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For had the destroyers of poor Oliver and his crew discovered the canoes they probably would at once have launched their boat again, and have put to sea, or at least prepared themselves for an attack. But great events so often come of small things. For nearly an hour Harvey, Roka, and Huka fished for pura from the coral ledges, but without success.
But for the present they said nothing, but ate their biscuit and tinned beef in cheerful silence, after waiting for Tessa and Maoni to begin. Huka, their recognised leader, and Malua, Harvey's servant, had both assured them that the captain and Chard would be brought to punishment, but this assurance was not satisfactory to the majority of them.
Oh, satisfier of the hearts of all! oh, world enchantress! may we ever be devoted to thee! Your vehicles, the huka, the pipe, let them ever remain before us. At the mere sight of them we shall obtain heavenly delight.
How could I? Harvey, I never, never thought about anybody in the world but you," and she looked into his face with swimming eyes as he pressed his lips to hers. "There, I'll let you go now, dear. I can hear Huka and the others coming for you. But Harvey dear, don't stay away for two whole days."
The captain and the supercargo have been talking about thee and the lady." Then he repeated all that which Huka had heard. "The infernal scoundrels!" Harvey could not help exclaiming. "But they won't get rid of me as easily as they think." "What is it, Harvey?" asked Tessa, anxiously bending forward to him. The trader thought a moment or two before speaking.
Huka took the steer-oar, two of the after-oars were double-banked, and Atkins and Harvey sprang forward with their Sniders, and began firing at the captain's boat, though at a range which gave them little chance of hitting her. Every moment, however, the distance was decreasing, and the two men fired steadily and carefully. But the Winchesters still cracked for another five minutes.
Then she rose from the couch and took away the huka. Kamal Mani's fit of sulking thus broken through, she gave Surja Mukhi's letter to be read, by way of explanation saying "Tell me the meaning of this, or I shall cut your pay." "Rather give me next month's pay in advance, then I will explain." Kamal Mani brought her mouth close to that of Srish Chandra, who took the coin he wished.
Samuel Chard, who had been struck a smashing blow on the head from the butt of his own Winchester, which Huka had wrested from him. "Put this beast into one of the boats, Mr. Carr. We must not leave the blackguard here, as he is not dead, and we can't save the ship, I fear. Now then, hurry along that hose."
About an hour before dawn, however, a more than usually heavy bank formed to windward, and Harvey, with Huka and the other natives, could see that there was more wind in it than would be safe for the mate's boat, which was deep in the water, owing to the number of people in her. Oliver agreed with them that they should tranship three or four of their number into the second mate's boat.
The boy did as requested, and remained away for about ten minutes. When he returned he seated himself as usual near his master. Hendry was in his cabin on deck, Chard was below in the trade room, and only Tessa, Harvey, and himself were on the after-deck. "Master," he said in Fijian, to Harvey, "listen to what Huka, the man of Niué, has told me.
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