HighuptheRewa，atthevillageofachief，Mongondrobyname，JohnStarhurstrestedattheendoftheseconddayofthejourney。Inthemorning，attendedbyNarau，heexpectedtostartonfootforthesmokymountainsthatwerenowgreenandvelvetywithnearness。Mongondrowasasweet—tempered，mild—manneredlittleoldchief，short—sightedandafflictedwithelephantiasis，andnolongerinclinedtowardtheturbulenceofwar。Hereceivedthemissionarywithwarmhospitality，gavehimfoodfromhisowntable，andevendiscussedreligiousmatterswithhim。Mongondrowasofaninquiringbentofmind，andpleasedJohnStarhurstgreatlybyaskinghimtoaccountfortheexistenceandbeginningofthings。WhenthemissionaryhadfinishedhissummaryoftheCreationaccordingtoGenesis，hesawthatMongondrowasdeeplyaffected。Thelittleoldchiefsmokedsilentlyforsometime。Thenhetookthepipefromhismouthandshookhisheadsadly。

"Itcannotbe，"hesaid。"I，Mongondro，inmyyouth，wasagoodworkmanwiththeadze。Yetthreemonthsdidittakemetomakeacanoe——asmallcanoe，averysmallcanoe。Andyousaythatallthislandandwaterwasmadebyoneman——"

"Nay，wasmadebyoneGod，theonlytrueGod，"themissinaryinterrupted。

"Itisthesamething，"Mongondrowenton，"thatallthelandandallthewater，thetrees，thefish，andbushandmountains，thesun，themoon，andthestars，weremadeinsixdays！No，no。ItellyouthatinmyyouthIwasanableman，yetdiditrequiremethreemonthsforonesmallcanoe。Itisastorytofrightenchildrenwith;butnomancanbelieveit。"

"Iamaman，"themissionarysaid。

"True，youareaman。Butitisnotgiventomydarkunderstandingtoknowwhatyoubelieve。"

"Itellyou，Idobelievethateverythingwasmadeinsixdays。"

"Soyousay，soyousay，"theoldcannibalmurmuredsoothingly。

ItwasnotuntilafterJohnStarhurstandNarauhadgoneofftobedthatErirolacreptintothechief’shouse，and，afterdiplomaticspeech，handedthewhaletoothtoMongondro。

Theoldchiefheldthetoothinhishandsforalongtime。Itwasabeautifultooth，andheyearnedforit。Also，hedivinedtherequestthatmustaccompanyit。"No，no;whaleteethwerebeautiful，"andhismouthwateredforit，buthepasseditbacktoErirolawithmanyapologies……

IntheearlydawnJohnStarhurstwasafoot，stridingalongthebushtrailinhisbigleatherboots，athisheelsthefaithfulNarau，himselfattheheelsofanakedguidelenthimbyMongondrotoshowthewaytothenextvillage，whichwasreachedbymidday。Hereanewguideshowedtheway。AmileintherearploddedErirola，thewhaletoothinthebasketslungonhisshoulder。Fortwodaysmorehebroughtupthemissionary’srear，offeringthetoothtothevillagechiefs。Butvillageaftervillagerefusedthetooth。Itfollowedsoquicklythemissionary’sadventthattheydivinedtherequestthatwouldbemade，andwouldhavenoneofit。

Theyweregettingdeepintothemountains，andErirolatookasecrettrail，cutinaheadofthemissionary，andreachedthestrongholdoftheBuliofGatoka。NowtheBuliwasunawareofJohnStarhurst’simminentarrival。Also，thetoothwasbeautiful——anextraordinaryspecimen，whilethecoloringofitwasoftherarestorder。Thetoothwaspresentedpublicly。TheBuliofGatoka，seatedonhisbestmat，surroundedbyhischiefmen，threebusyfly—brushersathisback，deignedtoreceivefromthehandofhisheraldthewhaletoothpresentedbyRaVatuandcarriedintothemountainsbyhiscousin，Erirola。A

clappingofhandswentupattheacceptanceofthepresent，theassembledheadman，heralds，andfly—brusherscryingaloudinchorus：

"A！woi！woi！woi！A！woi！woi！woi！Atabualevu！woi！woi！Amudua，mudua，mudua！’

"Soonwillcomeaman，awhiteman，"Erirolabegan，aftertheproperpause。

"Heisamissionaryman，andhewillcometoday。RaVatuispleasedtodesirehisboots。Hewishestopresentthemtohisgoodfriend，Mongondro，anditisinhismindtosendthemwiththefeetalonginthem，forMongondroisanoldmanandhisteetharenotgood。Besure，OBuli，thatthefeetgoalongintheboots。Asfortherestofhim，itmaystophere。"

ThedelightinthewhaletoothfadedoutoftheBuli’seyes，andheglancedabouthimdubiously。Yethadhealreadyacceptedthetooth。

"Alittlethinglikeamissionarydoesnotmatter，"Erirolaprompted。

"No，alittlethinglikeamissionarydoesnotmatter，"theBulianswered，himselfagain。"Mongondroshallhavetheboots。Go，youyoungmen，somethreeorfourofyou，andmeetthemissionaryonthetrail。Besureyoubringbackthebootsaswell。"

"Itistoolate，"saidErirola。"Listen！Hecomesnow。"

Breakingthroughthethicketofbrush，JohnStarhurst，withNaraucloseonhisheels，strodeuponthescene。Thefamousboots，havingfilledinwadingthestream，squirtedfinejetsofwaterateverystep。Starhurstlookedabouthimwithflashingeyes。Upbornebyanunwaveringtrust，untouchedbydoubtorfear，heexultedinallhesaw。HeknewthatsincethebeginningoftimehewasthefirstwhitemanevertotreadthemountainstrongholdofGatoka。

ThegrasshousesclungtothesteepmountainsideoroverhungtherushingRewa。Oneithersidetoweredamightyprecipice。Atthebest，threehoursofsunlightpenetratedthatnarrowgorge。Nococoanutsnorbananasweretobeseen，thoughdense，tropicvegetationoverraneverything，drippinginairyfestoonsfromthesheerlipsoftheprecipicesandrunningriotinallthecranniedledges。AtthefarendofthegorgetheRewaleapedeighthundredfeetinasinglespan，whiletheatmosphereoftherockfortresspulsedtotherhythmicthunderofthefall。

FromtheBuli’shouse，JohnStarhurstsawemergingtheBuliandhisfollowers。

"Ibringyougoodtidings，"wasthemissionary’sgreeting。

"Whohassentyou？"theBulirejoinedquietly。

"God。"

"ItisanewnameinVitiLevu，"theBuligrinned。"Ofwhatislands，villages，orpassesmayhebechief？"

"Heisthechiefoverallislands，allvillages，allpasses，"JohnStarhurstansweredsolemnly。"HeistheLordoverheavenandearth，andIamcometobringHiswordtoyou。"

"Hashesentwhaleteeth？"wastheinsolentquery。

"No，butmorepreciousthanwhaleteethisthe——"

"Itisthecustom，betweenchiefs，tosendwhaleteeth，"theBuliinterrupted。

"Yourchiefiseitheraniggard，oryouareafool，tocomeempty—handedintothemountains。Behold，amoregenerousthanyouisbeforeyou。"

Sosaying，heshowedthewhaletoothhehadreceivedfromErirola。

Naraugroaned。

"ItisthewhaletoothofRaVatu，"hewhisperedtoStarhurst。"Iknowitwell。Nowareweundone。"

"Agraciousthing，"themissionaryanswered，passinghishandthroughhislongbeardandadjustinghisglasses。"RaVatuhasarrangedthatweshouldbewellreceived。"

ButNaraugroanedagain，andbackedawayfromtheheelshehaddoggedsofaithfully。

"RaVatuissoontobecomeLotu，"Starhurstexplained，"andIhavecomebringingtheLotutoyou。"

"IwantnoneofyourLotu，"saidtheBuli，proudly。"Anditisinmymindthatyouwillbeclubbedthisday。"

