dance—­and two of the other captains were also dancing in the same fashion.  All round the room were seated many of the high chiefs of Ponape with their wives, dressed very finely, and at one end of the room stood a long table covered with a white cloth, on which was laid food of all kinds and wine and grog to drink—­just as you would see in your own country when a rich man gives a feast.  Presently as we looked, we saw Franka walk into the room from a side door and look about.  His face was flushed, and he staggered slightly in his steps.  He went over to the table and poured out some grog, and then beckoned to Preston to come and drink with him, but Preston smiled and shook his head.  How could he go when he was making the music?  Then Franka struck his clenched fist on the table in anger, and went over to Preston, just as the dancers had stopped.

“‘Why will ye not drink with me?’ he said in a loud voice so that all heard him.  ‘Art thou too great a man to drink with me again?’

“‘Nay,’ answered the other jestingly and taking no heed of Franka’s rude voice and angry eyes, ’not so great that I cannot drink with all my friends tonight, be they white or brown,’ and so saying he bade every one in the room come to the great table with him and drink manuia to him and his young wife.

“So the nine white men—­Preston, and Franka, and the seven whaleship captains, and Nanakin, the head chief of Ponape, and many other lesser chiefs, all gathered together around the table and filled their glasses and drank manuia to the bride, who sat on a chair in the centre of the room surrounded by the chiefs’ wives, and smiled and bowed when my captain called her name and raised his glass towards her.  Then after this he again took up the pese laakau and began to play, and my captain and Solepa danced again.  Suddenly Franka pushed his way through the others and rudely placed his hand on her arm.

“‘Come,’ he said, ‘leave this fellow and dance with me.’

“She cried out in terror, and then silence fell upon all as my captain withdrew his right arm from her waist and struck Franka on the mouth; it was a strong blow, and Franka staggered backwards and then fell near to the open door.  As he rose to his feet again my captain came up to him and bade him leave quickly.  ‘We want no drunken bullies here,’ he said, and at that moment Franka drew a pistol and pointed it at his chest.  I leapt upon him and as we struggled together the pistol went off, but the bullet hurt no one.

“Then there was a great commotion, and my captain and Preston ran to my aid and seized Franka.  They dragged him out of the room, and with words of scorn and contempt threw him out amongst his own people who were gathered together outside the house, with their muskets in their hands.  But already Nanakin and his chiefs had summoned their fighting men; they came running towards us from all directions, and surrounding Franka and his men, drove them away and bade them beware of ever returning to Jakoits.