Leaving these sights astern, we presently picked up the slimy husk of a cocoanut, all over green barnacles.  And shortly after, passed two or three limbs of trees, and the solitary trunk of a palm; which, upon sailing nearer, seemed but very recently started on its endless voyage.  As noon came on; the dark purple land-haze, which had been dimly descried resting upon the western horizon, was very nearly obscured.  Nevertheless, behind that dim drapery we doubted not bright boughs were waving.

We were now in high spirits.  Samoa between times humming to himself some heathenish ditty, and Jarl ten times more intent on his silence than ever; yet his eye full of expectation and gazing broad off from our bow.  Of a sudden, shading his face with his hand, he gazed fixedly for an instant, and then springing to his feet, uttered the long-drawn sound—­“Sail ho!”

Just tipping the furthest edge of the sky was a little speck, dancing into view every time we rose upon the swells.  It looked like one of many birds; for half intercepting our view, fell showers of plumage:  a flight of milk-white noddies flying downward to the sea.

But soon the birds are seen no more.  Yet there remains the speck; plainly a sail; but too small for a ship.  Was it a boat after a whale?  The vessel to which it belonged far astern, and shrouded by the haze?  So it seemed.

Quietly, however, we waited the stranger’s nearer approach; confident, that for some time he would not be able to perceive us, owing to our being in what mariners denominate the “sun-glade,” or that part of the ocean upon which the sun’s rays flash with peculiar intensity.

As the sail drew nigh, its failing to glisten white led us to doubt whether it was indeed a whale-boat.  Presently, it showed yellow; and Samoa declared, that it must be the sail of some island craft.  True.  The stranger proving a large double-canoe, like those used by the Polynesians in making passages between distant islands.

The Upoluan was now clamorous for a meeting, to which Jarl was averse.  Deliberating a moment, I directed the muskets to be loaded; then setting the sail the wind on our quarter—­we headed away for the canoe, now sailing at right angles with our previous course.

Here it must be mentioned, that from the various gay cloths and other things provided for barter by the captain of the Parki, I had very strikingly improved my costume; making it free, flowing, and eastern.  I looked like an Emir.  Nor had my Viking neglected to follow my example; though with some few modifications of his own.  With his long tangled hair and harpoon, he looked like the sea-god, that boards ships, for the first time crossing the Equator.  For tatooed Samoa, he yet sported both kilt and turban, reminding one of a tawny leopard, though his spots were all in one place.  Besides this raiment of ours, against emergencies we had provided our boat with divers nankeens and silks.