TheBulinoddedtooneofhisbigmountaineers，whosteppedforward，swingingaclub。Narauboltedintothenearesthouse，seekingtohideamongthewomanandmats;butJohnStarhurstspranginundertheclubandthrewhisarmsaroundhisexecutioner’sneck。Fromthispointofvantageheproceededtoargue。Hewasarguingforhislife，andheknewit;buthewasneitherexcitednorafraid。

"Itwouldbeanevilthingforyoutokillme，"hetoldtheman。"Ihavedoneyounowrong，norhaveIdonetheBuliwrong。"

Sowelldidheclingtotheneckoftheonemanthattheydarednotstrikewiththeirclubs。Andhecontinuedtoclingandtodisputeforhislifewiththosewhoclamoredforhisdeath。

"IamJohnStarhurst，"hewentoncalmly。"IhavelaboredinFijiforthreeyears，andIhavedoneitfornoprofit。Iamhereamongyouforgood。Whyshouldanymankillme？Tokillmewillnotprofitanyman。"

TheBulistolealookatthewhaletooth。Hewaswellpaidforthedeed。

Themissionarywassurroundedbyamassofnakedsavages，allstrugglingtogetathim。Thedeathsong，whichisthesongoftheoven，wasraised，andhisexpostulationscouldnolongerbeheard。Butsocunninglydidhetwineandwreathehisbodyabouthiscaptor’sthatthedeathblowcouldnotbestruck。

Erirolasmiled，andtheBuligrewangry。

"Awaywithyou！"hecried。"Anicestorytogobacktothecoast——adozenofyouandonemissionary，withoutweapons，weakasawoman，overcomingallofyou。"

"Wait，OBuli，"JohnStarhurstcalledoutfromthethickofthescuffle，"andIwillovercomeevenyou。FormyweaponsareTruthandRight，andnomancanwithstandthem。"

"Cometome，then，"theBulianswered，"formyweaponisonlyapoormiserableclub，and，asyousay，itcannotwithstandyou。"

Thegroupseparatedfromhim，andJohnStarhurststoodalone，facingtheBuli，whowasleaningonanenormous，knottedwarclub。

"Cometome，missionaryman，andovercomeme，"theBulichallenged。

"EvensowillIcometoyouandovercomeyou，"JohnStarhurstmadeanswer，firstwipinghisspectaclesandsettlingthemproperly，thenbeginninghisadvance。

TheBuliraisedtheclubandwaited。

"Inthefirstplace，mydeathwillprofityounothing，"begantheargument。

"Ileavetheanswertomyclub，"wastheBuli’sreply。

Andtoeverypointhemadethesamereply，atthesametimewatchingthemissionarycloselyinordertoforestallthatcunningrun—inundertheliftedclub。Then，andforthefirsttime，JohnStarhurstknewthathisdeathwasathand。Hemadenoattempttorunin。Bareheaded，hestoodinthesunandprayedaloud——themysteriousfigureoftheinevitablewhiteman，who，withBible，bullet，orrumbottle，hasconfrontedtheamazedsavageinhiseverystronghold。EvensostoodJohnStarhurstintherockfortressoftheBuliofGatoka。

"Forgivethem，fortheyknownotwhattheydo，"heprayed。"OLord！HavemercyuponFiji。HavecompasssionforFiji。OJehovah，hearusforHissake，ThySon，whomThoudidstgivethatthroughHimallmenmightalsobecomeThychildren。FromTheewecame，andourmindisthattoTheewemayreturn。Thelandisdark，OLord，thelandisdark。ButThouartmightytosave。ReachoutThyhand，OLord，andsaveFiji，poorcannibalFiji。"

TheBuligrewimpatient。

"NowwillIanswerthee，"hemuttered，atthesametimeswinginghisclubwithbothhands。

Narau，hidingamongthewomenandthemats，heardtheimpactoftheblowandshuddered。Thenthedeathsongarose，andheknewhisbelovedmissionary’sbodywasbeingdraggedtotheovenasheheardthewords：

"Dragmegently。Dragmegently。"

"ForIamthechampionofmyland。"

"Givethanks！Givethanks！Givethanks！"

Next，asinglevoicearoseoutofthedin，asking：

"Whereisthebraveman？"

Ahundredvoicesbellowedtheanswer：

"Gonetobedraggedintotheovenandcooked。"

"Whereisthecoward？"thesinglevoicedemanded。

"Gonetoreport！"thehundredvoicesbellowedback。"Gonetoreport！Gonetoreport！"

Naraugroanedinanguishofspirit。Thewordsoftheoldsongweretrue。Hewasthecoward，andnothingremainedtohimbuttogoandreport。

MAUKI

Heweighedonehundredandtenpounds。Hishairwaskinkyandnegroid，andhewasblack。Hewaspeculiarlyblack。Hewasneitherblue—blacknorpurple—black，butplum—black。HisnamewasMauki，andhewasthesonofachief。Hehadthreetambos。TamboisMelanesianfortaboo，andisfirstcousintothatPolynesianword。Mauki’sthreetamboswereasfollows：First，hemustnevershakehandswithawoman，norhaveawoman’shandtouchhimoranyofhispersonalbelongings;secondly，hemustnevereatclamsnoranyfoodfromafireinwhichclamshadbeencooked;thirdly，hemustnevertouchacrocodile，nortravelinacanoethatcarriedanypartofacrocodileevenifaslargeasatooth。

Ofadifferentblackwerehisteeeth，whichweredeepblack，or，perhapsbetter，LAMP—black。Theyhadbeenmadesoinasinglenight，byhismother，whohadcompressedaboutthemapowderedmineralwhichwasdugfromthelandslidebackofPortAdams。PortAdamsisasalt—watervillageonMalaita，andMalaitaisthemostsavageislandintheSolomons——sosavagethatnotradersorplantershaveyetgainedafootholdonit;while，fromthetimeoftheearliestb坈he—de—merfishersandsandalwoodtradersdowntothelatestlaborrecruitersequippedwithautomaticriflesandgasoleneengines，scoresofwhiteadventurershavebeenpassedoutbytomahawksandsoft—nosedSniderbullets。SoMalaitaremainstoday，inthetwentiethcentury，thestampinggroundofthelaborrecruiters，whofarmitscoastsforlaborerswhoengageandcontractthemselvestotoilontheplantationsoftheneighboringandmorecivilizedislandsforawageofthirtydollarsayear。Thenativesofthoseneighboringandmorecivilizedislandshavethemselvesbecometoocivilizedtoworkonplantations。

Mauki’searswerepierced，notinoneplace，nortwoplaces，butinacoupleofdozenplaces。Inoneofthesmallerholeshecarriedaclaypipe。Thelargerholesweretoolargeforsuchuse。Thebowlofthepipewouldhavefallenthrough。Infact，inthelargestholeineachearhehabituallyworeroundwoodenplugsthatwereanevenfourinchesindiameter。Roughlyspeaking，thecircumferenceofsaidholeswastwelveandone—halfinches。

Maukiwascatholicinhistastes。Inthevarioussmallerholeshecarriedsuchthingsasemptyriflecartridges，horseshoenails，copperscrews，piecesofstring，braidsofsennit，stripsofgreenleaf，and，inthecooloftheday，scarlethibiscusflowers。Fromwhichitwillbeseenthatpocketswerenotnecessarytohiswell—being。Besides，pocketswereimpossible，forhisonlywearingapparelconsistedofapieceofcalicoseveralincheswide。Apocketknifeheworeinhishair，thebladesnappeddownonakinkylock。Hismostprizedpossessionwasthehandleofachinacup，whichhesuspendedfromaringofturtle—shell，which，inturn，waspassedthroughthepartition—cartilageofhisnose。

Butinspiteofembellishments，Maukihadaniceface。Itwasreallyaprettyface，viewedbyanystandard，andforaMelanesianitwasaremarkablygood—lookingface。Itsonefaultwasitslackofstrength。Itwassoftlyeffeminate，almostgirlish。Thefeaturesweresmall，regular，anddelicate。

Thechinwasweak，andthemouthwasweak。Therewasnostrengthnorcharacterinthejaws，forehead，andnose。Intheeyesonlycouldbecaughtanyhintoftheunknownquantitiesthatweresolargeapartofhismake—upandthatotherpersonscouldnotunderstand。Theseunknownquantitieswerepluck，pertinacity，fearlessness，imagination，andcunning;andwhentheyfoundexpressioninsomeconsistentandstrikingaction，thoseabouthimwereastounded。

