rer on an American whaleship, from
which he had deserted, and had been living on Pleasant Island for some
years. He had four wives, whom he described as "the three Graces, with
another chucked in," and though a rough, dare-devil fellow, he was, with
the exception of old Harry Terry, the only one of the lot that was not a
hopeless drunkard and ruffian. By one of his wives, a native of Sikaiana
or Stewart's Island, he had two children, both girls. They were then
about eight and ten years of age respectively, and were, I often
thought, the loveliest specimens of childish beauty imaginable, and at
the moment when their father stepped out from among the other traders
and declared his intention of standing by Captain Hayes, each had a
heavy navy revolver which their father had given them to carry in case
he needed the weapons.

In the course of a month or so I had a serious disagreement with
Captain Hayes over his treatment of a deputation of Strong's Islanders,
and I left the settlement at Utwe, and removed to Leasse, the village
at Coquille Harbour. The principal man in the place was a native named
Kusis, with whom, and his wife Tulpe and daughter Kinie, I lived
during the remainder of my stay on the island. And, although more than
twenty-five years have passed and gone since then, I can never forget
the kindness, warm-hearted hospitality, and amiability that filled their
simple hearts to overflowing.

IV

When Hayes and I quarrelled, the American trader, "Harry," who had
hitherto stood by "Bully" sided with me, with the result that Hayes
passionately declared that both of us were at the bottom of a conspiracy
to lower his prestige and lessen his authority, not only with the other
white men but with the natives as well. This was an utterly unfounded
accusation, for we liked the man, but did not like the way in which he
had treated the deputation of Strong's Islanders, who protested against
his permitting the continual abduction of young Kusaiean girls by
members of his crew.

I had brought the deputation to him, for Harry and myself were _persona
grata_ with the natives, who all knew that Hayes had a great liking
for us. But to my astonishment and indignation, "Bully" turned on me
furiously, called me a meddlesome young fool, prefixing the "fool" with
some very strong adjectives, and then, losing all control of himself,
he sprang at one of the members of the deputation--the youngest
and strongest--and lifting him