbycorpses。Theseapersistedinflingingthemuponherbitofsand，andshepersisted，untilherstrengthfailed，inthrustingthembackintotheseawherethesharkstoreatthemanddevouredthem。Whenherstrengthfailed，thebodiesfestoonedherbeachwithghastlyhorror，andshewithdrewfromthemasfarasshecould，whichwasnotfar。

Bythetenthdayherlastcocoanutwasgone，andshewasshrivellingfromthirst。Shedraggedherselfalongthesand，lookingforcocoanuts。Itwasstrangethatsomanybodiesfloatedup，andnonuts。Surely，thereweremorecocoanutsafloatthandeadmen！Shegaveupatlast，andlayexhausted。Theendhadcome。Nothingremainedbuttowaitfordeath。

Comingoutofastupor，shebecameslowlyawarethatshewasgazingatapatchofsandy—redhairontheheadofacorpse。Theseaflungthebodytowardher，thendrewitback。Itturnedover，andshesawthatithadnoface。Yettherewassomethingfamiliaraboutthatpatchofsandy—redhair。Anhourpassed。Shedidnotexertherselftomaketheidentification。Shewaswaitingtodie，anditmatteredlittletoherwhatmanthatthingofhorroroncemighthavebeen。

Butattheendofthehourshesatupslowlyandstaredatthecorpse。Anunusuallylargewavehadthrownitbeyondthereachofthelesserwaves。Yes，shewasright;thatpatchofredhaircouldbelongtobutonemaninthePaumotus。ItwasLevy，theGermanJew，themanwhohadboughtthepearlandcarrieditawayontheHira。Well，onethingwasevident：TheHirahadbeenlost。Thepearlbuyer’sgodoffishermenandthieveshadgonebackonhim。

Shecrawleddowntothedeadman。Hisshirthadbeentornaway，andshecouldseetheleathermoneybeltabouthiswaist。Sheheldherbreathandtuggedatthebuckles。Theygaveeasierthanshehadexpected，andshecrawledhurriedlyawayacrossthesand，draggingthebeltafterher。Pocketafterpocketsheunbuckledinthebeltandfoundempty。Wherecouldhehaveputit？Inthelastpocketofallshefoundit，thefirstandonlypearlhehadboughtonthevoyage。Shecrawledafewfeetfarther，toescapethepestilenceofthebelt，andexaminedthepearl。ItwastheoneMapuhihadfoundandbeenrobbedofbyToriki。Sheweigheditinherhandandrolleditbackandforthcaressingly。

Butinitshesawnointrinsicbeauty。WhatshedidseewasthehouseMapuhiandTefaraandshehadbuildedsocarefullyintheirminds。Eachtimeshelookedatthepearlshesawthehouseinallitsdetails，includingtheoctagon—drop—clockonthewall。Thatwassomethingtolivefor。

Shetoreastripfromherahuandtiedthepearlsecurelyaboutherneck。Thenshewentonalongthebeach，pantingandgroaning，butresolutelyseekingforcocoanuts。Quicklyshefoundone，and，assheglancedaround，asecond。Shebrokeone，drinkingitswater，whichwasmildewy，andeatingthelastparticleofthemeat。Alittlelatershefoundashattereddugout。Itsoutriggerwasgone，butshewashopeful，and，beforethedaywasout，shefoundtheoutrigger。Everyfindwasanaugury。Thepearlwasatalisman。Lateintheafternoonshesawawoodenboxfloatinglowinthewater。Whenshedraggeditoutonthebeachitscontentsrattled，andinsideshefoundtentinsofsalmon。Sheopenedonebyhammeringitonthecanoe。Whenaleakwasstarted，shedrainedthetin。Afterthatshespentseveralhoursinextractingthesalmon，hammeringandsqueezingitoutamorselatatime。

Eightdayslongershewaitedforrescue。Inthemeantimeshefastenedtheoutriggerbackonthecanoe，usingforlashingsallthecocoanutfibreshecouldfind，andalsowhatremainedofherahu。Thecanoewasbadlycracked，andshecouldnotmakeitwater—tight;butacalabashmadefromacocoanutshestoredonboardforabailer。Shewashardputforapaddle。Withapieceoftinshesawedoffallherhairclosetothescalp。Outofthehairshebraidedacord;andbymeansofthecordshelashedathree—footpieceofbroomhandletoaboardfromthesalmoncase。

