nmoved manner,
until the point of his auger penetrated the planking, stuck, and then
came a sound of it striking loose metal. The wedges were then driven in
between the planking, and one strip prised off, and there before them
was the money in small canvas bags, each bag parcelled round with oakum,
which was also packed tightly between the skin and timbers, forming a
compact mass.

Removing one bag only, Marsh placed it aside, then they replaced the
plank, plugged the auger holes, and hid the marks from view by stacking
the provision cases along the transoms.

Ali was called below, and told of the discovery. He, of course, was
highly delighted, and his eyes gleamed when Meredith unfastened the bag,
and poured out a stream of gold coin upon the cabin table.

That night the partners did not sleep. They talked over their plans for
the future, and decided to take the schooner to San Francisco, sell
her, and buy a larger vessel and a cargo of trade goods. Meredith was to
command, and Tahiti in the Society Group was to be their headquarters.
Here Marsh (with the faithful Ali and Leota, and, of course, Pautoe) was
to buy land and form a trading station, whilst the vessel was to cruise
throughout the South Seas, trading for oil, pearl-shell and other island
produce.

Soon after daylight the anchor of the _Juliette_ was lifted and
she sailed out of Apia harbour, and by noon, Leota and Pautoe were
astonished to see the little craft bring-to abreast of Laulii village,
and Marsh and Meredith come on shore.

Later on in the day, when the house was free of the kindly, but somewhat
intrusive native visitors, the partners told the strange story of the
_Juliette_ to Leota and Pautoe, and of their plans for the future.

"Pautoe," said Meredith, "in three years' time will you marry me, and
sail with me in the new ship?"

"Aye, that will I, Lesta. Did I not say so before?"

CHAPTER XXVIII ~ THE MAN WHO KNEW EVERYTHING

The Man Who Knew Everything came to Samoa in November, when dark days
were on the land, and the nearing Christmas time seemed likely to be
as that of the preceding one, when burning villages and the crackle
of musketry, and the battle cries of opposing factions, engaged in
slaughtering one another, turned the once restful and beautiful Samoa
into a hell of evil passions, misery and suffering. For the poor King
Malietoa was making a game fight with his scanty and ill-armed troops
against the better-armed rebe