selves, gave way to the storm of
passion which swelled her bosom, execrating her husband with the
utmost loathing and abhorrence, and lamenting in the most passionate
manner her having ever been connected with him. Trembling alike at the
danger to which I had exposed her, and moved by her condition, I could
not help mingling my tears with hers, and endeavoured by caresses and
condoling with her to reduce her excitement. Had the old king seen me,
I know what both our fates would have been, but at that time I cared
not. I was very young, very impetuous, and I was resolved that I would
not permit either her or myself to die unavenged. At last she sobbed
herself to sleep, and I took my usual station outside of the hut. It
was well that I did so, for not five minutes afterwards the old
wretch, having got over his temper, came out of his tent and bent his
steps towards the hut, that he might make friends with her, for she
was too necessary to his happiness. He soon treated her with his
accustomed kindness, but I perceived that after the scene I have
described, her aversion for him was doubled.

There were some scores of women in the various huts within the
palisade, all of whom I understood were wives to the old monarch, but
none but the four we found with him when we were first brought into
his presence were ever to be seen in his company. I had, by means of
my kind mistress, the opportunity of constantly supplying my
companions with fowls and venison, which was left from the king's
table, and through her care, they always met with kind and gentle
usage.

For another two months did I thus remain happy in the company of
Whyna, and miserable when in the presence of the king, whose eye it
was impossible to meet without quailing; when one morning we were all
ordered out, and were surrounded by a large party armed with spears,
javelins, and bird-arrows--I say bird-arrows, as those that they use
in war are much larger. We soon discovered that we were to be sent to
some other place, but where or why, we could not find out. Shortly
afterwards the crowd opened, and Whyna made her appearance. She took
the feather circle off my head, and the manacles off my wrist and leg,
and went and laid them at the king's feet. She then returned, and told
me that I was free as well as my companions, but that I only, if I
chose, had permission to remain with her.

I did not at first reply. She then, in the most earnest manner, begged
me to remain