Shegnawedwedgeswithherteethandwiththemwedgedthelashing。

Ontheeighteenthday，atmidnight，shelaunchedthecanoethroughthesurfandstartedbackforHikueru。Shewasanoldwoman。Hardshiphadstrippedherfatfromhertillscarcelymorethanbonesandskinandafewstringymusclesremained。Thecanoewaslargeandshouldhavebeenpaddledbythreestrongmen。

Butshediditalone，withamake—shiftpaddle。Also，thecanoeleakedbadly，andone—thirdofhertimewasdevotedtobailing。BycleardaylightshelookedvainlyforHikueru。Astern，Takokotahadsunkbeneaththesearim。Thesunblazeddownonhernakedness，compellingherbodytosurrenderitsmoisture。Twotinsofsalmonwereleft，andinthecourseofthedayshebatteredholesinthemanddrainedtheliquid。Shehadnotimetowasteinextractingthemeat。Acurrentwassettingtothewestward，shemadewestingwhethershemadesouthingornot。

Intheearyafternoon，standinguprightinthecanoe，shesightedHikueruItswealthofcocoanutpalmswasgone。Onlyhereandthere，atwideintervals，couldsheseetheraggedremnantsoftrees。Thesightcheeredher。Shewasnearerthanshehadthought。Thecurrentwassettinghertothewestward。Sheboreupagainstitandpaddledon。Thewedgesinthepaddlelashingworkedloose，andshelostmuchtime，atfrequentintervals，indrivingthemtight。

Thentherewasthebailing。Onehourinthreeshehadtoceasepaddlinginordertobail。Andallthetimeshedriftdtothewestward。

BysunsetHikueruboresoutheastfromher，threemilesaway。Therewasafullmoon，andbyeighto’clockthelandwasdueeastandtwomilesaway。Shestruggledonforanotherhour，butthelandwasasfarawayasever。Shewasinthemaingripofthecurrent;thecanoewastoolarge;thepaddlewastooinadequate;andtoomuchofhertimeandstrengthwaswastedinbailing。

Besides，shewasveryweakandgrowingweaker。Despiteherefforts，thecanoewasdriftingofftothewestward。

Shebreathedaprayertohersharkgod，slippedovertheside，andbegantoswim。Shewasactuallyrefreshedbythewater，andquicklyleftthecanoeastern。Attheendofanhourthelandwasperceptiblynearer。Thencameherfright。Rightbeforehereyes，nottwentyfeetaway，alargefincutthewater。Sheswamsteadilytowardit，andslowlyitglidedaway，curvingofftowardtherightandcirclingaroundher。Shekepthereyesonthefinandswamon。Whenthefindisappeared，shelayfacedownwardinthewaterandwatched。Whenthefinreappearedsheresumedherswimming。Themonsterwaslazy——shecouldseethat。Withoutdoubthehadbeenwellfedsincethehurricane。Hadhebeenveryhungry，sheknewhewouldnothavehesitatedfrommakingadashforher。Hewasfifteenfeetlong，andonebite，sheknew，couldcutherinhalf。

Butshedidnothaveanytimetowasteonhim。Whethersheswamornot，thecurrentdrewawayfromthelandjustthesame。Ahalfhourwentby，andthesharkbegantogrowbolder。Seeingnoharminherhedrewcloser，innarrowingcircles，cockinghiseyesatherimpudentlyasheslidpast。Soonerorlater，sheknewwellenough，hewouldgetupsufficientcouragetodashather。Sheresolvedtoplayfirst。Itwasadesperateactshemeditated。Shewasanoldwoman，aloneintheseaandweakfromstarvationandhardship;andyetshe，inthefaceofthisseatiger，mustanticipatehisdashbyherselfdashingathim。Sheswamon，waitingherchance。Atlasthepassedlanguidlyby，barelyeightfeetaway。Sherushedathimsuddenly，feigningthatshewasattackinghim。Hegaveawildflirtofhistailashefledaway，andhissandpaperhide，strikingher，tookoffherskinfromelbowtoshoulder。Heswamrapidly，inawideningcircle，andatlastdisappeared。

Intheholeinthesand，coveredoverbyfragmentsofmetalroofing，MapuhiandTefaralaydisputing。

"IfyouhaddoneasIsaid，"chargedTefara，forthethousandthtime，"andhiddenthepearlandtoldnoone，youwouldhaveitnow。"

"ButHuru—HuruwaswithmewhenIopenedtheshell——haveInottoldyousotimesandtimesandtimeswithoutend？"

"Andnowweshallhavenohouse。RaoultoldmetodaythatifyouhadnotsoldthepearltoToriki——"

"Ididnotsellit。Torikirobbedme。"

