hree fowls that were among the
presents. But there was a day of reckoning at hand. Time after time we
ran down to the beach to look for the _Casco_, until we were in despair.
For over a month we had lived in Ori's house, causing him infinite
trouble and annoyance, and not even his, at that. Areia (the
chief--Areia means the Prince) went to Papeete and came back with a
letter to say that more work had to be done upon the _Casco_, and it
might be any time before she could get to Tautira. We had used up all
our stores, and had only a few dollars of money left in Tautira, and not
very much in Papeete. Could we stand the journey to Papeete, we could
not live upon the yacht in the midst of the workmen, and we had not
money enough left to live at an hotel. We were playing cards on the
floor, as usual, when this message came, and you can imagine its effect.
I knew perfectly well that Rui would force us to stay on with him, but
what depressed me the most of all, was the fact of Louis having made
brothers with him just before this took place. Had there been a shadow
of doubt on our dear Rui's face, I should have fled from before him.
Sitting there on the floor waiting for him was too much for my nerves
and I burst into tears, upon which the princess wept bitterly. In the
meantime the priest had dropped in, so that we had him and Moe, and
Areia, as witnesses to our humiliating position. First came Madame Rui,
who heard the story, and sat down on the floor in silence, which was
very damping for a beginning, and then Ori of Ori, the magnificent, who
listened to the tale of the shipwrecked mariners with serious dignity,
asking one or two questions, and then spoke to this effect. "You are my
brother: all that I have is yours. I know that your food is done, but I
can give you plenty of fish and taro. We like you, and wish to have you
here. Stay where you are till the _Casco_ comes. Be happy--_et ne
pleurez pas_." Louis dropped his head into his hands and wept, and then
we all went up to Rui and shook hands with him and accepted his offer.
Madame Rui, who had been silent only as a dutiful wife, that her husband
might speak first, poured forth manifold reasons for our staying on as
long as we could possibly manage. During all this scene, an attendant of
the princess had been sitting on the floor behind us, a baby in his
arms, where he had ensconced himself for the purpose of watching the
game. He understood nothing of what was going on; we