III

We, Niabon, Tematau and myself, were undisturbed by any visitors
during the night, for the storm increased in violence, and, as daylight
approached, the clamour of the surf upon the reef was something
terrific. About four in the morning, however, there came such a
thunderous, sudden boom that the island seemed shaken to its coral
foundations, and Niabon declared that the storm had broken.

"That is what the people of the Tokelau Islands call _O le fati le
galu_--the last great wave, that gathering itself together far out on
the ocean, rushes to the reef, and curling high up as the mast of a
ship, falls and shakes the land from one side to the other."

The girl knew what she was talking about, for from that moment the fury
of the wind sensibly decreased, and half an hour later we were able
to open the door and gaze out upon the sea, still seething white with
broken, tumbling surf?

Walking down to my boat-house, I found that the boat herself was not
injured in any way, though most of the roof had been blown away. Then
feeling that my usual attack of ague was coming on, I returned to the
house, and found that Niabon had made my coffee.

I drank it, and then wrapped myself up in a couple of blankets in
readiness for the first touch of that deadly, terrible chill which
seems to freeze the marrow in the bones of any one who is suffering
from malarial fever. Niabon watched me gravely, and then came and stood
beside me.

"Mr. Sherry," she said, this time speaking in English, "why don't you
let me give you some medicine to cure you of that fever? I _can_ cure
you."

"I believe you can, Niabon," I replied; "you certainly mesmerised me
when I was at Krause's station that day, and I awakened feeling a lot
better."

"What is 'mesmerise'?" she asked quickly.

"Sending any one to sleep, as you did me."

"I can always do that," she said simply, "and so could my mother."

"Can you make me sleep now?"

"Not just now. Wait till the col' fit has gone. And then when you are
wake up I shall have some medicine ready for you, and then you shall
have no more fever."

My attack of ague lasted about half an hour, and left me with the usual
splitting headache and aching bones. When I was able to turn myself, I
saw that Niabon was seated beside Tematau dressing his lacerated back
with some preparation of crushed leaves. She heard me move, turned
her head, and smiled, and said she would be with me in a few moments.
Although