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Updated: June 9, 2025
By sunset we had crossed over the wide, submerged reef, which for twenty miles runs due north and south on the lee side of Tarawa Lagoon, and hauling up to the wind just as darkness fell, we soon lost sight of our island friends, though we could still hear them shouting our names "Simi," "Niâbon," "Lucia," for some little time after.
Niâbon, in response to my inquiring glance I was shaking from head to foot as I looked at her, but her calm, quiet eyes as she looked into mine restored my nerve spoke clearly. "The German dashed thee against the centre posts of the house, Simi. Then he drew a little pistol from his breast and shot at me, and the bullet struck me on the neck.
"Because, Simi, thou and I and others shall be far away from here when the man's countrymen come in the fighting-ship." "I wish to Heaven we were far away at this moment," I said impatiently. "I am sick to death of the place, and don't want to find myself a prisoner on board a German man-of-war on suspicion of being concerned in Krause's death."
In a little time, as darkness falls, they will return to thee." "Did they take the dead man with them, then?" I persisted. The old fellow met my inquiring glance quite calmly. "I know of no dead man, Simi." I glared angrily at them all round, and then for a moment wondered if they were all crazy or I alone was wrong in my head.
"My blessing on thee, Simi," said the man, as he blew a stream of smoke through his nostrils; "in but a few days I shall be strong, and then there shall be but one white man alive on Tarawa thyself." Niâbon angrily bade him be silent and make no threats; it would be time enough, she said, to talk of revenge when he was able to put a gun to his shoulder or a hand to his knife.
I should tell her of how the wife of the captain of the ship Octavia, from Sydney to Singapore, had seen her husband die, and the famishing crew of the boat which had left the burnt ship, drag his body from her with savage curses and threats, and "Simi." "What is it, Niabon? What would you have me do?
And I can give thee sleep strong, dreamless sleep that, when thou awakenest, will make thee feel strong in thy body and softer in thy now angry heart to Niâbon." "If you can make me sleep now, I'll give you twenty dollars," I said in my English fashion. She took no notice of my rude and clumsy remark, though she had good reason to be offended. "Simi," she said, "shall I give thee sleep?"
"Thou art the captain, Simi," she said in Samoan, "and thou alone canst guide us on the sea. And I think, as thou dost, that we must sail before the storm to Apamama; for when the wind comes suddenly and strong from the north, as it has done now, it sometimes lasteth for five days, and the sea becomes very great."
"This is an evil day for me," I said to the three head men, "and I fear it will prove an evil day to the people of this village, for the wife of the man who lies there told me that a ship of war of his country was soon to be here at this island. And how shall we account for his death?" Niâbon bent forward and spoke "Have no fear, Simi.
Why do you tempt me to let this poor, weak lady accompany me on a voyage, which will, most likely, end in death to us all?" "There will be danger, but no death," she replied dreamily, turning her face away from me towards the sea, and slowly extending her arms; "and thou, Simi thou shalt gain thy heart's desire. For I have seen it all, even as I see it now." "My heart's desire!
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