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Updated: May 9, 2025
The coarse and somewhat worn matting which had covered the floor had been taken away and replaced by new squares, and the room presented the usual neat and orderly appearance in which it was always kept by Tepi and my other servant. "Master," said Tepi, "art hungry?" "Aye," I replied, "I would eat; but first tell me of the dead man. Who hath taken him away?"
Then one of the visitors recognised Lucia, and now invitations poured in upon us from all sides, and finally Lucia and Niâbon, accompanied by Tematau, went ashore with them, leaving Tepi and myself on board. "Good-night, Jim dear," said Lucia, as she was about to get into the shore boat, "you will come on shore early, won't you?
Tepi, with his arm in a sling, was bending over me, and sitting beside my bed were two padres. "Where am I, good fathers?" I asked. "In San Ignacio, my son," replied the elder of the two. "God has spared you and this Indian sailor of yours to render thanks to Him and the Holy Virgin for His mercy." "And where are my friends the two girls and Tematau? Tell me, Tepi!
Through my glasses I saw that they were carrying nets and fish baskets, and I felt relieved at once; the moment they saw us they dropped their burdens and came on at a run. None of them were armed. "They are some of the king's fisherfolk," said Tepi, scanning them closely; "that is their village, Only fishermen and two of the king's pilots live here. I have heard them spoken of many times."
The latter looked at us without the slightest fear, even when Tepi, picking up a carbine, thrust the muzzle of it almost into his face. Niâbon gently took the weapon from Tepi's hand, laid it down and waited for me to question our prisoner. "Is the white man dead?" I asked. "Ay, he died but now. The bullet went in at where the ribs join."
Then, too, the firearms we carried were a further incentive to treachery the king's mania to increase his stock of arms and ammunition being well known. "Very well," I said to Lucia, "I'm quite as anxious as any one of us to get away. Let us wait, however, till Tully's boat is well down the lagoon." "Master," said Tepi, "do not delay.
Tepi and Tematau joined her in her assertion that Tully meant mischief and would seize the boat for the king, who would have no compunction in resorting to violence or murder to achieve his object, especially with a man like Tully to cany out his wishes. Tepi also said that once the king knew that Niâbon was on board he would use every effort to gain possession of her.
I don't like your staying behind, but you and Tepi will perhaps get a good night's rest now that three of us will be out of the way. I should never go to sleep if I stayed on board to-night. I am so excited." I stooped and kissed her little upturned face, and in another moment she was in the boat, which at once pushed off into the darkness and made for shore.
But I would not let Lucia or Niâbon think that I had forgotten about it; so I spoke sharply to poor Tepi, and told him to mind his own business. Did he think, I asked, that I was a fool and did not know either of the south passage or my own mind? And so I let my vanity and obstinacy overrule my common sense.
The night was dark, but fine, and the light southeasterly breeze sent us along at about three knots over a very smooth sea. Tepi was standing for'ard on the lookout, for fear we might run into any fishing canoes from Taritai, Tematau was busying himself about our miniature galley, my two women passengers were rearranging their little cabin, and I steered. "Well, here we are at last, Mrs.
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