l
people the Christians are! He is roasting stones! We shall not need
taro or bread-fruit any more; we may eat stones!'

"But their surprise was still greater when the coral was reduced to a
fine, soft, white powder. They immediately set up a great shout, and
mingling the lime with water, rubbed their faces and their bodies all
over with it, and ran through the village screaming with delight. They
were also much surprised at another thing they saw me do. I wished to
make some household furniture, and constructed a turning-lathe to assist
me. The first thing that I turned was the leg of a sofa, which was no
sooner finished than the chief seized it with wonder and delight, and
ran through the village exhibiting it to the people, who looked upon it
with great admiration. The chief then, tying a string to it, hung it
round his neck as an ornament! He afterwards told me that if he had
seen it before he became a Christian, he would have made it his god!"

As the teacher concluded this anecdote we reached his door. Saying that
he had business to attend to, he left us to amuse ourselves as we best
could.

"Now, lads," said Jack, turning abruptly towards us, and buttoning up
his jacket as he spoke, "I'm off to see the battle. I've no particular
fondness for seein' bloodshed; but I must find out the nature o' these
fellows and see their customs with my own eyes, so that I may be able to
speak of it again, if need be, authoritatively. It's only six miles
off, and we don't run much more risk than that of getting a rap with a
stray stone or an overshot arrow. Will you go?"

"To be sure we will," said Peterkin.

"If they chance to see us, we'll cut and run for it," added Jack.

"Dear me!" cried Peterkin; "_you_ run! I thought you would scorn to run
from any one."

"So I would, if it were my duty to fight," returned Jack coolly; "but as
I don't want to fight, and don't intend to fight, if they offer to
attack us I'll run away, like the veriest coward that ever went by the
name of Peterkin. So come along."

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE.

A STRANGE AND BLOODY BATTLE--THE LION BEARDED IN HIS DEN--FRIGHTFUL
SCENES OF CRUELTY, AND FEARS FOR THE FUTURE.

We had ascertained from the teacher the direction to the spot on which
the battle was to be fought, and after a walk of two hours, reached it.
The summit of a bare hill was the place chosen; for, unlike most of the
other islanders, who are addicted to bush-fighting, thos