tance.
All savage strife is noisy in the extreme; even the strife of
_civilized_ men in their _public meetings_ and _vestries_ is often
tolerably boisterous,--and a great deal of running and leaping about,
and quivering of spears accompanies the former kind of altercation.
While things were in this confusion the governor went alone to Peerat's
fire, and seized his little boy, Dal-bean, but could see nothing of the
wives, who were, most likely, busy digging roots for the family. The boy
was told that if he moved he would be shot, a threat which kept him very
quiet; but Peerat soon found out what had happened, and came running
after them. These natives are always greatly attached to their children,
and strong proofs of this were now given by the father, who first
declared that the boy had been with him, and that it was the mother only
that had stolen, producing about a dozen witnesses to prove this to be
the truth. However, the reply to this was by asking the question, How
came the child's footmarks in the garden? It was answered that Peerat's
second wife had, indeed, been there, and that she was just the size of
the boy; but that plea would not hold good, since her footsteps had been
observed likewise.

The father now urged the tender years of the lad, and that he was under
the influence of his mother; and then fairly wept upon his child's neck,
who was calling upon his parent and the other natives by name to save
him. The governor's own feelings and those of his followers urged him
to let the little fellow go, but he wisely resolved to act with
determination, and held fast by the prisoner. Spears were now given to
Peerat--a sign of his quarrel being espoused by those who gave them, and
that he was expected to use them; and, matters having taken a serious
turn, the governor hastened away with his prisoner and two of his native
companions, but not before he had explained to the others the advantage
of an impartial inquiry and proper punishment of offenders, in
preference to their being exposed to the indiscriminating fire of
Europeans. Peerat was then threatened with a shot if he did not take
himself off, and bring his wives into the settlement to be punished; and
the matter ended, for the present, in the lodgment of the youthful
Dal-bean safe in the British gaol. In a day or two afterwards, during
which no tidings had been heard of Peerat and his wives, the little
Dal-bean made an attempt to break out of his place of con