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Updated: May 21, 2025
But the figure which came forward into the light, was that of Rokoa, and I felt pained at the wrong which my momentary doubts had done our inert, but well-meaning, host. Rokoa breathed quick and short. Without speaking, he pointed to the moon, now on the edge of the western horizon of forest, to intimate that he was punctual to the time set for his return.
"After Mowno had concluded his conference with Rokoa, he led us to a large building near the beach, in a very ruinous and decayed state, and completely over-shadowed by aged tamanu-trees. It seemed, from its size and peculiar structure, to be a deserted marae, or native temple.
This created such a panic among our crew, that they could not be prevailed upon to paddle nearer. Rokoa stood up in the bow, and made such signs and gestures as are used to indicate peaceful and friendly intentions, while Barton displayed some of his most attractive-looking trinkets.
Fortunately Rokoa, whose high spirit would have taken instant offence at the least semblance of a threat, did not hear this. I saw plainly, that for some reason, the young chief had set his heart upon having either Barton or myself visit his village, and I suspected this was, in fact, the sole object of his return.
Rokoa restrained his superior speed, and kept beside Barton and myself. `Courage, Artua! he said, `we are near the shore, and he offered me his hand to assist me, but I would not take it. Notwithstanding our utmost exertions our pursuers gained upon us.
A remarkable looking black rock, resembling the hull of a large man-of-war, rose abruptly from the water about half a mile from the shore. "Rokoa, who had sailed a great deal among the islands east of Tahiti, and had visited most of them, could form no conjecture in regard to the one now in sight.
The language which he spoke was a dialect of the Tahitian, differing from it so slightly that I had no difficulty in understanding what he said. "When he had finished, Rokoa made an appropriate reply, according to the rules of Polynesian etiquette. He commenced by paying our gaudily-attired friend some florid compliments.
I did not see any one actually roasted and eaten, but if the savages had caught us, I suspect there would have been more to tell, and probably no one here to tell it." "But," persisted Johnny, "the story don't end there. You haven't told us about the rest of the voyage, and whether Rokoa found his brother at last." "O, that don't properly belong to this story.
After having dogged us to Mowno's house and seen us enter, they withdrew into the forest out of sight, where they probably remained on the watch. Rokoa now proceeded to select from Mowno's store of weapons, a club, of more formidable weight and size, than that which he had wrested from the priest, and requested Barton and myself to follow his example.
"When I informed Rokoa of the young chief's invitation, and my acceptance of it, he refused to consent to my going, except upon the condition that he should accompany me, and share whatever danger might attend the step. Mowno acquiesced in this arrangement, though I thought he didn't seem to be altogether pleased with it.
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