Mauki’sfatherwaschiefoverthevillageatPortAdams，andthus，bybirthasalt—waterman，Maukiwashalfamphibian。Heknewthewayofthefishesandoysters，andthereefwasanopenbooktohim。Canoes，also，heknew。Helearnedtoswimwhenhewasayearold。Atsevenyearshecouldholdhisbreathafullminuteandswimstraightdowntobottomthroughthirtyfeetofwater。Andatsevenyearshewasstolenbythebushmen，whocannotevenswimandwhoareafraidofsaltwater。ThereafterMaukisawtheseaonlyfromadistance，throughriftsinthejungleandfromopenspacesonthehighmountainsides。HebecametheslaveofoldFanfoa，headchiefoverascoreofscatteredbush—villagesontherange—lipsofMalaita，thesmokeofwhich，oncalmmornings，isabouttheonlyevidencetheseafaringwhitemenhaveoftheteeminginteriorpopulation。ForthewhitesdonotpenetrateMalaita。Theytrieditonce，inthedayswhenthesearchwasonforgold，buttheyalwayslefttheirheadsbehindtogrinfromthesmokyraftersofthebushmen’shuts。

WhenMaukiwasayoungmanofseventeen，Fanfoagotoutoftobacco。Hegotdreadfullyoutoftobacco。Itwashardtimesinallhisvillages。Hehadbeenguiltyofamistake。Suowasaharborsosmallthatalargeschoonercouldnotswingatanchorinit。Itwassurroundedbymangrovesthatoverhungthedeepwater。Itwasatrap，andintothetrapsailedtwowhitemeninasmallketch。

Theywereafterrecruits，andtheypossessedmuchtobaccoandtradegoods，tosaynothingofthreeriflesandplentyofammunition。Nowtherewerenosalt—watermenlivingatSuo，anditwastherethatthebushmencouldcomedowntothesea。Theketchdidasplendidtraffic。Itsignedontwentyrecruitsthefirstday。EvenoldFanfoasignedon。Andthatsamedaythescoreofnewrecruitschoppedoffthetwowhitemen’shead，killedtheboat’screw，andburnedtheketch。Thereafter，andforthreemonths，therewastobaccoandtradegoodsinplentyandtospareinallthebushvillages。Thencametheman—of—warthatthrewshellsformilesintothehills，frighteningthepeopleoutoftheirvillagesandintothedeeperbush。Nexttheman—of—warsentlandingpartiesashore。Thevillageswereallburned，alongwiththetobaccoandtradestuff。

Thecocoanutsandbananaswerechoppeddown，thetarogardensuprooted，andthepigsandchickenskilled。

IttaughtFanfoaalesson，butinthemeantimehewasoutoftobacco。Also，hisyoungmenweretoofrightenedtosignonwiththerecruitingvessels。ThatwaswhyFanfoaorderedhisslave，Mauki，tobecarrieddownandsignedonforhalfacaseoftobaccoadvance，alongwithknives，axes，calico，andbeads，whichhewouldpayforwithhistoilontheplantations。Maukiwassorelyfrightenedwhentheybroughthimonboardtheschooner。Hewasalambledtotheslaughter。Whitemenwereferociouscreatures。Theyhadtobe，orelsetheywouldnotmakeapracticeofventuringalongtheMalaitacoastandintoallharbors，twoonaschooner，wheneachschoonercarriedfromfifteentotwentyblacksasboat’screw，andoftenashighassixtyorseventyblackrecruits。Inadditiontothis，therewasalwaysthedangeroftheshorepopulation，thesuddenattackandthecuttingoffoftheschoonerandallhands。Truly，whitemenmustbeterrible。Besides，theywerepossessedofsuchdevil—devils——riflesthatshotveryrapidlymanytimes，thingsofironandbrassthatmadetheschoonersgowhentherewasnowind，andboxesthattalkedandlaughedjustasmentalkedandlaughed。

Ay，andhehadheardofonewhitemanwhoseparticulardevil—devilwassopowerfulthathecouldtakeoutallhisteethandputthembackatwill。

DownintothecabintheytookMauki。Ondeck，theonewhitemankeptguardwithtworevolversinhisbelt。Inthecabintheotherwhitemansatwithabookbeforehim，inwhichheinscribedstrangemarksandlines。HelookedatMaukiasthoughhehadbeenapigorafowl，glancedunderthehollowsofhisarms，andwroteinthebook。ThenheheldoutthewritingstickandMaukijustbarelytoucheditwithhishand，insodoingpledginghimselftotoilforthreeyearsontheplantationsoftheMoongleamSoapCompany。Itwasnotexplainedtohimthatthewilloftheferociouswhitemenwouldbeusedtoenforcethepledge，andthat，behindall，forthesameuse，wasallthepowerandallthewarshipsofGreatBritain。

Otherblackstherewereonboard，fromunheard—offarplaces，andwhenthewhitemanspoketothem，theytorethelongfeatherfromMauki’shair，cutthatsamehairshort，andwrappedabouthiswaistalava—lavaofbrightyellowcalico。

Aftermanydaysontheschooner，andafterbeholdingmorelandandislandsthanhehadeverdreamedof，hewaslandedonNewGeorgia，andputtoworkinthefieldclearingjungleandcuttingcanegrass。Forthefirsttimeheknewwhatworkwas。EvenasaslavetoFanfoahehadnotworkedlikethis。Andhedidnotlikework。Itwasupatdawnandinatdark，ontwomealsaday。Andthefoodwastiresome。Forweeksatatimetheyweregivennothingbutsweetpotatoestoeat，andforweeksatatimeitwouldbenothingbutrice。Hecutoutthecocoanutfromtheshellsdayafterday;andforlongdaysandweekshefedthefiresthatsmokedthecopra，tillhiseyesgotsoreandhewassettofellingtrees。Hewasagoodaxe—man，andlaterhewasputinthebridge—buildinggang。Once，hewaspunishedbybeingputintheroad—buildinggang。Attimesheservedasboat’screwinthewhaleboats，whentheybroughtincoprafromdistantbeachesorwhenthewhitemenwentouttodynamitefish。

Amongotherthingshelearnedbeche—de—merEnglish，withwhichhecouldtalkwithallwhitemen，andwithallrecruitswhootherwisewouldhavetalkedinathousanddifferentdialects。Also，helearnedcertainthingsaboutthewhitemen，principallythattheykepttheirword。Iftheytoldaboyhewasgoingtoreceiveastickoftobacco，hegotit。Iftheytoldaboytheywouldknocksevenbellsoutofhimifhedidacertainthing，whenhedidthatthing，sevenbellsinvariablywereknockedoutofhim。Maukididnotknowwhatsevenbellswere，buttheyoccurredinbeche—de—mer，andheimaginedthemtobethebloodandteeththatsometimesaccompaniedtheprocessofknockingoutsevenbells。Oneotherthinghelearned：noboywasstruckorpunishedunlesshedidwrong。Evenwhenthewhitemenweredrunk，astheywerefrequently，theyneverstruckunlessarulehadbeenbroken。

Maukididnotliketheplantation。Hehatedwork，andhewasthesonofachief。Furthermore，itwastenyearssincehehadbeenstolenfromPortAdamsbyFanfoa，andhewashomesick。HewasevenhomesickfortheslaveryunderFanfoa。Soheranaway。Hestruckbackintothebush，withtheideaofworkingsouthwardtothebeachandstealingacanoeinwhichtogohometoPortAdams。

Butthefevergothim，andhewascapturedandbroughtbackmoredeadthanalive。

Asecondtimeheranaway，inthecompanyoftwoMalaitaboys。Theygotdownthecoasttwentymiles，andwerehiddeninthehutofaMalaitafreeman，whodweltinthatvillage。Butinthedeadofnighttwowhitemencame，whowerenotafraidofallthevillagepeopleandwhoknockedsevenbellsoutofthethreerunaways，tiedthemlikepigs，andtossedthemintothewhaleboat。Butthemaninwhosehousetheyhadhidden——seventimessevenbellsmusthavebeenknockedoutofhimfromthewaythehair，skin，andteethflew，andhewasdiscouragedfortherestofhisnaturallifefromharboringrunawaylaborers。