"——thatifyouhadnotsoldthepearl，hewouldgiveyoufivethousandFrenchdollars，whichistenthousandChili。"

"Hehasbeentalkingtohismother，"Mapuhiexplained。"Shehasaneyeforapearl。"

"Andnowthepearlislost，"Tefaracomplained。

"ItpaidmydebtwithToriki。ThatistwelvehundredIhavemade，anyway。"

"Torikiisdead，"shecried。"Theyhaveheardnowordofhisschooner。ShewaslostalongwiththeAoraiandtheHira。WillTorikipayyouthethreehundredcredithepromised？No，becauseTorikiisdead。Andhadyoufoundnopearl，wouldyoutodayoweTorikithetwelvehundred？No，becauseTorikiisdead，andyoucannotpaydeadmen。"

"ButLevydidnotpayToriki，"Mapuhisaid。"HegavehimapieceofpaperthatwasgoodforthemoneyinPapeete;andnowLevyisdeadandcannotpay;andTorikiisdeadandthepaperlostwithhim，andthepearlislostwithLevy。

Youareright，Tefara。Ihavelostthepearl，andgotnothingforit。Nowletussleep。"

Hehelduphishandsuddenlyandlistened。Fromwithoutcameanoise，asofonewhobreathedheavilyandwithpain。Ahandfumbledagainstthematthatservedforadoor。

"Whoisthere？"Mapuhicried。

"Nauri，"cametheanswer。"Canyoutellmewhereismyson，Mapuhi？"

Tefarascreamedandgrippedherhusband’sarm。

"Aghost！shechattered。"Aghost！"

Mapuhi’sfacewasaghastlyyellow。Heclungweaklytohiswife。

"Goodwoman，"hesaidinfalteringtones，strivingtodisguisehisvice，"I

knowyoursonwell。Heislivingontheeastsideofthelagoon。"

Fromwithoutcamethesoundofasigh。Mapuhibegantofeelelated。Hehadfooledtheghost。

"Butwheredoyoucomefrom，oldwoman？"heasked。

"Fromthesea，"wasthedejectedanswer。

"Iknewit！Iknewit！"screamedTefara，rockingtoandfro。

"SincewhenhasTefarabeddedinastrangehouse？"cameNauri’svoicethroughthematting。

Mapuhilookedfearandreproachathiswife。Itwashervoicethathadbetrayedthem。

"AndsincewhenhasMapuhi，myson，deniedhisoldmother？"thevoicewenton。

"No，no，Ihavenot——Mapuhihasnotdeniedyou，"hecried。"IamnotMapuhi。

Heisontheeastendofthelagoon，Itellyou。"

Ngakurasatupinbedandbegantocry。Themattingstartedtoshake。

"Whatareyoudoing？"Mapuhidemanded。

"Iamcomingin，"saidthevoiceofNauri。

Oneendofthemattinglifted。Tefaratriedtodiveundertheblankets，butMapuhiheldontoher。Hehadtoholdontosomething。Together，strugglingwitheachother，withshiveringbodiesandchatteringteeth，theygazedwithprotrudingeyesattheliftingmat。TheysawNauri，drippingwithseawater，withoutherahu，creepin。TheyrolledoverbackwardfromherandfoughtforNgakura’sblanketwithwhichtocovertheirheads。

"Youmightgiveyouroldmotheradrinkofwater，"theghostsaidplaintively。

"Giveheradrinkofwater，"Tefaracommandedinashakingvoice。

"Giveheradrinkofwater，"MapuhipassedonthecommandtoNgakura。

AndtogethertheykickedoutNgakurafromundertheblanket。Aminutelater，peeping，Mapuhisawtheghostdrinking。Whenitreachedoutashakinghandandlaiditonhis，hefelttheweightofitandwasconvincedthatitwasnoghost。Thenheemerged，draggingTefaraafterhim，andinafewminutesallwerelisteningtoNauri’stale。AndwhenshetoldofLevy，anddroppedthepearlintoTefara’shand，evenshewasreconciledtotherealityofhermother—in—law。

"Inthemorning，"saidTefara，"youwillsellthepearltoRaoulforfivethousandFrench。"

"Thehouse？"objectedNauri。

"Hewillbuildthehouse，"Tefaraanswered。"HewaysitwillcostfourthousandFrench。AlsowillhegiveonethousandFrenchincredit，whichistwothousandChili。"

"Anditwillbesixfathomslong？"Nauriqueried。

"Ay，"answeredMapuhi，"sixfathoms。"

"Andinthemiddleroomwillbetheoctagon—drop—clock？"

