some vague idea of trying the effect of a "bluff", I
continued: "He great blackguard scoundrel! He attack schooner last
night, kill it two white mans! By and by we hang Oahika up there until
he go dead!" and I pointed to the schooner's lower yardarm.

A yell of anguish immediately followed this announcement of mine, fully
confirming me in the belief that Oahika was likely to prove a valuable
asset if properly manipulated. The next moment, however, one of the men
jumped up and shouted:

"Mine no believe you got it Oahika. Suppose yes, you show it him, eh?"

"Murdock, Simpson," I shouted, "just hoist that swab Oahika up on his
feet and take him to the rail, so that those fellows in the canoe may
see him."

This was done; and the moment that the fellow's head and shoulders
appeared above the top of the schooner's low bulwark another loud howl
arose from the crew of the canoe, who incontinently flung themselves
down on their knees and began to kow-tow energetically. But they were
quickly interrupted by Oahika, who shouted angrily at them, and then, as
soon as he had secured their attention, proceeded to gabble to them a
long string of what seemed to be instructions, in a language quite
unintelligible to me. When he had finished, the occupants of the canoe
waved their hands, as if to indicate that they understood, then seized
their paddles and began to sweep the canoe's head round toward the
shore. This sudden change of front rather puzzled me. I did not quite
know what to make of it; it might mean anything, I thought, and among
other things it might mean that Oahika had given instructions to muster
every available fighting man in the village--or the island--and renew
the attack upon the schooner. So I hailed the hastily departing canoe:

"Hillo, there, canoe ahoy! Where are you going, and what are you about
to do?"

The men ceased paddling for a moment, and one of them flourished his
hand toward the island.

"We get it back along ashore plenty quick and bring it them three mans
belong you. Then you give it us Oahika, eh?" he announced.

"You bring the three white mans, and then we'll see," I retorted.
"And--listen you--if you bring any more of your own men with you I shall
shoot Oahika dead! Sabby?"

This threat, uttered upon the spur of the moment, seemed to disconcert
them very decidedly, for they remained inactive, staring each other in
the face. It also seemed to disconcert Oahika; for no sooner