sleepily on the
beach. The shadow of a flying-fox drifted by in velvet silence overhead.
A light air fanned coolly on her cheek; it was the land-breeze beginning
to blow.

"You go along quarters," she said, starting to turn on her heel to enter
the gate.

"You pay me," said the boy.

"Aroa, you all the same one big fool. I no pay you. Now you go."

But the black was unmoved. She felt that he was regarding her almost
insolently as he repeated:

"I take 'm medicine. You pay me. You pay me now."

Then it was that she lost her temper and cuffed his ears so soundly as to
drive him back among his fellows. But they did not break up. Another
boy stepped forward.

"You pay me," he said.

His eyes had the querulous, troubled look such as she had noticed in
monkeys; but while he was patently uncomfortable under her scrutiny, his
thick lips were drawn firmly in an effort at sullen determination.

"What for?" she asked.

"Me Gogoomy," he said. "Bawo brother belong me."

Bawo, she remembered, was the sick boy who had died.

"Go on," she commanded.

"Bawo take 'm medicine. Bawo finish. Bawo my brother. You pay me.
Father belong me one big fella chief along Port Adams. You pay me."

Joan laughed.

"Gogoomy, you just the same as Aroa, one big fool. My word, who pay me
for medicine?"

She dismissed the matter by passing through the gate and closing it. But
Gogoomy pressed up against it and said impudently:

"Father belong me one big fella chief. You no bang 'm head belong me. My
word, you fright too much."

"Me fright?" she demanded, while anger tingled all through her.

"Too much fright bang 'm head belong me," Gogoomy said proudly.

And then she reached for him across the gate and got him. It was a
sweeping, broad-handed slap, so heavy that he staggered sideways and
nearly fell. He sprang for the gate as if to force it open, while the
crowd surged forward against the fence. Joan thought rapidly. Her
revolver was hanging on the wall of her grass house. Yet one cry would
bring her sailors, and she knew she was safe. So she did not cry for
help. Instead, she whistled for Satan, at the same time calling him by
name. She knew he was shut up in the living room, but the blacks did not
wait to see. They fled with wild yells through the darkness, followed
reluctantly by Gogoomy; while she entered the bungalow, laughing at
first, but finally vexed to the verge of tears by what had taken place.