the old man's speech, and Ongoloo,
seizing him by both shoulders, gazed earnestly into his withered face.
Had they been Frenchmen, these two would no doubt have kissed each
other's cheeks; if Englishmen, they might have shaken hands warmly;
being Polynesian savages, they rubbed noses.

Under the influence of this affectionate act, a number of the warriors
ran off, fetched their gods, and threw them on the temple floor. Then
Ongoloo, seizing a brand from the fire, thrust it into the loose
cocoa-nut fibre, and set the pile in a blaze. Quickly the flames leaped
into the temple thatch, and set the whole structure on fire. As the
fire roared and leaped, Waroonga, with Tomeo and Buttchee, started a
hymn. It chanced to be one which Zeppa had already taught the people,
who at once took it up, and sent forth such a shout of praise as had
never before echoed among the palm-groves of that island. It confirmed
the waverers, and thus, under the influence of sympathy, the whole tribe
came that day to be of one mind!

The sweet strains, rolling over the plains and uplands, reached the
cliffs at last, and struck faintly on the ears of a small group
assembled in a mountain cave. The group consisted of Zeppa and his son,
Ebony and the pirate.

"It sounds marvellously like a hymn," said Orlando, listening.

"Ah! dear boy, it is one I taught the natives when I stayed with them,"
said Zeppa; "but it never reached so far as this before."

Poor Zeppa was in his right mind again, but oh! how weak and wan and
thin the raging fever had left him!

Rosco, who was also reduced to a mere shadow of his former self,
listened to the faint sound with a troubled expression, for it carried
him back to the days of innocence, when he sang it at his mother's knee.

"Dat's oncommon strange," said Ebony. "Nebber heard de sound come so
far before. Hope de scoundrils no got hold ob grog."

"Shame on you, Ebony, to suspect such a thing!" said Orlando. "You
would be better employed getting things ready for to-morrow's journey
than casting imputations on our hospitable friends."

"Dar's not'ing to git ready, massa," returned the negro. "Eberyting's
prepared to start arter breakfust."

"That's well, and I am sure the change to the seashore will do you good,
father, as well as Rosco. You've both been too long here. The cave is
not as dry as one could wish--and, then, you'll be cheered by the sound
of children playing round you."

"Yes, it wil