r provisions on the previous
evening. She was stooping forward, with a small branch in her hand. On
getting nearer, we saw that she was playing with a little child, who was
seated in a large bivalve shell full of water. It made a magnificent
bath for the little black fellow, and it was larger even than the shells
we had found on our island, a magnificent, specimen of the _Tridacna
gigas_. The woman was younger and far pleasanter-looking than most of
the women in the huts.

"Yes, I am sure it is her," said Oliver, when we approached. She seemed
somewhat startled at seeing us, and instinctively lifted her little boy
out of the bath, and held him, dripping as he was, in her arms. That
did not signify, however, as she was clothed in very scanty garments.
We stopped short, not further to alarm her; and then, recovering
herself, she signed to us that we might come nearer. She pointed to the
huts on the beach, and seemed to intimate that we had better go back,
lest the chief should be angry at our wandering about the shore without
his leave. She then patted us on our heads, which we took to signify
that she wished us well. Of this, indeed, from her previous kind
conduct, we had no doubt.

"We will give her some of our fish," I said. "It will show her that we
are grateful to her for her kindness."

Macco, hearing my proposal, ran back to the boat, and returning with
several fine fish, placed them at her feet. Having done this, we
hurried back to the canoe, and paddled away to the huts. On climbing up
the ladders, we found that the men had been sleeping, which had been the
reason, probably, we had been allowed so much liberty. As we were
bringing the fish up to the platform, the chief awoke, and seemed well
pleased with our success, for he nodded his head, and graciously gave
each of us a fish.

For two or three days we were sent out in the same manner, and each time
Macco was successful. We, however, discussed all sorts of plans for
making our escape; for although we were not especially ill-treated, we
yet could not tell how soon the mood of our savage masters might change.

I was very anxious to see something of the interior. An opportunity
arrived sooner than I had expected. Early one morning, the chief awoke
us, and signified that he wanted us to attend him on shore. It
appeared, that having found us so useful as fishermen, he expected that
we should be equally successful as hunters. Having put bows an