"Ay，andtheroundtableaswell。"

"Thengivemesomethingtoeat，forIamhungry，"saidNauri，complacently。

"Andafterthatwewillsleep，forIamweary。Andtomorrowwewillhavemoretalkaboutthehousebeforewesellthepearl。ItwillbebetterifwetakethethousandFrenchincash。Moneyiseverbetterthancreditinbuyinggoodsfromthetraders。"

THEWHALETOOTH

ItwasintheearlydaysinFiji，whenJohnStarhurstaroseinthemissionhouseatRewaVillageandannouncedhisintentionofcarryingthegospelthroughoutallVitiLevu。NowVitiLevumeansthe"GreatLand，"itbeingthelargestislandinagroupcomposedofmanylargeislands，tosaynothingofhundredsofsmallones。Hereandthereonthecoasts，livingbymostprecarioustenure，wasasprinklingofmissionaries，traders，b坈he—de—merfishers，andwhaleshipdeserters。Thesmokeofthehotovensaroseundertheirwindows，andthebodiesoftheslainweredraggedbytheirdoorsonthewaytothefeasting。

TheLotu，ortheWorship，wasprogressingslowly，and，often，incrablikefashion。Chiefs，whoannouncedthemselvesChristiansandwerewelcomedintothebodyofthechapel，hadadistressinghabitofbackslidinginordertopartakeofthefleshofsomefavoriteenemy。Eatorbeeatenhadbeenthelawoftheland;andeatorbeeatenpromisedtoremainthelawofthelandforalongtimetocome。Therewerechiefs，suchasTanoa，Tuiveikoso，andTuikilakila，whohadliterallyeatenhundredsoftheirfellowmen。ButamongthesegluttonsRaUndreundrerankedhighest。RaUndreundrelivedatTakiraki。

Hekeptaregisterofhisgustatoryexploits。Arowofstonesoutsidehishousemarkedthebodieshehadeaten。Thisrowwastwohundredandthirtypaceslong，andthestonesinitnumberedeighthundredandseventy—two。Eachstonerepresentedabody。Therowofstonesmighthavebeenlonger，hadnotRaUndreundreunfortunatelyreceivedaspearinthesmallofhisbackinabushskirmishonSomoSomoandbeenserveduponthetableofNaungavuli，whosemediocrestringofstonesnumberedonlyforty—eight。

Thehard—worked，fever—strickenmissionariesstuckdoggedlytotheirtask，attimesdespairing，andlookingforwardforsomespecialmanifestation，someoutburstofPentecostalfirethatwouldbringagloriousharvestofsouls。ButcannibalFijihadremainedobdurate。Thefrizzle—headedman—eaterswereloathtoleavetheirfleshpotssolongastheharvestofhumancarcaseswasplentiful。Sometimes，whentheharvestwastooplentiful，theyimposedonthemissionariesbylettingthewordslipoutthatonsuchadaytherewouldbeakillingandabarbecue。Promptlythemissionarieswouldbuythelivesofthevictimswithsticktobacco，fathomsofcalico，andquartsoftradebeads。

Nathelessthechiefsdroveahandsometradeinthusdisposingoftheirsurpluslivemeat。Also，theycouldalwaysgooutandcatchmore。

ItwasatthisjuncturethatJohnStarhurstproclaimedthathewouldcarrytheGospelfromcoasttocoastoftheGreatLand，andthathewouldbeginbypenetratingthemountainfastnessesoftheheadwatersoftheRewaRiver。Hiswordswerereceivedwithconsternation。

Thenativeteachersweptsoftly。Histwofellowmissionariesstrovetodissuadehim。TheKingofRewawarnedhimthatthemountaindwellerswouldsurelykai—kaihim——kai—kaimeaning"toeat"——andthathe，theKingofRewa，havingbecomeLotu，wouldbeputtothenecessityofgoingtowarwiththemountaindwellers。Thathecouldnotconquerthemhewasperfectlyaware。

ThattheymightcomedowntheriverandsackRewaVillagehewaslikewiseperfectlyaware。Butwhatwashetodo？IfJohnStarhurstpersistedingoingoutandbeingeaten，therewouldbeawarthatwouldcosthundredsoflives。

LaterinthedayadeputationofRewachiefswaiteduponJohnStarhurst。Heheardthempatiently，andarguedpatientlywiththem，thoughheabatednotawhitfromhispurpose。Tohisfellowmissionariesheexplainedthathewasnotbentuponmartyrdom;thatthecallhadcomeforhimtocarrytheGospelintoVitiLevu，andthathewasmerelyobeyingtheLord’swish。

