“There went that rumour through the crowd with which Polynesians receive a prodigy.  As for myself, I stood amazed.  The thing was a common conjuring trick which I have seen performed at home a score of times; but how was I to convince the villagers of that?  I wished I had learned legerdemain instead of Hebrew, that I might have paid the fellow out with his own coin.  But there I was; I could not stand there silent, and the best I could find to say was weak.

“‘I will trouble you not to lay hands on me again,’ said I.

“‘I have no such thought,’ said he, ’nor will I deprive you of your dollar.  Here it is,’ he said, and flung it at my feet.  I am told it lay where it fell three days.”

“I must say it was well played,” said I.

“O! he is clever,” said Mr. Tarleton, “and you can now see for yourself how dangerous.  He was a party to the horrid death of the paralytic; he is accused of poisoning Adams; he drove Vigours out of the place by lies that might have led to murder; and there is no question but he has now made up his mind to rid himself of you.  How he means to try we have no guess; only be sure, it’s something new.  There is no end to his readiness and invention.”

“He gives himself a sight of trouble,” says I.  “And after all, what for?”

“Why, how many tons of copra may they make in this district?” asked the missionary.

“I daresay as much as sixty tons,” says I.

“And what is the profit to the local trader?” he asked.

“You may call it, three pounds,” said I.

“Then you can reckon for yourself how much he does it for,” said Mr. Tarleton.  “But the more important thing is to defeat him.  It is clear he spread some report against Uma, in order to isolate and have his wicked will of her.  Failing of that, and seeing a new rival come upon the scene, he used her in a different way.  Now, the first point to find out is about Namu.  Uma, when people began to leave you and your mother alone, what did Namu do?”

“Stop away all-e-same,” says Uma.

“I fear the dog has returned to his vomit,” said Mr. Tarleton.  “And now what am I to do for you?  I will speak to Namu, I will warn him he is observed; it will be strange if he allow anything to go on amiss when he is put upon his guard.  At the same time, this precaution may fail, and then you must turn elsewhere.  You have two people at hand to whom you might apply.  There is, first of all, the priest, who might protect you by the Catholic interest; they are a wretchedly small body, but they count two chiefs.  And then there is old Faiaso.  Ah! if it had been some years ago you would have needed no one else; but his influence is much reduced, it has gone into Maea’s hands, and Maea, I fear, is one of Case’s jackals.  In fine, if the worst comes to the worst, you must send up or come yourself to Fale-alii, and, though I am not due at this end of the island for a month, I will just see what can be done.”