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Captain Dermott took advantage of the vessel being at rest to wish Mr. Wakefield "God speed," and said:

"Is it possible, now, Mr. Wakefield, that you're goin' ashore among them fellows, without ever a weepon with you? Sure, it isn't safe!"

"A great deal safer without than with, I think," replied he. "I don't intend to take so much as a pop-gun. If they see me with my revolver or my gun, they'll take their clubs and spears. No; I'm confident this is the best way. If I have to to be kept on shore with guns, I had better stay away altogether. My weakness is my strength. I wish you could come and stay with me, and get to know these fellows in their homes, without the excitement of the vessel's arrival.

"Indeed, and I'd rather not, Sir; thanking you all the same. I declare t'ye I wouldn't do what you're going to do now,-no! not if the Bishop was to give me the vessel; I would'nt !" "Well, each one to his own business, I suppose," said Mr. Wakefield, smiling.

"Tell me," continued the kind-hearted captain, "tell me did the Cook give you all you want, Sir? Take plenty now. You can't get more, you know."

"That's true, Dermott. Yes, thank you; I have everything. Good-bye! I daresay I shall be right glad to see the old vessel again."

"Indeed, I'll be quite anxious till I see you safe aboard again. Take care of yourself, and don't trust them fellows too much. I don't like the looks o' them."

"I intend either to trust them wholly and entirely or else not at all," was the determined answer.

“You may fill on her, Dermott!" said Bishop Curwen. "Lower the boat, Wakefield, as soon as you're ready. There's the landing-place; under that gable-shaped hill; do you see it?''

"Fill the fore-yard!" shouted the Captain, and a crowd of us amateur sailors flew to the haulyards. It has since occurred

to me that 'Fill the fore-sail!' would be a more rational order to give, than to fill the fore-yard; but you white people are right, of course, as usual.

"Now, Mr. Wakefield!" cried Captain Dermott excitedly, "just tell me when you're ready, and I'll square the yards, and you'll lower the boat. D'ye see that fellow handin' down the end of the top-gallant brace to his friend below in the canoe to hold on by!"

I saw it, and showed my experience and authority by interfering, drawing it up, and making it fast.

A few minutes later, the boat was lowered. Everyone clamoured to go ashore in her at once; but only Malagai, Toroa, and Taorémbé were allowed to do so.

Before we reached the shore I had learned that Toroa had left Matambala and had come to live near Malagai, where he had "built a city." So that now my elder brother, Diara, ruled without a rival in my own Islet.

Meanwhile Malagai, liming away vigourously, was busy hearing all the Happy Island news from Taorémbé, especially how much property he had managed to scrape together in the East.

Then followed a hot discussion as to where Mr. Wakefield was to live. Malagai and Toroa each desired to own him, but to have been monopolised by any one chief would have been a great hindrance; so it was finally settled that he should eat with Malagai and sleep with Toroa, and that I was to be cook down at Tanasémbé, with Talana and Tulu to help in boiling the kettle.

Mr. Wakefield and I then went ashore, while the Bishop kept the boat, and entertained the people with his fish-hooks, his fine personal appearance, his beads, and his grand good humour. Toroa was happy.

My friend compares him to a delighted French dancing master, but without the fashions. His sweetness of manner and polish (I don't mean his cocoa-nut oil polish) were only

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to be equalled by his hops and capers, and fitful nods and smiles, which wrinkled his temples and closed up his eyes like a contented cat's; but not so firmly as to shut out the pleasant prospect of Mr. Wakefield's precious box, which was carried, with much solemnity, on before.

Toroa's new village did him infinite credit; being Toroa's in every feature. Nebuchadnezzar himself could not have been prouder of Babylon than Toroa of Sagaléa. He held his head considerably higher, and seemed to feel the eyes of the world upon him, as he introduced his guest to its various wonders and excellencies, while the multitude of his dependants silently gave way before him.

I saw the host smile, but the guest shudder and turn pale, as we came suddenly upon three new heads on stakes, close by a little square coral altar, ornamented with white skulls and shells. Mr. Wakefield says that the row of skulls had a horrible appearance of laughing at him for being so sensitive, as if they had become quite accustomed to that sort of thing, and had ceased to regard it seriously-a fancy that would never have entered my head.

Mr. Wakefield's quarters consisted of a wicker compartment or cage, ten feet long by three wide, partitioned off from the one wide public apartment, and next to the similar cage-like accommodation provided for Toroa's family. The rare and valuable bird looked, I fancied, a trifle disappointed with his three months' lodging: but he said nothing.

After a hasty but affectionate parting with the Bishop, the boat went off to the vessel, which then stood out to sea, and was soon a mere speck on the horizon.

There was moisture in Percy Wakefield's eyes as they turned shorewards.

"Come," said he, cheerily, "let us see if all the things are right in my chamber. How I wish we could live together But it is all for the best. "

Yes box, satchel, cork-bed, spade; each was in its place.

And then with great reluctance we parted; for Malagai was jealous of my absence.

MR. WAKEFIELD went early to bed, upon the ground, with his satchel for a pillow. To sleep, he says, tired as he was, he could not go.

The rustlings of the women and children on the other side of the bamboo partition, the whispering of the curious crowds of strangers assembled in the common shelter outside, the flickering of the fires, and the constant goings in and out kept him awake.

Then came Toroa, flourishing a large firebrand, to sleep with him!

Against this he protested with success, for his host became so attracted by the box that he soon forgot Mr. Wakefield. He sat down beside it, and upon it, and in front of it; patted it, stroked it, smelled it, listened at it, passed his hand round the lid, and put his fingers one after another into the lock, as if they had been a bunch of keys; telling himself all about it in a low murmur; till the firebrand went out for want of waving, and he followed its example, in a deeply thoughtful

manner.

He was neither seen nor heard again that night by the devoutly thankful Percy Wakefield.

At last all was quiet-so quiet, that my friend says he felt sure that some new noise was coming: and it did come. First, a little squeak, and then a little scuffle, and then came the rats!

They were worse than Toroa, because they were everywhere at once. They sniffed at the tips of his fingers as he spread out his hot hands upon the cool carpet of leaves; they jumped up on to him from the ground, and flung themselves down upon him out of the roof; they bit him, and fought over him, caught their claws in his beard, and scratched his nose in trying to get free; they scampered their own quadrilles all over the roof and walls, ate the Preface to his Prayer Book, and carried off the

cover.

The only variety he had was the occasional fall of a cold lizard upon his face, or the hurry of some affrighted monster of a spider up his legs.

At daybreak, when he could have slept soundly in the sweet coolness of the morning, the Island awoke, and bethought itself of its new Toy. Rustlings, whisperings, flitting shadows, and rattling shutters, soon let him know that he might as well get up and face it.

Directly he came out on to the beach to bathe; with every man, woman, and child in Sagaléa at his heels; I lighted a fire in Malagai's court-yard, and soon had breakfast (a toasted shipbiscuit, four fried plantains, and a cup of tea) ready.

Malagai had much to say about things in general, while he carefully watched for the first time in his life the interesting spectacle of a white man feeding. Aluni and little Dolo were

there, and I introduced them to Percy, who got up, and, having returned thanks for his humble but hearty meal, took a bead necklace out of his satchel, and approached the mother; whereupon the child ran away. But they soon became great friends. Mr. Wakefield had heard the sad story.

My friend finding it necessary to take off his boots in order to shake out some coral grit, Malagai proceeded to examine one of those novelties, but without expressing any surprise.

"Give me some things like these!" said he, as he set down the boot again.