Tothetraderswhocameandobjectedmoststrenuouslyofall，hesaid："Yourobjectionsarevalueless。Theyconsistmerelyofthedamagethatmaybedoneyourbusinesses。Youareinterestedinmakingmoney，butIaminterestedinsavingsouls。Theheathenofthisdarklandmustbesaved。"

JohnStarhurstwasnotafanatic。Hewouldhavebeenthefirstmantodenytheimputation。Hewaseminentlysaneandpractical。

Hewassurethathismissionwouldresultingood，andhehadprivatevisionsofignitingthePentecostalsparkinthesoulsofthemountaineersandofinauguratingarevivalthatwouldsweepdownoutofthemountainsandacrossthelengthandbreadthoftheGreatLandfromseatoseaandtotheislesinthemidstofthesea。Therewerenowildlightsinhismildgrayeyes，butonlycalmresolutionandanunfalteringtrustintheHigherPowerthatwasguidinghim。

Onemanonlyhefoundwhoapprovedofhisproject，andthatwasRaVatu，whosecretlyencouragedhimandofferedtolendhimguidestothefirstfoothills。

JohnStarhurst，inturn，wasgreatlypleasedbyRaVatu’sconduct。Fromanincorrigibleheathen，withaheartasblackashispractices，RaVatuwasbeginningtoemanatelight。HeevenspokeofbecomingLotu。True，threeyearsbeforehehadexpressedasimilarintention，andwouldhaveenteredthechurchhadnotJohnStarhurstenteredobjectiontohisbringinghisfourwivesalongwithhim。RaVatuhadhadeconomicandethicalobjectionstomonogamy。

Besides，themissionary’shair—splittingobjectionhadoffendedhim;and，toprovethathewasafreeagentandamanofhonor，hehadswunghishugewarcluboverStarhurst’shead。Starhursthadescapedbyrushinginundertheclubandholdingontohimuntilhelparrived。Butallthatwasnowforgivenandforgotten。RaVatuwascomingintothechurch，notmerelyasaconvertedheathen，butasaconvertedpolygamistaswell。Hewasonlywaiting，heassuredStarhurst，untilhisoldestwife，whowasverysick，shoulddie。

JohnStarhurstjourneyedupthesluggishRewainoneofRaVatu’scanoes。Thiscanoewastocarryhimfortwodays，when，theheadofnavigationreached，itwouldreturn。Farinthedistance，liftedintothesky，couldbeseenthegreatsmokymountainsthatmarkedthebackboneoftheGreatLand。AlldayJohnStarhurstgazedatthemwitheageryearning。

Sometimesheprayedsilently。AtothertimeshewasjoinedinprayerbyNarau，anativeteacher，whoforsevenyearshadbeenLotu，eversincethedayhehadbeensavedfromthehotovenbyDr。JamesElleryBrownatthetriflingexpenseofonehundredsticksoftobacco，twocottonblankets，andalargebottleofpainkiller。Atthelastmoment，aftertwentyhoursofsolitarysupplicationandprayer，Narau’searshadheardthecalltogoforthwithJohnStarhurstonthemissiontothemountains。

"Master，Iwillsurelygowiththee，"hehadannounced。

JohnStarhursthadhailedhimwithsoberdelight。Truly，theLordwaswithhimthustospuronsobroken—spiritedacreatureasNarau。

"Iamindeedwithoutspirit，theweakestoftheLord’svessels，"Narauexplained，thefirstdayinthecanoe。

"Youshouldhavefaith，strongerfaith，"themissionarychidedhim。

AnothercanoejourneyeduptheRewathatday。Butitjourneyedanhourastern，andittookcarenottobeseen。ThiscanoewasalsothepropertyofRaVatu。

InitwasErirola，RaVatu’sfirstcousinandtrustedhenchman;andinthesmallbasketthatneverlefthishandwasawhaletooth。Itwasamagnificenttooth，fullysixincheslong，beautifullyproportioned，theivoryturnedyellowandpurplewithage。ThistoothwaslikewisethepropertyofRaVatu;

andinFiji，whensuchatoothgoesforth，thingsusuallyhappen。Forthisisthevirtueofthewhaletooth：Whoeveracceptsitcannotrefusetherequestthatmayaccompanyitorfollowit。Therequestmaybeanythingfromahumanlifetoatribalalliance，andnoFijianissodeadtohonorastodenytherequestwhenoncethetoothhasbeenaccepted。Sometimestherequesthangsfire，orthefulfilmentisdelayed，withuntowardconsequences。

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