ForayearMaukitoiledon。Thenhewasmadeahouse—boy，andhadgoodfoodandeasytimes，withlightworkinkeepingthehousecleanandservingthewhitemenwithwhiskeyandbeeratallhoursofthedayandmosthoursofthenight。Helikedit，buthelikedPortAdamsmore。Hehadtwoyearslongertoserve，buttwoyearsweretoolongforhiminthethroesofhomesickness。Hehadgrownwiserwithhisyearofservice，and，beingnowahouse—boy，hehadopportunity。Hehadthecleaningoftherifles，andheknewwherethekeytothestoreroomwashung。Heplannedtoescape，andonenighttenMalaitaboysandoneboyfromSanCristovalsneakedfromthebarracksanddraggedoneofthewhaleboatsdowntothebeach。ItwasMaukiwhosuppliedthekeythatopenedthepadlockontheboat，anditwasMaukiwhoequippedtheboatwithadozenWinchesters，animmenseamountofammunition，acaseofdynamitewithdetonatorsandfuse，andtencasesoftobacco。

Thenorthwestmonsoonwasblowing，andtheyfledsouthinthenighttime，hidingbydayondetachedanduninhabitedislets，ordraggingtheirwhaleboatintothebushonthelargeislands。ThustheygainedGuadalcanar，skirtedhalfwayalongit，andcrossedtheIndispensableStraitstoFloridaIsland。ItwasherethattheykilledtheSanCristovalboy，savinghisheadandcookingandeatingtherestofhim。TheMalaitacoastwasonlytwentymilesaway，butthelastnightastrongcurrentandbafflingwindspreventedthemfromgainingacross。Daylightfoundthemstillseveralmilesfromtheirgoal。Butdaylightbroughtacutter，inwhichweretwowhitemen，whowerenotafraidofelevenMalaitamenarmedwithtwelverifles。MaukiandhiscompanionswerecarriedbacktoTulagi，wherelivedthegreatwhitemasterofallthewhitemen。Andthegreatwhitemasterheldacourt，afterwhich，onebyone，therunawaysweretiedupandgiventwentylasheseach，andsentencedtoafineoffifteendollars。TheyweresentbacktoNewGeorgia，wherethewhitemenknockedsevenbellsoutofthemallaroundandputthemtowork。ButMaukiwasnolongerhouse—boy。Hewasputintheroad—makinggang。Thefineoffifteendollarshadbeenpaidbythewhitemenfromwhomhehadrunaway，andhewastoldthathewouldhavetoworkitout，whichmeantsixmonths’additionaltoil。Further，hisshareofthestolentobaccoearnedhimanotheryearoftoil。

PortAdamswasnowthreeyearsandahalfaway，sohestoleacanoeonenight，hidontheisletsinManningStraits，passedthroughtheStraits，andbeganworkingalongtheeasterncoastofYsabel，onlytobecaptured，two—thirdsofthewayalong，bythewhitemenonMeringeLagoon。Afteraweek，heescapedfromthemandtooktothebush。TherewerenobushnativesonYsabel，onlysalt—watermen，whowereallChristians。Thewhitemenputuparewardoffive—hundredsticksoftobacco，andeverytimeMaukiventureddowntotheseatostealacanoehewaschasedbythesalt—watermen。Fourmonthsofthispassed，when，therewardhavingbeenraisedtoathousandsticks，hewascaughtandsentbacktoNewGeorgiaandtheroad—buildinggang。Nowathousandsticksareworthfiftydollars，andMaukihadtopaytherewardhimself，whichrequiredayearandeightmonths’labor。SoPortAdamswasnowfiveyearsaway。

Hishomesicknesswasgreaterthanever，anditdidnotappealtohimtosettledownandbegood，workouthisfouryears，andgohome。Thenexttime，hewascaughtintheveryactofrunningaway。HiscasewasbroughtbeforeMr。

Haveby，theislandmanageroftheMoongleamSoapCompany，whoadjudgedhimanincorrigible。TheCompanyhadplantationsontheSantaCruzIslands，hundredsofmilesacrossthesea，andthereitsentitsSolomonIslands’incorrigibles。

AndthereMaukiwassent，thoughheneverarrived。TheschoonerstoppedatSantaAnna，andinthenightMaukiswamashore，wherehestoletworiflesandacaseoftobaccofromthetraderandgotawayinacanoetoCristoval。

Malaitawasnowtothenorth，fiftyorsixtymilesaway。Butwhenheattemptedthepassage，hewascaughtbyalightgaleanddrivenbacktoSantaAnna，wherethetraderclappedhiminironsandheldhimagainstthereturnoftheschoonerfromSantaCruz。Thetworiflesthetraderrecovered，butthecaseoftobaccowaschargeduptoMaukiattherateofanotheryear。ThesumofyearshenowowedtheCompanywassix。

OnthewaybacktoNewGeorgia，theschoonerdroppedanchorinMarauSound，whichliesatthesoutheasternextremityofGuadalcanar。Maukiswamashorewithhandcuffsonhiswristsandgotawaytothebush。Theschoonerwenton，buttheMoongleamtraderashoreofferedathousandsticks，andtohimMaukiwasbroughtbythebushmenwithayearandeightmonthstackedontohisaccount。Again，andbeforetheschoonercalledin，hegotaway，thistimeinawhaleboataccompaniedbyacaseofthetrader’stobacco。ButanorthwestgalewreckedhimuponUgi，wheretheChristiannativesstolehistobaccoandturnedhimovertotheMoongleamtraderwhoresidedthere。Thetobaccothenativesstolemeantanotheryearforhim，andthetalewasnoweightyearsandahalf。

"We’llsendhimtoLordHowe，"saidMr。Haveby。"Bunsteristhere，andwe’llletthemsettleitbetweenthem。Itwillbeacase，Iimagine，ofMaukigettingBunster，orBunstergettingMauki，andgoodriddanceineitherevent。"

IfoneleavesMeringeLagoon，onYsabel，andsteersacourseduenorth，magnetic，attheendofonehundredandfiftymileshewillliftthepoundedcoralbeachesofLordHoweabovethesea。LordHoweisaringoflandsomeonehundredandfiftymilesincircumference，severalhundredyardswideatitswidest，andtoweringinplacestoaheightoftenfeetabovesealevel。

Insidethisringofsandisamightylagoonstuddedwithcoralpatches。LordHowebelongstotheSolomonsneithergeographicallynorethnologically。Itisanatoll，whiletheSolomonsarehighislands;anditspeopleandlanguagearePolynesian，whiletheinhabitantsoftheSolomonsareMelanesian。

LordHowehasbeenpopulatedbythewestwardPolynesiandriftwhichcontinuestothisday，bigoutriggercanoesbeingwasheduponitsbeachesbythesoutheasttrade。ThattherehasbeenaslightMelanesiandriftintheperiodofthenorthwestmonsoon，isalsoevident。

NobodyevercomestoLordHowe，orOntong—Javaasitissometimescalled。

ThomasCook&Sondonotsellticketstoit，andtouristsdonotdreamofitsexistence。Notevenawhitemissionaryhaslandedonitsshore。Itsfivethousandnativesareaspeaceableastheyareprimitive。Yettheywerenotalwayspeaceable。TheSailingDirectionsspeakofthemashostileandtreacherous。ButthemenwhocompiletheSailingDirectionshaveneverheardofthechangethatwasworkedintheheartsoftheinhabitants，who，notmanyyearsago，cutoffabigbarkandkilledallhandswiththeexceptionofthesecondmate。Thesurvivorcarriedthenewstohisbrothers。ThecaptainsofthreetradingschoonersreturnedwithhimtoLordHowe。Theysailedtheirvesselsrightintothelagoonandproceededtopreachthewhiteman’sgospelthatonlywhitemenshallkillwhitemenandthatthelesserbreedsmustkeephandsoff。Theschoonerssailedupanddownthelagoon，harryinganddestroying。Therewasnoescapefromthenarrowsand—circle，nobushtowhichtoflee。Themenwereshotdownatsight，andtherewasnoavoidingbeingsighted。Thevillageswereburned，thecanoessmashed，thechickensandpigskilled，andthepreciouscocoanuttreeschoppeddown。Foramonththiscontinued，whentheschoonersailedaway;butthefearofthewhitemanhadbeensearedintothesoulsoftheislandersandneveragainweretheyrashenoughtoharmone。

