cer soon became firm friends.

At the south-east point of the island of Upelu, there is a town named
Lepa, and for this place the boat was now steering. The principal chief
of the district was a blood relation of Cheyne's mother, and he (Cheyne)
knew that every hospitality would be given to himself and Frewen for as
long a time as they chose to remain at Lepa.

"After we have seen Mana'lio" (the chief) "we shall consider what we
shall do," said the boatsteerer to Frewen. "I expect he will not like
letting us leave him, but will be satisfied when he knows that you and I
want to go to my sister's place. These big Samoan chiefe are very touchy
in some things."

On the afternoon of the third day out, the land was sighted, and just as
the evening fires were beginning to gleam from the houses embowered in
the palm-groves of Lepa, the boat grounded on the white hard beach, and
in a few minutes the village was in a pleasurable uproar, as the white
men were almost carried up to the chief's house by the excited natives,
who at once recognised the stalwart Cheyne.

Mana'lio made his relative and Frewen most welcome, and treated them
as very honoured guests, whilst the rest of the boat's crew were taken
possession of by the sub-chiefs and the people of the town generally,
carried off to the _fale taupule_ or "town hall," and invited to a
hurriedly prepared but ample repast.

On the following morning, Frewen called the whole of his boat's crew
together, and told them it would be best for them to separate. "Each of
you four men say you don't want to go to sea again--not for a long time
at any rate. Well, Mana'lio, the chief here, wants a white man to live
with him. He will treat him well, and give him a house and land. Will
you stay, Hunt?"

"Yes, sir," was the instant reply.

"Right. And you, Freeman, Chase, and Craik, can stay here in Lepa,
and decide for yourselves which towns you will live in. In less than
forty-eight hours half the chiefe on the island will be coming to
Mana'lio for a white man. Cheyne here will give you some good advice--if
you want the natives to respect you, and to get along and make money and
a honest living, follow his advice."

"Ay, ay, sir," assented the men.

"Now, here is another matter. Cheyne and I wish to be mates, and we want
the boat."

"Well, I guess _we_ have no claim on her, sir," said Hunt, turning to
the others for confirmation of his remark.

"Oh, yes you have--she is as much yo