talk of marrying by and by."

Scarlett stood astonished. His mind, trained in the strict code of a
sternly-proper British parish, failed to grasp the fact that a Maori
girl regards matters of the heart from the standpoint of a child of
Nature; having her code of honour, it is true, but one which is hardly
comprehended by the civilised _Pakeha_.

Jack felt he was standing upon the dizzy abyss that leads to loss of
caste. There was no doubt of Amiria's beauty, there was no doubt of her
passionate affection, but there was a feeling at the back of his mind
that his regard for her was merely a physical attraction. He admired
every curve of her supple shape, he felt his undying gratitude go out to
the preserver of his life, but that was all. Yet a weakness was stealing
over him, that weakness which is proportionate usually to the
large-heartedness of the individual.

Suddenly relinquishing Amiria's clasp, he went to the broken port-hole
of a dilapidated cabin and looked out upon the incoming sea.

"We must be quick," he cried, "or we shall be caught by the tide."

"What matter?" said the girl, lazily. "I have stayed here a whole night
when the sea was not as calm as it is now."

"But I have to get back to town--I start for the gold-fields to-morrow,
before daylight."

"Why do you go to the stupid gold-fields? Isn't there everything a man
wants here? The _pa_ is full of food--you shall want for nothing."

"I suppose it is the _Pakeha_ way to want to grow rich. Come along."

He clambered down to where the broken keelson lay, and regained the
rocks. Amiria followed him slowly, as though reluctant to leave the
scene of her confession, but presently she stood beside him on the
slippery seaweed.

He led the way to where the barrel lay floating in the rising tide. That
the ignominy of being ferried by a girl might not be repeated, he had
brought from the wreck a piece of board with which to propel himself.

Perceiving his intention so soon as he was sitting cross-legged on the
top of his strange craft, Amiria dashed into the water, seized the
improvised oar, and threatened to drag it from his grasp.

"I'll take you across myself," she almost screamed. "Why should you
think I don't want to take you back?"

"All right," said Jack, dropping his piece of wood, "have it your own
way. I hand myself over to you, but let us get across quickly."

Again the Englishman felt how mean are the conventions of the white man,
how pe