MaxBunsterwastheonewhitemanonLordHowe，tradinginthepayoftheubiquitousMoongleamSoapCompany。AndtheCompanybilletedhimonLordHowe，because，nexttogettingridofhim，itwasthemostout—of—the—wayplacetobefound。ThattheCompanydidnotgetridofhimwasduetothedifficultyoffindinganothermantotakehisplace。HewasastrappingbigGerman，withsomethingwronginhisbrain。Semi—madnesswouldbeacharitablestatementofhiscondition。Hewasabullyandacoward，andathrice—biggersavagethananysavageontheisland。

Beingacoward，hisbrutalitywasofthecowardlyorder。WhenhefirstwentintotheCompany’semploy，hewasstationedonSavo。Whenaconsumptivecolonialwassenttotakehisplace，hebeathimupwithhisfistsandsenthimoffawreckintheschoonerthatbroughthim。

Mr。HavebynextselectedayoungYorkshiregianttorelieveBunster。TheYorkshiremanhadareputationasabruiserandpreferredfightingtoeating。

ButBunsterwouldn’tfight。Hewasaregularlittlelamb——fortendays，attheendofwhichtimetheYorkshiremanwasprostratedbyacombinedattackofdysenteryandfever。ThenBunsterwentforhim，amongotherthingsgettinghimdownandjumpingonhimascoreorsooftimes。Afraidofwhatwouldhappenwhenhisvictimrecovered。BunsterfledawayinacuttertoGuvutu，wherehesignalizedhimselfbybeatingupayoungEnglishmanalreadycrippledbyaBoerbulletthroughbothhips。

ThenitwasthatMr。HavebysentBunstertoLordHowe，thefalling—offplace。

Hecelebratedhislandingbymoppinguphalfacaseofginandbythrashingtheelderlyandwheezymateoftheschoonerwhichhadbroughthim。Whentheschoonerdeparted，hecalledthekanakasdowntothebeachandchallengedthemtothrowhiminawrestlingbout，promisingacaseoftobaccototheonewhosucceeded。Threekanakashethrew，butwaspromptlythrownbyafourth，who，insteadofreceivingthetobacco，gotabulletthroughhislungs。

AndsobeganBunster’sreignonLordHowe。Threethousandpeoplelivedintheprincipalvillage;butitwasdeserted，eveninbroadday，whenhepassedthrough。Men，women，andchildrenfledbeforehim。Eventhedogsandpigsgotoutoftheway，whilethekingwasnotabovehidingunderamat。ThetwoprimeministerslivedinterrorofBunster，whoneverdiscussedanymootsubject，butstruckoutwithhisfistsinstead。

AndtoLordHowecameMauki，totoilforBunsterforeightlongyearsandahalf。TherewasnoescapingfromLordHowe。Forbetterorworse，Bunsterandheweretiedtogether。Bunsterweighedtwohundredpounds。Maukiweighedonehundredandten。Bunsterwasadegeneratebrute。ButMaukiwasaprimitivesavage。Whilebothhadwillsandwaysoftheirown。

Maukihadnoideaofthesortofmasterhewastoworkfor。Hehadhadnowarnings，andhehadconcludedasamatterofcoursethatBunsterwouldbelikeotherwhitemen，adrinkerofmuchwhiskey，arulerandalawgiverwhoalwayskepthiswordandwhoneverstruckaboyundeserved。Bunsterhadtheadvantage。HeknewallaboutMauki，andgloatedoverthecomingintopossessionofhim。Thelastcookwassufferingfromabrokenarmandadislocatedshoulder，soBunstermadeMaukicookandgeneralhouse—boy。

AndMaukisoonlearnedthattherewerewhitemenandwhitemen。OntheverydaytheschoonerdepartedhewasorderedtobuyachickenfromSamisee，thenativeTonganmissionary。ButSamiseehadsailedacrossthelagoonandwouldnotbebackforthreedays。Maukireturnedwiththeinformation。Heclimbedthesteepstairway（thehousestoodonpilestwelvefeetabovethesand），andenteredthelivingroomtoreport。Thetraderdemandedthechicken。Maukiopenedhismouthtoexplainthemissionary’sabsence。ButBunsterdidnotcareforexplanations。Hestruckoutwithhisfist。TheblowcaughtMaukionthemouthandliftedhimintotheair。Clearthroughthedoorwayheflew，acrossthenarrowveranda，breakingthetoprailing，anddowntotheground。

Hislipswereacontused，shapelessmass，andhismouthwasfullofbloodandbrokenteeth。

"That’llteachyouthatbacktalkdon’tgowithme，"thetradershouted，purplewithrage，peeringdownathimoverthebrokenrailing。

Maukihadnevermetawhitemanlikethis，andheresolvedtowalksmallandneveroffend。Hesawtheboatboysknockedabout，andoneofthemputinironsforthreedayswithnothingtoeatforthecrimeofbreakingarowlockwhilepulling。Then，too，heheardthegossipofthevillageandlearnedwhyBunsterhadtakenathirdwife——byforce，aswaswellknown。Thefirstandsecondwiveslayinthegraveyard，underthewhitecoralsand，withslabsofcoralrockatheadandfeet。Theyhaddied，itwassaid，frombeatingshehadgiventhem。Thethirdwifewascertainlyill—used，asMaukicouldseeforhimself。

Buttherewasnowaybywhichtoavoidoffendingthewhitemanwhoseemedoffendedwithlife。WhenMaukikeptsilent，hewasstruckandcalledasullenbrute。Whenhespoke，hewasstruckforgivingbacktalk。Whenhewasgrave，Bunsteraccusedhimofplottingandgavehimathrashinginadvance;andwhenhestrovetobecheerfulandtosmile，hewaschargedwithsneeringathislordandmasterandgivenatasteofstick。Bunsterwasadevil。

Thevillagewouldhavedoneforhim，haditnotrememberedthelessonofthethreeschooners。Itmighthavedoneforhimanyway，iftherehadbeenabushtowhichtoflee。Asitwas，themurderofthewhitemen，ofanywhiteman，wouldbringaman—of—warthatwouldkilltheoffendersandchopdownthepreciouscocoanuttrees。Thenthereweretheboatboys，withmindsfullymadeuptodrownhimbyaccidentatthefirstopportunitytocapsizethecutter。

OnlyBunstersawtoitthattheboatdidnotcapsize。

Maukiwasofadifferentbreed，andescapebeingimpossiblewhileBunsterlived，hewasresolvedtogetthewhiteman。Thetroublewasthathecouldneverfindachance。Bunsterwasalwaysonguard。Dayandnighthisrevolverswerereadytohand。Hepermittednobodytopassbehindhisback，asMaukilearnedafterhavingbeenknockeddownseveraltimes。Bunsterknewthathehadmoretofearfromthegood—natured，evensweet—faced，MalaitaboythanfromtheentirepopulationofLordHowe;anditgaveaddedzesttotheprogrammeoftormenthewascarryingout。AndMaukiwalkedsmall，acceptedhispunishments，andwaited。

Allotherwhitemenhadrespectedhistambos，butnotsoBunster。

Mauki’sweeklyallowanceoftobaccowastwosticks。BunsterpassedthemtohiswomanandorderedMaukitoreceivethemfromherhand。Butthiscouldnotbe，andMaukiwentwithouthistobacco。Inthesamewayhewasmadetomissmanyameal，andtogohungrymanyaday。Hewasorderedtomakechowderoutofthebigclamsthatgrewinthelagoon。Thishecouldnotdo，forclamsweretambo。

