hall go to Uea,"{*} he said; "'tis but seventy leagues away, and so
soon as the rainy season is ended we shall start. I have bought a small
but good boat and have strengthened it for the voyage with an outrigger,
and in my mother's house is hidden all the food we can carry. In eight
days more the westerly winds will cease, and we shall start, for then we
shall have the Matagi Toe'lau (trade wind) and at Uea we shall be
safe and live in peace. Then some day I shall send for my mothers and
sisters, for on the night that we escape, they too must flee for their
lives to Sen Mann, of Apia, who will protect them from thy father's
wrath."

* Wallis Island, two hundred miles from Samoa. Many Samoans
fled there for refuge after a reverse in battle or for other
causes.

On the morning of the fourth day after this, there came a strange
messenger to the town to see my father, who in a little time appeared at
his door with a smiling face and bade the conch be blown to summon the
people together.

"Here is news, O people," he said. "Manka,{*} the white trader of Tufa,
also seeketh my daughter, Sa Luia, in marriage. He and Tamayili have
quarrelled--why, it matters not to me, or thee--and Manka, who is a very
rich man, hath sent me word that he will compete with Tamayili. Whatever
he offers for dowry and for presents to me, the white man will give
double. This is a good day for me."

* Monk.

But the people were silent, for they knew that he was breaking his
pledged word with Tamavili, and was setting at naught the old customs
and the honour of the town. So, as he looked at them, he scowled; then
he held out his hand, on the palm of which were ten American gold coins,
each of twenty dollars.

"Two hundred dollars hath this white man, Manka, sent to my daughter Sa
Luia as a present, with these words: 'If she cares not for my suit, well
and good--let her have them made into bracelets for her pretty arms."

Now this was a great gift, and it came with such generous words that the
people applauded, and my father smiled, as his long thin fingers closed
around the heap of gold; but suddenly his face darkened as Manaia spoke.

"'Tis a free gift to the lady Sa Luia. Therefore, O Pule-o-Vaitafe, give
it to her."

"Aye, aye! 'tis hers, 'tis hers," cried the people.

My father sent a glance of bitter hatred to my lover, and his lips
twitched, but without a word he came to me, and bending low before me,
put the mone