Summary

Frightened, listening to the drums of the eaters-of-men, Mafatu creeps up to the plateau for a better view. He is sure he will be seen and caught, but he has to look. He observes the savage men chanting and jumping and dancing around fires at the sacred clearing. They are beating drums and blowing through conch shells, and carry spiked clubs. Suddenly four of the men come out of the jungle towards Mafatu, going after the intruder on their island. Mafatu dashes back down the mountain, terrified, with the eaters-of-men close on his heels. They call out angrily in a language that Mafatu cannot understand as he races towards the beach.

Mafatu pushes his canoe quickly into the water and leaps in with Uri. Fortunately there is enough wind to catch in the sail and move Mafatu along. At first the eaters-of-men swim after Mafatu, and...