Sixtimesinsuccessionherefusedtotouchtheclams，andsixtimeshewasknockedsenseless。Bunsterknewthattheboywoulddiefirst，butcalledhisrefusalmutiny，andwouldhavekilledhimhadtherebeenanothercooktotakehisplace。

Oneofthetrader’sfavoritetrickswastocatchMauki’skinkylocksandbathisheadagainstthewall。AnothertrickwastocatchMaukiunawaresandthrusttheliveendofacigaragainsthisflesh。ThisBunstercalledvaccination，andMaukiwasvaccinatedanumberoftimesaweek。Once，inarage，BunsterrippedthecuphandlefromMauki’snose，tearingtheholeclearoutofthecartilage。

"Oh，whatamug！"washiscomment，whenhesurveyedthedamagehehadwrought。

Theskinofasharkislikesandpaper，buttheskinofarayfishislikearasp。IntheSouthSeasthenativesuseitasawoodfileinsmoothingdowncanoesandpaddles。Bunsterhadamittenmadeofrayfishskin。ThefirsttimehetrieditonMauki，withonesweepofthehanditfetchedtheskinoffhisbackfromnecktoarmpit。Bunsterwasdelighted。Hegavehiswifeatasteofthemitten，andtrieditoutthoroughlyontheboatboys。Theprimeministerscameinforastrokeeach，andtheyhadtogrinandtakeitforajoke。

"Laugh，damnyou，laugh！"wasthecuehegave。

Maukicameinforthelargestshareofthemitten。Neveradaypassedwithoutacaressfromit。Thereweretimeswhenthelossofsomuchcuticlekepthimawakeatnight，andoftenthehalf—healedsurfacewasrakedrawafreshbythefacetiousMr。Bunster。Maukicontinuedhispatientwait，secureintheknowledgethatsoonerorlaterhistimewouldcome。Andheknewjustwhathewasgoingtodo，downtothesmallestdetail，whenthetimedidcome。

OnemorningBunstergotupinamoodforknockingsevenbellsoutoftheuniverse。HebeganonMauki，andwounduponMauki，intheintervalknockingdownhiswifeandhammeringalltheboatboys。AtbreakfasthecalledthecoffeeslopsandthrewthescaldingcontentsofthecupintoMauki’sface。Byteno’clockBunsterwasshiveringwithague，andhalfanhourlaterhewasburningwithfever。Itwasnoordinaryattack。Itquicklybecamepernicious，anddevelopedintoblack—waterfever。Thedayspassed，andhegrewweakerandweaker，neverleavinghisbed。Maukiwaitedandwatched，thewhilehisskingrewintactoncemore。Heorderedtheboystobeachthecutter，scrubherbottom，andgiveherageneraloverhauling。TheythoughttheorderemanatedfromBunster，andtheyobeyed。ButBunsteratthetimewaslyingunconsciousandgivingnoorders。ThiswasMauki’schance，butstillhewaited。

Whentheworstwaspast，andBunsterlayconvalescentandconscious，butweakasababy，Maukipackedhisfewtrinkets，includingthechinacuphandle，intohistradebox。Thenhewentovertothevillageandinterviewedthekingandhistwoprimeministers。

"ThisfellaBunster，himgoodfellayouliketoomuch？"heasked。

Theyexplainedinonevoicethattheylikedthetradernotatall。Theministerspouredfortharecitalofalltheindignitiesandwrongsthathadbeenheapeduponthem。Thekingbrokedownandwept。Maukiinterruptedrudely。

"Yousavveme——mebigfellamarstermycountry。Younolikemthisfellawhitemarster。Menolikem。Plentygoodyouputhundredcocoanut，twohundredcocoanut，threehundredcocoanutalongcutter。Himfinish，yougosleepmgoodfella。Altogetherkanakasleepmgoodfella。Bimebybigfellanoisealonghouse，younosavvehearmthatfellanoise。Youaltogethersleepstrongfellatoomuch。"

InlikemannerMaukiinterviewedtheboatboys。ThenheorderedBunster’swifetoreturntoherfamilyhouse。Hadsherefused，hewouldhavebeeninaquandary，forhistambowouldnothavepermittedhimtolayhandsonher。

Thehousedeserted，heenteredthesleepingroom，wherethetraderlayinadoze。Maukifirstremovedtherevolvers，thenplacedtherayfishmittenonhishand。Bunster’sfirstwarningwasastrokeofthemittenthatremovedtheskinthefulllengthofhisnose。

"Goodfella，eh？"Maukigrinned，betweentwostrokes，oneofwhichswepttheforeheadbareandtheotherofwhichcleanedoffonesideofhisface。"Laugh，damnyou，laugh。"

Maukididhisworkthroughly，andthekanakas，hidingintheirhouses，heardthe"bigfellanoise"thatBunstermadeandcontinuedtomakeforanhourormore。

WhenMaukiwasdone，hecarriedtheboatcompassandalltheriflesandammunitiondowntothecutter，whichheproceededtoballastwithcasesoftobacco。Itwaswhileengagedinthisthatahideous，skinlessthingcameoutofthehouseandranscreamingdownthebeachtillitfellinthesandandmowedandgibberedunderthescorchingsun。Maukilookedtowarditandhesitated。Thenhewentoverandremovedthehead，whichhewrappedinamatandstowedinthesternlockerofthecutter。

Sosoundlydidthekanakassleepthroughthatlonghotdaythattheydidnotseethecutterrunoutthroughthepassageandheadsouth，close—hauledonthesoutheasttrade。NorwasthecuttereversightedonthatlongtacktotheshoresofYsabel，andduringthetedioushead—beatfromtheretoMalaita。HelandedatPortAdamswithawealthofriflesandtobaccosuchasnoonemanhadeverpossessedbefore。Buthedidnotstopthere。Hehadtakenawhiteman’shead，andonlythebushcouldshelterhim。Sobackhewenttothebushvillages，whereheshotoldFanfoaandhalfadozenofthechiefmen，andmadehimselfthechiefoverallthevillages。Whenhisfatherdied，Mauki’sbrotherruledinPortAdams，andjoinedtogether，salt—watermenandbushmen，theresultingcombinationwasthestrongestofthetenscorefightingtribesofMalaita。

MorethanhisfearoftheBritishgovernmentwasMauki’sfearoftheall—powerfulMoongleamSoapCompany;andonedayamessagecameuptohiminthebush，remindinghimthatheowedtheCompanyeightandone—halfyearsoflabor。Hesentbackafavorableanswer，andthenappearedtheinevitablewhiteman，thecaptainoftheschooner，theonlywhitemanduringMauki’sreign，whoventuredthebushandcameoutalive。Thismannotonlycameout，buthebroughtwithhimsevenhundredandfiftydollarsingoldsovereigns——themoneypriceofeightyearsandahalfoflaborplusthecostpriceofcertainriflesandcasesoftobacco。

Maukinolongerweighsonehundredandtenpounds。Hisstomachisthreetimesitsformergirth，andhehasfourwives。Hehasmanyotherthings——riflesandrevolvers，thehandleofachinacup，andanexcellentcollectionofbushmen’sheads。Butmorepreciousthantheentirecollectionisanotherhead，perfectlydriedandcured，withsandyhairandayellowishbeard，whichiskeptwrappedinthefinestoffibrelava—lavas。WhenMaukigoestowarwithvillagesbeyondhisrealm，heinvariablygetsoutthishead，andaloneinhisgrasspalace，contemplatesitlongandsolemnly。Atsuchtimesthehushofdeathfallsonthevillage，andnotevenapickaninnydaresmakeanoise。Theheadisesteemedthemostpowerfuldevil—devilonMalaita，andtothepossessionofitisascribedallofMauki’sgreatness。

"YAH！YAH！YAH！"

Hewasawhiskey—guzzlingScotchman，andhedownedhiswhiskeyneat，beginningwithhisfirsttotpunctuallyatsixinthemorning，andthereafterrepeatingitatregularintervalsthroughoutthedaytillbedtime，whichwasusuallymidnight。Hesleptbutfivehoursoutofthetwenty—four，andfortheremainingnineteenhourshewasquietlyanddecentlydrunk。DuringtheeightweeksIspentwithhimonOolongAtoll，Ineversawhimdrawasoberbreath。

