indifference, leaned upon the taffrail, smoking a cigar
and contemplating the fertile green islets as they passed like a lovely
picture before our eyes--"this is the man who favours the missionaries
because they are useful to him and can tame the savages better than any
one else can do it!" Then I wondered in my mind whether it were
possible for any missionary to tame _him_!

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.

BLOODY BILL IS COMMUNICATIVE AND SAGACIOUS--UNPLEASANT PROSPECTS--
RETROSPECTIVE MEDITATIONS INTERRUPTED BY VOLCANIC AGENCY--THE PIRATES
NEGOTIATE WITH A FEEJEE CHIEF--VARIOUS ETCETERAS THAT ARE CALCULATED TO
SURPRISE AND HORRIFY.

It was many days after the events just narrated ere I recovered a little
of my wonted spirits. I could not shake off the feeling for a long time
that I was in a frightful dream, and the sight of our captain filled me
with so much horror that I kept out of his way as much as my duties
about the cabin would permit. Fortunately he took so little notice of
me that he did not observe my changed feelings towards him, otherwise it
might have been worse for me.

But I was now resolved that I would run away the very first island we
should land at, and commit myself to the hospitality of the natives
rather than remain an hour longer than I could help in the pirate
schooner. I pondered this subject a good deal, and at last made up my
mind to communicate my intention to Bloody Bill; for during several
talks I had had with him of late, I felt assured that he too would
willingly escape if possible. When I told him of my design he shook his
head. "No, no, Ralph," said he; "you must not think of running away
here. Among some of the groups of islands you might do so with safety;
but if you tried it here, you would find that you had jumped out of the
fryin'-pan into the fire."

"How so, Bill?" said I. "Would the natives not receive me?"

"That they would, lad; but they would eat you too."

"Eat me!" said I in surprise. "I thought the South Sea Islanders never
ate anybody except their enemies."

"Humph!" ejaculated Bill. "I 'spose 'twas yer tender-hearted friends in
England that put that notion into your head. There's a set o'
soft-hearted folk at home that I knows on who don't like to have their
feelin's ruffled; and when you tell them anything they don't like--that
shocks them, as they call it--no matter how true it be, they stop their
ears and cry out, `Oh, that is _too_ horrible! We can't