ly
less, of European costume, so that the aspect of the crowd was anything
but savage. It is true there were large proportions of brown humanity
presented to view--such as arms, legs, necks, and chests, but these were
picturesquely interspersed with striped cotton drawers, duck trousers,
gay guernseys, red and blue flannel petticoats, numerous caps and straw
hats as well as a few coal-scuttles--though none of the latter could
match that of Betsy Waroonga for size and tremulosity.

But there were other signs of civilisation there besides costume, for,
in addition to the neat huts and gardens and whitewashed church, there
was a sound issuing from the pointed spire which was anything but
suggestive of the South sea savage. It was the church bell--a small
one, to be sure, but sweetly toned--which was being rung violently to
call in all the fighting men from the woods and fields around, for at
that time the Ratingans had to be prepared for the reception of foes as
well as friends.

A trusty chief had been placed in charge of the village by Tomeo before
he left. This man now disposed his warriors in commanding positions as
they came trooping in, obedient to the call, and bade them keep out of
sight and watch his signals from the beach.

But now let us see what vessel it was that caused such commotion in
Ratinga.

She was a brig, with nothing particularly striking in her rig or
appointments--a mere trading vessel. But on her bulwarks at the bow and
on the heel of the bowsprit was gathered a group that well deserves
notice, for there, foremost of all, and towering above the others, stood
Antonio Zeppa, holding on to a forestay, and gazing with intensity and
fixedness at the speck of land which had just been sighted. Beside him,
and not less absorbed, stood his valiant and amiable son; while around,
in various attitudes, sat or stood the chiefs Tomeo and Buttchee, Rosco
and Ebony, Ongoloo and Wapoota, and little Lippy with her mother!

But the native missionary was not there. He had positively refused to
quit the desert which had so unexpectedly and suddenly begun to blossom
as the rose, and had remained to water the ground until his friends
should send for him.

The chief and prime minister of the Mountain-men were there because,
being large-minded, they wished to travel and see the world; and Lippy
was there because Zeppa liked her; while the mother was there because
she liked Lippy and refused to be parted from h