“God sends us such trials to brighten our crown,” he said comfortingly.  “I have seen white men dead from the nonos.  They were not here in the old days, but since the jungle has overrun us because of depopulation, they are frightful.  During the mass, when the priest cannot defend himself, they are worst, as if sent by the devil who hates the holy sacrifice.  But, mon vieux, you were asking about those signs. Alors, I will give the facts to you, and you can judge.”

He poured me a goblet of the wine; I removed my cotton coat, covered my hands with it, against the gadflies, and prepared to listen.

“Seven years before the great anniversary,” said Pere Simeon, sipping his wine, “I thought out my plan.  There would be masses, vespers, benedictions, litanies, and choirs.  But my mind was set upon a representation of the Maid as she rode into Rheims to crown the king after her victories.  She was, you will remember, clothed all in white armor and rode a white horse, both the emblems of purity.  That was the note I would sound, for I believe too much had been made of Joan the warrior, Joan the heroine, and not enough of Joan the saint.  Oh, Monsieur, there have been evil forces at work there!”

He clasped his thigh with both hands and groaned, and I knew that though a nono had bitten him there, his anguish was more of soul than body.  I lighted his cigarette, as he proceeded: 

“Two things were needful above all; a handsome white horse and a Marquesan girl of virtue.  Three years before the jubilee I was enabled, through a gift inspired by Joan, to buy a horse of that kind in Hiva-oa.  I had this mare pastured on that island until the time came for bringing her here.

“Now as to the girl, I found in the nun’s school a child who was beautiful, strong, and good.  Her father was the captain of a foreign vessel and had dwelt here for a time; he was of your country.  Of the mother I will not speak.  The girl was everything to be desired.  But this was seven years before the day of the fete.  That was a difficulty.

“I stressed to the good sisters the absolute necessity of bringing up the child in the perfect path of sanctity.  I had her dedicated to Joan, and special prayers were said by me and by the nuns that the evil one would not trap her into the sins of other Marquesan girls.  Also she was observed diligently.  For seven years we watched and prayed, and Monsieur, we succeeded.  I will not say that it was a miracle, but it was a very striking triumph for Joan.

“That for the human; now for the beast.  A month before the fete I commissioned Captain Capriata to bring the mare to Tai-o-hae in his schooner.  The animal came safely to the harbor.  She was still on deck when a storm arose, and Capriata thought it best for him to lift his anchor and go to the open sea.  The wind was driving hard toward the shore, and there was danger of shipwreck.”