at grew so
conspicuously in a fork of the branches. It was easy to secure it, if no
man guarded. There still remained one night. In that one short night he
must do his best--and worst. If all then failed, he must die himself with
Muriel!

For two seconds he hesitated. It was hateful even to temporize with so
hideous a proposition. But for Muriel's sake, for her dear life's sake,
he must meet these savages with guile for guile. "If it be, indeed, the
custom of Boupari," he answered back, with pale and trembling lips, "and
if I, one man, am powerless to prevent it, I will give your message,
myself, to the Queen of the Clouds, and you may send, as you say, your
wedding decorations. But come what will--mark this--you shall not see her
yourself to-day. You shall not speak to her. There I draw a line--so,
with my stick in the dust, if you try to advance one step beyond, I stab
you to the heart. Wait till to-morrow to take your prey. Give me one more
night. Great god as you are, if you are wise, you will not drive an angry
man to utter desperation."

Tu-Kila-Kila looked with a suspicious side glance at the gleaming steel
blade Felix still fingered tremulously. Though Boupari was one of those
rare and isolated small islands unvisited as yet by European trade, he
had, nevertheless, heard enough of the sailing gods to know that their
skill was deep and their weapons very dangerous. It would be foolish to
provoke this man to wrath too soon. To-morrow, when taboo was removed,
and all was free license, he would come when he willed and take his
bride, backed up by the full force of his assembled people. Meanwhile,
why provoke a brother god too far? After all, in a little more than a
week from now the pale-faced Korong would be eaten and digested!

"Very well," he said, sulkily, but still with the sullen light of revenge
gleaming bright in his eye. "Take my message to the queen. You may be my
herald. Tell her what honor is in store for her--to be first the wife and
then the meat of Tu-Kila-Kila! She is a very fair woman. I like her well.
I have longed for her for months. Tomorrow, at the early dawn, by the
break of day, I will come with all my people and take her home by main
force to me."

He looked at Felix and scowled, an angry scowl of revenge. Then, as he
turned and walked away, under cover of the great umbrella, with its
dangling pendants on either side, the temple attendants clapped their
hands in unison. Fire and Water mar