help, resolved his doubts and
difficulties, touching divers other knotty points in conchology;
successively raised and canvassed the grave and edifying questions--
whether there actually were such creatures as mermaids?--whether
sea-serpents were indigenous to the neighbourhood of Cape Cod and
Massachusetts Bay?--whether the narratives of ancient and modern
voyagers, in regard to Krakens, and gigantic Polypes, with feelers or
arms as long as a ship's main-mast, had any foundation in fact or were
to be looked upon as sheer fabrications?--and, finally, whether the
hideous and revolting practice of cannibalism, really prevailed among
the inhabitants of certain groups of islands in the Pacific?

"This puts me in mind, Arthur," said Johnny, suddenly, while the
last-mentioned subject was under discussion, "of a promise you made
during the voyage, to tell me a story about a cannibal island upon which
you were once cast, and the adventures you met with there. This is a
good time to tell it: it is quite early, and the night so beautiful,
that it would be a shame to think of going to bed for two or three hours
yet; for my part, I feel as though I could sit here all night without
getting sleepy."

"A happy thought, Johnny," said Browne, "it will be the pleasantest
possible way of passing the evening; therefore, Arthur, let us have the
story."

"O yes, the story! let us have the cannibal story by all means!" cried
Max, "this is just the hour, and the place, to tell it with effect. The
dash of the surf upon the reef; the whispering of the night wind in the
tree-tops; the tall black groves on the shore yonder, and the water
lying blacker still in their shadow, will all harmonise admirably with
the subject."

"I believe I did promise Johnny an account of an unintentional visit I
once made to a place known as `the Cannibal Island of Angatan,' and I
have no objection to redeem my pledge now, if desired. I wish you to
take notice, however, at the outset, in order to avoid raising false
expectations, that I do not promise you a `Cannibal Story'--how much my
narrative deserves such a title, will appear when you have heard it."

The call for the story being quite eager and unanimous, Arthur settled
himself into a comfortable position, and after giving one or two of
those preliminary ahems, common to the whole fraternity of story-tellers
from time immemorial, he proceeded as follows:--

ARTHUR'S STORY OF THE CANNIBAL ISLAND OF ANG