ay was over--so I had reason to
think myself in luck.

"The natives, I found, lived on the other side of the island, and, for
some reason or other which I could never make out, seldom came over to
this side. They at once took me with them; and when we got to their
village, which consists of a number of small huts not much bigger than
beehives, the chief introduced me to his wives, who made me sit down on
the ground and brought me out some food, which I was very glad to get,
seeing that I was pretty hungry by this time. In return, having nothing
else to offer the chief lady, I took off my shirt and put it on her,
which pleased her as much as my jacket had her husband. It was not
pleasant to go without clothing, though I still held on to my trousers,
but it was better than being killed; and I thought that if I could make
the chief and his wife my friends, I might be able to live pretty
pleasantly among the people. I succeeded even better than I had
expected; and from that day became a sort of prime minister to the
chief, and general of his army. I found, however, that another of his
wives was jealous of the first who had got the shirt; so, thinking to
please her, I made myself this here petticoat, and presented her with my
trousers. As she didn't fancy putting them on the right way, she threw
them over her shoulders, and wears them in that fashion to this day."

"Well, Pat, you have had indeed a narrow escape of your life," observed
Green. "Do you wish to live on with your friends?"

"Arrah, no, yer honour, 'tisn't for a dacent man like me to desire
altogether to turn into a savinge," said Pat. "I'm mighty eager to get
back to the old country to see once more my brothers and sisters, and
the rest of the Casey family; so, if you will take me with you, and
supply me with a pair of trousers and a shirt, I'm ready to go off at
once--though I shouldn't just like to appear on board without some
dacent covering to my skin."

"I shall be very glad to take you," said Green; "but will the chief be
willing to part with his prime minister? I'm afraid the whole country
will go to rack and ruin if you leave him."

"I'm afeard, yer honour, that I must leave the country to look after
itself," answered Pat, with one of the broadest of his grins; "and as to
axing the chief about the matter, I'm after thinking it will be better
to take French leave, lest he may try to stop me. The weather, I see,
is moderating, and if yer hon