where, on the arrival of the fleet of canoes that
would bring the king's daughter from Pare, they would be presented to
her in person by the priests and minor chiefs.

* * * * *

On the afternoon of the tenth day, some men whom Mahua had set to watch
for Tetoro's fleet saw the great mat sails of five war canoes sweeping
across the long line of palms that fringed the southern beach? Then
there was great commotion, and many _pu_{*} were sounded from one end
of the island to the other, bidding the people to assemble at the
landing-place and welcome the bride of the chiefs son.

* The conch shell.

Now, it so happened that Narue, when the cry arose that the canoes were
coming, was sitting alone in a little bush-house near the south point
of the island. He had come there with two or three of his young men
attendants, so that he might be dressed and adorned to meet Tetoro's
daughter. As soon as they had completed their task he had sent them
away, for he intended to remain in the bush-house till his father sent
for him; for such was the custom of the land.

Very gay and handsome he looked, when presently he stood up and looked
out over the lagoon to where the canoes were entering the passage. Round
his waist was a girdle of bright yellow strips of plantain leaves,
mixed with the scarlet leaves of the _ti_ plant; a band of pearl-shell
ornaments encircled his forehead, and his long, black hair, perfumed
with scented oil, was twisted up in a high spiral knob, and ornamented
with scarlet hibiscus flowers. Across one broad shoulder there hung a
small, snowy-white poncho or cape, made of fine tappa cloth, and round
his wrists and ankles were circlets of pearl shell, enclosed in a
netting of black coir cinnet. On each leg there was tattooed, in bright
blue, a coco-nut tree, its roots spreading out at the heel and running
in wavy lines along the instep to the toes, its elastic stalk shooting
upwards till its waving plumes spread gracefully out on the broad,
muscular calf.

Yet, although he was so finely arrayed, Narue was troubled in his mind;
for not once did those who had dressed him speak of Laea, and this the
young man thought was strange, for he would have been pleased to hear
them talk to him of her beauty. In silence had they attended to his
needs, and this hurt him, for they were all dear friends. So at last,
when they rose to leave him, he had said,--

'Why is it that none of ye s