issuing from the other. A black cross was fixed above
these symbols, which Vanquished Often and Exploding Eggs regarded
with respect. To the Marquesan these are all _tiki_, or charms,
which have superseded their own.

Beside the decaying church stood a refectory far gone in ruin, that
once had housed a dozen friars. Breadfruit-, mango- and orange-trees
grew in the tangled tall grass, and the garden where the priests had
read their breviaries was a wilderness of tiger-lilies. Among them
we found empty bottles of a "Medical Discovery," a patent medicine
dispensed from Boston, favored in these islands where liquor is
tabooed by government.

Seventh Man, coming up the trail to meet us, found us looking at them.
He lifted one and sniffed it regretfully.

"Prenty strong," he said. "Make drunkee. Call him Kennedee. He cost
much. Drinkee two piece you sick three day." He smiled reminiscently,
and once more I thought of that day when the unfortunate gendarme
had surprised the orgiasts in the forest and lost his nose. The
chief accompanied us down the trail.

"My brother of grandfather have first gun in Marquesas," he said
with meaning when I spoke of the days of Halley. "One chief Iotete
have prenty trouble _Menike_ whaleman. He send for French admiral
help him. Captiane Halley come with sailor. Frenchman he never go
'way." Again his teeth gleamed in a smile. "My brother of
grandfather have gun long time in hills," he added cryptically.

Too soon the time came when I must return to my own _paepae_ in
Atuona. Vanquished Often wept at my decision, and Mrs. Seventh Man
rubbed my nose long with hers as she entreated me to remain in the
home she had given over to me. The chief, finding remonstrance
useless, volunteered to accompany me on my return, and one midnight
woke me to be ready when the wind was right.

We went down the trail through wind and darkness, the chief blowing
a conch-shell for the crew. In the straw shanty where my hosts had
spread their mats that I might have the full occupancy of their
comfortable home, we found Mrs. Seventh Man making tea for me.
Vanquished Often sat apart in the shadow, her face averted, but when
my cocoanut-shell was filled with the streaming brew she sprang
forward passionately and would let no hand but hers present it to me.

All day it had been raining, and the downpour rushed from the eaves
with a melancholy sound as we sat in the lantern-lighted dimness
drinking from the shells. T