anged since he first come to the islands
and he ain't changed with them."

"He'll go too far," said the old chiefess. "The natives aren't
satisfied."

"That was a good joke about the road," laughed the trader. "When I told
them about it in Apia they fair split their sides with laughing. Good
old Walker."

Mackintosh looked at him savagely. What did he mean by talking of him in
that fashion? To a half-caste trader he was Mr Walker. It was on his
tongue to utter a harsh rebuke for the impertinence. He did not know
what held him back.

"When he goes I hope you'll take his place, Mr Mackintosh," said Jervis.
"We all like you on the island. You understand the natives. They're
educated now, they must be treated differently to the old days. It wants
an educated man to be administrator now. Walker was only a trader same
as I am."

Teresa's eyes glistened.

"When the time comes if there's anything anyone can do here, you bet
your bottom dollar we'll do it. I'd get all the chiefs to go over to
Apia and make a petition."

Mackintosh felt horribly sick. It had not struck him that if anything
happened to Walker it might be he who would succeed him. It was true
that no one in his official position knew the island so well. He got up
suddenly and scarcely taking his leave walked back to the compound. And
now he went straight to his room. He took a quick look at his desk. He
rummaged among the papers.

The revolver was not there.

His heart thumped violently against his ribs. He looked for the revolver
everywhere. He hunted in the chairs and in the drawers. He looked
desperately, and all the time he knew he would not find it. Suddenly he
heard Walker's gruff, hearty voice.

"What the devil are you up to, Mac?"

He started. Walker was standing in the doorway and instinctively he
turned round to hide what lay upon his desk.

"Tidying up?" quizzed Walker. "I've told 'em to put the grey in the
trap. I'm going down to Tafoni to bathe. You'd better come along."

"All right," said Mackintosh.

So long as he was with Walker nothing could happen. The place they were
bound for was about three miles away, and there was a fresh-water pool,
separated by a thin barrier of rock from the sea, which the
administrator had blasted out for the natives to bathe in. He had done
this at spots round the island, wherever there was a spring; and the
fresh water, compared with the sticky warmth of the sea, was cool and
invigorating. They drove