placed too far for'ard, and so I shifted it eighteen inches or two
feet further aft. But heavy and clumsy-looking as she was, I was
sure she would prove a good sea boat, for she had great beam and a
corresponding floor--in fact, rather too much for her length. However,
when I had finished with and launched her, we made a trial trip over
to Mrs. Krause's station, and I was well satisfied with her. She sailed
much better than she did formerly, owing to the mast being further aft,
and her new mainsail and jib, though smaller than the old ones, setting
better.

On our reaching Taritai, Mrs. Krause sent for the head men and told
them that she was now satisfied that her husband was dead. What did they
think? she asked. They replied that there could be not the slightest
doubt of it. Every islet of the whole chain encompassing the lagoon had
been searched, but not the slightest trace of the missing man had been
found. He was dead.

Then she told them that as I was leaving the island, and she did not
care to remain now that her husband was dead, she had decided to go
away with me and my party. The trading station itself, and all her late
husband's property, she would leave in their care, to hand over to the
captain of the next German ship that came to take away the copra and
oil that he had bought. And as it might be many months before a ship did
come, she would pay them in advance for their caretaking; and also leave
a letter with them for the captain, asking him to make them a further
present, as she knew they were good men and would be true to their
trust. Let them, to-morrow, come and choose from the store goods to the
value of two hundred dollars.

The head men were delighted, and one of them, in his exuberance,
expressed the sorrow they all felt at her leaving them; but no doubt, he
said, she and I were going to some island where there was a missionary,
so that we might be married according to the customs of white people.
Perhaps, however, we would return.

The poor little woman turned scarlet, and I shot a furious glance at the
offender, and sharply told him that he was talking like a child instead
of a grown man, and that his words had hurt the lady greatly. He put his
hand over his eyes and collapsed. Then after a little further talk with
them, we sent them away, and I arranged with Mrs. Krause to send the
whaleboat for her on the following morning; for, all going well, we
should start at sunset.

Before I left he