Infact，hissleepwassoshortthatheneverhadtimetosoberup。ItwasthemostbeautifulandorderlyperennialdrunkIhaveeverobserved。

McAllisterwashisname。Hewasanoldman，andveryshakyonhispins。Hishandtrembledaswithapalsy，especiallynoticeablewhenhepouredhiswhiskey，thoughIneverknewhimtospilladrop。Hehadbeentwenty—eightyearsinMelanesia，rangingfromGermanNewGuineatotheGermanSolomons，andsothoroughlyhadhebecomeidentifiedwiththatportionoftheworld，thathehabituallyspokeinthatbastardlingocalled"bech—de—mer。"Thus，inconversationwithme，SUNHECOMEUPmeantsunrise;KAI—KAIHESTOPmeantthatdinnerwasserved;andBELLYBELONGMEWALKABOUTmeantthathewassickathisstomach。Hewasasmallman，andawitheredone，burnedinsideandoutsidebyardentspiritsandardentsun。Hewasacinder，abitofaclinkerofaman，alittleanimatedclinker，notyetquitecold，thatmovedstifflyandbystartsandjerkslikeanautomaton。Agustofwindwouldhaveblownhimaway。

Heweighedninetypounds。

Buttheimmensethingabouthimwasthepowerwithwhichheruled。OolongAtollwasonehundredandfortymilesincircumference。Onesteeredbycompasscourseinitslagoon。ItwaspopulatedbyfivethousandPolynesians，allstrappingmenandwomen，manyofthemstandingsixfeetinheightandweighingacoupleofhundredpounds。Oolongwastwohundredandfiftymilesfromthenearestland。Twiceayearalittleschoonercalledtocollectcopra。TheonewhitemanonOolongwasMcAllister，pettytraderandunintermittentguzzler;

andheruledOolonganditssixthousandsavageswithanironhand。Hesaidcome，andtheycame，go，andtheywent。Theyneverquestionedhiswillnorjudgment。HewascantankerousasonlyanagedScotchmancanbe，andinterferedcontinuallyintheirpersonalaffairs。WhenNugu，theking’sdaughter，wantedtomarryHaunaufromtheotherendoftheatoll，herfathersaidyes;butMcAllistersaidno，andthemarriagenevercameoff。Whenthekingwantedtobuyacertainisletinthelagoonfromthechiefpriest，McAllistersaidno。

ThekingwasindebttotheCompanytothetuneof180，000cocoanuts，anduntilthatwaspaidhewasnottospendasinglecocoanutonanythingelse。

AndyetthekingandhispeopledidnotloveMcAllister。Intruth，theyhatedhimhorribly，and，tomyknowledge，thewholepopulation，withthepriestsatthehead，triedvainlyforthreemonthstoprayhimtodeath。Thedevil—devilstheysentafterhimwereawe—inspiring，butsinceMcAllisterdidnotbelieveindevil—devils，theywerewithoutpoweroverhim。WithdrunkenScotchmenallsignsfail。Theygatheredupscrapsoffoodwhichhadtouchedhislips，anemptywhiskeybottle，acocoanutfromwhichhehaddrunk，andevenhisspittle，andperformedallkindsofdeviltriesoverthem。ButMcAllisterlivedon。Hishealthwassuperb。Henevercaughtfever;norcoughsnorcolds;

dysenterypassedhimby;andthemalignantulcersandvileskindiseasesthatattackblacksandwhitesalikeinthatclimateneverfasteneduponhim。Hemusthavebeensosaturatedwithalcoholastodefythelodgmentofgerms。I

usedtoimaginethemfallingtothegroundinshowersofmicroscopiccindersasfastastheyenteredhiswhiskey—soddenaura。Noonelovedhim，notevengerms，whilehelovedonlywhiskey，andstillhelived。

Iwaspuzzled。Icouldnotunderstandsixthousandnativesputtingupwiththatwitheredshrimpofatyrant。Itwasamiraclethathehadnotdiedsuddenlylongsince。UnlikethecowardlyMelanesians，thepeoplewerehigh—stomachedandwarlike。Inthebiggraveyard，atheadandfeetofthegraves，wererelicsofpastsanguinaryhistory——blubber—spades，rustyoldbayonetsandcutlasses，copperbolts，rudder—irons，harpoons，bombguns，bricksthatcouldhavecomefromnowherebutawhaler’strying—outfurnace，andoldbrasspiecesofthesixteenthcenturythatverifiedthetraditionsoftheearlySpanishnavigators。ShipaftershiphadcometogriefonOolong。Notthirtyyearsbefore，thewhalerBLENNERDALE，runningintothelagoonforrepair，hadbeencutoffwithallhands。InsimilarfashionhadthecrewoftheGASKET，asandalwoodtrader，perished。TherewasabigFrenchbark，theTOULON，becalmedofftheatoll，whichtheislandersboardedafterasharptussleandwreckedintheLipauPassage，thecaptainandahandfulofsailorsescapinginthelongboat。ThenthereweretheSpanishpieces，whichtoldofthelossofoneoftheearlyexplorers。Allthis，ofthevesselsnamed，isamatterofhistory，andistobefoundintheSOUTHPACIFICSAILINGDIRECTORY。

Butthattherewasotherhistory，unwritten，Iwasyettolearn。InthemeantimeIpuzzledwhysixthousandprimitivesavagesletonedegenerateScotchdespotlive。

OnehotafternoonMcAllisterandIsatontheverandalookingoutoverthelagoon，withallitswonderofjeweledcolors。Atourbacks，acrossthehundredyardsofpalm—studdedsand，theoutersurfroaredonthereef。Itwasdreadfullywarm。Wewereinfourdegreesouthlatitudeandthesunwasdirectlyoverhead，havingcrossedtheLineafewdaysbeforeonitsjourneysouth。Therewasnowind——notevenacatspaw。Theseasonofthesoutheasttradewasdrawingtoanearlyclose，andthenorthwestmonsoonhadnotyetbeguntoblow。

"Theycan’tdanceworthadamn，"saidMcAllister。

IhadhappenedtomentionthatthePolynesiandancesweresuperiortothePapuan，andthisMcAllisterhaddenied，fornootherreasonthanhiscantankerousness。Butitwastoonottoargue，andIsaidnothing。Besides，I

hadneverseentheOolongpeopledance。

"I’llproveittoyou，"heannounced，beckoningtotheblackNewHanoverboy，alaborrecruit，whoservedascookandgeneralhouseservant。"Hey，you，boy，youtell’monefellakingcomealongme。"

Theboydeparted，andbackcametheprimeminister，perturbed，illatease，andgarrulouswithapologeticexplanation。Inshort，thekingslept，andwasnottobedisturbed。

"Kingheplentystrongfellasleep，"washisfinalsentence。

McAllisterwasinsucharagethattheprimeministerincontinentlyfled，toreturnwiththekinghimself。Theywereamagnificentpair，thekingespecially，whomusthavebeenallofsixfeetthreeinchesinheight。Hisfeatureshadtheeagle—likequalitythatissofrequentlyfoundinthoseoftheNorthAmericanIndian。Hehadbeenmoldedandborntorule。Hiseyesflashedashelistened，butrightmeeklyheobeyedMcAllister’scommandtofetchacoupleofhundredofthebestdancers，maleandfemale，inthevillage。Anddancetheydid，fortwomortalhours，underthatbroilingsun。

Theydidnotlovehimforit，andlittlehecared，intheenddismissingthemwithabuseandsneers。

Theabjectservilityofthosemagnificentsavageswasterrifying。Howcoulditbe？Whatwasthesecretofhisrule？MoreandmoreIpuzzledasthedayswentby，andthoughIobservedperpetualexamplesofhisundisputedsovereignty，neveraclewwasthereastohowitwas。

