r, she asked me, with a nervous tremor in her voice, to
read the letter she had written, and if I thought it would do, or needed
to be altered in any way. It was a letter which I had suggested she
should write and leave with the head men. It was addressed to "The
captain or supercargo of any ship belonging to Messrs. G----, of
Hamburg," and contained but a few lines, stating that her husband,
"Ferdinand Alexis Krause, left this station on the 27th July last for
Mr. James Sherry's station at Utiroa village, and has not since been
seen, and although a most careful search has been made, no trace of him
has been found, and the natives are of the opinion that he was drowned
between here and Utiroa in crossing one of the channels between the
islets. As I am not equal to the task of carrying on my late husband's
trading business, and an opportunity of leaving the island presents
itself to me, through the kindness of Mr. Sherry, a trader here, I have
placed this station in the care of the head men. I have given them two
hundred dollars in trade goods, and trust you will be so satisfied with
their integrity and their care of the property I have entrusted to
their charge, that you will make them a further present. I make no claim
whatever on the money due to my husband, and will feel glad if you will
see that it is sent to his relatives in Germany."

"That will do very well," I said, as I took her hand; "now, goodbye
till to-morrow evening, Mrs. Krause. By this time to-morrow we should
be getting under way. And, do you mind?--I have called the boat the
_Lucia_--in fact I've painted the name on both bows."

"Indeed, I am very proud. And why don't you call _me_ Lucia, too, Mr.
Sherry? Every one else does."

"Very well," I said, with a laugh, "I will talk Tarawan to you:
Tiakapo, Lucia."

"Tiakapo, Simi;" and her voice was pleasant and sweet to hear, although
the word _tiakako_ meant nothing more than "good-night."

CHAPTER IX

Everything was ready at last, water, stores, arms, and ammunition, and
the boat, with mainsail and jib hoisted, was lying just abreast of the
station, in charge of Tematan and Tepi, surrounded by canoes.

In the house with me were Mrs. Krause and Niabon; and Kaibuka and his
head men, who had come to take formal charge of the station, and to bid
us farewell. I handed old Kaibuka letters to be given to the supercargo
of the firm's next vessel, presented him and his colleagues with a
new musket eac