ery first day she saw me, she determined to live at
Taritai. And we have always been the closest friends."

"I know she loves you very dearly," I said, as I rose to return to my
house, for just then we saw Niabon herself coming through the village
accompanied by a number of young women.

We left Oraluk with a slashing breeze, which we held for eight days, the
boat doing splendid work, and on the morning of the tenth day we sighted
Guam, forty miles away, and looming blue against the sky line.

"Three thousand miles," I cried exultingly, "three thousand miles,
Lucia--in fact, nearer three thousand two hundred."

Her dark eyes filled with tears as she pressed my hand and looked at the
home of her childhood, and even Niabon showed some trace of excitement
as she bent her glance upon the great mound of land.

I opened our one remaining bottle of wine which had been reserved
for this auspicious day, and we shared it between us, whilst Tepi and
Tematau were each given a stiff glass of grog.

"Blow, good breeze, blow," I cried, "blow steady and strong."

"Blow, good wind, blow steady and true," echoed my two men, as I eased
off the main sheet, and the boat went faster through the water, and made
a seething wake.

As we were so well to windward of the island, I determined to head for
Cape Ritidian, its north-west point, as from there I could easily pick
up Port Taro-fofo, where, so Lucia assured me, we should find a pilot
to take us down the coast to Port San Luis. Not having a chart of the
island made it necessary for me to be cautious, but Lucia was quite sure
that from Cape Ritidian we should have no trouble in running down the
coast to Tarafofo--a port with which she was quite familiar, for she had
been there on many occasions with her father. The anchorage was good,
and there was a small town at the head of the harbour, where supplies
could be obtained.

"That will do us nicely, then," I said; "we may as well spell there for
a few days and get well rested. Oh, won't it be glorious to feel solid
earth under foot once more after the last ten weary days!" "Oh Jim, the
very thought of stepping on shore again makes my veins thrill. Oh, the
great lovely green mountain forest, and the calls of the birds and the
sweet sound of falling water--it is heaven to think of being there, in
such a beautiful country after so many, many days upon the sea! Ah, you
will love Guam, Jim! You cannot help it--it is the fairest, sweetest