e this man Porter is both wise and brave; and in two days or less
we shall sleep in peace, for Jinaban shall be dead."

*****

Back from the clustering houses of Ijeet village the man who was "wise
and brave" was sitting upon the bole of a fallen coco-palm with his arms
clasped round the waist of the star-eyed Sepe, who listened to him half
in fear, half in admiration.

"Nay," she said presently, in answer to something he had said, "no love
have I for Jinaban; 'tis hate alone that hath led me to aid him, for he
hath sworn to me that I shall yet see Letane lie dead before me. And for
that do I steal forth at night and take him food."

"Dost thou then love Parma?"

"As much as thou lovest his wife," the girl answered quickly, striking
him petulantly on his knee.

The half-caste laughed. "Those were but the words of a man drunken with
liquor. What care I for her? Thee alone do I love, for thy eyes have
eaten up my heart. And see, when thou hast taken me to Jinaban, and he
and I have killed this Parma, thou shalt run this knife of mine into the
throat of Letane. And our wedding feast shall wipe out the shame which
she hath put upon thee."

The girl's eyes gleamed. "Are these true words or lies?"

"By my mother's bones, they be true words. Did not I flee to thy house
and bring thee this pistol I wrenched from Parma's hand to show thee
I am no boaster. And as for these three women of Ailap who spy upon
thee--show me where they sleep and I will beat them with a heavy stick
and drive them back to their mistress."

Sepe leant her head upon his shoulder and pressed his hand. "Nay, let
them be; for now do I know thou lovest me. And to-night, when my mother
sleeps, shall we take a canoe and go to Jinaban."

*****

At dawn next morning Palmer was aroused from his sleep by a loud
knocking at the door, and the clamour of many voices.

"Awake, awake, Parma!" cried a man's voice; "awake, for the big sailor
man who tried to kill thee yesterday is crossing the lagoon, and is
paddling swiftly towards thy house. Quick, quick and shoot him ere he
can land."

In an instant the trader and every one of his household sprang from
their couches, the door was thrown open, and Palmer, looking across
the lagoon, which was shining bright in the rays of the rising sun, saw
about a quarter of a mile away, a canoe, which was being urged swiftly
along by Frank Porter and a woman. She was heading directly for his
house, and already Palmer'