, and then began to weep and laugh at the same time when she
saw her husband Preston was steering the one which led. She was a good
woman. She loved her husband. I was pleased with her, and told her to be
of good cheer, for I was sure that Preston and his people would kill
Franka and those with him, for as they rowed they made no noise. No one
shouted nor challenged; they came on and on, and the white man Preston
stood up with the steer oar in his hand, and his face was as a stone in
which was set eyes of fire. When his boat was within twenty fathoms of
the beach the rowers ceased, and he held up his hand to those who
awaited his coming.

"'Listen to me, men of Ro|an Kiti. We are as three to one of ye, and
ye are caught in a trap. Death is in my mouth if I speak the word. Tell
me, is my wife Solepa alive?'

"No one answered, but suddenly Franka stepped out from behind the bushes
and pointed his rifle at him, and was about to pull the trigger when a
young man of his party who was of good heart seized him by the arm, and
cried out 'twas a coward's act; then two or three followed him, and
together they bore Franka down upon the sand; and one of them cried out
to Preston--

"'This is a wrong business. We were led astray by this man. We are no
cowards, and have no ill-will to thee. Thy wife is alive. She swam
ashore with two others when the ship struck. Are we dead men?'

"Then, ere Preston could answer, Solepa leapt out from beneath the
banyan tree and ran through the men of Ro|an Kiti towards the beach,
and cried--

"'Oh, my husband, for the love of God let no blood be shed! I am well
and unharmed. Spare these people and spare even this man Franka, for he
is mad!'

"Then Preston leapt out of the boat and put his arms around her waist
and kissed her, and then put her aside, and called to every one around
him--

"'These are my words,' he said. 'I am a man of peace, but this man
Franka is a robber and a dog, and hath stolen upon me in the night and
slain my people, and his hands are reddened with blood. And he hath put
foul dishonour on me by stealing Solepa my wife, and carrying her away
from my house as if she were a slave or a harlot. And there is no room
here for such a man to live unless he be a better man than I. But I am
no murderer. So stand aside all! Let him rise and rest awhile, and then
shall we two fight, man to man. Either he or I must die.'

"Then many men of both sides came to him and said, 'Let this