isk_ (or the
_Zealous_) British man-of-war, about seven years ago, and although the
commanders of several other British warships have tried to get him, they
have failed. He is the pet _protege_ of one of the most powerful chiefs
in Savaii, and laughs at all attempts to catch him. To my knowledge he
has committed four atrocious murders, and, in addition to that, he is
a drunken, foul-mouthed blackguard. He only comes to Apia
occasionally--when there is no British man-of-war about--and paints
the town red, for although he is merely a loafing beachcomber, he is
liberally supplied with money by his chief, and possesses an extensive
harem as well. He simply terrorises the town when he breaks out, and
insults every timid European, male and female, whom he meets."

"Why doesn't some one put a bullet through him?"

"Ah, now you're asking! Why? Porter" (a respectable Samoan trader)
"told him that he would riddle him if he came inside his fence, and the
scoundrel knows _me_ well enough not to come into my place with anything
but a civil word on his foul tongue; but then you see, Porter and I
are Americans. If either or both of us shot the man no commander of an
American man-of-war would do more than publicly reprimand us for taking
the law into our own hands; but if you or any other Englishman killed
the vermin, you would be taken to Fiji by the first man-of-war that
called here, put on your trial for murder, and, if you escaped hanging,
get a pretty turn of penal servitude in Fiji gaol."

We finished our bathe, dressed, and set out for Hamilton's house on
Matautu Point, for he had asked me to have supper with him. On our way
thither we met the master of a German barque, then in port, and were
chatting with him in the middle of the road, when Mr. "Flash Harry" and
his retinue of _manaia_ (young bucks) overtook us.

The path being rather narrow we drew aside a few paces to let them pass,
but at a sign from their leader they stopped. He nodded to Hamilton and
the German captain (neither of whom took any notice of him) then fixed
his eyes insolently on me and held out his hand.

"How do yer do, Mister. You're a nice sort of a cove not to come and see
me when you pass my place in your cutter"--then with sudden fury as I
put my hands in my pockets--"you, you young cock-a-hoopy swine, do you
mean to say you don't mean to shake hands with a white man?"

"Not with you, anyway," I answered.

"Then the next time I see you I'll pull