she
was called the pearl of Vahitahi; and oh! my dear, if we can but find
her, I will make her love me for your sake."

* * * * *

Late in the afternoon of the second day, just as the trade wind began
to lose its strength, the schooner was running along the weather-side
of Tatakoto, and Rua Manu, from the mast-head, called out that he saw
the boat lying on the beach inside the lagoon, with her sail set; and,
as landing was not practicable on the weather-side, the schooner ran
round to the lee.

"We will soon know, Doris. It always rains in these islands at this
time of the year, so she would not suffer as I once did; but the sail
of the boat is still set, and that makes me think she has never left
it. Wait till I come back again, Doris; you cannot help me."

And Doris, throwing her weak arms round his neck, kissed him with a sob,
and lay back again to wait.

* * * * *

With Rua Manu and two others of his faithful native crew, Brantley
walked quickly across the island to the lagoon to where the boat lay.
Luita was not there, and the dark eyes of his sailors met his in a
responsive glow of hope--she had not died in the boat!

They turned back into the silent aisles of coconut palms, and then Rua
Manu loudly called her name.

"Listen," he said.

A voice--a weak, trembling voice--was singing the song of Talaloo.

"Terunavahori, bending low,
Bindeth the sandals on Talaloo's feet;
'Hasten, O hasten, lover true,
O'er the coral, cruel and sharp,
Over the coral, and sand, and rock,
Snare thee a turtle for our marriage feast;
IA AKOE! brave lover mine.'"

"In the old MARAE, Paranili," said Rua Manu, pointing to the remains of
a ruined temple. Motioning to the seamen to remain outside, Brantley
entered the crumbling walls of the old heathen MARAE. At the far end
was a little screen of coconut boughs. He stooped down and went in.

A few minutes passed, and then his hand was thrust out between the
branches as a sign for them to follow.

* * * * *

One by one they came and sat beside Brantley, who held the wasted
figure of the wanderer in his arms. The sound of his voice had brought
back her wavering reason, and she knew them all now. She knew, too,
that her brief young life was ebbing fast; for, as each of the brown
men pressed their lips to her hand, tears coursed down their cheeks.

"See, men of Vahitahi, my Englishman hath come to me, a fool that fled
from his house ... because I thought t