advanced to greet a brother European
with the familiar words, in good educated French, "Monsieur, I salute
you!"

To Felix, the sound of a civilized voice in the midst of so much strange
and primitive barbarism, was like a sudden return to some forgotten
world, so deeply and profoundly did it move and impress him. He grasped
the sunburnt Frenchman's rugged hand in his. "Who are you?" he cried, in
the very best Parisian he could muster up on the spur of the moment. "And
how did you come here?"

"Monsieur," the Frenchman answered, no less profoundly moved than
himself, "this is, indeed, wonderful! Do I hear once more that beautiful
language spoken? Do I find myself once more in the presence of a
civilized person? What fortune! What happiness! Ah, it is glorious,
glorious."

For some seconds they stood and looked at one another in silence,
grasping their hands hard again and again with intense emotion; then
Felix repeated his question a second time: "Who are you, monsieur? and
where do you come from?"

"Your name, surname, age, occupation?" the Frenchman repeated, bursting
forth at last into national levity. "Ah, monsieur, what a joy to hear
those well-known inquiries in my ear once more. I hasten to gratify
your legitimate curiosity. Name: Peyron; Christian name: Jules; age:
forty-one; occupation: convict, escaped from New Caledonia."

Under any other circumstances that last qualification might possibly have
been held an undesirable one in a new acquaintance. But on the island of
Boupari, among so many heathen cannibals, prejudices pale before
community of blood; even a New Caledonian convict is at least a Christian
European. Felix received the strange announcement without the faintest
shock of surprise or disgust. He would gladly have shaken hands then and
there with M. Jules Peyron, indeed, had he introduced himself in even
less equivocal language as a forger, a pickpocket, or an escaped
house-breaker.

"And you, monsieur?" the ex-convict inquired, politely.

Felix told him in a few words the history of their accident and their
arrival on the island.

"_Comment_?" the Frenchman exclaimed, with surprise and delight. "A lady
as well; a charming English lady! What an acquisition to the society of
Boupari! _Quelle chance! Quel bonheur!_ Monsieur, you are welcome, and
mademoiselle too! And in what quality do you live here? You are a god, I
see; otherwise you would not have dared to transgress my taboo, nor would
t