on to the poop, and looked along the deserted deck,
whose once white planking was now cracking and discolouring under the
fierce rays of the torrid sun, to which it had been exposed for four
months.

We sat down together on a seat, which was placed for-ard of the
skylight, and gazed at the lofty masts and spars, which, denuded of all
their running gear, stood out stark, grim, and mournful against the rays
of a declining sun. On the fore-topgallant yard a frigate bird and his
mate stood, oblivious of our presence, and looking shoreward at the
long, long line of verdure clothing the islets four miles away.

"Simi," said Niabon, clasping her little brown hands together at the
back of her head, and leaning against the skylight, "we must return to
the canoe ere the tide riseth, for, see, the sun is low down, and Lucia
will think that some harm hath befallen us if we delay."

She spoke in Samoan, the language she generally used when we were alone,
for she could express herself better in it even than in English, so she
said, though both Lucia and myself had often told her, not banteringly,
that her English was sweet to hear.

"Heed not the sinking sun, Niabon," I replied, in the same language,
"the tide will not yet cover the reef for an hour or more, and the night
will be bright and clear.... Niabon, turn thy face to me."

I took her hand and drew her closer to me.

"Niabon, I love thee. I have loved thee since the time when thou first
saidst to me, 'Shall I give thee sleep?' And for ever since hast thou
been in my mind. See, I have loved no other woman as I love thee, and it
is my heart's desire to make thee my wife."

She drew herself away from me with blazing eyes.

"Thy wife, thy wife! Simi, what madness is this? Hast thou no eyes to
see? Is thy mind so dull that thou dost not know that Lucia hath loved
thee, and that even at this moment her heart acheth for thy return. Dost
thou not _know?_"

"I care not for her but as a friend," I said hotly; "'tis thee alone I
desire. Thou art always in my mind, and I will be good and true to thee,
Niabon; for I love thee well. Be my wife. Together thee and I----"

The angry light in her eyes died out, and she placed her cheek to mine.

"Simi, I care more for thee than for any one in the world, save Lucia,
and Lucia hath all my heart and all my love. And she so loves thee,
Simi--she so loves thee that it is her heart's desire to be thy wife....
Come, dear friend, let us ret