or else Apia Harbour,
fifteen hundred miles away, and hear the cheers, and see the flags run
up by the ships in port, as I stepped out of my boat on to the beach to
report myself to the British Consul--"Jim Sherry, master and owner of a
twenty-eight feet whale-boat, from Tarawa Island, in the Gilbert Group."

It _would_ be an achievement, and I should become as well known as
Cameron. But--and here my vanity received a check--Cameron sailed
fifteen hundred miles in a poorly equipped dinghy, and yet succeeded in
reaching Jaluit in the Marshall Islands, whilst I should have everything
in my favour as far as equipment went.

But I would do more than Cameron did, I thought. If I reached either
Samoa or Fiji safely, I would go on across to New Caledonia, and
possibly from there on to the east coast of Australia! That would be
something that had never yet been done by any one in a small boat, and
would make me famous indeed!

That night I was too excited to think of sleeping, so remained up and
worked at a new jib I was making, taking care to avoid any noise, for I
found that Niabon was now really asleep, and I did not want to disturb
her.

She did not awaken till nearly midnight, just as Tematan returned. He
handed me a note. It was from Mrs. Krause, asking me, if it would not
be inconvenient to me, would I come to Taritai in the morning, as she
greatly wished to see me on a matter of importance. I smiled at Niabon
as I read it, for I could easily guess what it was that the lady was so
anxious to see me about.

I started off as soon as it was daylight, and on reaching Taritai
village found Mrs. Krause expecting me, early as it was. She was pale,
but yet, I imagined, looking better than she had when we last met. She
went into the subject at once.

"Mr. Sherry, will it not be possible for you to let me go with you in
the boat?"

"Yes, you can come. But I tell you frankly that we may never see Samoa
or Fiji, for the risks of such a long voyage must necessarily be very
great, even if we have fine weather all the way."

Her face lit up with pleasure. "It is kind of you. And you will not find
me troublesome. I should go mad if I were left alone here, for Niabon
has always been such a friend to me. Whenever my husband was away, she
came and stayed with me."

This allusion to her husband, I could see, pained her, and therefore,
although I knew that several parties were out in search of him, I did
not mention his name to