OnedayIhappenedtospeakofmydisappointmentinfailingtotradeforabeautifulpairoforangecowries。ThepairwasworthfivepoundsinSydneyifitwasworthacent。Ihadofferedtwohundredsticksoftobaccototheowner，whohadheldoutforthreehundred。WhenIcasuallymentionedthesituation，McAllisterimmediatelysentfortheman，tooktheshellsfromhim，andturnedthemovertome。Fiftystickswereallhepermittedmetopayforthem。Themanacceptedthetobaccoandseemedoverjoyedatgettingoffsoeasily。Asforme，Iresolvedtokeepabridleonmytongueinthefuture。AndstillImulledoverthesecretofMcAllister’spower。Ievenwenttotheextentofaskinghimdirectly，butallhedidwastocockoneeye，lookwise，andtakeanotherdrink。

OnenightIwasoutfishinginthelagoonwithOti，themanwhohadbeenmulctedofthecowries。Privily，Ihadmadeuptohimanadditionalhundredandfiftysticks，andhehadcometoregardmewitharespectthatwasalmostveneration，whichwascurious，seeingthathewasanoldman，twicemyageatleast。

"Whatnameyoufellakanakaallthesamepickaninny？"Ibeganonhim。"Thisfellatraderheonefella。Youfellakanakaplentyfellatoomuch。Youfellakanakajustlike’mdog——plentyfrightalongthatfellatrader。Henoeatyou，fella。Henoget’mteethalonghim。Whatnameyoutoomuchfright？"

"S’poseplentyfellakanakakillm？"heasked。

"Hedie，"Iretorted。"Youfellakanakakill’mplentyfellawhitemanlongtimebefore。Whatnameyoufrightthisfellawhiteman？"

"Yes，wekill’mplenty，"washisanswer。"Myword！Anyamount！Longtimebefore。Onetime，meyoungfellatoomuch，onebigfellashiphestopoutside。

Windhenoblow。Plentyfellakanakaweget’mcanoe，plentyfellacanoe，wegocatch’mthatfellaship。Myword——wecatch’mbigfellafight。Two，threewhitemenshootlikehell。Wenofright。Wecomealongside，wegoupside，plentyfella，maybeIthinkfifty—ten（fivehundred）。OnefellawhiteMary（woman）belongthatfellaship。NeverbeforeIsee’mwhiteMary。Bimebyplentywhitemanfinish。Onefellaskipperhenodie。Fivefella，sixfellawhitemannodie。Skipperhesingout。Somefellawhitemanhefight。Somefellawhitemanhelowerawayboat。Afterthat，alltogetheroverthesidetheygo。SkipperheslingwhiteMarydown。Afterthattheywashee（row）strongfellaplentytoomuch。Fatherbelongme，thattimehestrongfella。Hethrow’monefellaspear。ThatfellaspearhegoinonesidethatwhiteMary。Henostop。Myword，hegooutothersidethatfellaMary。Shefinish。Menofright。Plentykanakatoomuchnofright。"

OldOti’spridehadbeentouched，forhesuddenlystrippeddownhislava—lavaandshowedmetheunmistakablescarofabullet。BeforeIcouldspeak，hislineranoutsuddenly。Hecheckeditandattemptedtohaulin，butfoundthatthefishhadrunaroundacoralbranch。Castingalookofreproachatmeforhavingbeguiledhimfromhiswatchfulness，hewentovertheside，feetfirst，turningoverafterhegotunderandfollowinghislinedowntobottom。Thewaterwastenfathoms。Ileanedoverandwatchedtheplayofhisfeet，growingdimanddimmer，astheystirredthewanphosphorescenceintoghostlyfires。

Tenfathoms——sixtyfeet——itwasnothingtohim，anoldman，comparedwiththevalueofahookandline。Afterwhatseemedfiveminutes，thoughitcouldnothavebeenmorethanaminute，Isawhimflamingwhitelyupward。Hebrokesurfaceanddroppedatenpoundrockcodintothecanoe，thelineandhookintact，thelatterstillfastinthefish’smouth。

"Itmaybe，"Isaidremorselessly。"Younofrightlongago。Youplentyfrightnowalongthatfellatrader。"

"Yes，plentyfright，"heconfessed，withanairofdismissingthesubject。Forhalfanhourwepulledupourlinesandflungthemoutinsilence。Thensmallfish—sharksbegantobite，andafterlosingahookapiece，wehauledinandwaitedforthesharkstogotheirway。

"Ispeakyoutrue，"Otibrokeintospeech，"thenyousavvewefrightnow。"

Ilightedupmypipeandwaited，andthestorythatOtitoldmeinatrociousbech—de—merIhereturnintoproperEnglish。Otherwise，inspiritandorderofnarrative，thetaleisasitfellfromOti’slips。

"Itwasafterthatthatwewereveryproud。Wehadfoughtmanytimeswiththestrangewhitemenwholiveuponthesea，andalwayswehadbeatenthem。Afewofuswerekilled，butwhatwasthatcomparedwiththestoresofwealthofathousandthousandkindsthatwefoundontheships？Andthenoneday，maybetwentyyearsago，ortwenty—five，therecameaschoonerrightthroughthepassageandintothelagoon。Itwasalargeschoonerwiththreemasts。Shehadfivewhitemenandmaybefortyboat’screw，blackfellowsfromNewGuineaandNewBritain;andshehadcometofishbeche—de—mer。Shelayatanchoracrossthelagoonfromhere，atPauloo，andherboatsscatteredouteverywhere，makingcampsonthebeacheswheretheycuredthebeche—de—mer。Thismadethemweakbydividingthem，forthosewhofishedhereandthoseontheschooneratPauloowerefiftymilesapart，andtherewereothersfartherawaystill。

"Ourkingandheadmenheldcouncil，andIwasoneinthecanoethatpaddledallafternoonandallnightacrossthelagoon，bringingwordtothepeopleofPauloothatinthemorningwewouldattackthefishingcampsattheonetimeandthatitwasforthemtotaketheschooner。Wewhobroughtthewordweretiredwiththepaddling，butwetookpartintheattack。Ontheschoonerweretwowhitemen，theskipperandthesecondmate，withhalfadozenblackboys。

Theskipperwiththreeboyswecaughtonshoreandkilled，butfirsteightofustheskipperkilledwithhistworevolvers。Wefoughtclosetogether，yousee，athandgrapples。

"Thenoiseofourfightingtoldthematewhatwashappening，andheputfoodandwaterandasailinthesmalldingy，whichwassosmallthatitwasnomorethantwelvefeetlong。Wecamedownupontheschooner，athousandmen，coveringthelagoonwithourcanoes。Also，wewereblowingconchshells，singingwarsongs，andstrikingthesidesofthecanoeswithourpaddles。Whatchancehadonewhitemanandthreeblackboysagainstus？Nochanceatall，andthemateknewit。

"Whitemenarehell。Ihavewatchedthemmuch，andIamanoldmannow，andI

understandatlastwhythewhitemenhavetakentothemselvesalltheislandsinthesea。Itisbecausetheyarehell。Hereareyouinthecanoewithme。

Youarehardlymorethanaboy。Youarenotwise，foreachdayItellyoumanythingsyoudonotknow。WhenIwasalittlepickaninny，Iknewmoreaboutfishandthewaysoffishthanyouknownow。Iamanoldman，butIswimdowntothebottomofthelagoon，andyoucannotfollowme。Whatareyougoodfor，anyway？Idonotknow，excepttofight。Ihaveneverseenyoufight，yetI

knowthatyouarelikeyourbrothersandthatyouwillfightlikehell。Also，youareafool，likeyourbrothers。Youdonotknowwhenyouarebeaten。Youwillfightuntilyoudie，andthenitwillbetoolatetoknowthatyouarebeaten。

"Nowbeholdwhatthismatedid。Aswecamedownuponhim，coveringtheseaandblowingourconches，heputofffromtheschoonerinthesmallboat，alongwiththethreeblackboys，androwedforthepassage。Thereagainhewasafool，fornowisemanwouldputouttoseainsosmallaboat。Thesidesofitwerenotfourinchesabovethewater。Twentycanoeswentafterhim，filledwithtwohundredyoungmen。Wepaddledfivefathomswhilehisblackboyswererowingonefathom。Hehadnochance，buthewasafool。Hestoodupintheboatwitharifle，andheshotmanytimes。Hewasnotagoodshot，butaswedrewclosemanyofuswerewoundedandkilled。Butstillhehadnochance。

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