sed."

The old man thanked her for the gifts, but sat down as if disappointed
at the rest of her remarks. Then a second man arose and made a demand
that filled Mrs. Tracey with fear. Where were the black men whose
master had slain three of the Tebuan people?

"What would ye have with them?" she asked quickly.

"Give us three of them for the three of our people whom they slew," was
the instant reply.

"That I cannot do, neither would Parri here consent even if I were
willing."

An ominous murmur of displeased astonishment broke from the natives.
Surely, they asked, they had a right to these three men. Why should
three of their own people lie dead with gaping wounds and the
man-eaters escape without punishment? Would that be fair and just?

"What answer can I give them?" she asked of Barry after translating
their demand. "We cannot give up three of the Solomon Islanders to be
murdered, but we must do something to please them."

They conversed on the matter for a few minutes, and then Mrs. Tracey
spoke again.

"These are Parri's words. These black men will be taken away in a
ship, for Parri hath pledged himself to them. And not they, but their
master who is dead, was it who killed the three men of Tebuan. But yet
so that we may part with naught of soreness between us will I make
provision for the wives and blood relatives of the three men who died
in helping me to gain back my ship. This is my gift: three thousand
sticks of tobacco, three large bags of biscuit, nine matted bags of
rice, three muskets, a keg of powder, and a thousand round bullets--all
these to be divided."

The munificence of the gift was too much for the native mind to resist,
and to Mrs. Tracey's pleasure, old Roku, speaking for the people
generally, said they were well pleased and would now "have no anger in
their hearts against the black, man-eating strangers."

She decided to return to the ship with about ten or a dozen natives and
see her present handed over to them by Barradas, leaving Barry to
follow later on; for he had yet another task before him--the burial of
Chase.

A little before noon a boat left the brig, carrying the man's body,
which was in a hastily made coffin. Under Barry's direction a grave
had already been dug in the little cemetery on the end of the islet,
and here he was buried, the officer reading the service with Joe and
two other of the white seamen standing beside him.

Then he returned on board again.